Majerus abortion rights comment gets St. Louis bishop's attention

[rpannier]

ST. LOUIS -- A Roman Catholic archbishop said Tuesday that he will ask officials of Saint Louis University to take "appropriate action" against its basketball coach, who said in a television interview that he supports abortion rights.

snip

St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke declined to say what the action against Majerus should be, saying that was a decision for the Jesuit university. But he said the coach is a leader and shouldn't support views in opposition to church teaching.


"I'm concerned that a leader at a Catholic university made these comments. It can lead Catholics astray," Burke said by telephone as he attended March for Life anti-abortion events in Washington. "I just believe that it's of the essence for people to understand as a Catholic you just cannot hold these beliefs."

snip

During an interview with KMOV-TV at Saturday's Clinton rally in suburban St. Louis, the first-year Billikens coach identified himself as a Catholic and called himself pro-choice. At first when asked for his views on abortion, he said he didn't want to "go there," but then said he is personally "pro-choice."

link:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3210049


interesting:
Basketball coach Rick Majerus has that kind of power that he can lead Catholics astray with his comments.
Sounds like the Cardinal has a very low opinion of either Catholics or the Clergy -- or both.

[gollygee]

1. "You can't hold these beliefs"

Huh?

[Warpy]

2. It sounds like the Cardinal is upset with that Catholic teaching

to listen to that small voice within when it comes to moral guidance. They'd rather have Catholics listen to the bellowing clergy.

And they wonder why I left.

[KamaAina]

3. Can state universities then take "appropriate action" against fundie coaches

who promote their brand of Christianity in their locker rooms (i.e. public facilities)? Florida State's Bobby Bowden and Georgia's Mark Richt (whose case I have been on since well before the Sugar Bowl :-) ) are two well-known offenders.

[LisaM]

4. Yeah, well where are the Catholic bishops when football games have flyovers

which are pretty pro-war if you ask me. I am a Catholic, and I can't bear this nonsense. OK to support the war, OK to support the death penalty - many coaches do at least the former openly, and it's against church doctrine too.

My dad somehow knows who all the liberal coaches are - he pointed out Lloyd Carr and Majerus both to me some time ago.

[gratuitous]

5. What's the Catholic position on the zone defense?

Gift from God or Deceit from the Very Pit of Hell? How about the box-and-one? Should the three-point line be moved out, like, to half court? Dammit, the Catholic Church needs to get its dogma straightened the fuck out, if you ask me! How will I know if I'm enjoying a basketball game if it doesn't conform in all points to the official Catholic stance?

[underpants]

8. I blame Digger Phelps

he COULD HAVE done something about this when he was at Notre Dame and clearly chose not to

Very funny gratuitous O8)

[Nailzberg]

6. Well, it is a private, religious institution. I'm sure they can take action somehow.

I don't know the particulars of Majerus's contract, but I'd have to imagine that school has th ability to censure him somehow.

But good luck attracting another high caliber coach like majerus if you send the nuns after him with their rulers.

And what the hell is a Billiken, while we're at it?

[rpannier]

7. Here

It seems to be based directly on the Japanese "Piriken or "Pilliken" of Osaka.

"Biliken - the god of things as they ought to be"

Billiken was considered a good luck charm during Billikenmania in 1909 and 1910

[FredScuttle]

9. If Majerus truly has the power to lead Catholics with his comments...

His next quote should be "Hey Father - hands off the altar boys' peepees, you fucking pervert!"

Funny how Archbishop Burke doesn't have a solitary word to say about that.