FUMARE

Ave Maria Law Student Charged With Attempted Murder

2012-01-20T10:43:00.006-05:00

This horrifying story needs its own post. Ave Maria School of Law student Robert Ringley is charged with attempted murder and with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, for his actions towards two fellow Ave Maria Law classmates. In a drunken rage, the accused took a gun, forced his two classmates on to their knees and threatened to kill them, and actually shot at one (but fortunately missed).

The Naples News has all the details. He's being held on a $1 million bond.

Above the Law has three articles with lots more details and information:
First, an article about the incident and a copy of the arrest report.
Second, some personal information about the accused.
Third, copies of emails sent by Dean Milhizer about the situation.

According to Dean Milhizer's emails, Ringley has "permanently withdrawn" from AMSOL and is barred from campus. But the Naples News reported that in August 2010, Ringley was convicted of a misdemeanor DUI and sentenced to 12 months' probation and 50 hours of community service hours. Did AMSOL know about this?

More Gyrene Burger

2011-11-29T13:19:00.003-05:00

I've been alerted in the comments to another Naples News article about Gyrene Burger. The article has new details about the venture:

The new fast-food concept will offer two types of burgers, with no substitutions: The classic with ketchup, mustard and pickle and the deluxe with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise. Each will cost about $6. Both burgers will have double Angus beef patties, plus cheese and bacon.
.......
One of their latest ideas is to put the delivery drivers on scooters to ensure they don't speed. The scooters will be rugged-looking to match Gyrene Burger's military theme. Deliveries will only be made 1.5 miles from the store and drivers will carry only one order at a time.

I like this line:

Monaghan's protege, Adrian Martinez, who will be the manager of the first store, said the concept is constantly evolving. "No good idea is dismissed," he said.

Finally, a small revealing glimpse into what makes Tom Monaghan tick:

As word has spread about his new venture, Monaghan said some have questioned him about whether it will work, especially with only two choices on the menu. "We'll make it work," he said, adding that an accountant once told him he couldn't make any money in the pizza delivery business.

Good luck with the business! Our Florida readers will have to give us a full review when the store opens on December 12.

2011 Ave Maria Law Alumni Board Elections

2011-11-23T14:48:00.002-05:00

The Ave Maria Law Alumni Board Elections have started. Here's an open thread for discussion on the candidates, etc.

Marine Corps Birthday and Gyrene Burger

2011-11-21T10:08:00.009-05:00

The Ave Herald has a report of the Marine Corps Birthday party organized at Ave Maria University. Gyrene Burgers were served, and they were a hit!

An interesting excerpt from the article:

[Monaghan] has two stores planned to open in the next few months in Naples, and hopes to build a franchise business. At first, he said, he will offer franchises "exclusively to former Marine Corps officers and Ave Maria University graduates." "The venture is to provide funds for Ave Maria University," Mr. Monaghan said, "And I hope it is as successful as the pizza business was for me."

So we've got a birthday party for the Marines held on Ave Maria's campus, at a yearly ball to raise scholarship funds for Marine veterans to attend Ave Maria, with a menu served by Gyrene Burger, which is styled and named after the Marines and which shares the same name as Ave Maria's school name and mascot (which in turn is a mascot that looks like that of the Marines), and which are going to be created at franchises operated only by Marines or Ave Maria graduates (at least at first), in order to fund Ave Maria. I used to be sad about this identity crisis, but now I'm just completely amused. There is an underlying common denominator here, but I'll let you guess what (or better yet, who) that is.

Towey Inauguration and Catholic Recognition at AMU

2011-10-13T11:06:00.004-04:00

Jim Towey was recently inaugurated as the new president of Ave Maria University. On the same occasion, local Bishop Frank Dewane recognized AMU as a Catholic university. An excerpt of Towey's inaugural address is here.

Discuss away!

Coming soon: Gyrene Hamburger!

2011-09-26T09:40:00.003-04:00

Tom Monaghan has another business venture, reports the Naples News: gourmet hamburgers. Here's an excerpt, but the whole article is a must-read.

He calls his new venture Gyrene Hamburger. The name gyrene is given to Ave Maria's sports teams. It's a nickname for a Marine, thought to have come from a combination of "GI" and "Marine."
........

In the 1950s, Monaghan spent three years in the Marine Corps. Suiting its name, the new hamburger business will have a warrior-like feel. Employees will wear camouflage uniforms and the store, he promises, will be as spotless as barracks. The drivers will be known as gyrene joggers and the managers will be captains. There will be an extensive training program, called the burger boot camp.

"Everybody is going to be referred to as sir or ma'am," Monaghan said of his customers. "Then we're going to salute you, and you're going to be on your way."

No surprise, he’s already thinking about growing the business.

"We will franchise, but not immediately," a confident Monaghan said. "This first store is a test. If there’s anyone who knows how to grow an organization it's me."

He thinks the business could be even bigger than Domino's one day, with 6,000 stores in the U.S. alone, and that many or more in the rest of the world.
..........

Gyrene Hamburger will only sell hamburgers, which will make the operation run more efficiently and speed delivery. There will be no sides and no drinks.

There will be two hamburger choices, with each burger costing a little less than $6: The classic with ketchup, mustard and pickle and the deluxe with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise. Both hamburgers will have double Angus beef patties, plus cheese and bacon.

"That's it. No substitutes," Monaghan said.

Asked how he would compete with the big hamburger chains, like McDonald's and Burger King, he said: "Our edge is delivery."

"Sending Tom Daily Reports"

2011-09-24T18:28:00.005-04:00

Does anyone still think that Tom Monaghan is only a donor, and not the one who governs Ave Maria? Ave Herald has an article with a revealing comment from former AMU president Nick Healy:

Mr. Healy had just started his second retirement, and during the course of the conversation, Mr. Monaghan asked him to assume the role of president himself - just for a year.

"It started as 'interim,' then became 'indefinite'," Mr. Healy said, as efforts to recruit another president were unsuccessful.

"Traditional academics might not like the structure - like sending Tom daily reports," Mr. Healy said.

Ave Law Bar Passage Rate For July 2011

2011-09-20T15:01:00.011-04:00

The July 2011 Florida Bar results are out. The Florida Board of Bar Examiners has not yet posted the statistics, but this site and this site are reporting the following:

[UPDATE. The Florida Board of Bar Examiners has confirmed the statistics (though there is a minor discrepancy for the number of Florida State passers.) I'll use the Florida Board's statistics, and add the statistic for non-Florida law schools.]

Florida International University, 89.6% (120 of 134)

University of Florida, 89.1% (285 of 320)

Florida State University, 88.3% (182 of 206)

Stetson University, 87.7% (185 of 211)

Nova Southeastern University, 87.4% (201 of 230)

University of Miami, 82.6% (237 of 287)

FLORIDA LAW SCHOOLS, 82.2% (1694 of 2062)

ALL LAW SCHOOLS, 80.1% (2314 of 2890)

St. Thomas University, 77.9% (113 of 145)

NON-FLORIDA LAW SCHOOLS, 74.9% (620 of 828)

Florida Coastal, 74.6% (179 of 240)

Barry University, 70.3% (104 of 148)

Florida A&M University, 65.3% (77 of 118)

Ave Maria, 47.8% (11 of 23)

------

It's interesting to compare these results with those of last year.

UPDATE: From the comment thread, a news article about Ave Maria's results with comments from Professor Charlie Rice.

Do I still have posting privileges here?

2011-06-19T20:51:00.001-04:00

Just checking. I've been sorta out of the loop, so I figured I'd check to make sure this forum was still available to me if I wanted to opine on some major topic. the 2012 elections are coming up, after all...

Jury Finds Against Monaghan In Ave Maria College Whistleblower Suit

2011-05-05T09:13:00.003-04:00

From the Detroit News: "A Washtenaw County jury Wednesday awarded almost $418,000 to a former Ave Maria College administrator who sued the school for firing her in retaliation for cooperating with federal investigators who found financial aid violations."

2012 U.S. News Rankings - AMSL Still At Bottom

2011-03-15T09:35:00.005-04:00

This year's U.S. News Rankings are out. Yes, AMSL is still Tier 4.

Tax Prof Blog has a list of the most interesting factor, peer reputation, as this marks a law school's reputation in the law school community. If you recall, AMSL's reputation has steadily dropped over the years, until last year's ignominious results, when AMSL dropped to 1.2 out of 5.0 -- and was the only school in the country to hold that lowest score.

What about this year? No improvement. AMSL remains at 1.2. But fortunately for those who are "positively-Ave-Maria", it doesn't look as bad this year, since there are three other schools at 1.2: Barry dropped from 1.3 to 1.2, while Liberty and Phoenix are two newly-accredited law schools who are debuting in the U.S. News at 1.2.

What about the other stats? Anyone have any observations?

Marco Rubio At 2011 Ave Maria Law Commencement

2011-02-25T14:31:00.002-05:00

The Naples News reports that Marco Rubio will be the 2011 commencement speaker at Ave Maria School of Law in May. That is great news for Ave Maria -- Rubio is obviously a big name and an exciting conservative politician. From the Naples News:

Rubio was asked to speak, according to a press release, because of his accomplishments as an attorney and statesman, his faithfulness to the teachings of the Catholic Church and his recognition as a rising figure in American politics.

Since I'm not sure that Rubio is a practicing Catholic, I don't think that he should be lauded as being faithful to the teachings of the Catholic Church. Don't get me wrong - I think Rubio is great - but let's be careful praising him for Catholic fidelity if that is not the case.

Ave Maria Law Backs Out Of Transparency Promise

2011-02-24T10:44:00.005-05:00

Petronius already reported on Ave Maria Law's decision to back out of its commitment to Law School Transparency to disclose employment data. I just wanted to add some highlights.

1. The Law School Transparency site has all the details. And here is Law School Transparency's take:

When Ave Maria originally agreed to comply with the LST Standard, it admitted that the school was not in the practice of providing adequate employment information to prospective students. By waiting until the ABA dictates what Ave Maria must disclose, the school now acknowledges that it is willing to keep its prospective students in the dark.

Ouch.

2. The National Law Journal has an article here, with quotes from Dean Milhizer.

3. A choice quote from Above the Law's commentary:

Guys, this is my bad. I made a mistake. You see, back in September, Ave Maria School of Law said it was going to do something. And me, silly fool that I am, believed them. I know, I know, I’m an idiot. What kind of person actually believes Ave Maria will keep its word?......
It's just amazing to me when an institution of higher education can’t even keep its word....

Ouch again.

4. Here is the Fumare article back in September reporting on Ave Maria Law's decision to join Law School Transparency. In the comments, "The Curling Coach" said: "This may be the first time ever that AMSL and transparency are mentioned in the same sentence."

I guess it was too good to be true.

Above the Law to AMSL: Cowards!

2011-02-23T13:19:00.002-05:00

Rather sad when secular outfits have to tell self-identified Catholic institutions to adhere to the basic precepts of the natural law.

Monaghan To Step Down As AMU's CEO

2011-02-10T14:57:00.006-05:00

The Naples News has the story. Jim Towey will become the next CEO of AMU. He will also become AMU's President, replacing the soon-retiring, Nick Healy. (What's the difference between the jobs?)

Monaghan will retain a role as something of a figurehead and public face of Ave Maria

I wonder how much control Monaghan will continue to exert over AMU's future. All of it, I suspect, as Monaghan is still Chancellor and still controls the purse strings. See Ave Maria School of Law.

Monaghan has had a lifelong interest in architecture, and he said he intends to keep employing that interest through designs for future buildings at the school.

Oh noes! More Frank Lloyd Wright knock-offs!

Michael Novak Laments Ave Maria's Loss Of Jackson Labs

2011-02-02T19:03:00.017-05:00

Michael Novak loves Ave Maria. No problem there - there are some good things about Ave Maria. But sometimes Novak's cheerleading for Ave Maria is giddily over-the-top, in my opinion. And other times, Novak's love for Ave Maria has made him say some very foolish things; in this last example, Novak brushed off the occasion of two law professors being denied tenure undeservingly and on false pretenses, a potential career killer, because the professors were "generously" given a paid year on leave of absence. Novak then insinuated that the dismissal of the third professor, a tenured professor who was terminated for entirely bogus sexual harassment claims, was likely justified and that criticisms to the contrary may be illegitimate.

Fortunately, Novak doesn't stoop as low as that in his most recent Ave Maria article, "Postcard from Florida," but I still find his article disappointing. Novak first praises the new marble Annunciation relief that was placed on the Ave Maria oratory. I'm sure that the sculpture is quite beautiful, but I was amused at Novak's accolades:

Trumpets! Jubilation! That is the mood I felt on watching the last few large blocks of heavy marble being lifted into place on the gothic archway, as the light of the fading sunset reddened the pure white stone, and bystanders and workers cheered in relief after days and days of suspense. The total weight of the marble exceeds 60 tons. One mistake, one sagging line, and the whole project might have been ruined for a long time.

Heh. Is it wrong for me to think that the whole project has been ruined for a long time because of its unfortunate placement on an ugly piece of church architecture?

Novak's article becomes more disappointing when he discusses Ave Maria's loss of Jackson Labs. Novak first says that AMU Professor "Waldstein recently delivered a stirring public defense" of Jackson Labs. I guess Novak didn't read my rebuttal of Waldstein's position. Novak then gives this reason for lamenting the loss of Jackson Labs:

Jackson Labs seems to be moving elsewhere. Some of the faculty here regard this as a great opportunity lost. These visionaries are longing for opportunities to pioneer a new way of addressing new technologies and new empirical methods of inquiry. They hope not to bury their heads in the sand regarding these questions, and not to avoid them, but to study the issues from a fresh Catholic point of view. Indeed, most of those at AMU hope to make the university an institution of exploration and creativity, not simply an institution of retreat from the world.......
On the scientific front, let us hope we shall have another opportunity to engage the best scientific explorers in the nation "up close and personal."

Novak misses the point, like so many others. The issue is not whether Catholics can engage with Jackson Labs; the issue is whether it is morally permissible to cooperate with Jackson Labs by selling a land interest for a new facility and by publicly encouraging and inviting Jackson Labs to expand to Ave Maria. And contrary to Novak's claim that moral concerns about Jackson Labs are "speculative" because the concerns are about non-existent human embryonic stem cell research that might happen in the future, moral concerns aren't speculative as they rest on Jackson Labs's current practice of marketing services and resources specifically for HESC research and conducting HESC research workshops and demonstrations.

Luckily for those who supported the Jackson Labs facility in Ave Maria, with the Ave Maria deal falling apart, they can now avoid having to resolve the moral quandaries raised by their cooperation with Jackson Labs.

Does Current Canon Law Hold That Permanent Deacons Must Abstain From Marital Relations?

2011-01-19T22:26:00.004-05:00

Canon lawyer extraordinaire Ed Peters says "yes." He has a fascinating and persuasive article arguing so here. The American Papist has a summary and a roundup of the various reactions to Peters's article here. What do you think?

Maybe No Jackson Labs At Ave Maria Town?

2011-01-19T11:02:00.006-05:00

That's what the Naples News says.

Barron Collier Cos. has withdrawn its offer to donate 50 acres to Jackson Laboratory for a genetics research expansion in Collier County, effectively sealing the fate of the controversial project on the heels of Jackson’s decision to look elsewhere.

It seems that Jackson Labs has started discussions with the University of South Florida to open their facility on a campus of the university.

I'm sure that the Ave Maria deal fell through because of the resistance in Collier County to the price tag, but I wonder whether Jackson Labs sees an additional benefit in affiliating itself with a school that won't raise future questions with some of Jackson Labs's bioethical positions.

UPDATE: Offensive and off-topic comments got out of hand and were deleted.

ABA Says Maybe You Shouldn't Go To Law School....

2011-01-04T13:12:00.004-05:00

... because sometimes it's not worth it. More here.

Why Has No One Yet Tried To Argue That Cooperation With JAX's Evil Is Morally Permissible?

2010-12-22T15:13:00.009-05:00

A commenter in this post brings up an important point: Publix provides Plan B abortion pills in its pharmacies and so, when you shop there, you are cooperating with evil. Why are people not protesting and boycotting Publix?

This is important, and it gives me an opportunity to explain my current problem with the Jackson Labs debate.

Many institutions do evil: Publix sells Plan B pills, McDonalds donates to Planned Parenthood, shoe company X uses slave labor, etc. Can I associate with these institutions even though I am cooperating with the evil that they do? Can I invite them to my town and buy their products?

These are important questions which should be examined closely, using proper analysis of the principles of material cooperation with evil. Thankfully, the answer to the question will often be "yes, you can associate with this institution because your cooperation with evil is sufficiently remote." For example, in the case of buying from Publix, it is most likely permissible moral cooperation with evil because (1) I don't intend the evil that Publix engages in by selling Plan B pills; (2) I have an important reason to be involved with Publix, namely, getting food from my family and I don't have any other better options; (3) my connection to the Plan B abortion is sufficiently remote."

But here is my problem with the Jackson Labs debate:

No one has yet attempted to conduct a similar moral analysis with regard to Jackson Labs.

Maybe JAX-Florida is morally permissible cooperation with evil, just like Publix. I'm sincere when I say that I'm open to the possibility of being persuaded that the Jackson Labs deal is morally permissible. But why hasn't anyone tried to conduct this moral analysis and explain it to me and the rest of the community?

Remember, the NCBC's explanation was embarrassingly faulty: The NCBC argued that since HESC research is not currently being done by JAX, JAX therefore isn't engaged in any evil. And since JAX is not engaged in any evil, then the land sale can't possibly be a cooperation with evil, because evil is non-existent. The clear error in this analysis is that JAX is currently engaged in evil, contrary to the NCBC's premise.

Now, Professor Waldstein has tried to give an explanation for supporting the JAX-Florida deal. He argues that the JAX-Florida deal is good idea because of the opportunity to dialogue. But this argument is defective too.

Are those the only arguments in support of Jackson Labs? Why has no one tried to seriously argue, using the principles of material cooperation with evil, that supporting the new Jackson Labs facility in Ave Maria is morally permissible cooperation with the evil that Jackson Labs is engaged in?

Final Thoughts On The Jackson Labs - Ave Maria Forum

2010-12-22T13:52:00.007-05:00

Some final thoughts about the Ave Maria forum on Jackson Labs.

The Jackson Labs representative, Mike Hyde, admitted on several occasions that Jackson Labs would never agree to ruling out certain immoral scientific practices. I don't know why this doesn't give JAX supporters more concern.

Now, one interesting point in the forum starts around minute 54. Hyde begins saying "We are not a center for human embryonic stem cell research. ... It's not what we do. If for some reason we decided to become center of human embryonic stem cell research, why in the world would we come down here...." At this point, a couple of people begin clapping, because I think they were thinking that Hyde was going to end his point right there. At first, this sounds like a compelling argument: We don't do HESC research, and if we were serious about wanting to do that in the future, why would we move to Ave Maria? That's silly! We know Ave Maria is against HESC research! So don't worry!

But Hyde is not done. He continues ".... why in the world would we come down here when we have 3/4 of a million square feet of laboratory available to us where we are?" By then, the clapping has stopped. Later in the forum, Hyde said the same thing with regard to research into contraception: why would they do it in Florida, when they can do it elsewhere?

And so we come to another moral issue that I don't think has been adequately addressed by the JAX supporters. Suppose JAX guarantees that nothing immoral will happen at the Florida facility but decides to do HESC research at its other facilities. Isn't that a big problem? Wouldn't supporting JAX-Florida then be material cooperation with JAX and its HESC research at its other facilities? Is it possible to financially support and encourage the morally acceptable or neutral work happening in JAX-Florida (which clearly facilitates the gravely immoral work happening elsewhere), while still claiming that one doesn't support or condone the immoral work by JAX? Because of this, I don't think Hyde's promise "don't worry, we won't do HESC or contraceptive research at JAX-Florida because we have plenty of lab space to do it elsewhere" should be a comfort.

My opponents might respond and give the faulty answer put out by the NCBC: that because JAX doesn't currently do HESC research, JAX currently doesn't do evil and therefore there can be no cooperation with evil at this moment, and who can be culpable for someone's future evil acts? My response: But JAX does currently do evil in the form of marketing and providing resources specifically for HESC research and by conducting HESC workshops. Hyde had to admit that at the forum (starting at about minute 120) when pressed by Marielena. Unfortunately, Marielena did not immediately turn to Prof. Waldstein and ask him whether this marketing and providing services and resources specifically for HESC research and this conducting HESC research workshops, admitted by Hyde, is moral or immoral.

And so my final impression of the townhall is that there were many lost opportunities by the questioners to ask the right questions. Hopefully participants at future townhalls will consider my advice.

Why Waldstein's Defense of Jackson Labs Fails

2010-12-22T09:06:00.011-05:00

So I listened to the Ave Maria forum on Jackson Labs, and Michael Waldstein, a Catholic theologian and Ave Maria University professor, spoke in defense of the Jackson Labs deal. Up until now, I thought highly of Professor Waldstein considering his good work on the Theology of the Body translation, but I was deeply disappointed in his performance at the forum.

Waldstein tried to frame his position as the middle ground between two equally valid and reasonable positions: namely, assuming that Jackson Labs engages in immoral conduct, there was a good argument to be made for a duty to protest the coming of Jackson Labs, but that it was also reasonable to think that there wasn't a duty to protest (ie, if you didn't protest Jackson Labs, you probably wouldn't be formally cooperating with evil).

But Waldstein is misstating the issue. This isn't a situation where Jackson's move to Ave Maria is inevitable and unavoidable and we are debating whether one should protest against it or not. The issue is whether people should actively invite, support, and encourage Jackson Labs to move to Ave Maria, as Tom Monaghan, Eugene Milhizer, Nick Healy, and many other Catholic people and organizations are doing.

During the forum, there was one clear instance of Waldstein's obfuscation on this issue: someone asked Waldstein whether the community should invite Planned Parenthood, just as Jackson Labs is being invited. Waldstein answered by saying: "There is a good and subtle discussion about what material cooperation involves. If Planned Parenthood came to this area without being invited, would you have a duty to protest their coming and attempt to prevent it? Maybe so, I think a good argument could be made. If you didn't protest it, would you be formally cooperating with evil? I don't think so." Unfortunately, the questioner didn't follow up and point out that Waldstein had just dodged the question, because the issue is not whether someone should protest or not protest an uninvited PP but whether someone should invite or not invite PP in the first place.

From this faulty premise, Waldstein then made two arguments in support of the Jackson Labs deal, even when assuming that Jackson Labs is engaging in all the immoral conduct alleged. His first and primary argument was that this was a good opportunity for dialogue with a scientific culture that we, as Catholics, often disagree with. Several times, Waldstein gave the example of his own attendance at Harvard Divinity School as a similar instance of engaging the culture. Waldstein also observed that we should not automatically reject things that come from people we disagree with, just as universities and Aquinas didn't reject Aristotle's writings which came from Muslims. Neither of the examples are on point. Waldstein again ignores the difference between simply engaging those people in our community with whom we disagree, and inviting those with whom we disagree into the community to expand their business. One is a much greater cooperation with evil than the other. Does Waldstein have a good answer to the question "If an opportunity for dialogue is good, why not also invite Planned Parenthood to set up next door to Ave Maria, since that too would be a good opportunity for dialogue?"

Waldstein's second argument in support of the Jackson Labs deal is that Jackson Labs is not as bad as some other institutions, like the current presidency for example. On two separate occasions, Waldstein brought up the fact he thought the current presidency was an institution much worse than Jackson Labs. I think Waldstein was trying to build a foundation for countering the argument that inviting Jackson Labs is like Notre Dame inviting Obama to its commencement for a "dialogue" on abortion, but this comparison was never brought up during the forum.

There are several problems with this argument:
-The fact that there are other institutions worse than Jackson Labs is irrelevant to Waldstein's first argument that we should dialogue with people and institutions with whom we disagree as Catholics. Actually, it cuts against Waldstein's first argument because isn't there even more reason to dialogue with those "worse" institutions with which we disagree to a greater extent?
-Waldstein offers no explanation for distinguishing between immoral institutions. Why is it alright to dialogue with immoral Jackson Labs, but not alright to dialogue with the current president?
-Waldstein's position that the current presidency is an institution much worse than Jackson Labs, is, in my opinion, quite untrue, considering the president is not in the business of directly supporting HESC research through marketing products and conducting workshops.

And that is why I think Professor Waldstein's defense of Jackson Labs fails.

UPDATE: I forgot to commend Waldstein for his statement that he was in complete agreement with the local bishop and whatever stance the bishop takes. (Unfortunately, I think the bishop and his office has been too reserved and unclear when speaking about the Jackson Labs deal.)

Advice For The Next Jackson Labs - Ave Maria Forum

2010-12-21T23:36:00.006-05:00

I watched the entire video of the recent Jackson Labs - Ave Maria forum. I was disappointed with Prof. Waldstein's responses - but I was even more disappointed with the questions posed by the Jackson Labs opponents to Prof. Waldstein and the Barron Collier and Jackson Labs representatives. I'll say more later, but first here is my advice for future participants at Jackson Labs townhall meetings:

1. Print out and bring copies of this Jackson Labs marketing flier, this 2010 conference overview and this conference schedule, this 2007 conference schedule, this 2006 conference schedule, and this 2008 course on how to culture and manipulate human embryo stem cells.

2. Ask the Jackson Labs representative whether Jackson Labs currently markets services and resources specifically for human embryo stem cell (HESC) research and conducts workshops, courses, and demonstrations on HESC research. If the Jackson Labs representative obfuscates, show him the copies of the marketing flier and conference schedules. He will have to answer "yes."

3. Then ask the Ave Maria or Catholic supporter of Jackson Labs whether marketing and providing services and resources specifically for HESC research is moral or immoral, and whether conducting HESC research workshops is moral or immoral. He will have to answer "immoral" to both.

4. Finally, ask the Ave Maria/Catholic Jackson Labs supporter whether it is moral to invite or to support an organization which is currently acting immorally by marketing and providing resources specifically for HESC research and by conducting HESC workshops. Then wait for your answer.

A Jackson Labs Debate at Ave Maria

2010-12-21T15:09:00.007-05:00

The Naples News reports on the first forum in Ave Maria on the proposed Jackson Lab facility and says that the forum "nearly devolved into a debate."

The roughly three-hour event, held 7 p.m. at the town's coffee shop, The Bean at Ave Maria, was organized by a few town residents. It began with one audience member complaining that the panel was composed solely of Jackson Lab supporters and asking if he could become a panelist.

"All three of you are in favor of it. You have nobody up there on that panel that is against it. May I join you," town resident and Ave Maria University Professor John Jaroma said to applause from several in attendance.

............

After the forum, Jaroma reiterated his deep beliefs in how the project concerns those within the town.

"Ave Maria means something," Jaroma said, adding that worries over research that will be conducted near a place carrying "the name of the blessed mother," is difficult for some to comprehend.

Town resident Brian Lawe then confronted Jaroma.

"You are the rudest man I ever met. You came for your own self-centered gratification," Lawe said, then described Jaroma and others as "unreasoned people that will wish their own aggressive position on others, irrespective of reason or logic."

I don't know anything about Professor Jaroma, but this is the first time that I've heard of a Ave Maria faculty member speaking out against the Jackson Lab deal. Bravo, Professor! Please keep up the fight!

The panel consisted of a representative of Jackson Lab, a representative of project developer Barron Collier Cos., and theologian, author and Ave Maria University Professor Michael Waldstein, who began the opening remarks.

Waldstein said his thoughts were not focused on the project's finances, which is not his background, but were instead on how the project should be thought of from a Catholic perspective.

Oh, this is good, right? I generally have a positive impression of Professor Waldstein, due to his good work on the new translation of JPII's Theology of the Body.

If allegations that Jackson Lab is involved with human embryonic stem cell research, developing male birth control or other projects considered immoral to Catholics were true, Waldstein said the organization is still less reprehensible then, say, President Barack Obama.

"He is in a different category," Waldstein said.

Catholics must do what is right for themselves first, Waldstein said. He said the actions of others are secondary, but later added that Catholics are justified in protesting acts they find immoral.

"This is a gift of God, this is an answer to prayer," Waldstein said of his thoughts on the project. "Why? Because we will have people to talk to who stand in the mainstream of American culture."

What!?!? What kind of nonsensical claptrap is this? Is Waldstein saying that Catholics shouldn't be concerned about the moral problems with the Jackson Labs deal because (1) Jackson Labs is not as bad as Obama and (2) this is a chance to engage the cultural "mainstream"? Don't tell me that a presumably thoughtful theologian like Prof. Waldstein is stooping to the level of the embarrassing NCBC and the hogwash it passes as moral analysis.

Maybe I'm being too hard on Prof. Waldstein, considering I wasn't at the forum and I'm probably relying on a unreliable news excerpt. Can anyone at the forum tell us what happened? Do I have to add Prof. Waldstein to my list of "Catholics who unsuccessfully try to justify the Jackson deal as morally acceptable"?

UPDATE: Ave Maria News has a video of the forum here.

Phoenix Bishop Threatens To Revoke Hospital's Catholic Status

2010-12-18T10:28:00.005-05:00

You may recall a dispute from several months ago between Phoenix Bishop Olmsted and a Catholic hospital about the nature of an abortion procedure that occurred at the hospital: briefly, the bishop says that the procedure was immoral, while the hospital says that it was necessary and moral.

Recent developments is that the hospital refuses to agree with the bishop's position, so the bishop has threatened to revoke the Catholic status of the hospital. The bishop's letter is a must read. (Initially, the bishop gave a deadline of December 17, but he has extended it to December 21.)

UPDATE: The dispute was not resolved by December 21, so the bishop has now officially revoked the hospital's status as Catholic. More information here, including a full public statement by the bishop.

So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodbye.

2010-12-11T10:06:00.001-05:00

2010-12-07T23:20:00.000-05:00

Andrew Shirvell and the ACLU

2010-11-23T21:20:00.003-05:00

This is a few days old, but deserves noting: the ACLU is defending Andrew Shirvell on at least one aspect of his case. Above The Law has the story.

Ave Maria Law Fall Gala 2010

2010-11-19T10:33:00.003-05:00

I almost forgot: the Ave Maria School of Law Fall Gala celebrating Ave Maria Law's 10th anniversary is today. It's positively Ave Maria!

Grand Opening Of The Tom Golisano Fieldhouse Tomorrow!

2010-11-19T10:28:00.003-05:00

It's tomorrow! Yay! If you're attending, please let us know how it went. Will Mr. Golisano be there? Will he be praised for his public service?

Cheating in Higher Education

2010-11-16T13:28:00.002-05:00

The Chronicle of Higher Education has a very fascinating and very disturbing article by an anonymous writer in the business of producing written work for cheating higher-education students. Wow.

AMU and "Most Catholic" First Things Ranking

2010-11-11T14:00:00.012-05:00

Commenter Pensieve alerts me to the fact that First Things has ranked Ave Maria University as the "most Catholic" Catholic school in the country.

But can it really be the most Catholic school when its President, Nicholas Healy, supports a new facility built by Jackson Labs and has no problem with its research and education, when it is an organization that immorally cooperates with the grave evil of human embryonic stem cell research? Can Ave Maria University really be the most Catholic school when it honors a man and names a building after him, when he is a public supporter of a pro-abortion politician?

First Things = fail.

VDARE and "Anonymous Attorney" on the Shirvell case

2010-11-10T23:16:00.000-05:00

See the analysis here on VDARE blog (thanks Boko for the reference without link in the comments... I was eventually able to find the post to which you referred).

I agree with the statements and the general sentiment. In particular, I'd like you to note the last line, that Shirvell was isolated and attacked for using the left's tactics (Alinsky).

You better believe it. However, I have to say that Alinsky tactics are rarely valid means to an good end.

A Final Update

2010-11-10T15:26:00.004-05:00

I hope that this is the final update on the Andrew Shirvell story. It's an unfortunate result for him, and I hope that eventually, once this story cools down, things will turn out alright for Mr. Shirvell.

The Detroit News here; commentary at Above The Law here.

Update: I see Casimir already posted about this below.

AMSL ROUND-UP

2010-11-09T20:24:00.000-05:00

VOTE TOMORROW in the alumni board election. If you didn't pay attention, it appears that there was a concerted effort to advance new alumni.

However, at least vote for Suzy (Housey) Seigle for president. She deserves it after the efforts and relentless help she has provided to advance alumni communication and job assistance. So, because the ballot must be postmarked no later than tomorrow, mark her name and put it in the mail tomorrow.

I don't know anything about the other candidates, so I won't comment, but I do know and have seen tangibles fruit from Suzy's efforts over the years as a demonstrated resource for alumni.

IN OTHER NEWS.
ASML NOW EMPLOYS BROWN PAPER BAG
Did anyone else notice that the school is now sending its promotional drivel in "discreet packaging" looking like a brown paper bag with which to hide the contents?

At least, whatever that latest thing was that pretended, by force of words, to be from a still first class law school, I almost through it away thinking it was junk mail. Ten years. I'll make a chart to show you how bad those last five years have been to what was arguably a tier 1 school for the first five year. Objective facts are objective. The school is now ranked dead last (at least by analysis of the US News ranking stats, without embellishment or selective cherry picking, but on the numbers reported there) in a state with no top 50 law school for competition and it can't even compete with Barry. They should turn it into a correspondence school already, since that's all the academic standards seem to indicate they want.

GOOD NEWS (but not for Ave)
Those who pretend with force that the move didn't cause damage to the school ought to look at this interesting piece about erstwhile AMSL prof, Bridgette Carr. Good for her! Too bad the law school can't, in my opinion based on observation of it, support things like that anymore down there in the swamps (rather, it looks to me, from their own materials sent in brown paper bags, like it has to borrow the good will of early alumni to pretend like it has high profile now).

OTHER NEWS (Shirvell)
Seems that the AG's office went through the hoops and released him from service.

NERO FIDDLES
Meanwhile, back at the discreet campus for aspiring important people, they had a family fun festival. Good for them, Bacchus would be pleased, errr... Dionysus at least. Visit Ave Herald for more banal puff pieces that would make a schizophrenic jealous for its sheer capacity to avoid substantial issues. Keep in mind that it seems to be a neighborhood association newsletter, in my humble opinions, though. But, hey, it's all good news, right? After all, if the King has no clothes, let's talk about the clean streets. Funny how the law school pieces seem to be talking about everything else, too.

Very Interesting Debate

2010-11-09T05:39:00.002-05:00

Which would you say is the greater threat to Catholicism in the world today?

Islam or the Enlightenment?

The video is a debate on this issue between two friends at Thomas More College: Robert Spencer and Peter Kreeft.

Both movements are inspired by Satan, but isn't the Englightenmet current as it flows today a greater enemy? Which is a greater threat, a force which will eventually cut off your head, or a force that will corrupt your head and then your soul from inside?

I suspect that Satan's plan is to use Islam to give popular force to the Englightenment's proposition that religion ITSELF is what the world needs to eradicate, like a virus that will destroy everyone. Might it be under this movement that Catholics will down the line be rounded up and put against a wall?

Even More on Ave Law Grad Andrew Shirvell...

2010-11-02T22:55:00.004-04:00

Above The Law has a post about disciplinary action sought against Shirvell. And the Daily Show had a whole feature on him. (Why did he agree to have an interview with the Daily Show?)

Papal Shoes

2010-11-01T20:56:00.001-04:00

Here.

Glad this isn't scratch n' sniff.

A Real Catholic Hero

2010-10-28T22:26:00.000-04:00

Senatrix...er...Senator "Babs" Boxer, D-CA

2010-10-23T14:53:00.001-04:00

Call Me Senator from RightChange on Vimeo.

And now for something completely different

2010-10-22T16:14:00.002-04:00

And this one shouldn't give raise to anything AMU, AMSOL or Monaghan-related. Just a good laugh for those of us who know: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMvARy0lBLE&feature=player_embedded#

Sistine Chapel: Praised because it is Catholic or because of its merits?

2010-10-20T19:18:00.000-04:00

Party Line or Art?

So, is all of the discussion about the Sistine Chapel made because it has a message which must be defended?

Are Catholics obligated to praise it because it is in the Vatican?

Or, is it worthy of praise on its own merits?

2010 Ave Maria Law Alumni Association Election!

2010-10-19T18:43:00.002-04:00

Ave Maria Law School alumni should have received their ballots for this year's Alumni Association election in the mail. What do you think of the candidates? Who should we vote for? Is it even worth it to vote, now that we also have the administration's hand-picked "Alumni Council" running everything? (I'm amused by the prominent place the Alumni Council has on the Ave Maria School of Law wikipedia page.)

CatholicCulture.org on Jackson Labs-Ave Maria Story

2010-10-19T13:56:00.010-04:00

A tip of the hat to commenter Pensieve, who linked to this article entitled "In Depth Analysis: Ave Maria University and the embryo-research connection," by Phil Lawler at CatholicCulture.org.

Though the article is well-written, I was quite disappointed in the article. Instead of the "in depth analysis" it purported to be, it was more of a simple chronological recounting of the entire Ave Maria-Jackson Labs controversy.

The article has a promising start:

Questions also have been raised about what relationship, if any, Ave Maria University (AMU) will have with any of the institutions that may become involved in this new research cluster. More to the point, concerned Catholics—including both critics and supporters of AMU—have asked whether AMU has opened the door to cooperation with embryonic stem-cell research.
..........
Should Monaghan have stopped the biomedical-research project before it began, by refusing to sell his personal interest in 50 acres of land to his development partners who, in turn, were donating it to the Jackson Laboratory? Insofar as the land in question belonged to Monaghan, not to AMU, could the university be held accountable for the business decisions of a founder whose personality still dominates the institution? The questions were pointed, and they were not unreasonable.

Good questions! Will we get answers? Let's see!

Mr. Lawler first mentions the NCBC position:

The NCBC replied that it saw "no moral obstacle" to the deal. There were no known or expressed plans on the part of the Jackson Lab to perform any research at its Florida facility that would contravene the teachings of the Catholic Church, the NCBC found.

Unfortunately, Mr. Lawler doesn't go any further in his analysis of the NCBC position - and so, doesn't point out the important flaws in the NCBC position.

But then, Mr. Lawler references some of the significant concerns about JAX that I and others have pointed out in the blogosphere:

The announcement that Jackson Lab planned to set up a facility next to Ave Maria prompted some worried Catholics to scour the internet for evidence that the institution might be involved in embryonic stem-cell research. In April that search intensified, after a Jackson Lab spokesman acknowledged that the institution had hosted conferences at which such research was discussed and at which the propagation of human embryonic stem cell lines was demonstrated. Flyers on the site promoted the use of Jackson Lab mice for use in stem-cell research of all kinds.

But instead of pursuing this line of thought, Mr. Lawler just falls back into a chronological description of the statements issued by JAX and by the Venice diocese.

So, in the end, Mr. Lawler doesn't answer the questions he raised earlier: Mr. Lawler offers no opinion on whether Tom Monaghan's connection to the new JAX facility is problematic or not, and no opinion on whether support for the JAX project is praiseworthy or not. That's disappointing.

The "Heresy" I Speak: Bella Sucked

2010-10-18T22:49:00.000-04:00

Sorry, and I know it is heresy to diss a media effort to "Get the word out" but that film Bella sucked raw eggs. So bad was that film that it hurts the pro-life effort by making pro-life people look like idiots because they prop that awful literature up as masterpiece.

Netflix just suggested it to me, and it was at best 2 out of 5 stars, so I promptly rated it as such.

How such a thin movie and unrealistic characters got so much pomp is proof that pigs with lipstick really can win beauty pagents if they are supported by the right apostolates because they rely on group speak to inflate their buzz.

Very similar to the way people rave about Monaghan and his endeavors.

An Irish Lullaby for Kathleen Rose

2010-10-14T22:24:00.001-04:00

Before they were stars

2010-10-10T20:47:00.010-04:00

A look at the FUMARE contributors before they were stars.

Thales

TheLawDog

Columcille

Casimir Pulaski

Advocatus Militaris

This After School Program Brought to you By Planned Parenthood

2010-10-10T04:27:00.002-04:00

How to avoid negative things like getting pregnant or doing drugs . . .

What's Going on with Fr. Corapi?

2010-10-07T20:30:00.000-04:00

I recently saw Fr. Corapi on EWTN. He was pushing for his upcoming conference, and "inviting" people to download his homilies from his website. Unfortunately, he didn't say anything about the $12/month subscription fee to download those homilies. Fortunately, I have an excellent homilist in my own pastor, and he doesn't ding me for door charges and subscription fees.

Apart from the sales pitches, I was most struck by his appearance. He looks totally different.

Here's a composite picture of him over the years:

Father Corapi through the years

Here's another image of him about two months ago, from a youtube video of him pitching people to go to his San Antonio conference.

Now, I can't help it, but, in my opinion, which I'm still allowed to declare in public freely, Father Corapi, with that new look and that darkened goatee, looks like Anton Levay now.

Father Corapi or Anton LaVey?

I'm not sure the new look he's putting on is all that flattering.

Always thought Charlie Crist was a little "light in the loafers."

2010-10-07T19:09:00.001-04:00

This confirms it.

Memory Lane

2010-10-06T08:04:00.002-04:00

I spent some time this week going back to the days when Fumare was young. And in addition to the battles and debates and theological discussions, there was a fair amount of sexist humor. So I thought I'd offer this link, in the um... best traditions of Fumare.

Mrs. Militaris, this one's for you. Love those jeans, btw. *wink*

Still More On The Shirvell Story

2010-10-04T10:54:00.003-04:00

The Wall Street Journal Law blog here, and more Above The Law commentary here.

More Bad News

2010-10-01T20:08:00.001-04:00

Story in Today's Naples News

The Ave Herald is rumored to be on the case.

FUMARE is here to help. The internet can assist here. Why drive around and hang out in a parking lot like some degenerate, when you can be degenerate in the privacy of the home temporarily lent to you?
Click the photo for assistance:

UPDATE!: A FUMARE agent has located a reliable, but not necessarily trustworthy source, who reports that he overheard a guy who overheard a gal overhear a telephone conversation between the keeper of the Post-It notes and the Town council that the council should consider a town-wide dress code banning women's pants and making it a misdemeanor for a woman to show the back of her knees in public. Apparently, at least one of the town lawyers was overheard stating that he was a victim of visual harassment caused by the exposed knees and the activity witnessed was merely a natural, uncontrollable response caused by the lack of appropriate attire. This update is all speculative hearsay based on parody, but we'll report more as time moves on.

More Developments On The Andrew Shirvell Story

2010-10-01T09:52:00.005-04:00

Personal leave from work, and an upcoming personal protection order hearing. Details here and here and here.

CNN's Anderson Cooper on the Ave Law Grad Story

2010-09-29T10:38:00.008-04:00

On no. The Andrew Shirvell story is on CNN. See Anderson Cooper's blog posts here and here. Anderson Cooper then had a video interview with Andrew Shirvell.

Andrew, regardless of whether they are your "First Amendment rights," your tactics (i.e., the swastika, the name-calling, the insults, etc.) are entirely inappropriate and beyond the pale. Further, they are completely detrimental to your goal. Finally, they give reason for people to think that you and all the rest of us who are concerned about moral issues are irrational and bigoted. You should close your blog and delete your extreme criticisms, apologize for your offense, and withdraw from this particular fight.

UPDATE: Yahoo News has the story now.

ANOTHER UPDATE: Here is Above The Law's take.

Ave Law Bar Passage Rate For July 2010

2010-09-27T10:24:00.011-04:00

In the comments to this post, Ave Maria School of Law's bar passage rate for July 2010 is being discussed, but it deserves its own post.

Here are the July 2010 Florida bar passage results:

------ Number Taking ----- Number Passing ----- Percent Passing

U. of Miami: 314 , 270 , 86.0
U. of Florida: 310 , 269 , 86.8
Stetson: 217 , 171 , 78.8
Florida State U.: 189 , 163 , 86.2
Nova Southeastern U.: 229 , 185 , 80.8
St. Thomas: 122 , 96 , 78.7
Florida Coastal: 226 , 178 , 78.8
Barry U.: 166 , 124 , 74.7
Florida A&M U.: 88 , 55 , 62.5
Florida International U.: 101 , 85 , 84.2
Ava Maria Law School: 25 , 16 , 64.0
non-Florida law schools: 745 , 551 , 74.0
Total first timers: 2732 , 2163 , 79.2

This is the first time AMSL was competing with Florida schools (11 law schools in Florida!). Not an impressive start.

Last year, AMSL had a very disappointing 74% passage rate for the Michigan Bar, compared with a state average of 88%, and worse than every other Michigan law school. Dean Milhizer explained what the school was going to do to improve the scores:

We are undertaking and considering a wide array of specifically-targeted approaches to improve the passage rate of our students. This includes re-examining our bar preparation program under the leadership of a new academic support coordinator, and perhaps offering a for-credit bar preparation course and even more forcefully encouraging students to take commercial bar preparation courses to supplement their law school education.

So what is Dean Milhizer saying this year? It sounds vaguely familiar:

The Law School will undertake and consider a wide array of specifically-targeted approaches to improve the passage rate of our students. This includes a full re-examination of our bar preparation program, further enhancing our academic success program, and re-evaluating our for-credit bar preparation course offered for the first time this past academic year.

UPDATE: Here is the Ave Herald's take.

W.A. Mozart: "Contessa perdono"

2010-09-20T20:22:00.003-04:00

The most beautiful aria ever composed.

Four Legs Good, Two Legs Bad!

2010-09-19T10:14:00.000-04:00

Still just can't help marvelling at the progression of Jonestown Coastal. Recently, I tore through Animal Farm over a cup of tea in order to help a friend's child who is reading it for class.

Some of the more interesting developments in the story.
1. the disappearance of Mollie (for letting the outsider pet her nose) (no communion with outsiders!):

"Mollie! Look me in the face. Do you give me your word of honour that that man was not stroking your nose?"

"It isn't true!" repeated Mollie, but she could not look Clover in the face, and the next moment she took to her heels and galloped away into the field.

A thought struck Clover. Without saying anything to the others, she went to Mollie's stall and turned over the straw with her hoof. Hidden under the straw was a little pile of lump sugar and several bunches of ribbon of different colours.

Three days later Mollie disappeared.

Seems a familiar tale.

2. Self aggrandizement through mouthpieces, and the castigation of others who do not conform to the master agenda, no matter how good:

Afterwards Squealer was sent round the farm to explain the new arrangement to the others.

"Comrades," he said, "I trust that every animal here appreciates the sacrifice that Comrade Napoleon has made in taking this extra labour upon himself. Do not imagine, comrades, that leadership is a pleasure! On the contrary, it is a deep and heavy responsibility. No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be? Suppose you had decided to follow Snowball, with his moonshine of windmills--Snowball, who, as we now know, was no better than a criminal?"

I especially like that part where Napoleon's contribution is made grander than everyone else's thereby exalting him into a place beyond reproach. It's almost as if, through this trick of juxtaposition, Napoleon was giving everything he had to the farm and thus, all of the other animals owed him something they could not, through the terms of the rhetoric, repay Napoleon but should blondly follow him, which is actually Squealer's next directive to the Farm:

"Bravery is not enough," said Squealer. "Loyalty and obedience are more important.["]

3. The development of animals accepting the false doctrines and aggrandizement through fooling themselves. By playing the party line, they can avoid what happened to Mollie and Snowball. Note that there is no truth in the following line, but rather, it is believed by force, or rather by reaction to perceived force:

"If Comrade Napoleon says it, it must be right." And from then on he adopted the maxim, "Napoleon is always right," in addition to his private motto of "I will work harder."

The only thing Orwell left out of the story was the part where the dogs had commissioned the pigs to do a feasibility study of the windmill project. That would have been priceless. But the pigs did labor over the project for some time, at least in the minds of the other animals, because Napoleon said they did.

This point in the story could be marked as the departure from reality into the mutual storyland controlled by Napoleon. Control took many measures, but mostly fear and the threats made by enforcers (the dogs), as the chapter ends with this image:

The animals were not certain what the word meant, but Squealer spoke so persuasively, and the three dogs who happened to be with him growled so threateningly, that they accepted his explanation without further questions.

We have to wonder how much, besides an extra biscuit, Napoleon paid the dogs to be mindless enforcers. Throughout all of this, you really see how fear shapes certain groups to react (irrationally at that), and Napoleon uses those groups in concert against anything he perceives to be a threat to his agenda.

It doesn't matter if Napoleon is right or wrong. What Napoleon wills is right.

The next chapter (5) deals with how the rules change over time to favor the extra-loyal. Sort of a reward for the sycophant. Then it gets interesting with the actual battles for power among enforcers.
This theme goes throughout:

"Ah, that is different!" said Boxer. "If Comrade Napoleon says it, it must be right."

"That is the true spirit, comrade!" cried Squealer, but it was noticed he cast a very ugly look at Boxer with his little twinkling eyes. He turned to go, then paused and added impressively: "I warn every animal on this farm to keep his eyes very wide open. For we have reason to think that some of Snowball's secret agents are lurking among us at this moment!"

After this point, the rules start to change to favor the leaders and introduce some subjective standards that could used against the animals. So the standards of conduct became relative, and the unwritten rule was whether you were in alliance to Napoleon. Rather, whether Napoleon liked you.

And then, I love this part... the farm has no actual productivity, but Napoleon says it is the best, etc... What I get such a kick out of is the description of the place by Squealer:

There was, as Squealer was never tired of explaining, endless work in the supervision and organisation of the farm. Much of this work was of a kind that the other animals were too ignorant to understand. For example, Squealer told them that the pigs had to expend enormous labours every day upon mysterious things called "files," "reports," "minutes," and "memoranda." These were large sheets of paper which had to be closely covered with writing, and as soon as they were so covered, they were burnt in the furnace. This was of the highest importance for the welfare of the farm, Squealer said. But still, neither pigs nor dogs produced any food by their own labour; and there were very many of them, and their appetites were always good.

I guess they put those reports in the furnace so that they'd never be discovered.

You'd almost think Napoleon had given all his money in addition to all the extra work he did.

Ave Maria Law Grad And His Blog In The News....

2010-09-17T17:55:00.004-04:00

.... and not in a positive way. ABC-WYXZ has the story.

Above The Law has the commentary.

Unfortunately, the blog in question looks highly imprudent to me.

Ave Maria Law School Is First School to Join Law School Transparency

2010-09-17T17:50:00.002-04:00

The ABA Journal reports:

Two Vanderbilt law students trying to collect more jobs information from law schools finally have a taker.

The Ave Maria School of Law in Naples, Fla., has agreed to disclose more detailed job statistics, according to the blog Shilling Me Softly and the website of the students' nonprofit group, Law School Transparency.

The group was formed by law students Patrick Lynch and Kyle McEntee to collect more employment data that will show how much value graduates get from their law degrees.

Law School Transparency sent a letter to 199 law schools this July seeking data about each law school graduate in categories that include their employer type and name, whether their position is full- or part-time, whether the job requires a law license, and their salaries after nine months. The group asked law schools to indicate whether they would participate by Sept. 10.

The Law School Transparency site is here.

More commentary at the WSJ Law Blog and at the National Law Journal.

Finally, even more commentary at Above The Law.

Naples News on AveWatch Shutting Down

2010-09-17T17:48:00.001-04:00

I'm catching up on news. Here is the Naples News article on AveWatch shutting down.

Just wondering...

2010-09-14T22:42:00.002-04:00

...is "a right of passage" similar to the doctrine enunciated in Paul v. Virginia, 75 U.S. (8 Wall.) 168 (1868) or Saenz v. Roe, 526 U.S. 489 (1999)?

This Weekend's Musical Offering: J.S. Bach, Praeludium in C minor BWV 546

2010-09-12T14:36:00.002-04:00

Always best in an XVII century Catholic Church.

AMU Terminates Relationship With Religious Group

2010-09-08T10:16:00.002-04:00

Naples News has the story.

Labor Day Weekend Blues

2010-09-05T11:56:00.000-04:00

From the Master! Enjoy:

The Wanderer's Exclusive Interview with Sharron Angle

2010-09-02T18:49:00.003-04:00

Sharron Angle is threatening to take Sen. Harry Reid's Senate seat in a very heated political battle in Nevada. The Wanderer landed an exclusive interview with Mrs. Angle. A must read and a must listen for all those who care about the country.

Support Mrs. Angle and subscribe to The Wanderer!

Listen to the interview here.

Notre Dame Administrator Kirk Dismissed

2010-09-01T22:01:00.002-04:00

Here is an interesting reflection on the troubling dismissal of Bill Kirk, Associate Vice President for Residence Life at Notre Dame and husband of former Ave Maria Law professor Elizabeth Kirk.

HT: the Corner

Neal Conway Reviews Charlie Rice books

2010-09-01T21:57:00.003-04:00

Neal Conway reviews What Happened to Notre Dame? and 50 Questions on the Natural Law: What It Is & Why We Need It, two books by Professor Charles E. Rice.

FUMARE Fun Cut-Out

2010-09-01T18:27:00.007-04:00

Courtesy of that patron of the internet Isidore, comes the first FUMARE fun cut out! In three easy steps you can have as much fun as a bunch of teenage boys hearing Air on the G String for the first time:

1. Click on the Picture and Print out to an attached printer.

2. Cut around the image of the face and shoulders, being careful not to nick the $5000 suit.

3. Have fun! Attach it to your favorite dartboard, line Polly's cage, or scare the little kids who come to your door at Halloween!

Photo courtesy of Ave Maria News.

Warning: Fumare Fun Cut-Out not intended for Legatus members, AMU drones, or triple majors with journalism backgrounds. Use by any of these individuals may cause irritation, offices being boxed up, and being declared a nonperson.

AMU Seminars on Jackson Labs

2010-08-30T18:36:00.007-04:00

The Naples News reports:

The prospect of a large, secular biomedical research complex close to the campus of Ave Maria University will spark "heated controversy over the role of religion in science," AMU president Nick Healy said in a speech Thursday night.

To explore issues raised by the proposed Jackson Labs biomedical village, AMU faculty will organize "a series of panel discussions, lectures and seminars, open to the public, as to the interface between Ave Maria University's mission as a Catholic university and a secular scientific research institute," Mr. Healy said near the end of his annual welcoming address at the start of the academic year.

I'm glad to see that AMU will be providing a forum for engaging the controversy over Jackson Labs. Let's hope someone challenges Healy's, the NCBC's, and AMSL Dean Milhizer's (erroneous) claims that Jackson Labs does not cooperate with any evil when it comes to human embryonic stem cell research and that, in fact, Jackson Labs's practices are consistent with Catholic Church teaching.

Ask Ludmilla: Modesty, Covering the head, and other topics

2010-08-29T17:57:00.000-04:00

Recently, a discussion of modest attire was posted by Advocatus Miltaris. This thread generated some comments that cause Ludmilla to nearly choke me because of the insanity and backwards logic therein. In order to preserve my own life, I am posting, at gunpoint, Ludmilla's insisted explanations.

---- begin content from Ludmilla -----

Halo, and thank you for reading the FUMARE. I am Ludmilla and I wish to tell you how women are to be modest like we know form old country. But first I must tell you about this comment that men must cover there heads with dignified hat. Ludmilla do not know anything of this because Ludmilla read real Holy Bible which say, in first of epistle to Corinthians, the chapter 9 and the verse 10: <<The woman is commanded to cover her head in the church,to indicate that she is under the dominion of the man; whereas the man uncovers his head, because there is no one over him but God .>>

Comment say thing backwards. Man do not wear the hat, woman do. Enough with hat.

Young women need to fetch man. In old country, we teach them to dress to catch good man.
Like this:

Look at beautiful curves of these women. They will be married soon because men will come running to meet them. Same with these:

Very nice.

Even in Church, we cover head, but look how beautiful:

And look at Ludmilla family at the Divine Liturgy:

Here is another friend of Ludmilla:

When you get old like Ludmilla, then you dress like this all the time because you can sit easy. Ludmilla is on left with computer.

Instead, you dress you young women like old widow, and your old women try to dress like yound girl looking for husband.

It is backwards. Modesty do not mean to be frumpy and old like Ludmilla. Ludmilla is ashamed of people who say this.

The Devil Speaks Latin

2010-08-29T10:56:00.003-04:00

It has been a common experience of exorcists that the demon possessing the individual will oftentimes speak in ancient languages, including Latin. I don't know why I thought of that.

Men Like Women

2010-08-28T10:50:00.008-04:00

A note came to my inbox the other day that references this article. This is a reflection of that larger piece. (No pun intended!)

Men like women. Men like women's curves. Men like it when women dress in a way that highlights those curves. Case in point:

Men have an especial cross--thanks to Adam--that places them in need of grace to control what Aquinas calls "the desire to preserve the race in existence." Yet it strikes this writer that one doesn't have to deny nature, Manichaean-like, to accomplish the fact. Likewise, the eroding of common sense in actually suggesting that a man should in any way tell a woman how to dress is an even more grievous violation of nature in that it is one of those things that cries to heaven for vengeance (or in the alternative, demands a good kick in the nuts). [I will say here that this is not the place for a debate on the proverbial homeschooling mom uniform or--on the oppposite side--the meretricious adornments of South Beach.]

The so-called orthodox Catholic would have us believe that a woman should dress like this:

Hey pal, never had a thing for nuns. Usually the guys who suggest such fashions are unmarrried middle-aged men who are members of TFP with names like F. Thurston Howell, III. Alternatively, they are dreaming millionaires who look to create a utopia on earth in the midst of a tomato patch.

Personally, I like it when Mrs. Militaris shows her curves. I can tell where to give her a pat when I want to thank her for doing a good job washing the dishes.

Irony: Kmiec reported to crash car, killing nun.

2010-08-27T16:30:00.000-04:00

I don't have anything to add beyond the word "irony."

For the airheads who comment here from time to time, they won't get it, but for the typical FUMARE reader, that's a sufficient comment.

See the report at the ABA Journal.

Ave Town's Uniqueness All Goes Back To Tom Monaghan

2010-08-24T22:14:00.000-04:00

The Naples News has an interesting article by Ave Maria Town resident Peggy Stinnet. Ms. Stinnet's article is about some of the unusual, unique, and interesting things to see in Ave Maria Town. Ms. Stinnet tells us, "When in Ave Maria, there are some sites that are hidden behind the scenes that add to the uniqueness of this community that many do not know about."

The article is pleasant and light-hearted, but I was amused to note that every unusual thing listed by Ms. Stinnet somehow goes back to Tom Monaghan (though I suspect that Ms. Stinnet did not intend this when writing her article).

Here is Ms. Stinnet's list:
-"memorabilia from the Domino's Pizza days," like the first corrugated pizza box that Tom Monaghan designed and the Dominick's sign from Monaghan's original restaurant.
-"a great collection of Detroit Tiger mementos, the team purchased by Monaghan that went on to win the World Series in 1984".
-a collection of unusual seats and chairs. (Monaghan is fascinated by and loves to collect chairs.)
-an autographed copy of Monaghan's biography, "Pizza Tiger," at the AMU bookstore.
-finally, the huge Annunciation Relief that is being carved out of Carrara marble and that is scheduled to be dedicated on March 25, 2012, the Feast of the Annunciation.

Wait, how does the marble relief go back to Tom Monaghan? Well, it's clear that Monaghan has a particular affinity for the Feast of the Annunciation: "Ave Maria" are the words of the Annunciation, "Annunciation Circle" is the central drive of Ave Maria Town, and Ave Town's street grid is positioned specifically to catch the sunrise on March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation. Oh yeah, March 25 is also Monaghan's birthday.

In the 20th century they were "Fat Ladies in Stretch Pants." But it's the 21st Century and now we have "Gloved Handbell Ringers."

2010-08-20T15:57:00.004-04:00

Even Luther and Calvin had a little more style than this!

Farewell, AveWatch

2010-08-17T13:03:00.006-04:00

AveWatch is closing:

On August 17, 2006, AveWatch published its inaugural post. Exactly four years later, after logging four hundred articles, the site was closed. The decision to shut down was planned in advance to coincide with this anniversary. The choice was completely voluntary and not done in response to legal threats or third party pressure from desperate opposition. In years past, AveWatch quietly faced down both forms of intimidation from Tom Monaghan and Ave Maria... and did so without compromise or breaking stride. AveWatch stands by every post published. Simply put, the time had come to address matters by other means.

More information here.

UPDATE: I closed the comments because the discussion had veered off onto the topic of the recent tragedy at Ave Maria Town. Let's continue to keep all those affected in our prayers. ~Thales

Feast of the Dormition / Assumption

2010-08-15T10:18:00.002-04:00

In giving birth, O Mother of God, thou hast retained thy virginity, and in falling asleep thou hast not forsaken the world. Thou who art the Mother of Life hast passed over into life, and by thy prayers thou dost deliver our souls from death.

Neither the tomb nor death had power over the Theotokos who is ever watchful in her prayers and in whose intercession lies unfailing hope. For as the Mother of Life she has been transported into life by Him who dwelt within her ever virgin womb.

It is truly meet to bless thee, 0 Theotokos, who art ever blessed and all-blameless, and the mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, thou who without stain barest God the Word, and art truly Theotokos: we magnify you.

So glorious is she that she was taken body and soul. She is truly deserving of our best, and of purity in things done in her name.

Ave Maria School of Law Ranks 1st Place

2010-08-13T08:38:00.003-04:00

(Caption Contest)

Catholic News Service reports that Ave Maria School of Law, located in sunny Naples, FL ranks 1st among Catholic colleges and universities for failing to pass the Department of Education's Financial Stress Test for 3 years running (along with Our Lady of the Elms, located in less sunny Massachusetts) according to the Chronical of Higher Education.

Tuesday Evening Blues: Muddy Waters

2010-08-10T20:50:00.000-04:00

Ave Maria University Regent Supports Jackson Labs

2010-08-05T10:02:00.012-04:00

AveWatch has the scoop.

Yet another person from Ave Maria is supporting Jackson Labs, so add him to the list. Ave Maria University Regent Carlos Figueroa, a resident of Ave Maria Town, spoke out in support of JAX at the July 27 County Commissioner meeting and published a letter of support in the Naples Daily News. Figueroa is also the 2006 recipient of AMU's Ex Corde Ecclesiae Medal, awarded to a person from the South Florida community who has done the most to support AMU's Aquinas Center mission to evangelize the Catholic academic world. He is also the founder of The Apostles Foundation, an organization for promulgating the Catholic faith through the study of theology.

Figueroa's Naples News letter concludes with "I can't think of a better legacy for future generations than a research center that will provide quality jobs, foster education and maybe find a cure for the many ailments of our "baby boomer" generation." Figueroa makes no mention of JAX's association with human embryonic stem cell research (something which the Venice Diocese expressed concerns about five days earlier).

Figueroa is a man who has committed himself to, and been honored for, evangelization and promulgation of the Catholic faith, and yet he completely ignores the Catholic moral concerns about JAX? Is it cluelessness, naivete, or willful ignorance? Regardless of the answer, I call it.... disappointing.

Ave Maria's "I Support Pro-Abortion Politician Charlie Crist" Fieldhouse Takes Shape

2010-08-05T09:57:00.004-04:00

The Naples News has the story and pictures.

Tragic Sudden Death

2010-08-02T11:41:00.000-04:00

St. Joseph, pray for us! Tragedy befell the Klucik family this weekend when their eldest son suffered a sudden death in a car accident. An awful circumstance for anyone and we should pray for them and for the repose of his soul. Alex's father graduated in the inaugural class and many of us have kind memories of Alex as he was growing up. May his memory be eternal.

Here's the Naples News story.

A Tribute to my Smokin' Hot Trophy Wife--Mrs. Militaris

2010-07-30T21:01:00.003-04:00

Collier County Commission Votes In Favor Of Jackson Labs

2010-07-29T11:36:00.004-04:00

From the Naples News:

Jackson Laboratory's plans to come to Collier County remain on track with county leaders deciding to make a short-term loan to the project while they wait for the fate of state funding.

The Collier County Commission voted 4-1 Tuesday, with Commissioner Tom Henning casting the dissenting vote, to have staff draw up a first-year loan of $28 million to Jackson so lab officials can continue working to bring more business partners to a future biomedical park near Ave Maria.

Voting in favor of JAX was Commissioner Jim Coletta, who represents the district containing Ave Maria. I don't know whether Mr. Coletta is Catholic, but his bio says that he went to Notre Dame High School in Elmira, N.Y., and he did make some noise about JAX's connection to embryonic stem cell research. From an earlier Naples News article:

At a recent commission meeting, Coletta expressed concern about Jackson potentially doing research some day using embryonic stem cells. He asked [Commission Chairman Fred] Coyle if the lab would commit to not using embryonic stem cells; Coyle responded that would be a deal-breaker.

In Maine, Coletta said Jackson officials explained they can't commit to what lab leaders in the future may want to do or not do.

"They do have an ethics council in place and are willing to put one in Naples with members of the community to weigh in," he said.

From another standpoint, Coletta said, if Jackson doesn't go to the Ave Maria location, it could go "in a secular community that may not have the same standards."

Based on that last argument, I guess that means Ave Maria should invite abortion mills and strip clubs, because if not, they might go to other "secular" communities with lower standards.

When it comes to asking JAX to commit to not using embryonic stem cells, isn't it heart-breaking to see Coletta's principles fall so quickly by the wayside upon meeting opposition? Show some backbone, man! The Diocese of Venice was counting on you!

Yes, Monaghan's Entities Also Support The Jackson Labs Plan

2010-07-27T21:19:00.021-04:00

I'm having a simply bizarre debate in the comment thread in this post, about whether Monaghan supports the proposed Ave Maria Town Jackson Labs facility. In the thread, commenter "also anonymous" alerts me to this fascinating site entitled "Supporters of JAX-Florida." It is Jackson Labs's own list of all those entities who are giving "enthusiastic support" for the proposed Ave Maria facility.

Who's on the Jackson Labs supporter list?

1. Shamrock Bank of Florida. Tom Monaghan is a Shamrock bank founder and, of course, he is one of the bank's directors. (The Chairman of the Board is Paul Roney, who is the CFO of Ave Maria University. Great! Let's add Roney to the list of highly-placed Ave Maria officials who support the Jackson Labs plan, like Healy, Orsi, and Milhizer.)

2. Ave Maria Utility Company. Yes, they're connected to Monaghan too!

This is fun! Is there any other organization or individual on the Jackson Labs list who is connected with Monaghan and/or any other Ave Maria entity?

UPDATE: Commenter "also anonymous" notes that the Economic Development Council of Collier County has a list of people supporting the Jackson Labs project. On this list are Jason D. Vogel, Project Manager for the Ave Maria Utility Company and Donald J. York, President/Chief Executive Officer of Shamrock Bank of Florida.

Commenter "an observer" notes that the law firm Garlick, Hilfiker & Swift, LLP is on the Jackson Labs list. Thomas B. Garlick, Managing Partner of the firm, is one of the members of Ave Maria School of Law's Board of Governors, and he has signed his name to the Collier County list.

I was looking through the Board of Regents of AMU and discovered that Regent Don J. Gunther serves as an advisor to Northern Trust Bank, which is also on the Jackson Labs list. (Admittedly, an advisor is a lesser position in the organization, and it is Northern Trust's President, John D. Fumagalli, not Gunther, who signed his name to the Collier County list.)

Another AMU Regent, Alan D. Reynolds, is the Chairman and CEO of Wilson Miller. Wilson Miller is on the Jackson Labs list, and Reynolds is personally on the Collier County list of supporters.

The Eastern Collier Chamber of Commerce is a supporter of Jackson Labs in Ave Maria. Guess who is on their Board of Directors? Our old pal, Nicholas Healy, President of Ave Maria University.

Ave Maria Town has an "alliance" with Pulte Homes to build all the houses in Ave Maria Town. Sure enough, Pulte Homes is a Jackson Labs supporter.

Remember, Monaghan Is Not Just Selling Land, He Is Actively Supporting the JAX Plan

2010-07-26T20:33:00.012-04:00

In the Jackson Labs controversy, those defending Monaghan's sale of the land are standing by the NCBC's explanation that the land sale was morally permissible. I think that the NCBC's explanation is flawed, but set that aside for now. In fact, let's even assume that Monaghan's land sale is morally permissible.

It's important to remember that Monaghan is not merely selling land, while disapproving of JAX's morally-skewed ethics (or even while remaining entirely neutral on the JAX plan). Monaghan and his agents are explicitly encouraging and supporting the JAX plan, a plan that the diocese now says has ethical and moral concerns. Think of President Healy welcoming the JAX plan because of the job and real estate benefits, or Dean Milhizer saying that JAX's practices are consistent with Catholic teaching, or Fr. Orsi being excited about the coming of JAX and the benefits to AMU. The Vatican instruction on research and material derived from human embryonic stem cell research requires people to make known their disagreement with such involvement.

Monaghan has made no public statement of disapproval of JAX's unethical involvement with human embryonic stem cell research. On the contrary, Monaghan and his associates are actively supporting all facets of the JAX plan without reservation. That is problematic.

(In other news, AveWatch has an similarly-themed editorial noting that "Tom Monaghan and his Ave Maria employees did nothing prior to the County Commissioners' vote to ensure that work repugnant to Catholic teaching will not be done at the Ave Maria Jackson Laboratory complex." Obviously, Monaghan has a huge financial interest in the success of the JAX plan. It's sad to see money trumping principle here.)

Go Gyrenes!

2010-07-26T13:52:00.002-04:00

The AMU Gyrenes start out on their long journey to the Sugar Bowl.

Another Embarrassing Tom Golisano and Charlie Crist Story

2010-07-26T08:29:00.005-04:00

Here's another embarrassing news story about pro-abortion politician Charlie Crist "cozying up" to Ave Maria honoree Tom Golisano:

As part of his outreach for contributions and counsel as an independent U.S. Senate candidate, Gov. Charlie Crist recently had a tete-a-tete with New York billionaire Tom Golisano....
Reached by phone in New York, Golisano confirmed to Sunshine State News that he and Crist met in Southwest Florida.

What's especially embarrassing is this passage from the article, which pretty well sums up why AMU's honoring of Golisano is scandalous:

The Naples-based Ave Maria University, founded by Dominos owner and Catholic conservative Tom Monaghan, has honored Golisano and named a campus building after him.

But Golisano has also taken non-Catholic positions in the political arena. Over the past two years, the billionaire has endorsed and donated to NARAL-supported pro-choice candidates in state and federal elections.

HT: AveWatch

Is the Venice Diocese Spokesman Trying To Hold Contradictory Positions At The Same Time?

2010-07-25T21:22:00.013-04:00

The Ave Herald has a post about the Venice Diocese expressing concern about the proposed Jackson Labs facility at Ave Maria Town. The statement, put out by diocesan spokesman Bob Reddy, was published as a Naples News editorial (and apparently not published in the diocesan newspaper or handed out after Mass as originally reported, but soon retracted, by AveWatch).

The Ave Herald article has an interesting passage:

The diocese is commenting solely on the research plans for the laboratory, Mr. Reddy said, and not the decision by Tom Monaghan to sell his half-interest in 50 acres of land to his partner, the Barron Collier Cos., so that the developer could donate the land for use by the Jackson Lab. On that matter, Mr. Reddy said, "the diocese defers" to the National Catholic Bioethics Center, which reviewed the transaction and determined that there was "no moral obstacle" to Mr. Monaghan selling his interest in the land.

My logical fallacy warning system just went off. It seems to me that Mr. Reddy trying to hold contradictory positions at the same time. Remember, the NCBC's position rests on the premise that JAX is not involved in any evil, and therefore, a person can morally cooperate with JAX including selling them land for a new facility. But the diocesan statement says that it has concerns with JAX's "purported association with" human embryo stem cell research. How can the diocese have concerns about JAX's activities when the NCBC's implicit position is that there is no reason to have concerns about JAX's activities?

UPDATE: Let me restate my point more simply: The NCBC says that cooperation with JAX is morally permissible because there are no concerns with JAX's association with human embryo stem cell research. The diocese says there are concerns with JAX's association with human embryo stem cell research. I think it's incoherent to hold both positions at the same time.

Bombing Iran is the Latest

2010-07-25T10:23:00.000-04:00

With the failure of the green color revolution there last year, and with the failure of the architecture to plummet the euro earlier this year, thanks in most part to an executive order by Merkel banning naked shorting (i.e. banning CDS and CDO positions on bonds -- derivatives) with no time for the investment and hedge funds to unwind (unlike the 12 years our congress just gave to unwind), this is a difficult time for Wall Street to effect a beggar thy neighbor shift of toxic derivative soup.

Time for the old dollar overhang on oil Worked in the 70s. The NIE of 2007 is being reviewed and there's good reports that while Medvedev was visiting the U.S., Obama presented evidence by way of intelligence reports that Iran has enough yellow cake for two bombs. Hence, we've returned to the Brzezinski plan to work over Russia. We've also admitted some defeat in the currency battles of 2008. Some interpret Russia's continuance to allow energy projects in Iran to be at odds with the projected statements of disappointment that it has yellow cake. But alas, Russia has withheld the shipment of some SA300 supersonic surface to air missiles thus showing a reasonable and consistent front.

Meanwhile, other preparations, such as strong arming China into approving sanctions against the erstwhile Persians and Hilliary's recent trips to countries absent in the U.S. halo countries forming a ring around Iran, such as Azerbaijan, all spell a pretty interesting October surprise.

Add to the factors, that when we did this in the 70s, the issue was a pretense to raise oil prices. Add the necessity of the Wall Street interests to reach barrel prices of $500-$1000/barrel in order to dump the quadrillions of dead paper they've netted, and it's an interesting proposition.

Hopefully, this plan gets rooted out as well as the PIIGS/Euro crash was.

Diocese Expresses Concern Over Jackson Labs

2010-07-23T07:47:00.005-04:00

AveWatch is reporting that the Catholic Diocese of Venice, which covers Collier County and Ave Maria Town, is planning on issuing a statement in its parishes and diocesan newspaper, expressing concern about the Jackson Labs plan. [See update below]

Here is an excerpt from the statement:

Jackson Laboratory's purported association with and openness to human embryonic stem cell research causes the Diocese of Venice concern. Of particular note is a public statement made by the company that they are, "not willing to rule out doing human embryonic stem cell research" (Naples Daily News, April 10, 2010).
......
While encouraging and supporting biomedical research which respects innocent human life and advances the common good and in keeping fully with the Teachings of the Catholic Church, the Diocese of Venice has ethical and moral concerns as regards the potential activities at the proposed Jackson Laboratory facility. Economic growth and development are not the only components which impact the life of a community. An organization which truly respects the rights of all human beings could and should "rule out" human embryonic stem cell research. This is precisely because it involves the destruction of innocent human life and consequently, affects the community. Without such an understanding, the plan of Jackson Laboratory, as it has been reported, presents difficulty for the Diocese of Venice in Florida.

It's good to see the Diocese raising concerns.

UPDATE: The Ave Herald has clarified that the statement was published in the Naples News, not in the diocesan or parish papers.

Latin Tutorial

2010-07-22T21:36:00.001-04:00

JAX Does More Bad Stuff, and AMU Prez Looks at JAX Mice

2010-07-22T07:31:00.009-04:00

AveWatch has the story of Jackson Labs's continuing research into the development of a male contraceptive. But AMSL Dean Milhizer tells us that Jackson Labs's research is "consistent with the Catholic Church's teaching on different life issues."

I also just came across this neat little article about how members of the International Stem Cell Initiative met at Jackson Labs in 2007 to compare notes on the merits of various human embryonic stem cell lines. But the NCBC tells us that there is no evil in the area of human embryonic stem cell research taking place at Jackson Labs.

I'm so confused!

In other news, AMU President Healy recently visited Jackson Labs and looked at some of their mouse models. I wonder if these were some of the mouse models marketed for human embryo stem cell engraftment.

CNN Money.com features our old friends.

2010-07-18T11:47:00.008-04:00

Planned communities.

Hat tip: AveWatch.

NY Times: The New Abortion Providers

2010-07-15T23:39:00.002-04:00

A sad, heart-breaking, and sickening article about abortion providers over at the New York Times.

Turnover at Ave Maria University Admissions Dept.

2010-07-15T22:00:00.002-04:00

Naples News reports on the shake-up at the AMU's Admissions Department. Hattip: AveWatch

Is it Passion or Lust?

2010-07-12T22:13:00.004-04:00

Some years back, the BBC produced a series hosted by Simon Schama entitled "The Power of Art." One of the things that drew Mrs. Militaris and I to the program was Simon's professorial affectations. Indeed, proof positive that one can become a snooty professor by jerking one's head, speaking with an English accent and making Wildean comments, such as: "We like to think, don't we, that the genius is the hero--that the good guy wins. But this is Caravaggio, and the genius is the villain." Makes for a jolly fun evening. If you have not had the opportunity to sample the pleasure that is Schama check this link out for a taste.

An even better appreciation is here:

ATTENTION: Fat, Black, Lesbian, Homeless Women!

2010-07-08T15:17:00.001-04:00

The banking industry, in conjunction with the federal government, wants you!

Cardinal Newman Society: Bad Notre Dame, Too Close To Embryonic Stem Cell Research, But Ave Maria......

2010-07-08T07:57:00.015-04:00

I noticed over at the Cardinal Newman Society website that they're making a big deal about Notre Dame recently honoring the company General Electric, "despite the company’s involvement with embryonic stem cell research." Cardinal Newman Society President Patrick Reilly wrote a letter to Notre Dame President Fr. Jenkins, calling on Notre Dame to "publicly revoke the honor" because "it is contradictory and potentially scandalous for the University to honor a company which is in clear conflict with the teaching of the Catholic Church." The Cardinal Newman Society tells us that GE is in conflict with Catholic Church teaching because it is partnered with Geron, a company doing embryonic stem cell research, and because GE says it might pursue embryonic stem cell research itself.

Yes, you know where I'm going with this: I'm thinking of an organization that also partners with companies doing embryonic stem cell research and says it might pursue embryonic stem cell research itself. Need another hint? It starts with "J" and rhymes with "Paxson Labs."

So the Cardinal Newman Society feels the need to publicly chastise Notre Dame for their connection to GE. Is the Cardinal Newman Society going to say anything about Ave Maria's support and approval of a similar organization?