The archbishop is totally out of line. Majerus is entitled to express his opinion as a private citizen. I bet the archbishop only criticizes those whose opinions differ from his own!! Religious leaders trying to censor opposing opinions... not in America! If you believe in religious leaders making political deisions for everyone,go to a country whose government is founded based on religion... like Iran.

Dr. Harvey said it all! When will we be America again?

Unless there is a clause in his contract stating that he  must follow Catholic beliefs and any expression of them otherwise will result in punishment he has every right to say what he wants. I am sure there are other teachers, coaches, students at that school that are living quite a few anti-catholic lives.

I support the bishop 100%. If you don't believe in the tenets of the Roman Catholic Faith then don't work for a Roman Catholic University. There are plenty of other places to find employment. Any CEO
would not want anyone working for him that wasn't on the same page why should it be tolerated at a Roman Catholic University.

Saint Louis is a private Catholic entity within the archbishop's diocese.   A member of the university's leadership makes statements that are contrary to the Catholic doctrine.  Hmmm... I don't see what's so hard to understand?  Archbishop is in his TOTAL right to uphold Catholic teachings which are not based on the archbishop's opinions.  Majerus can express his ignorance of the Catholic teachings all he wants, YES... but don't complain about the consequences when they come.  Also, terminating life is fundamentally not a political issue.  To terminate anyone's life is not a political right you should have or attempt to negotiate.  Eye for an eye??  Sounds like those are the ones that should go to another country... like Iran.

Who cares if he disagrees with the church's teachings? They didn't hire him to be a mouth piece for Catholicism. They hired Majerus to turn around a lackluster basketball program and to win games.

And believe me, although Majerus is revered as almost immortal by us Utah Utes fans, perhaps we're over-estimating the man's influence. If the church really wants to push an anti-abortion agenda, aren't there bigger fish to fry? Because in the end, isn't Majerus just a chubby guy in a sloppy sweater who has a gift for the game of basketball? I love the man, but I'm not really relying on him for moral guidance.

I disagree homeboy doctor. The catholic church is free to police their religon as they see fit. They're not saying he cant have his opinion or express it. However, they can ban him from reciving communion and they can fire him for his beliefs.

First of all, the Catholic Church is perhaps the only Christian church that has definite views of right and wrong, good and evil. This is why the media takes so many shots at it, because Catholicism still stands for something. Rick has a right as an American to say these things, but not as a Catholic. Rick is free to choose another anything-goes type church (Unitarianism anyone?), but these beliefs disqualify him from calling himself a Roman Catholic. Furthermore, he IS in a high-profile position at a Catholic university, and to go against Catholic teaching as a head coach of a Jesuit university, ups the ante considerably. As Lenny Wilkens (a truly strong Catholic and African American coach) once said, "Everyone is a role model to someone!" As http://www.fightingirishthomas.net/2008/01/archbishop-burke-and-pro-choice.html further explains, Rick (unless he repents), should be disposed of as coach and role model at Catholic St. Louis University.

Some people don't pay much attention at school.  I am positive of this fact because I happened to pay some attention myself.  And even though I am a practicing agnostic ;) with no religious upbringing (and a decidedly non-existent motivation to ever pursue any religious practice) - SOME people are clearly missing some things that most people (who value common sense) take for granted.  And I didn't have to major in "Religious Studies" to get the basics for how the Catholic Church works either.  You are right, this is America, and certain things about religion are common knowledge.  (Would you claim to not know what a rosary was if someone pointed it out to you too?)

Burke has an obligation to teach Catholicism. But, a Catholic Bishop should teach Catholicism?  Well... you know... that’s kind of his thing.  Majerus claims to be a Catholic and he lives and works within the jurisdiction of Burke, if it were just THAT - the bishop is obligated to set Majerus straight.  But it is much worse than that, the bishop (rightly) pointed out that Majerus is in a position to mislead and confuse other Catholics about what they are obligated to believe as CATHOLICS!  Catholics are literally defined by what they believe (another one of those "common sense" points some people can't seem to grasp.)  

How about an analogy?  How would we react to a practicing cardiologist (who teaches at the university hospital she works at) going in front of T.V. cameras and proclaiming that "smoking is good for you?"  Admittedly, she is not a Pulmonologist, so the "lungs" aren't exactly her specialty.  But, that's not really the problem is it?  She's a doctor; she shouldn't be misleading people about what doctors are SUPPOSED to believe.  And any doctor with his head screwed on straight probably wouldn't claim that smoking was going to add years to your life.  

Get real.  Majerus is a Catholic and he is a leading figure at a Catholic institution.  He doesn't have to be on board with everything the Catholic Church teaches (his archbishop said as much) - he just needs to not publicly contradict the mission of his Catholic Church while he reserves his title of "Catholic" and while he works at a Catholic school.  

It's pretty simple.  Be a Catholic, or don't Majerus.  And if you want to publicly oppose Catholicism - maybe you shouldn't be working at a Catholic school?  Hmmmm?

What does "America" have to do with a Catholic Archbishop disciplining a Catholic at a Catholic owned and operated University?

If a country club board member in the Hamptons disciplines a member for cursing on the golf course with a fine, is that a first Amendment issue? No, it is how a private organization chooses to operate. Behavior suffers consequence.

Kudos to the archbishop, and I have nothing but amazement at those who proclaim separation of Church and state, but express such vitriol when the Church actually operates separately from the state, and within its own bounds.

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