YOUR COMMENTS

All the references to abortion are just silly....the school doesn't preach or teach its students to be pro-abortion.

don't be dense, looking for problems where there aren't any.

You may have a friend who is pro-abortion, does that make you pro abortion?

Half the comments here are based on the most flawed logic
- Mark, Manchester

As a St. A's grad and an admittedly non-practicing Catholic I applaud Fr. Jonathan and the College as a whole for having the foresight to recognize the times that we live in and the fact that the excellence of St. Anselm College is based in it's ability to provide it's students the best possible collegiate experience, which includes activities and experiences not simply confined to the 4 walls of a classroom. However, geographically St. A's is not located in a very diverse area, kudos for going out and making an effort to diversify the campus.
I have always been proud to be a St. A's Alum and I am moreso today. The St. Anselm College students graduating today and in the years to come will be sent into a multicultural and multireligious world. I have no concerns that encouraging a more diverse student body myopically translates to lower standards for entry. Heck, how many years have students and some parents argued that the school's grading policy was "too rigid/tough" and yet the school never caved or bent to the criticism.
St. Anselm's sets a high standard in this region and I'm sure encourages and respects a positive dialogue about just this subject. Mark me down as one who completely supports the College.
- Anton, Portland, ME

Father Jonathan fails to make an argument here. Allowing a nursing program and women to enroll in the college has nothing to do with catholic principles, while coed dorms and affirmative action do erode catholic principles. Also, if Father Jonathan was serious about backing up his position with a quote from Pope Benedict during his visit to the U.S., why didn't he choose a quote from the Pope's meeting with Catholic University leaders? I think it is because Father Jonathan realizes, since he was at that meeting, that he is going against the Holy Father's urgings to secure a Catholic Identity. I hope Father Jonathan doesn't expect any contributions from this alumni, because he is turning the college in a wrong direction and unable to make an argument for the shift.
- Mike, Boston

Fr. Jonathan - as a Catholic, what you write sounds good on the surface, but I'd have to be moron to believe that you are being "all inclusive" because you have an interest in educating more young men and women to become believers in the Catholic faith. Let's face it, competition is getting tough and you need to keep up with the growing salary demands, so the principals and teaching of the Faith are compromised to attract more potential students. If that's the way you want to go, though I disagree, fine. But please stop being intellectually dishonest with us.
- Kevin, Litchfield

Let's be clear about this: Diversity and inclusiveness are not about "lowering standards" or directing funds away from other worthy beneficiaries. What inclusiveness means is that all students who are outside the majority cohort will encounter an atmostphere of mutual respect on campus, both inside and outside the classroom. Nothing is gained from attempting to recruit students who are ill-prepared for the demands of a college as academically rigorous as St. Anselm, and I am certain that St. Anselm would not betray its mission or those students by going in that direction.

As for funding, bear in mind that some alumni and granting organizations welcome the chance to support this particular work, just as other people might support a new stadium or computer lab. Schools likewise make choices; the status quo is one such choice. But be certain of this: holding on to the status quo is itself a choice, and not a neutral one. What this debate over inclusiveness reminds us is that the parameters and ramifications of that choice must also be examined. St. Anselm College is instead choosing to enact a vision of greater opportunity, access and equality. By doing so, I believe that the College is making the changes that will ensure it enjoys at least one more century of succes and relevance as Catholic, Benedictine institution.
- Al W, Manchester

Norm Grau put it better than anyone over the last few days of coverage of this issue. "Does St. Anselm intend to lower its minimum academic requirements and direct more financial aid to attract prospective applicants based on race or ethnic origin?" I am not concerned with religion, ethnicity, or any other way to catagorize a person. The ability to attend St. Anselm should be based on an ability to meet the standards set by the school, not the ability of an applicant to meet a need of the school to become more diverse.
- John, Manchester

"What kind of country would we live in if institutions of learning approached teaching with a philosophy so closed minded."

Good question.
Perhaps no worse of a country than one that allows the killing of the unborn, in the "safety" of their womb, without even the benefit of a Constitutional amendment to "sanctify" such barbarity.
No, it's much better that the open mindedness of the "living" Constitution crowd and the nine black robed oligarchs discovered the "right" to abortion, when the very people who framed the Constitution didn't believe such a right existed.
Please, spare us the "they also believed in slavery you know" argument, as I will refer you to the Constitutional amendment remedy of that particular evil.
Beware the mind that is too opened, because some huckster is bound to come along and fill it with all manner of junk.
- Mike P., Manchester

What about economic diversity? Yes, Saint Anselm has financial aid, and helps many. However, I can't help but wonder if Saint Anselm is concerned that they are appealing mainly to middle class and rich kids. I am a grad and let me tell you "class" discrimination was horrible on the hilltop. Strangely the college never addressed how kids from NH, VT and Maine (who were generally much less well off) felt very out of place. The issues of snobbery and elitism are huge at the college. Poorer kids are made to not feel welcome. Father Jonathan please addess that issue and dont be too wedded to admissions and the money counters on this one.
- Chris, Manchester

Well put Fr. Jonathan. St. Anselm is the finest college around and we're enormously proud and grateful to have such a fine institution in our community; directed by progressive, highly qualified and forwarding thinking people. It is incumbent upon all of us to embrace diversity and St. Anselm is taking a positive step in that direction. St. Anselm should welcome everyone. But you did not address the pivotal question on the minds of many: Does St. Anselm intend to lower its minimum academic requirements and direct more financial aid to attract prospective applicants based on race or ethnic origin?
- Norm Gau, Goffstown

It turns out that somebody at St. Anselm's removed the problematic photo students of the "hugging" cardboard pro-abortion Obama and head-lock "strangling" the cardboard pro-life picture of McCain -- just a couple hours after my posting (with the photo link) on the UL about it appeared. I saved the picture, anticipating such an ignoble move by the Administration there, instead of noble expressions of regret and removal. The photo now appears at:

http://www.holdgate.us/stanselmdiversity.htm ( Note it is holdgate.us not .com )

But my concern is NOT the photo, but rather lending a podium and credibility to pro-abortion candidates who leverage St. Anselm's facilities (and students?) to get themselves elected. The issues -- both good and bad -- that the candidates espouse can be debated all you want in academic circles without giving defacto support to the candidates. Inviting them in, with all the excessive less-than-academic hoopla they so crave before the elections helps pro-abortion candidates.
- Ed Holdgate, Sandown, NH

First, I roundly applaud Fr. Jonathan for reminding the community and the Union Leader's readership of the founding of St. Anselm College, and the unique history of true leadership that the College has brought to the state, the region and the nation. Part of that legacy of leadership is to acknowledge and support New Hampshire's unique role in this nation's political process. The citizens of this great state have a particular responsibility and opportunity to be an informed electorate. We get to see those men and women running for higher office up close; We see them in diners, factories, fire halls, community clubs, and even college campuses. The New Hampshire Institute of Politics at St. Anselm College enables politicians of every persuasion to spell out their views before an engaged and informed audience from St. Anselm, Manchester, and well beyond. This political diversity and dialog only enriches us all of us. Diversity, political and otherwise, is not something to fear. Colleges thrive by engaging with ideas and perspectives, Thus, in these matters, as with so many others, I am grateful for the leadership and excellence of St. Anselm College brings.
- Al W, Manchester

If you "cherish genuine Catholic compassion", then you should "cherish" inclusiveness, no? Whatever happened to 'love thy neighbor'? Why have the anti-inclusiveness debaters disregarded ths particular teaching I wonder?

I applaud Saint Anselm College's inclusiveness initiative, and I applaud Fr. Jonathan for writing this thoughtful response. The college has to adapt with the times, and can certainly do so while still maintaining its Catholic identity, as many respected colleges have already proven.
- Jane, Manchester, NH

Ed Holdgate,

There are a two things you can do that might help you understand another point of you

1) First, you might want to look up the definition for the word "noogie". It's defined as a noun, and describes "the act of putting a person in a headlock and rubbing one's knuckles on the other person's head, often a playful gesture of affection when done. "

The student was not "strangling" Senator McCain. It would help to set aside the drama (But the Anselmian Abbey Players might be able to use another actor, I know they're presenting a wonderful rendition of the Crucible. A great american play about witch-hunts.)

2) Read the rule of St. Benedit. perhaps one of the most important aspects of The Rule stresses the beatitude of hospitality. As St. Anselm is a liberal arts college, it would severly cripple the students if there was only one point of view presented. Think about it. This online forum represents-- the value of dialogue, yet you seem to believe that it's permissable to rob Saint Anselm Students of their access to meaningful dialogue that will help them grow as thoughtful citizens who don't merely accept whatever is thrown at them.

As a Saint Anselm student, I can only see your opinion as what an institution of learning should never do. You argue that St. Anselm should not welcome anyone with a differing opinion and you make the comically fallacious suggestion that the blog published a photo of a student "strangling" McCain.

What kind of country would we live in if institutions of learning approached teaching with a philosophy so close minded?
- Mark, Manchester NH

I have an easy question for you, Fr. Jonathan. Since Jesus tossed out the money changers, why does St. Anselm's proactively invite, and thereby give both a podium and credibility to, the most seething, scheming, sinister pro-abortion political candidates America has ever seen? Worse, St. Anselm's probably gives tuition-funded "honorariums" to these rabid ideological opponents of eveything Catholicism stands for, right? Yes, many Roman soldiers were welcomed as Christians into the early Church, not in the interest of "diversity" but rather because they were repentant. These pro-abortion "celebrities" are not repentant at all. Their professed well documented agenda is to oppose or at least dilute what it means to be Catholic, and to kill unborn babies. I cannot cast the first stone, but I dearly hope you, Fr. Jonathan, as St. Anselm's leader, compassionately takes each such "celebrity" aside after their "visit" and earnestly exhorts them to repent of their pro-abortion ways and then "go and sin no more." If such personal efforts are not occurring, then St. Anselm's, like the temple, is being abused for Satan's seductive purposes all in the interest of political "diversity".

ps. Here is proof of what political "diversity" has wrought at St. Anselm's... In the St. Anselm's blog, there is a photo link to a picture of students "hugging" a cardboard pro-abortion Obama, and "strangling" a cardboard pro-life McCain. Just visit the St. Anslem's blog first at this page

http://blogs.saintanselmcollege.net/category/politics/political-conventions/

and then click the little photo link on the right side of the above page to see the Obama-hugging and McCain-strangling:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/saintanselm/3006128023/

Good job, St. Anselms. Nice "diversity".
(Full disclosure: I am not Catholic, but
I cherish genuine Catholic compassion).
- Ed Holdgate, Sandown, NH