Marquette theology professor & abortion advocate Dan Maguire cancels appearance at abortion debate

Dan Maguire

 Milwaukee, WI -- The College Republicans at Marquette University were eagerly anticipating a debate on abortion set for March 1st. The organization had booked Marquette theology professor Dan Maguire, S.T.D., an outspoken pro-choice liberal, and Dr. Mike Adams, a professor at the University of North Carolina – Wilmington and an energetic pro-life advocate. The debate was to be funded in part by the Marquette University Student Government Activity Fee and Young America’s Foundation.

After researching his opponent, Dr. Maguire told the College Republicans he could not participate in the debate because “[Adams] would not want to debate me in theology since he is not a theologian and could not argue a theological position with professional competence.”  Mike Adams is a professor in the Criminal Justice department at UNC-Wilmington.

Dr. Adams responded, “Professor Daniel Maguire says I lack the competence to defend a theological position on abortion. I'm no theologian. But I do understand ‘Thou Shalt Not Kill’.”

Event organizer Maggie Gervase said, “The goal of the debate was to bring the abortion discussion to campus. We wanted the two professors to develop a debate that would resonate with students; a debate on theological arguments alone would bore students.”

Political science professor and College Republican faculty advisor Dr. John McAdams wrote on his blog, “His insistence that he will debate only theologians is odd, given that [I], over the last couple of decades, have been on two panels with Maguire. One, in the 1990s, was on the death penalty. Two people debated on the pro-death penalty side, and Maguire (along with another faculty member) were on the anti-death penalty side.”

With Dr. Maguire’s past history of debating a political science professor on the death penalty, why would he shirk away from a debate with a fellow academic? Liberals espouse open mindedness, yet the pro-choice movement’s biggest cheerleader at Marquette is denying his students a balanced debate.

The College Republicans will still be hosting an event with Dr. Mike Adams. Adams will speak on Thursday, March 1st in the Alumni Memorial Union Ballroom at 7pm. The event is free, open to the public, and an RSVP is encouraged.

For more information about the event or the College Republicans please visit the CRs website www.marquettecrs.com, email marquettecrs@gmail.com, or call (920) 474-MUCR(6827).

In other Marquette news, MU placed six fraternities on probation.   Maybe if Marquette faculty could engage students in a topic they are passionate about to keep their interest in.... well I guess not.