The University of San Diego has received heavy backlash after rescinding an invitation extended to British theology professor Tina Beattie after she signed an open letter supporting same-sex marriage.
In August, Beattie, along with 26 other prominent Catholics, signed a letter to The Times of London stating “not all Catholics share their hierarchy’s stated views against proposals to extend civil marriage to same-sex couples.”
The letter continued by stating, “the submission by the Catholic bishops of England and Wales to the Government’s equal civil marriage consultation indicates a growing understanding about legislating for same-sex unions, compared with its 2003 position, when it firmly opposed civil partnerships.”
On Oct. 27, a little more than two months after the letter was published, USD President Mary Lyons issued an official letter to Beattie revoking her invitation to the institution. In her letter, Lyons stat- ed USD’s “primary mission, consistent with the intentions of those who have financially supported the Center, is to provide opportunities to engage the Catholic intellectual tradition in its diverse embodiments …This would include clear and con- sistent presentations concerning the Church’s moral teachings, teach- ings with which you, as a Catholic theologian, dissent publicly.”
USD students demanded an apology from Lyons and on Nov. 13, USD’s academic assembly in the College of Arts and Sciences passed a no-confidence vote against Lyons.
San Diego State religious studies professor Pam Kuhlken expressed her displeasure with USD’s decision.
“I hope USD has a few activists who will reach out and try to find sympathetic students on campus in order to reach their parents, because tuition is the key lobbyist,” Kulhlken said. “Any civil rights student organizations should be appalled by this discrimination—the rejection of gender and sexual equality—if they are active citizens in a land governed by the Constitution.”
Vice President of University Rela- tions Tim O’Malley said the decision “is seen by some in the com- munity as an affront to academic freedom, but it has nothing to do with (that). The university supports diverging viewpoints. This particular incident has nothing to do with (Beattie’s) opinion.”
O’Malley went on to explain how the invitation was instead rescinded because Beattie publicly encouraged “dissent from the Church teachings.”
He added Beattie is “welcome to come (to USD) at any time. She just can’t come and hold an honorary position,” which had been extended to her in the institution’s initial invitation.
Lyons announced on Nov. 15 that the situation could have been handled differently. She announced her intention to create a group comprised of faculty, students and staff that will help address future conflicts.
Lyons also said she was not pressured by outside groups to revoke the invitation.
USD has withdrawn previous invites to candidates because of conflicting religious views.
