The bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend has criticised the University of Notre Dame over its decision to appoint a professor who has publicly supported abortion rights to lead one of its academic institutes, prompting a widening response from other American bishops.
Kevin Rhoades issued a statement last week expressing what he described as his “dismay” and “strong opposition” to the appointment of Prof Susan Ostermann as director of the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies. He said the decision had caused “confusion in the public mind” about the university’s fidelity to its Catholic mission and called on the institution to reconsider before the appointment takes effect on 1 July.
