U.S. bishops are continuing to criticize the University of Notre Dame over its controversial decision to appoint a pro-abortion professor to lead a university institute.
The school has been under sustained criticism since it announced last month that Susan Ostermann would be installed as director of the school’s Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies.
Ostermann has spoken out in the past in favor of abortion and has criticized the pro-life movement, at times linking it to “white supremacy” and misogyny. Presently an associate professor of global affairs, Ostermann’s leadership of the Liu Institute is set to start July 1.
Fort Wayne-South Bend, Ind., Bishop Kevin Rhoades — whose territory includes the university — touched off the criticism of the school Feb. 11 when he expressed “dismay” and “strong opposition” to the appointment. Bishop Rhoades urged the school to “rectify this situation” and rescind the appointment.
More criticism from U.S. bishops followed, including from Denver Archbishop Samuel Aquila, Winona-Rochester, Minn., Bishop Robert Barron, San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, and Archbishop Paul Coakley, who serves as president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Amid the backlash, the university has signaled that it will stick with its appointment of Ostermann, whom it described as “well-prepared” to lead the institute.
Though the school has indicated that it will not back down from the appointment, U.S. bishops have continued to urge the school to withdraw the leadership offer to Ostermann.
Springfield, Ill., Bishop Thomas Paprocki Feb. 17 described the school’s decision as “scandalous,” pointing to what he said was Ostermann’s “public record of radical advocacy that is fundamentally opposed to the dignity of human life.”
The school’s decision is “incompatible with the mission and moral witness Notre Dame claims to uphold,” Bishop Paprocki said, arguing that the appointment “causes confusion among the faithful and undermines the church’s consistent ethic of life, which is central to Catholic social teaching.”
Bishop Paprocki said he joined Bishop Rhoades “in urging the University of Notre Dame to reverse this appointment and to reaffirm, in both word and deed, its commitment to authentic Catholic education and witness.”
Retired New York Archbishop Cardinal Timothy Dolan, meanwhile, said that he agreed “heartily” with his brother bishops in their criticism of the historic Catholic university’s decision.
“Notre Dame is a light to the world, as salt to the earth, to use the words of Jesus,” he said.
“And it stands, again, for that double pillar of Catholic social justice, the dignity of the human person and the sanctity of human life,” the cardinal said. “Anything that any university, particularly a prominent Catholic one, would do to dull that light to the world, we shouldn’t do.”
Bishop Michael F. Burbidge also echoed criticisms of Notre Dame in the Feb. 17 episode of the diocesan podcast “Walk Humbly.”
Bishop Burbidge described the appointment as “very unsettling and very disappointing.” He said Ostermann’s views on abortion are “simply incompatible … with the mission of the Catholic Church” and with Notre Dame.
“Her views … are in direct opposition to the church’s teaching (that) every human life from the moment of conception needs to be protected, welcomed and celebrated. The consistent ethic of life demands we defend the vulnerable without compromise,” he said.
Bishop Burbidge urged the faithful to pray that the school rescinds the appointment. “It’s not a question of academic freedom. It’s a question of the mission and identity of Notre Dame,” he said.
Ostermann herself has remained out of the media amid the ongoing criticism. The professor said in January that she “respect(s) Notre Dame’s institutional position on the sanctity of life at every stage.”
She described herself as “inspired by the university’s focus on integral human development, which calls us to promote the dignity and flourishing of every person.”
Asked for comment amid the backlash from U.S. bishops, Ostermann reiterated her statement via a university spokesperson.
Editor’s note: Ostermann has declined the position as director of the institute, multiple media outlets reported Feb. 26.
