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Online university honors Fr. Spitzer, Chantilly parish

The annual Catholic Distance University gala was held at the Westin Arlington Gateway Hotel in Arlington Nov. 4. ANN M. AUGHERTON | CATHOLIC HERALD

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Bishop Emeritus Paul S. Loverde (center) presents Catholic Distance University’s Founders Award to Jesuit Fr. Robert J. Spitzer at the online university’s Gala Nov. 4 in Arlington, as Marianne Evans Mount, CDU president, and Military Services Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, look on. ANN M. AUGHERTON | CATHOLIC HERALD

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Catholic Distance University, an online Catholic catechetical
university, presented its Founders Award to Jesuit Father Robert J. Spitzer,
president of the Magis Center for Science, Reason and Faith, at its annual gala
at the Westin Arlington Gateway Hotel Nov. 4.

Father Spitzer, who served as Gonzaga University president from
1998 to 2009, is president of the Spitzer Center for Visionary Leadership. The
author of 10 books, he hosts a weekly show, “Father Spitzer’s Universe,” on
EWTN. In accepting the award, he said he is looking forward to a partnership
between CDU and the Magis Center. “CDU is going to be a very instrumental part”
of our work, he said.

In his remarks, he talked about the reasons why people leave the
church. He said there is a misconception that one reason is because faith and
science are contradictory. “We have truth on our side,” he said. “Faith and
science are in no way contradictory.”

The Bishop Thomas J. Welsh Parish Award went to both St. Veronica
Church in Chantilly and St. James the Greater Church in Charles Town, W.Va. CDU
moved its headquarters to the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, W.Va., in 2015
after being in the Arlington Diocese for more than 30 years.

Father Dennis W. Kleinmann, pastor of St. Veronica Church,
accepted the award from Susan Malone, gala chairwoman.

Arlington Bishop Michael F. Burbidge offered opening remarks, and
Bishop Emeritus Paul S. Loverde introduced the Founders Award and presented it
to Father Spitzer with Marianne Evans Mount, CDU founder and president; Archbishop
Timothy P. Broglio of the Military Archdiocese; and Dr. Charles R. Wasaff,
chairman of the CDU board.

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