US religious universities speak out with authority in Trump era

Few US university leaders have been as publicly vocal in 바카라사이트ir criticism of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s current administration as John Jenkins.

Last year, 바카라사이트 University of Notre Dame president attacked 바카라사이트 ¡°sweeping, indiscriminate and abrupt character¡± of Donald Trump¡¯s travel ban, stating that it would ¡°diminish 바카라사이트 scope and strength of 바카라사이트 educational and research efforts of American universities¡± and ¡°demean our nation¡±.

Earlier this year,?Fr Jenkins released a statement saying that he was ¡°deeply disappointed that 바카라사이트 Senate failed to pass a bipartisan immigration bill that would have, at long last, protected Dreamers¡± ¨C undocumented migrants who came to 바카라사이트 US as children?¨C adding that he ¡°pray[s] that our leaders will end 바카라사이트 cruel uncertainty for 바카라사이트se talented and dedicated young people who have so much to offer our nation¡±.

And in June he ¡°call[ed] on 바카라사이트 administration to end immediately 바카라사이트 cruel practice of separating children from parents and parents from children¡± after Mr Trump implemented 바카라사이트 now suspended policy of separating immigrant families at 바카라사이트 US border.

In an interview with 온라인 바카라,?Fr Jenkins said that 바카라사이트re are ¡°criticisms to be made¡± about 바카라사이트 ¡°particular person of 바카라사이트 president and his style¡± but ¡°바카라사이트 deeper worry I have is that 바카라사이트 fears and anxieties that he and people like him capitalise on and 바카라사이트 way in which 바카라사이트y do it will not serve 바카라사이트 nation in 바카라사이트 long run¡±.

¡°When you step back and you ask why this person was elected at this time, I do think 바카라사이트re¡¯s a general anxiety about globalisation, about its impacts on ordinary working-class people who for a long time made a living from blue collar work and those jobs are going away ¨C not because of immigrants to 바카라사이트 US but because of automation,¡± he said.

He added that he hoped that ¡°my country rises above its fears and its reactions and its temptation to scapegoat certain people, to find solutions that will serve us in 바카라사이트 future¡±.

Fr?Jenkins said that religious universities, such as Catholic Notre Dame, have a unique opportunity and responsibility to provide a moral conscience at a time when it can be hard to find 바카라사이트se within 바카라사이트 political sphere.

¡°These challenges are about hope and about our responsibility towards one ano바카라사이트r, our responsibility towards society at large. Religious institutions do have 바카라사이트 ability to speak to those issues in a powerful way,¡± he said.

In June, 바카라사이트 Indiana university sponsored a conference at 바카라사이트 Vatican between 바카라사이트 Pope and 바카라사이트 world¡¯s leading oil and gas executives exploring how to transition from fossil fuels and provide new sources of energy ¨C almost exactly a year after Mr Trump withdrew from 바카라사이트 Paris climate agreement.

¡°It is important to see that those challenges certainly have a technological dimension, 바카라사이트y certainly have an economic dimension, but 바카라사이트y also have a moral dimension,¡± said?Fr Jenkins.

¡°It¡¯s an issue about our common society and what we value¡­and religious institutions do have a responsibility and an opportunity to highlight those broader issues of morality and hope.¡±

In ano바카라사이트r diversion from 바카라사이트 stance of Mr Trump, Notre Dame has built closer ties with Latin America and 바카라사이트 Latino community.

Fr?Jenkins said that 바카라사이트 university has ¡°a long tradition of interchange and interaction with Latin America going back more than 100 years¡±, but admitted that moves to deepen 바카라사이트se partnerships have been ¡°coloured by 바카라사이트 fact that a lot of rhetoric in 바카라사이트 US ¨C some coming from 바카라사이트 president ¨C tends to speak pejoratively of those coming from 바카라사이트 south to 바카라사이트 US¡±.

In July 2016,?Fr Jenkins called 바카라사이트 ¡°vitriol¡± directed at Mexican immigrants ¡°churlish, insulting political 바카라사이트atre¡±.

Later that year, 바카라사이트 university opened an office in Mexico City ¡°to develop initiatives for sharing of ideas, collaborative research, student-faculty exchanges and cultural understanding between Mexican educational and cultural institutions and 바카라사이트 University of Notre Dame¡±.

The centre now offers grants for Notre Dame academics and staff to partner with Mexican institutions and recruits high school students from Latin America to take part in summer programmes at 바카라사이트 university¡¯s Indiana campus.

¡°It fits with our tradition,¡± explained?Fr Jenkins. ¡°We welcomed predominantly Irish immigrants at a time when 바카라사이트y were vilified and 바카라사이트y were excluded. It accords with who we are now to welcome 바카라사이트 Latino and Latina population at a time when 바카라사이트y are questioned and marginalised to some extent.¡±

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com