New York Times Examines Catholic Group's Objections To Ethics Award For Supreme Court Justice Breyer

Main Category: Abortion
Also Included In: Litigation / Medical Malpractice
Article Date: 31 Oct 2008 - 9:00 PDT

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The New York Times on Wednesday examined objections from the Cardinal Newman Society -- a conservative Catholic group -- and New York Cardinal Edward Egan to Fordham University's plans to present Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer with this year's Fordham-Stein Ethics Prize. The society on Tuesday said that it had collected more than 1,110 signatures from Fordham alumni and others calling for the university to revoke the award based on Breyer's support for abortion rights in Supreme Court rulings. Bob Howe, a spokesperson for the Catholic university, said that despite the objections, the university planned to present the award to Breyer as scheduled.

According to the Times, Breyer is not the first abortion-rights supporter to receive the award, which was established in 1976 to recognize "individuals whose work exemplifies outstanding standards of professional conduct, promotes the advancement of justice and brings credit to the profession" of the law. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, who received the award in 2001, and Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who received it in 1992, both have joined Court opinions supporting abortion rights. When asked why those awards did not draw criticism from Catholic advocates and the church, Joseph Zwilling -- a spokesperson for the Archdiocese of New York -- said that "the others apparently did not come to our attention."

The Times reports that the Cardinal Newman Society in recent months "has become increasingly outspoken in its criticism of Catholic university officials perceived as less than faithful to church doctrine." Earlier this month, Patrick Reilly -- president of the society -- criticized St. Joseph College president Pamela Trotman Reid for saying she is "concerned about the right of women to make choices about their own health" if Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) were elected. Reilly also criticized Boston College for hosting an event featuring McCain's daughter because of McCain's support for embryonic stem cell research (Vitello, New York Times, 10/29).

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