Bill Ayers to lecture at Catholic college on ‘pursuit of social justice’

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Bill Ayers

Berkeley, Calif., Jan 22, 2009 / 03:08 am (CNA).- St. Mary’s College in Moraga, California has invited the sixties radical Bill Ayers to speak in a lecture series titled “Against the Grain.” The college says Ayers will “discuss his life and work and their inevitable intersection in the pursuit of social justice.”

Ayers, presently an education professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, co-founded the Weather Underground in 1969. Originally called the Weathermen, the Weather Underground was a left-wing terrorist group that planted bombs in public buildings, including the U.S. Capitol, the Pentagon, and a New York City police station, the California Catholic Daily reports.

President Obama’s connections to Ayers were a topic of controversy during the 2008 presidential campaign.

Saint Mary’s College has about 4,500 students and is run by the Christian Brothers. The college’s announcement says its lecture series forces students to “step out of their comfort zones” and “explore new intellectual territory.”
The college’s announcement of Ayers’ Jan. 28 lecture says he is “noted for his work in education reform and also for his controversial history as a founder of the Weather Underground.”

A group called the “Simple Justice… Not Social Justice Coalition” has announced that it will sponsor educational activities on the day of Ayers’ lecture to speak out against his presence.

“We intend to peacefully counter Ayers’ hateful ideology, which is not compatible with America’s most noble traditions,” the coalition said in a statement, adding that a rally and vigil will be held before and during Ayers’ speech outside of the college’s Soda Center, the event’s venue.

According to the California Catholic Daily, the coalition called the Weather Underground a “domestic terrorist organization” and charged Ayers with being “personally involved in a campaign of violence” and bombings.

“On March 6, 1970 Ayers’ then-girlfriend, Diana Oughton, was killed along with two accomplices when the bomb which they were building prematurely detonated,” the coalition charged. “That bomb was going to be used to kill American soldiers at Ft. Dix, New Jersey. Ayers remains completely unapologetic about his violent past and was quoted as saying he wished he had ‘done more.’”

Ayers’ lecture reportedly will be on the topic “Trudging Toward Freedom.”

Comments: 24

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Kathy
Chicago 01/29/2009 01:05 PM EST

Come on, Parlar. The point is that it is a CATHOLIC college. They should not be welcoming an unrepentant terrorist to campus. There are plenty of venues where Ayers is welcome and you can take your children there to hear his views if you are worried about them becoming "critical thinkers."

Published by: Parlar
Orinda, CA, USA 01/27/2009 08:34 PM EST

I am a distinct minority here; I think it is commendable that St. Mary's is opening its doors to a variety of viewpoints. How do we teach our children to critically think if we don't give them challenges? Do we want robots for children? Are we not confident enough in what we've taught our children that we're genuinely afraid just by hearing another viewpoint they will be "converted"? Come on, people, have you no faith in your own teachings.

I'm not surprised that the majority of comments posted here are from out of state.

Published by: Barb
Cape Coral FL 01/27/2009 05:30 PM EST

The inmates are running the asylum.
I thought my Catholic regligion was the last lifeline in the morally corrupt world and now this?

Published by: Sean
Bucyrus Ohio 01/27/2009 01:23 PM EST

Are there still people out there with the delusion that the Vatican II church is still Catholic? It's like everyday something more outrageous comes out. Wake up people!
Let's here a shout out to "no lifting the excommunication ban!"

Published by: Anna
Beach Park, IL 01/27/2009 08:48 AM EST

I am more than appalled by this. It is little wonder that so many who are born members of the catholic church are rethinking thier affilliations. It really makes you think. I dont want to hear a word of what this idiot has to say. He belongs in jail not at a Catholic School.

Published by: Johnette
WInthrop Harbor, IL, USA 01/27/2009 07:39 AM EST

Wow, I from a 4 generation Law Enforcement family. My Father was stabbed while on duty, his patrol car was overturned during a riot, he had thousands of volts of electricity surrouding his cruiser during an accident, all in 30 years of dedication to helping others. He like the police officer who died as a result of Ayer's bombing risked his life daily. He was never asked to speak at a Catholic College. Yet, he spent thousands sending my brother and I through Catholic Grade and Highschool. Shocking people are leaving the church in alarming numbers. Pedephiles and Homicidal Terrorists...I guess this gives "new meaning" to "do unto others" huh?

Published by: Bill
Minneapolis/Minnesota/USA 01/27/2009 12:19 AM EST

Please, someone from "Simple Justice-not social justice" let us know through this or another forum how we might support your efforts to counter act the misguided comtemplated action of St. Mary's to give a criminal like Ayers a forum on a college campus or any other place. I believe St. Mary's will suffer greatly and for a long period of time if this event (Ayers) occurs as comtemplated and the harm will surely be self induced. There is a limit to everything and this greatly exceeds those that would argue and justify this as academic freedom. I and many others can only have embarrasment for and pity on those that would allow something like this to happen.

Published by: Sister Annette
Chicago 01/25/2009 04:39 PM EST

We have so few teachers that actually teach Catholic thought, we really dont have to give voice to others most likely teaching ideas contra to Catholic social doctrine. Unless our goal is to assimulate into secular culture by obliterating Catholic teaching at all levels_
__--
A point worth repeating. What is next an abortion doctor? How about confession for Ayers the father who died in that building? Joe Biden the pro-abortionist getting a standing ovation in a during mass in a D.C. church, what next? Abortions at Catholic Hospitals? Catholisism has been taken over by celebit homosexuals with liberal agendas.

Published by: mary
san jose, ca 01/25/2009 03:53 PM EST

What a travesty!! Giving a podium to this terrorist who wishes he killed more when he bombed the Pentagon is beyond belie. What has happened to the Catholic Church? Or maybe just this schools administration? This will certainly go a long way in keeping parents from sending their kids to Catholic schools. SHAME ON YOU for promoting the rantings of Anti-American lunatics like Ayers.

Published by: Dan
Santa Fe/NM/US 01/24/2009 04:41 PM EST

I always wondered why Catholic schools catered to liberal secularists, if not total non-believers. What could people with that world view actually contribute to the shaping of Catholic minds and thought? There can be meeting points between the schools of thought but clearly there are foundational differences. Differences and distincts that will not be pointed out in this lecture. Social thinking without Christ is no thinking at all. Leave the securists to the secular institutions. We have so few teachers that actually teach Catholic thought, we really dont have to give voice to others most likely teaching ideas contra to Catholic social doctrine. Unless our goal is to assimulate into secular culture by obliterating Catholic teaching at all levels

Published by: Lily
SLC, UT USA 01/23/2009 01:17 PM EST

Did Christian Brothers and St. Mary's get into the sacramental wine or something? What a travesty! Why not just invite Bin Laden? How ridiculous to challenge students to step out of their comfort zone into an anti-American line of fire.

Good luck 'Simple Justice'. Maybe a majority of students will attend your functions instead of listening to someone like that man.

Trudging Toward Freedom? What does that mean? We WERE a free nation until a couple days ago, anyway. Free enough that guys like Bill Ayers could even exist with the rest of us. Soon, however, the rest of us probably won't be free to live with him...we'll have the wrong ideology.

Published by: bjcass
mooresville,nc 01/23/2009 09:02 AM EST

It is disheartening to learn that Ayers will be validated in a Catholic college.All the justification offered is dishonest and the decision to give Ayers a platform to spew his venom is outrageous.I`m disgusted with the stupidity and hypocrisy of some of our religious leaders who would welcome a radical thug,or most common,Catholic colleges who invite the most strident abortion supporters to be guest lecturers.

Published by: J Morzinski
Los Alamos NM 01/22/2009 04:48 PM EST

By citing his history with a group that most people would call a terrorist organization, the college seems to be granting legitimacy to his activities as part of that group. What a shame.

Published by: Isaiah
avon ct 01/22/2009 04:23 PM EST

St. Mary's says it wants to "explore new intellectual territory."

And to do this they need to invite a terrorist onto their hallowed grounds???? Real smart.I will NEVER send my children to this college. I want them to actually get an education.

Published by: Debbie
Portland OR USA 01/22/2009 04:15 PM EST

This is a disgrace! Bill Ayers is hostile to our American freedoms. The only reason why he is not in prison is due to a "technicality" during his trial.

From EagleForum -

From his prestigious and safe university position, Ayers has been teaching teachers and students in rebellion against American capitalism and what he calls "imperialism" and "oppression." The code words for the Ayers curriculum are "social justice," a "transformative" vision, "critical pedagogy," "liberation," "capitalist injustices," "critical race theory," "queer theory," and of course multiculturalism and feminism.

Published by: Jay Heathman
USA 01/22/2009 03:55 PM EST

It is a repugnant and hideous thought - and a slap in the face of "justice" of any kind at all - to have a would be murderer, common thugs, subversive and unrepentant degenerate, presume to 'teach' anyone anything - and whatever wretches on staff at St. Mary's made the demented decision to enlist a terrorist to inflict his perverted "wisdom" on others, should either have the integrity to resign or the honesty to immediately seek professional assistance.
The pustulescent verbal drippings of Ayers' diseased and hate-filled mind could only appeal to the maggot-like hangers-on at that school who care nothing for the students who pay their salaries.

Published by: Nan Siep
FL 01/22/2009 02:37 PM EST

The administrators of this college should be forced to "step our of their comfort zones" by having their funding withdrawn.

Published by: Carol Van Bree
Miami 01/22/2009 01:27 PM EST

Disgusting!

Published by: M. Haarer
San Diego 01/22/2009 01:08 PM EST

The college says its lecture series forces students to “step out of their comfort zone." Where does this comfort zone end for Catholic Universities? Is the mission of Catholic higher education being so distorted by secular pressures to be politically correct that they begin losing their ability to do what is right? Paying a terrorist to come speak to impressionable Catholic students is a disgrace!

Published by: Zsu
usa 01/22/2009 12:18 PM EST

Thanks to 'Simple justice - not social Justice' organizers at Moraga's St. Mary's college who will counter-act Ayers 'hate-America' speech.
America's voters, including the dead ones, have pushed America firmly under socialism's destructive power.

Published by: Jack
NY 01/22/2009 12:08 PM EST

This guy should be behind bars.

Published by: John
Glen Cove, NY 01/22/2009 10:59 AM EST

While it is important to be exposed to divergent viewpoints I also think it is improper to support people who believe in violence. Violence has no place in Catholic affairs. If Ayers were repentant of his past then it may be proper to have him as a speaker. After 9/11, we as Americans should better appreciate the harm done by terrorists. Ayers is a terrorist.

Published by: maureen
texas 01/22/2009 10:00 AM EST

How dare you!And this is supposed to support Catholocism?? He is a terrorist . he does not deserve a voice nor to still live in this country. I am appalled. This is not Catholic.

Published by: Anne
Indiana 01/22/2009 08:50 AM EST

The school should be forced to stop calling itself Catholic or should be shut down!!!!!!

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