Tom Monaghan, the Domino's Pizza founder who sold the chain in 1998 for $1 billion ($1.5 billion Canadian), is featured in the New York Times and other newspapers this week for his generosity toward Catholic education. The stories play up his so-called “right-wing Republican/conservative Catholicism” and quote ultraliberal Jesuits who frown upon Monaghan's goal to promote the faith and “help more people get to heaven.”
Monaghan is donating US$200 million to create Ave Maria University near Naples, Florida. “At some Catholic universities,” he says, “students graduate with their religious faith more shaky than when they arrive.”
By contrast, Ave Maria will have as its chancellor one of the last Jesuit priests who are still faithful to the pope and the church, Father Joseph Fessio. The campus will be fully functioning by 2006 and will eventually have around 5,000 students.
The University will provide the south/eastern United States with a totlly faithful Catholic college as already exists in a few other parts of the nation, such as Christendom College in Virginia, the University of Steubenville in Ohio and Thomas Aquinas in California. All of these colleges are noted for their strong pro-life, pro-family philosophy and actively encourage student involvement in pro-life activities.
For the original feature, go to the New York Times.
(This update courtesy of LifeSite News.)