Catholic University nixes lectures at last minute due to charges of antisemitim

Forwarded to me by a CUA student, a bit of a situation is developing, and the WaTi has the scoop:

Catholic University abruptly canceled an 11-part lecture series, "Building Catholic Communities," on Monday, after the Southern Poverty Law Center complained that two of the scheduled lecturers are anti-Semites.

But look who was found to be offensive:

Mark Potok, director of the SPLC's Intelligence Project, called the school to complain about the participation of E. Michael Jones, editor of the South Bend, Ind.-based Culture Wars magazine, and John Sharpe, founder of the Norfolk-based IHS Press and the Legion of St. Louis, an Internet-based forum.

E. Michael Jones isn't happy:

Mr. Jones, who was to speak today on the nature of community, called the cancellation "outrageous."

"We were Catholics talking to other Catholics about community. The SPLC has veto power over what Catholics say to each other, all because of the cowards at Catholic University. Don't you think they owed me the courtesy of at least calling me up? Wasn't there any due process here?"

Mr. Jones also denied the SPLC's accusations against him.

"Everything I have said is totally consistent with the teachings of the Catholic Church," he said. "There is nothing anti-Semitic about anything I have ever said. And I reject racism."

The topics appeared harmless enough:

The lecture series, described at www.building catholiccommunities.org, covered topics such as Catholic doctrine and co-housing, a form of clustered housing that originated several decades ago in Sweden. Mr. Jones was to speak today on the nature of community; Mr. Sharpe was scheduled to speak April 23 on property ownership. [update: more information on the lectures and presenters here.]

Action by CUA was swift:

The SPLC contacted the university at about 3:30 p.m., he said, right in the middle of the first lecture of the series, featuring Alan C. Carlson, president of the Howard Center in Rockford, Ill. By 5 p.m., the series was canceled.

The Washington Times article concludes:

The university's sudden cancellation Monday afternoon left organizers scrambling yesterday for a venue. Today's lecture will take place at 5:30 p.m. at the Catholic Information Center, downtown at 1501 K St. NW.

In other words, this radical and rapid change of venue at a Catholic institution was brought about by the sole protest of SPLC (see SPLC in the news). Can you imagine any other complaint receiving such prompt attention?

And what abou the SPLC? Their wikipedia entry, for instance, does not paint a glowing picture of the organization, most notably, the center has often been characterized as "controversial, liberal", and often sides with the state against the church. It has also "been criticized for its tactics financial practices."

On the SPLC blog today ("HateWatch"), they give their version of the lecture cancellation:

A lecture series featuring presentations by two virulently anti-Semitic “radical traditionalist Catholics” was cancelled by The Catholic University of America on Monday after Hatewatch contacted the university to ask about the events. Radical traditionalist Catholics (read a major investigation of this theology here) deny certain Vatican teachings, particularly the Second Vatican Council’s reforms of the 1960s, and most hold anti-Semitic views that are rejected by the Roman Catholic Church. Many radical traditionalists have been excommunicated by the church.

... According to Victor Nakas, associate vice president of public affairs, the university was unaware of Jones’ anti-Semitic views. Shortly after Hatewatch contacted him to inquire about the lecture series’ sponsorship, [VP of CUA public affairs] Nakas sent an E-mail saying, “The individuals you reference below will not be speaking on our campus.”

Heidi Beirich, who authored the above post, also wrote "The New Crusaders: The radical traditionalist Catholics, who reject the teachings of the modern papacy, may form America's largest group of anti-Semites" (warning, harsh quoted language).

In the article she identifies SSPX as a "font of anti-Semitic propaganda" which (she elsewhere says) has "little in common with the modern Roman Catholic Church and its universalistic theology." For the record, the Catholic Church is not "universalistic."

She also claims that some radical traditionalists are "movers and shakers in important right-wing Republican circles". An example of this? "[T]he lawyer for Terri Schiavo's family, Christopher Ferrara."

Anyway, you get the picture, and are more than welcome to read the rest, I only had time to skim.

My concluding thoughts:

• Antisemitism, it goes without saying, is wrong, and a Catholic university should not countenance it.
• It is not clear to me, however, that the charge of antisemitism leveled against these two men has been validated. On this point, I call into question the objectivity of SPLC (watch me get on their list).
• At any rate, this situation seems to have been handled hastily, poorly, and lacked transparency.
• Furthermore, if the CIC did pick up the program, it seems they disagree with CUA's assesment.

Now here's how you can help: do you have independent experience of E. Michael Jones (and Culture Wars) or John Sharpe (and IHS Press)? I have heard of Culture Wars before, and have heard that E. Michael Jones certainly has his quirks, but nothing so damning as him being a raging anti-semite. I seem to remember hearing some decent things about IHS Press, but have never heard of John Sharpe personally.

I'd like a second take on these men (or several).