Religion & Law

Just a quick comment on Amy's post. I do think that dialogue is a good thing and so I think it entirely appropriate to have Peter Singer at a Catholic university to debate euthanasia or infanticide or to publish works by him in its law review. I don't think, however, that decisions to award an honorary degree are the occasions to affirm a school's commitment to dialogue. I don't think honoring someone such as Peter Singer (and I realize that Amy didn't suggest him) would be perceived as an invitation to dialogue. It would likely be perceived as an endorsement of his work or if not an endorsement then at least an indication that his views (although in tension with the views of the Church) are not sufficiently troublesome to preclude him from being honored.  

Richard M.