Thomas Aquinas College schedules Canadian cardinal for commencement speech

May 10, 2009 / 04:36 am

Thomas Aquinas College has announced that Cardinal Marc Ouellet will preside over their commencement ceremonies next week. The Board of Governors chose the prelate because of his "exemplary loyalty" and "devotion" to the magisterium.

Several Catholic universities have been in the headlines over the last few weeks as some have invited speakers who embrace beliefs in direct violation of Catholic teaching.

This trend was bucked as Thomas Aquinas College, located in Santa Paula, California, extended an invitation to Ouellet, the General Relator of the Synod of Bishops. The decision, announced by interim President Peter DeLuca, was a welcomed by the Board of Governors.

In their press release, they said Cardinal Ouellet was chosen because he has "shown an exemplary loyalty and devotion to the Holy Father and the magisterium of the Church and has worked tirelessly to proclaim, support, and defend the teachings of the Church, and to advance the mission of Christ on earth."

The cardinal will also receive the college’s highest honor, the Saint Thomas Aquinas Medallion, established by the Board of Governors in 1975.

Thomas Aquinas expects each 71 seniors at the ceremony who will all receive a Bachelor of Arts degree in liberal arts. The college was struck by sad news last month as their President, Dr. Thomas Dillion, died in a tragic car accident in Ireland.