Miscellaneous
Welcome to the 2006-2007 Archive
Thu, Jan17, 2008
AveWatch is growing! This site, AveWatch.org,
now represents our archive of
articles published in 2006 and 2007.
For 2008 and beyond, please visit us at AveWatch.com - http://www.avewatch.com
If you were a subscriber to the .org RSS feed, please be sure to visit the .com website and update to the current feed.
For 2008 and beyond, please visit us at AveWatch.com - http://www.avewatch.com
If you were a subscriber to the .org RSS feed, please be sure to visit the .com website and update to the current feed.
New AveWatch Site
Wed, Jan16, 2008
To meet growing demand, and in anticipation of trial
traffic, AveWatch is upgrading to a faster server and
a new format. Our domain names (AveWatch.org, .com,
.net) will stay the same. Look for changes in the
next few days. Those who subscribe to our RSS feed
will need to update to our new/improved feed.
More later...
More later...
Laughing at Tom Monaghan
Sat, Jan12, 2008
Monaghan Offers Political Support
Sat, Jan12, 2008
UPDATE,
1/16/08 - To clarify: Non-profit organizations cannot
make direct political contributions. The FEC requires
that individuals state their place of employment. Any
mention of contributions "coming from" a particular
organization represents the aggregate of individual
private contributions. This is common practice by
those who analyze the FEC's data. We assumed people
knew this with the original post.
This past week, with less than five days remaining until the Michigan Presidential Primary, a press release was issued by Mitt Romney to announce Tom Monaghan's endorsement. Romney was quoted as being "proud to have his support". We'll hold him to that pride. Monaghan, true to form, reminded people that he sold Dominos to Romney's Bain Capital group ten years ago. Since Bain's money is what built AMU, maybe the eternally-grateful Monaghanites should re-direct their servitude to Romney.
Let's hope that Monaghan's backing isn't the kiss of death for Romney. Monaghan was brought into the campaign of Sam Brownback to help raise money for the Kansas Senator's presidential bid. That campaign flopped early citing poor donor contributions. Luckily, Romney has his own personal wealth to tap into.
More interesting is Monaghan's support for a Republican running for the House of Representatives from Virginia's 11th district in 2008. Keith S. Fimian of Oakton, Virginia is challenging Republican incumbent Tom Davis for his district's seat. As of late December 2007, according to documents filed with the FEC, money coming from "Ave Maria University" is third in Fimian's top three sources for donations. There is even a donation of $2,300 (the limit) from Monaghan's wife, Marjorie (9/25/07).
But why Fimian from over in Virginia?
Call it coincidence, but Fimian is Chairman and Founder of US Inspect - "America's leading national home inspection company - your source for residential, relocation, and commercial inspection services whether you are moving across town or across the country." According to the company's website, "Mr. Fimian is responsible for the Company's long-term business strategy, its key client relationships, and its new business development initiatives." How shrewd it is for a south Florida real estate investor-developer like Monaghan to put money into the campaign coffers of the head of "America's leading home inspection company". Interestingly, the donations attributed to sources from Ave Maria are double those received by Fimian from his own US Inspect employees.
This past week, with less than five days remaining until the Michigan Presidential Primary, a press release was issued by Mitt Romney to announce Tom Monaghan's endorsement. Romney was quoted as being "proud to have his support". We'll hold him to that pride. Monaghan, true to form, reminded people that he sold Dominos to Romney's Bain Capital group ten years ago. Since Bain's money is what built AMU, maybe the eternally-grateful Monaghanites should re-direct their servitude to Romney.
Let's hope that Monaghan's backing isn't the kiss of death for Romney. Monaghan was brought into the campaign of Sam Brownback to help raise money for the Kansas Senator's presidential bid. That campaign flopped early citing poor donor contributions. Luckily, Romney has his own personal wealth to tap into.
More interesting is Monaghan's support for a Republican running for the House of Representatives from Virginia's 11th district in 2008. Keith S. Fimian of Oakton, Virginia is challenging Republican incumbent Tom Davis for his district's seat. As of late December 2007, according to documents filed with the FEC, money coming from "Ave Maria University" is third in Fimian's top three sources for donations. There is even a donation of $2,300 (the limit) from Monaghan's wife, Marjorie (9/25/07).
But why Fimian from over in Virginia?
Call it coincidence, but Fimian is Chairman and Founder of US Inspect - "America's leading national home inspection company - your source for residential, relocation, and commercial inspection services whether you are moving across town or across the country." According to the company's website, "Mr. Fimian is responsible for the Company's long-term business strategy, its key client relationships, and its new business development initiatives." How shrewd it is for a south Florida real estate investor-developer like Monaghan to put money into the campaign coffers of the head of "America's leading home inspection company". Interestingly, the donations attributed to sources from Ave Maria are double those received by Fimian from his own US Inspect employees.
Monaghan Fails Brownback
Fri, Oct19, 2007
All indications are that Sen. Sam Brownback will
withdraw from the campaign for President late this
afternoon. Reports from yesterday indicated that he
had only $95,000 cash on hand; he was near the bottom
in total funds collected among the Republican pack.
Today, the AP reported the following:
Republican Sen. Sam Brownback, the Kansas conservative who struggled to raise money and gain recognition in the 2008 presidential campaign, will drop out on Friday, people close to him said Thursday.
Money was a main reason for his decision, said one person close to Brownback who requested anonymity because the candidate had not yet announced his plans.
If money is Brownback's primary problem, Tom Monaghan shares largely in the defeat. Monaghan is a Brownback campaign advisor, particularly in the area of fundraising. When Monaghan joined the campaign, William Donohue, head of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, said “In Legatus [Monaghan's club for ultra-rich Catholic CEOs], he's got thousands of members who are all Catholics, all well-to-do. This is the cream of the Catholic community. And they all have friends. You talk about where to go for fundraising, there's a list there that's been around for a number of years." Monaghan curdled the Cream.
But there are implications well beyond Tom Monaghan's impotence to raise even modest funds from his circle of wealthy conservative Catholic friends. Monaghan's failure extends beyond fundraising and into the wider realm of influence. Brownback's support slipped from an all-time high of 3% (Summer 2007) to less than 1% currently. That is in sharp contrast to candidates like Ron Paul (a Baptist) who seem to be making strong gains among conservative Catholics. At the outset, Brownback depended upon Monaghan's influence:
"He brings to the table recognition in the Catholic community," said Marlene Elwell, a Michigan political activist who used to work for Monaghan. "It's always positive to have a leader in a community endorse you." (McClatchy Newspaper, 12/5/2006)
Brownback's flop may indicate that Tom Monaghan is losing his position as a leader who conservative Catholics will follow and trust.
UPDATE - As expected, Brownback confirmed his withdrawl this afternoon. "We're out of money," he said.
Republican Sen. Sam Brownback, the Kansas conservative who struggled to raise money and gain recognition in the 2008 presidential campaign, will drop out on Friday, people close to him said Thursday.
Money was a main reason for his decision, said one person close to Brownback who requested anonymity because the candidate had not yet announced his plans.
If money is Brownback's primary problem, Tom Monaghan shares largely in the defeat. Monaghan is a Brownback campaign advisor, particularly in the area of fundraising. When Monaghan joined the campaign, William Donohue, head of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, said “In Legatus [Monaghan's club for ultra-rich Catholic CEOs], he's got thousands of members who are all Catholics, all well-to-do. This is the cream of the Catholic community. And they all have friends. You talk about where to go for fundraising, there's a list there that's been around for a number of years." Monaghan curdled the Cream.
But there are implications well beyond Tom Monaghan's impotence to raise even modest funds from his circle of wealthy conservative Catholic friends. Monaghan's failure extends beyond fundraising and into the wider realm of influence. Brownback's support slipped from an all-time high of 3% (Summer 2007) to less than 1% currently. That is in sharp contrast to candidates like Ron Paul (a Baptist) who seem to be making strong gains among conservative Catholics. At the outset, Brownback depended upon Monaghan's influence:
"He brings to the table recognition in the Catholic community," said Marlene Elwell, a Michigan political activist who used to work for Monaghan. "It's always positive to have a leader in a community endorse you." (McClatchy Newspaper, 12/5/2006)
Brownback's flop may indicate that Tom Monaghan is losing his position as a leader who conservative Catholics will follow and trust.
UPDATE - As expected, Brownback confirmed his withdrawl this afternoon. "We're out of money," he said.
Monaghan Security Watches Town
Thu, Oct04, 2007
Rather than outsource security services to an independent third party, Tom Monaghan has his in-house security business patrol Domino Farms and all things Ave Maria in Michigan. "Alpha Omega Security, LLC" is located at Domino's Farms and was formed in 2000. AveWatch recently reported on the use of security to monitor Ave Maria School of Law co-founder and tenured professor Stephen Safranek. The photo above shows one of the two Monaghan security officers (right) who performed surveillance on Safranek (left) while he worked in his AMSL campus office.
In Florida, T.R. Minick is Ave Maria University's Director of Physical Plant and Security. Security employees under him report to AveWatch that Minick has often referred to Tom Monaghan as "Our King". Because Collier County can't seem to find the cash to put a police presence in Monaghan's Ave Maria Town mega-development, Minick's security team is reportedly providing some level of security to parts of the Town as well -
Naples Daily News, August 23, 2007, excerpt (full text):
For now, Ave Maria residents and students will likely become most familiar with the university’s security services, and that’s not only because they’ll be patrolling the campus, town center and K-12 school. The 11-member security team, which will add two or three more staff members after school starts Monday, is made up entirely of Ave Maria University students.
Minick, a former police captain and sheriff in Michigan, has relied on students for various private security efforts for more than 20 years. He has been involved with AMU founder Tom Monaghan since Monaghan owned the Detroit Tigers baseball team in the 1980s.
AveWatch's "Boys Cherries" story documents how Ave Maria School of Law administrators did not immediately contact the police after multiple Ave Maria employees offered direct help to a non-employee investigated by state authorities for child pornography [background, details, series]. This non-employee was a priest in regular contact with minors. Ave Maria administrators protected their employees from investigation by the police, even after a former AMSL Board member called for an independent investigation. After seeing such potential disregard for the security of others outside Ave, and the excessive self-centered regard for breach of security from a devoted internal employee and co-founder like Safranek, who can trust Tom Monaghan's idiosyncratic and self-serving notions of "security"? Whose interests are central in the administration of security by "Our King"? What will Minick and his personnel do in a situation where a compromise in security serves the interests or directives of "Their King"?
Woman Kneels Before Monaghan
Wed, Sep12, 2007
The following is, by far, the most commonly heard
"insider" story concerning Tom Monaghan. Ask a past
or present employee from any of the Ave Maria
entities about this story, and he or she will
probably be familiar with it. Multiple current and
former employees have offered AveWatch corroborating
accounts. Yet, to date, it remains unpublished.
Tom Monaghan is a staunch believer and enforcer of dress codes, particularly for women. In large and small meetings, Monaghan has been asked by female employees if they could wear slacks in lieu of the required skirts/dresses on winter days when bitter sub-zero wind-chills whip through Michigan. This was a significant safety concern for women who needed to do regular travel on the snow-covered roads of Michigan as part of their employment responsibilities. Monaghan's response was a consistent "no" to slacks; however, he would "allow" women to wear slacks into and out-of the building if they immediately changed into their dress in the bathroom upon entering the building.
But, requiring a dress or skirt was not enough for Mr. Monaghan. It had to be of a 'proper' length at/below the knees.
Shirley Daum was a married mother who worked at Domino Farms. According to co-workers and friends, she was a solid employee who "always acted professionally" and was "a cheerful and delightful person to be around". As the account goes, in Mr. Monaghan's outer office area, he noticed one day that Daum was wearing a skirt whose length might not have met the knee dress code. In the presence of other employees, Monaghan then proceeded to tell Daum to kneel in front of him so that he could determine whether the skirt touched the floor and was subsequently in compliance with the dress code.
Can you imagine the humiliation of a married woman being told by her boss to kneel in his presence, in front of co-workers? To be clear, AveWatch is not implying that the instruction to kneel was done with sexual intent. But, it doesn't need to be overtly sexual to be humiliating. It should also be remembered that a perpetrator's private "intent" is not necessarily transferable to a participant or observer who may have very different perceptions about the intent.
AveWatch asked Daum's former co-workers if she did anything to provoke such treatment, or if she dressed provocatively? "That depends upon whose definition of 'provocative' you're referring to," said a current employee who wished to remain anonymous. "It seems that anything straying from drab 'Catholic Amish' garb doesn't fit with Mr. Monaghan's taste for women and is thus 'provoking'. He appears to be intimidated by attractive women who dress smart, sharp, or snappy. I would not call her dress provocative by any normal person's definition of the word." Former employees corrobrate this account, telling AveWatch that Daum "always dressed very professionally".
There is a great contradiction between Monaghan's apparent need to exert control over his real-life local female employees and with his willingness to interview for a sexed-up fantasy-making magazine like GQ.. a magazine that he'd likely not tolerate a female employee posing for (or a male employee reading while at Ave Maria). A popular story, told with a chortle, at Ave Maria School of Law is Monaghan's yearly suggestion to students that they spend $10,000 to get their wardrobe started. His focus on clothes adds to the notion that Monaghan is perpetually more concerned with style and perception over substance.
AveWatch readers should ask which of the following begins to rise to the level of harassment and "intimidation" - a pat on the arm with a smile and 'Good morning', or telling a subordinate to kneel in the presence of co-workers?
Tom Monaghan is a staunch believer and enforcer of dress codes, particularly for women. In large and small meetings, Monaghan has been asked by female employees if they could wear slacks in lieu of the required skirts/dresses on winter days when bitter sub-zero wind-chills whip through Michigan. This was a significant safety concern for women who needed to do regular travel on the snow-covered roads of Michigan as part of their employment responsibilities. Monaghan's response was a consistent "no" to slacks; however, he would "allow" women to wear slacks into and out-of the building if they immediately changed into their dress in the bathroom upon entering the building.
But, requiring a dress or skirt was not enough for Mr. Monaghan. It had to be of a 'proper' length at/below the knees.
Shirley Daum was a married mother who worked at Domino Farms. According to co-workers and friends, she was a solid employee who "always acted professionally" and was "a cheerful and delightful person to be around". As the account goes, in Mr. Monaghan's outer office area, he noticed one day that Daum was wearing a skirt whose length might not have met the knee dress code. In the presence of other employees, Monaghan then proceeded to tell Daum to kneel in front of him so that he could determine whether the skirt touched the floor and was subsequently in compliance with the dress code.
Can you imagine the humiliation of a married woman being told by her boss to kneel in his presence, in front of co-workers? To be clear, AveWatch is not implying that the instruction to kneel was done with sexual intent. But, it doesn't need to be overtly sexual to be humiliating. It should also be remembered that a perpetrator's private "intent" is not necessarily transferable to a participant or observer who may have very different perceptions about the intent.
AveWatch asked Daum's former co-workers if she did anything to provoke such treatment, or if she dressed provocatively? "That depends upon whose definition of 'provocative' you're referring to," said a current employee who wished to remain anonymous. "It seems that anything straying from drab 'Catholic Amish' garb doesn't fit with Mr. Monaghan's taste for women and is thus 'provoking'. He appears to be intimidated by attractive women who dress smart, sharp, or snappy. I would not call her dress provocative by any normal person's definition of the word." Former employees corrobrate this account, telling AveWatch that Daum "always dressed very professionally".
There is a great contradiction between Monaghan's apparent need to exert control over his real-life local female employees and with his willingness to interview for a sexed-up fantasy-making magazine like GQ.. a magazine that he'd likely not tolerate a female employee posing for (or a male employee reading while at Ave Maria). A popular story, told with a chortle, at Ave Maria School of Law is Monaghan's yearly suggestion to students that they spend $10,000 to get their wardrobe started. His focus on clothes adds to the notion that Monaghan is perpetually more concerned with style and perception over substance.
AveWatch readers should ask which of the following begins to rise to the level of harassment and "intimidation" - a pat on the arm with a smile and 'Good morning', or telling a subordinate to kneel in the presence of co-workers?
USAToday Article
Wed, Aug01, 2007
"Most complaints can be boiled down to one thing:
Monaghan, who is the university's primary donor and
chancellor, has too much control over an institution
of higher education, of which shared governance is a
hallmark."
USAToday full text.
USAToday full text.
Whistleblower Legal Fund Announced
Wed, Jun20, 2007
Bleed 'em to death in court.
That's the deep-pockets approach to Catholic social justice of billionaire Tom Monaghan. AveWatch has been following Monaghan's attempt to block Katherine Ernsting's wrongful termination suit from going to trial [1,2,3] . Ernsting was fired from Ave Maria shortly after she reported illegal distribution of student federal aid on the start-up Florida campus. Her reports to federal investigators lead, in part, to a $259,000 payback levied by the Department of Education against Monaghan.
Ernsting fulfilled her duty as Financial Aid Officer and saved many thousands of dollars in illegal taxpayer aid from propping billionaire Monaghan's Florida venture. Unlike Tom Monaghan, Ernsting does not have a donor base that will fund stall tactics in court. Unlike Monaghan, she does not have booming for-profit businesses, personal investments, and a bank tied to south Florida's real estate development. Many of Ernsting's Ave Maria colleagues are limited in their ability to help after their signing of a non-disparagement agreement to secure severance payment from Ave.
With one hand, Tom Monaghan equates donations to himself as donations to "the Church" that are "for the good of your soul". With the other hand, Monaghan denies a fellow Catholic and dedicated employee the justice of having her case heard before a judge. When asked about examining the merits of Ernsting's case in court, Monaghan's lawyer admitted "We hope we don't get to that point" (Naples News, March 24, 2007). Will Catholics be content to stand for this duplicity?
Today, Ernsting's friends announce the creation of a legal expense fund to help cover the costs incurred to get the case before a judge (which, after two years and thousands in court costs, still has not happened).
This is an opportunity to have Tom Monaghan and his administrators explain their governance and employee treatment tactics under oath. Light disinfects.
Click below for additional information on how to help.More...
Donate "For The Good of Your Soul"
Tue, Jun19, 2007
Here is the verbatim reply card from a May 18, 2007
Ave Maria University fundraising letter signed by Tom
Monaghan (underline and bold
are part of the original):
Dear Mr. Monaghan,
Yes, I will pray, fast and give alms to see Ave Maria University succeed, to do my part to build the Church, for the good of my soul. To become a 2007 Supporter of this life-changing effort, and to receive my free gift, enclosed is [blank].
Giving to Ave Maria...
... for the good of your soul?!
... is doing your part to build the Church?!
... qualifies as alms-giving?! (1,2)
What's next, a revival of Bill Clinton's "New Covenant"?
Additional Church-related excerpts can be seen by clicking below.
Readers of the letter are also struck by the "I's" found in nearly every sentence of the 4-page letter. Despite the ample public criticism that links Ave Maria's problems directly to Monaghan's sole-proprietary (soul-proprietary?) governance, this fundraising letter clearly shows Monaghan's answer to his woes - - even more Monaghan! The reply envelope is even addressed "Attention: Tom Monaghan".
It is difficult to know whether Monaghan is using these faith-laden words as mere rhetorical devices to raise money for his "brand" - a "brand" that capitalizes on an honored reference to The Blessed Virgin - or whether Monaghan is genuinely confusing his white collar for another kind of white collar.
Either explanation is debasing and should give Catholics pause.More...
Dear Mr. Monaghan,
Yes, I will pray, fast and give alms to see Ave Maria University succeed, to do my part to build the Church, for the good of my soul. To become a 2007 Supporter of this life-changing effort, and to receive my free gift, enclosed is [blank].
Giving to Ave Maria...
... for the good of your soul?!
... is doing your part to build the Church?!
... qualifies as alms-giving?! (1,2)
What's next, a revival of Bill Clinton's "New Covenant"?
Additional Church-related excerpts can be seen by clicking below.
Readers of the letter are also struck by the "I's" found in nearly every sentence of the 4-page letter. Despite the ample public criticism that links Ave Maria's problems directly to Monaghan's sole-proprietary (soul-proprietary?) governance, this fundraising letter clearly shows Monaghan's answer to his woes - - even more Monaghan! The reply envelope is even addressed "Attention: Tom Monaghan".
It is difficult to know whether Monaghan is using these faith-laden words as mere rhetorical devices to raise money for his "brand" - a "brand" that capitalizes on an honored reference to The Blessed Virgin - or whether Monaghan is genuinely confusing his white collar for another kind of white collar.
Either explanation is debasing and should give Catholics pause.More...
AveWatch Exposé Makes Front Page!
Fri, May25, 2007
Fumare Rolls On
Tue, May22, 2007
Fumare, a blog on Catholic law and culture, has done
much to expose the administrative handling of Ave
Maria School of Law. Today's three posts continue to
take Ave Maria to the woodshed; they're worth a look.
Comments posted at Fumare (aka "puffs of smoke") are
always lively.
May 12 National Law Journal Article on AMSOL [go]
Fumare dissects the illogical statements of administrators from a recent National Law Journal article on AMSL.
Is Tom Monaghan the Next Harry John? [go]
Harry John was the eccentric Catholic heir to the Miller Brewing Company. Is history repeating itself with Tom Monaghan?
Robotski Falls out of Gate, Fails Torts, Gets hit with the Pitch [go]
Fumare shreds a recent letter from Charles W. Roboski, Associate Dean for Admissions and External Affairs, that attempts to spank AMSL alumni for opposition to Monaghan's governance.
May 12 National Law Journal Article on AMSOL [go]
Fumare dissects the illogical statements of administrators from a recent National Law Journal article on AMSL.
Is Tom Monaghan the Next Harry John? [go]
Harry John was the eccentric Catholic heir to the Miller Brewing Company. Is history repeating itself with Tom Monaghan?
Robotski Falls out of Gate, Fails Torts, Gets hit with the Pitch [go]
Fumare shreds a recent letter from Charles W. Roboski, Associate Dean for Admissions and External Affairs, that attempts to spank AMSL alumni for opposition to Monaghan's governance.
That Ball Is Looong Gone
Wed, May16, 2007
According to the Detroit News, author and baseball historian Curt Smith said of Harwell's firing, "Bo Schembechler and Tom Monaghan should be ashamed of themselves. You cannot overestimate the damage this has done to the Tigers. If you are a businessman, you don't fire your best asset."
Sound familiar?
Roger McCaffrey, Publisher of Roman Catholic Books and former AMU employee, recently said "How do you recommend a University whose leaders behave as they did in firing their best friend, their most loyal and devoted player [Fr. Fessio]?"
The handling of Harwell by Monaghan was a foretaste of things to come, managerially.More...
OSV: Reckless "Holy Entrepeneurship"
Tue, Apr10, 2007
April 8, 2007 - "If I Were A Rich
Man"
by Greg Erlandson, President and Publisher of Our Sunday Visitor
"Those whom the gods wish to destroy, they first introduce to Tom Monaghan."
The fact that a large Catholic publisher is now willing to openly discuss Monaghan's management is even more significant than the pubisher's analysis; to date, Catholic media has largely avoided the story, save a few small brave "orthodox" publishers.
Access to the full OSV article requires a subscription, but "fair-use" excerpts can be found at this link:More...
by Greg Erlandson, President and Publisher of Our Sunday Visitor
"Those whom the gods wish to destroy, they first introduce to Tom Monaghan."
The fact that a large Catholic publisher is now willing to openly discuss Monaghan's management is even more significant than the pubisher's analysis; to date, Catholic media has largely avoided the story, save a few small brave "orthodox" publishers.
Access to the full OSV article requires a subscription, but "fair-use" excerpts can be found at this link:More...
AveWatch Site Reorganized
Tue, Mar06, 2007
The website's content was re-organized. All entries
are now recorded as posts; prior to this, some
entries (particularly the early ones) were recorded
on a topic page.
If you have any pages bookmarked, please update them.
If you have any pages bookmarked, please update them.
Developments
Mon, Feb26, 2007
Two weeks ago, Ave Maria School of Law and AMU
officials held press conferences to announce the
closure of AMSL in Ann Arbor, and the subsequent
opening of another law school in Ave Maria Town, Tom
Monaghan's south Florida real estate venture.
Monaghan's action, interpreted by many fence-sitters
as "premature", did much to galvanize opposition to
his governance.
This post summarizes several Ave Maria developments since then:
+ Update: AMU Chair Resignation
+ News stories from other media
+ "The Root of the Problem"
+ Update: The Hypocrisy of SizeMore...
This post summarizes several Ave Maria developments since then:
+ Update: AMU Chair Resignation
+ News stories from other media
+ "The Root of the Problem"
+ Update: The Hypocrisy of SizeMore...
Lunch on B
Thu, Nov09, 2006
Avewatch readers find the following "odd" -
AMU Chancellor meets with the Pope
"During the Holy Father’s weekly general audience, Monaghan had the opportunity to present Pope Benedict with an envelope containing Legatus’ annual tithe."
Comments received:
+ "What would the Holy Father do with such an envelope at a general audience? Back pocket?"
+ "It would be safe to assume that his left hand knew what his right hand was doing, along with everyone else in the press release."
+ "The general audience is not a Jerry Lewis Telethon. 'Do that board, Ed! Yeah!' [queue music, What the World Needs Now]
+ "This was as much of a "meeting with the Pope" as the Swiss youth hostel, the Philipino nun, and the ageing Knight of Lutonia had just beyond the camera frame."
+ "Does this now make TWO 'Friends of Benedict' at AMU?"
AMU Chancellor meets with the Pope
"During the Holy Father’s weekly general audience, Monaghan had the opportunity to present Pope Benedict with an envelope containing Legatus’ annual tithe."
Comments received:
+ "What would the Holy Father do with such an envelope at a general audience? Back pocket?"
+ "It would be safe to assume that his left hand knew what his right hand was doing, along with everyone else in the press release."
+ "The general audience is not a Jerry Lewis Telethon. 'Do that board, Ed! Yeah!' [queue music, What the World Needs Now]
+ "This was as much of a "meeting with the Pope" as the Swiss youth hostel, the Philipino nun, and the ageing Knight of Lutonia had just beyond the camera frame."
+ "Does this now make TWO 'Friends of Benedict' at AMU?"
Hurt so good
Thu, Aug17, 2006
Is AMU being hurt by the reporting of events in the
media? Apparently not.
July 2006, New York Times, by Susan Hansen: "Mr. Healy, the university president, and Mr. Novak, the trustee, denied that that the controversy had hurt fund-raising efforts. We havent seen any decline in our support at all, Mr. Healy said, adding that the extra attention could even help. The more publicity there is, he said, the better off you are."
July 2006, New York Times, by Susan Hansen: "Mr. Healy, the university president, and Mr. Novak, the trustee, denied that that the controversy had hurt fund-raising efforts. We havent seen any decline in our support at all, Mr. Healy said, adding that the extra attention could even help. The more publicity there is, he said, the better off you are."
Welcome
Thu, Aug17, 2006
The purpose of this site is to serve the public good
as a news repository reporting on the activities of
Tom Monaghan, his Ave Maria Foundation (AMF), and
AMF's "entities" (i.e. The Town of Ave Maria,
Florida; Ave Maria School of Law; Ave Maria
University; Ave Maria College; Ave Maria School of
the Americas, Nicaragua; etc.). This site is
interested in organizing a record of
events through first-hand accounts and testimony; it
will leave 'pro' and 'con' commentary to the other
websites and media outlets that take an interest in
this ever-expanding story.
This site is an effort in investigative journalism and, as such, is unaffiliated with AMF or any entity funded by AMF or Tom Monaghan. The contents of the site are protected under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical 2.5 license (see page footer) unless otherwise noted or superceded. Please use the site's contact form to submit news and input; any submission may be posted at the sole discretion of the site administrator. If you wish to submit a PDF document or photo, indicate this on the contact form; further instructions will follow.
This site is an effort in investigative journalism and, as such, is unaffiliated with AMF or any entity funded by AMF or Tom Monaghan. The contents of the site are protected under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical 2.5 license (see page footer) unless otherwise noted or superceded. Please use the site's contact form to submit news and input; any submission may be posted at the sole discretion of the site administrator. If you wish to submit a PDF document or photo, indicate this on the contact form; further instructions will follow.