College Officials Meet with Members of the Curia in Rome

Last week a delegation of Thomas Aquinas College officials visited numerous members of the Roman curia, seeking their counsel and apprising them of the state of the College’s Supreme Court case against the HHS Contraceptive Mandate. “We typically visit Rome every year or two,” says President Michael F. McLean. “We see these trips as a way to affirm the College’s fidelity to the teaching Church and to benefit from the wisdom and encouragement of its leaders.” Joining Dr. McLean on the journey were his wife, Lynda, Chairman of the Board of Governors R. Scott Turicchi and his wife, Lannette, and Governor Lloyd Noble II.

Of particular interest to the prelates, reports Dr. McLean, was how the College would respond to the Supreme Court’s highly unusual request that both sides in the case of Zubik v. Burwell file supplemental briefs in the proceedings. “They were very eager to learn about the details of our case, and they could not have been more supportive of our efforts to uphold the Church’s teachings and defend the religious liberty of American Catholics,” says Dr. McLean.

While in the Eternal City, the delegation met with various friends of the College, both old and new, including several past Commencement Speakers. These prelates, who hail from four continents and hold a variety of key posts in the Curia, include: the Most Rev. Vincenzo Paglia, President of the Pontifical Council for the Family; His Eminence Edwin Cardinal O’Brien, Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem; His Eminence Marc Cardinal Ouellet, P.S.S., Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops; Rev. Wojciech Giertych, O.P., Theologian of the Papal Household; His Eminence Francis Cardinal Arinze, Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments; His Eminence James Michael Cardinal Harvey, Archpriest of the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside-the-Walls; His Eminence Raymond Cardinal Burke, Patron of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta; His Eminence Gerhard Ludwig Cardinal Müller, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; and His Eminence George Cardinal Pell, Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy.

Additionally, His Eminence Giovanni Cardinal Lajolo, President Emeritus of Vatican City State, hosted the group for breakfast at his residence after offering a Mass for the College in the Chapel of the Choir at St. Peter’s Basilica. “A ‘heavenly thing,’” said His Eminence in his homily, referencing St. John’s Gospel, is “being here together today, united in the love of God, under the eyes of His Mother and ours, Mary, with ‘one heart and one mind,’ together with all the students, staff, faculty members, and benefactors of Thomas Aquinas College.”

Calling the trip “refreshing and constructive,” Dr. McLean thanked the Turicchis and Mr. Noble for their assistance, as well as the prelates for their time and hospitality. “We consider ourselves very blessed to have the support of so many faithful princes of the Church,” said Dr. McLean, adding that the College remains, “as always, committed to serving the Church in any way we can.”