Ave Maria University recently honored billionaire political activist Tom Golisano by naming a building after him.  AveWatch has been documenting how the sociopolitical activities of the thrice-divorced Golisano conflict with Catholic Church teaching.  See:

• Ave Maria University’s Golisano and NARAL Both Endorsed the Same 50 NY Politicians Last Year
• Ave Maria’s $4 Million Donor Gave $1 Million for Obama Coronation
• Ave Maria Priest Gives Pro-Choice Donor Standing Ovation
• Ave Maria University Donor:  “… I’m pro-choice.”
• Who is Tom Golisano? – Ave Maria University’s New Face
• Who is Tom Golisano?

Did AMU know prior to the November 5 “Tom Golisano Field House” press conference that many people would object to a “Catholic” university honoring a man who recently gave millions to NARAL-endorsed pro-abortion politicians?

From a November 3, 2009 memo to University Council (formatting as per document):

Golisano: Recommendation from R. Falls

I recommend we come up with a single positioning statement that Ave Maria leadership can refer to with regard to any and all questions regarding other entities that Mr. Golisano has contributed funds to in the past that may be contrary to the mission of Ave Maria (or any positions he has held politically).  Please keep in mind, that if we don’t like the premise of a question – we can always change the premise.

“Let me state how pleased and grateful we are to Mr. Golisano for his generosity and his obvious support of our mission.  A gift of this magnitude is a clear demonstration of a personal commitment he has made to Ave Maria which encompasses our curriculum, our core values and our dedication to the teachings of the Church.”

It all comes down to how pressing the media might be regarding his other contributions (or positions) that may be contrary to AMU’s mission.  This statement is strong because it focuses on two primary messages:

1. Our gratitude for the gift
2. Dedication to our mission

We can precede our answer above with a dismissal of a premise by saying:

“I think that question is not applicable to what we are celebrating today.”

I think it is just the best way out of the situation.  Otherwise they will just pick apart any other answer we give them.

UPDATE, 11/17/09 – Last night, Naples’ Fox 4 News ran its third video on the indefinite ban of a Catholic newspaper reporter and Ave Maria Town resident from Ave Maria University’s campus.  The campus ban was enacted just hours before the Golisano press conference.  One student said to Fox News “It seems like this school has tried to put down and silence people who may be critical of it.” (commentary at Fumare here and here)

(AveWatch concedes that AMU and Robert Falls are acting in what they see as the best interests of the University.  Nothing on this site implies anything to the contrary.)

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 at 7:15 am and is filed under Golisano, University. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.