Marquette to start over on nickname

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that the latest nickname, Gold, is on its way out. Golden Eagles is not back. And, according to university president Father Robert A. Wild,

"While I recognize that some people are disappointed that we are not reinstating the Warriors nickname, we cannot teach one principle about respect for human dignity in our classrooms and then fail to act by that same principle when making decisions," he said.

Fr. Wild had stated publicly that he had favored a return to Warriors in the Board of Trustees deliberations, among other contradictory statements by the MU administration and board in this matter. It's to the point now that I'm hearing sports broadcasters make on-the-air commentary along the lines of "How about that, priests lie."

There's what almost seems a trend in Catholic clergy of turning into their goals what they once called the slanders of their worst detractors. The sexual abuse of altar boys is the most prominent example. In Marquette's case, it appears someone in Public Relations stumbled across "Jesuitry" in the dictionary and convinced the MU board and administration that it was a great new paradigm.

As for a nickname, "Culture Warriors" fits.

Update: [6:55 PM] an email "Message about Marquette University's nickname" includes the full quote from Fr. Wild.

"While I recognize that some people are disappointed that we are not reinstating the Warriors nickname, we cannot teach one principle about respect for human dignity in our classrooms and then fail to act by that same principle when making decisions," Father Wild said. "The Warriors nickname will always be part of our proud athletics tradition, and we will honor that tradition. But we live in a different era than when the Warriors nickname was selected in 1954. The perspective of time has shown us that our actions, intended or not, can offend others. We must not knowingly act in a way that others will believe, based on their experience, to be an attack on their dignity as fellow human beings."

As I read it, he says that Christians are morally obligated to refrain from actions, including the use of words, which are neither objectively offensive nor subjectively intended to be offensive, if any other person believes them to be so.

He obviously cannot mean that, since the MU administration has been handling this issue in way demeaning to students and alumni for over a decade, and its proposed further handlng continues this. This standard, rather, applies only to designated victim groups, and on the terms demanded by those who MU decides are such groups' representatives.

Even the Nicene Creed could not be proclaimed under such a standard; its assertions offend some who hold other religious beliefs, or none, or the equality of all beliefs. So, as I have recounted before, it should come as no surprise that my freshman Theology prof at MU repeatedly denied the existence of the Holy Spirit. I'm tending to conclude that sometime after that, the Holy Spririt ceased believing in MU.