Another Concerned Voice

January 28, 2008

Brother Louis DeThomasis, FSC, PHD
Chancellor
St Mary¹s University of Minnesota
700 Terrace heights #30
Winona, MN 55987

Dear Brother Louis:

I heard recently heard of the plan of the SMU Alumni Board to build a veteran¹s memorial. As a former seminarian at IHM Seminary and a graduate of the IPM program in 1989, I am deeply concerned about having such a monument on a Catholic University campus.

A tribute to the military and to militarism is contrary to what is central to what makes us Catholic. Jesus is the prince of peace. The heroes among Catholic faithful are those who have died for their faith, or those who led heroic lives helping the poor and suffering and being people of prayer. If a monument is to be erected, it should be for people who brought Christ to others by how they lived their lives.

We already have a veteran¹s memorial at the Lake Park. Please reconsider this project, or at least wait until you have received more input from others who are affiliated with St Mary¹s University.

Yours in Christ,

Thomas Parlin
853 West Mark St.
Winona, MN 55987

CC OFFICE OF ALUMNI RELATIONS