The Laetare Medal Misfire

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By William Dempsey

After last year’' unsettling award of the Laetare Medal to Vice President Joe Biden despite his championship of abortion rights and same-sex marriage, one might have hoped for a respite this year.

It was not to be.

On March 26, Notre Dame announced that the Laetare Medal will be awarded at Commencement this year to Rev. Gregory J. Boyle, founder and executive director of Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles.

The announcement describes Father Boyle's laudable work for some 30 years with men and women who have been incarcerated and involved with gangs. His organization "is now the largest gang intervention, rehabilitation and re-entry program in the world."

That's on the plus side. There is, unsurprisingly, quite a negative side: Father Boyle has openly dissented from the Church's doctrine on same-sex marriage and has ridiculed its teachings respecting ordination of women and reception of Communion by Catholics married outside the Church.

In a widely publicized 2010 interview in connection with California Proposition 8, the referendum to ban same-sex marriage that was strongly supported by the Catholic bishops, Father Boyle not only disagreed but put the bishops on the wrong side of God.

Father Boyle said that, in judging the proposal, it was important to ask, "How does God see sexual orientation" and "Does God feel like same-sex marriage could happen?"

Father Boyle's answer: "I don't think anybody who has a connection to God and God's understanding and depth of compassion who's going to say no."

"And this," he said, "is contrary to the party line."

Read the rest at Sycamore Trust.

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