The Ave Herald

The Cardinal Newman Society, which had previously expressed concerns about the naming of an athletic facility for philanthropist Tom Golisano, now says that it is "relieved and grateful" that Mr. Golisano has put in writing his views that he is staunchly against legalized abortion. The society, which publishes The Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College, issued a statement on its website following the release of a letter from Mr. Golisano to Ave Maria University in which the donor says he is "pro-life now and has always been pro-life."

“Having great hope for the future of Ave Maria University and sharing its commitment to faithful Catholic education, I am relieved and grateful that Mr. Golisano has publicly opposed legalized abortion," Newman Society president Patrick J. Reilly said in the statement. "This is the best possible outcome of a situation that helps demonstrate the importance of Catholic institutions refusing honors for public opponents of fundamental Catholic teachings and avoiding even the appearance of compromising Catholic identity.”

Mr. Golisano donated $4 million to AMU last month for construction of an athletic building that will be named in his honor. The Newman Society, in a statement issued just before Thanksgiving, had expressed reservations about the university's decision to name a building for a person who they said had not issued a clear statement about his views on abortion.

In the letter released by Ave Maria University and available here on the Cardinal Newman Society website, Mr. Golisano says, "I am pro-life now and have always been pro-life" and states that a New York Times article published 15 years ago when he was running for governor of New York misinterpreted his position on abortion.

For previous Ave Herald stories, click here for the original story on the Cardinal Newman's Society's first statement on the matter, and here for Ave Maria University's reaction.

Click here for the full text of the statement by the Cardinal Newman Society.