We write you with great sadness and regret for the actions recently taken by the Board of this Alumni Association regarding our brother and friend Victor Vianello. Refusal to print news of a member’s marriage not only represents a shocking lack of journalistic integrity, but also a deep denial of the core values which were cemented in us as students and which we continuously work to defend as alumni. 

We do not hope to persuade anyone for or against marriage equality. We do not seek that our school endorse a particular viewpoint, or that it deny the members of its community the opportunity to form their own opinions grounded in both love and moral steadfastness. We simply ask that this Association, which has done so much to advance the causes of faith, hope and charity amongst its brothers, recognize the moments that are of importance to said brothers. That as a simple matter of historical documentation, that it make known that Victor’s life has been forever changed, and that such change merits recognition, if not celebration, at the very minimum.

Would our association not publish news of the birth of a member’s child if that child were conceived out of wedlock? Would our Association not publish news of a member’s election to public office, even if that member’s political view endorsed abortion? Must the great achievements of our alumni necessarily fall wholly in line with the views of our Church in order to merit recognition? We, the members of this Association know in our hearts, that success grounded in love, and in the never-ending mission of being men for others cannot go unnoticed, irrespective of its fundamental adherence to certain viewpoints. Love of brother, need not require love of his viewpoints. 

The moral course of our Church’s social teachings may or may not change over time. That is up to the grace and guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the disposition of those who act as stewards of that course on Earth. There is much that is left out of our hands. And yet at the same time, we cannot claim to be “intellectually competent, religious, loving, caring, and just men that are open to growth,” while leaving our brothers in the dark.

We, the united individuals of this Association, humbly implore you to reconsider your position. To acknowledge Victor’s momentous occasion, not because it is morally sound or unsound, but because it will define the course of his life, and therefore the course of all the lives which he touches, many of which contribute to the lasting growth and cohesion of this community.