As members of the Saint Mary’s College community, we are called to uphold the values and principles that have shaped this institution since its founding in 1844. Our commitment to faith, learning, justice, and community is central to who we are as a Catholic college. 

We proudly embrace diverse ideas and perspectives, but we must ensure that the Catholic identity of our college remains at the forefront of all that we do.

The role of the Commencement Speaker is of great importance in inspiring our graduates to live out the values of our beloved Catholic women’s college. Dr. Mary McAleese's views on abortion, her rejection of Church teachings, and her outspoken opposition to Catholic education and doctrine stand in direct contrast to the principles upon which Saint Mary’s College was founded.

We, as a community of faith, are united in our belief that the Catholic teachings on life and the dignity of every person are central to Saint Mary’s College's mission and values. 

Therefore, we are calling on all concerned members of the Saint Mary’s College community to sign this petition and express your opposition to Dr. McAleese as the 2025 Commencement speaker.

Together, we defend the faith.

Ave Crux Spes Unica (Hail the Cross, Our Only Hope)

Dr. McAleese’s Troubling Views:

1. Legalization of Abortion

• Openly admitted that she had “no hesitation” in voting to repeal Ireland’s Eighth Amendment, which effectively legalized abortion, and that it was not a sin (Belfast Telegraph).
• McAleese chaired a meeting at Liberty Hall in Dublin that advocated for abortion and was quoted saying "I would see the failure to provide abortion as a human rights issue" (Babylon Radio).

2. Ignores Church Pastoral Teachings

• Despite Bishop Kevin Doran of Elphin urging those who voted ‘Yes’ on repealing Ireland's Eighth Amendment to consider going to confession, McAleese stated that she has "no intention whatsoever" of doing so, and has not gone to confession to seek forgiveness for her decision since. 
• Since retiring, she has pledged “to use whatever time is left to me” to push back against Church teachings on homosexuality and the role of women.
• During the Synod on Synodality in Rome, Dr. McAleese spoke prominently at a counter-synod, hosted by Spirit Unbounded, which describes itself as “a new international network of reform-minded Catholics,” and severely reprimanded Church leaders and ‘the patriarchy’ for the ‘oppression of women.’

3. Opposes Catholic Education

• Speaking on the ShoutOut series Know Your Queer History,  McAleese stated,"I wouldn't send any of my children to a Catholic school… There is a dark side of [Catholic education] that perplexes me and worries me. I think now, if I was making choices about schools and the schooling system that I would like my children to have, I would like something that opened them up to greater possibilities than the Catholic Church and its teaching does.”

4. Women in the Diaconate 

• McAleese stated, "The Catholic Church is one of the last great bastions of misogyny. It's an empire of misogyny.” She continued to say that a Church hierarchy that is "homophobic and anti-abortion is not the Church of the future.”
• Misconstrues St. Paul’s writings in Romans 16:1 as support for women deacons in her reference to the Bible.
  • “The next issue on the agenda, it seems to me, has got to be women as deacons. Here the biblical support is on our side.”
  • “…we could do worse than to mount a campaign in honour of Phoebe, the deaconess whom St. Paul recommends in Romans chapter 16, verse 1. Perhaps we should be calling it Phoebe’s Push.”