News Article

• SLU basketball coach and former Marquette coach Rick Majerus is in trouble with the Archdiocese of Saint Louis for his comments supporting abortion rights and stem-cell research.


• Archbishop Burke of Saint Louis said he would deny Majerus communion and called for disciplinary action from the Jesuit university


• SLU said Majerus spoke as an individual, not a university representative


• Catholic universities are not subject to the authority of any archdiocese, and faculty are subject to the stipulations in their contracts.

Archbishop Raymond Burke of the St. Louis archdiocese said he would deny St. Louis University basketball coach Rick Majerus communion. He called for university action after the coach told local television reporters that he supported abortion rights and embryonic stem cell research.

Majerus is a former head coach of the Marquette men's basketball team who coached from 1983-1986 with a three-year record of 56-35.

While at a campaign rally for presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), Majerus told reporters from St. Louis KMOV-TV news, "I'm very much an advocate of stem cell research…anything that can help eliminate people's pain in life and suffering, I think we have to explore all those options."

SLU said in an official statement Majerus' comments did not reflect the university's views.

"Coach Rick Majerus' comments were his own personal views, and he was not speaking for St. Louis University," the statement said.

"The comments were made at a non-University event, and he was not there as a University representative."

The Archdiocese of St. Louis and the SLU athletic department did not return phone calls at press time.

Burke spoke with the New York Times by telephone while in Washington attending March for Life events.

"I'm concerned that a leader at a Catholic university made these comments," he said. "It can lead Catholics astray. I just believe that it's of the essence for people to understand as a Catholic you just cannot hold these beliefs."

Continued...

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Published: 1/31/08 Section: News

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