Statement of the Diocese of Scranton in Response to Misericordia University’s Plans to Host Speaker Keith Boykin
 

Misericordia University’s Diversity Institute is twice providing at the University on February 17, 2009, a platform for Keith Boykin. 

Mr. Boykin has authored three books and all three have been nominated for a Lambda Literary award.  Lambda is a legal advocacy effort for homosexual causes.  Mr. Boykin is an avid supporter of same sex marriage and is an activist for positions disturbingly opposed to Catholic moral teaching. 

Bishop Martino wants Catholics of the Diocese of Scranton to know of his absolute disapproval of Misericordia University’s hosting Mr. Boykin.  By honoring this speaker through allowing his positions, so antithetical to Catholic Church teaching, to be broadcast on its campus, the University has rejected all four essential characteristics of a Catholic institution of higher learning.  These are:  its Christian inspiration, its obligation to reflect on knowledge in light of the Catholic faith, its fidelity to Catholic Church teaching and its commitment to serve the people of God. 

The faithful of the Diocese of Scranton, the Bishop observed, should be in no doubt that Misericordia University in this instance is seriously failing in maintaining its Catholic identity.