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Thursday, August 30, 2018

An Open Letter to President Towey of Ave Maria University from a Diocesan Catholic Priest

By:   Fr. John Paul Echert
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Jim Towey Jim Towey

Dear President Towey:

I am a diocesan priest who is pastor of two Catholic churches in the Midwest; prior to this I was a professor of Sacred Scripture in a Catholic University and Graduate Seminary. I am also a Military Chaplain. Having read your official public statement “Regarding the Rift Within the Church” I am utterly astonished and appalled at its content in which you are critical of “some conservative members of the Church hierarchy” as well as Raymond Cardinal Burke (by name) and that you are dismissive of the credible testimony and first-hand evidence provided by Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò and his call for the resignation of those responsible for protecting predators. You would have been better advised to have remained silent rather than attack unjustly those who are solidly Catholic and exposing sex abuse.

In past years I had been a strong supporter of Ave Maria as among the very few truly “Catholic” institutions I recommended to my parishioners and students. The faithful of my churches are a mix of traditional and conservative Catholics, many homeschooled, and some have attended your Institution. I assure you that unless your statement is publicly retracted I will NEVER again recommend Ave Maria to anyone and I will identify it by name among those institutions which should be avoided by Catholics. Better to attend a secular university than a “Catholic” institution which is not solidly Catholic.

Sincerely in Christ,

Father John Paul Echert

P.S. Those wishing to contact President Towey may do so at the following:

Mr. H. James Towey
President’s Office
Ave Maria University
5050 Ave Maria Blvd.
Ave Maria, FL 34142
(239) 280-2500

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Last modified on Thursday, August 30, 2018