Diatribe against church ignorant, inappropriate

Editor,

Recent letters to the editor regarding the announcement of creating a chair position of Catholic studies clearly demonstrate religious biases. Why is it when a Western religion is recognized in a public setting, it is chastised? I detect a sense of fear that the courses will be over-spiritualized and under-objectified. However, as has been demonstrated by the courses taught by the Religious Studies department, the courses are educational in nature - never promoting or condemning a particular tradition or teaching with a spiritual element or agenda.

We are the University of New Mexico. In this state, we have a high population of Hispanics, and we are among the top Hispanic research universities in the country. Hispanic culture has traditionally been rooted in Catholic ideals. Because we are an institution reflecting our cultural heritage, I do not understand why our community cannot be more proud of this advancement toward educating our students on one of the more prominent religious practices this state embraces.

Any personal conflict one has with an institution is case-specific and should not be generalized to the entire institution as a whole. The diatribe against the Roman Catholic Church is offensive, ignorant and extremely inappropriate. Comparing the church to a terrorist organization demonstrates outright

discrimination against a belief system and culture.

I am highly in favor of extending the offer to non-Western religious traditions; I think it is important for our students to also be aware of traditions that are not in mainstream contemporary society. And I think that one day, UNM will have the resources to make that possible. For the time being, why not be supportive of the Religious Studies program for its advancement in strengthening its academic program? This is indeed a university that strives toward intellectual excellence in contemporary society. The inclusion of the chair of Catholic studies is evidence of that endeavor.

Stacy Keogh

Graduate student