 to comport themselves in political life, andindirectly-about how Catholic institutions-including Catholic law schools-ought to decide whether or not to give awards, honors, or platforms to those whose views about key moral and political issues may differ from the views expressed in the teachings of the Catholic Church.2 On the basis of a simple and straightforward reading of the 2004 statement, it might appear that the bishops wanted to say that no Catholic institution-and thus no Catholic law school-should give awards, honors, or platforms to those who endorse or promote views that differ from the fundamental moral teachings of the Church.3 An important part of the statement plainly declares: "The Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest t Michael Baur holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Toronto, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. He is Associate Professor of Philosophy, Adjunct Professor of Law, and Director of the Natural Law Colloquium at Fordham University. UNITED STATES. CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS, Catholics in Political Life (2004), http://old.usccb.org/bishops/catholicsinpoliticallife.shtml. Throughout the rest of this Article, the bishops' 2004 statement Catholics in Political Life shall be referred to simply as "the bishops' statement." 2 Id. 3 Id. 253 JOURNAL OF CATHOLIC LEGAL STUDIES [Vol. 49:253 support for their actions."4 A few moments of reflection will reveal, however, that the issue here is somewhat more complicated than what one might infer from a simple and straightforward reading of the statement. The aim of the present paper is not to settle the question of whether and how a Catholic law school ought to give awards, honors, or platforms to certain individuals or groups. Instead, the aim is to begin articulating some of the underlying conceptual issues that perhaps ought to be addressed in preparation for answering the further question of whether and how a Catholic law school ought to give awards, honors, or platforms to certain individuals or groups. I. THE AUTHORITY To INTERPRET WORDS IN CHURCH DOCUMENTS The bishops' statement forthrightly raises worries about the giving of awards, honors, or platforms to "those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles."' It is worth noting that the verb "
to comport themselves in political life, andindirectly - about how Catholic institutions - including Catholic jurisprudence school - ought to decide whether or not to give awards, honors, or platforms to those whose view about key moral and political issues may disagree from the views expressed in the teachings of the Catholic Church.2 On the footing of a childlike and straightforward recitation of the 2004 statement, it might appear that the bishop want to say that no Catholic initiation - and thus no Catholic law school - should move over awards, honors, or platforms to those who endorse or advertise views that differ from the cardinal moral teachings of the Church.3 An crucial part of the affirmation plainly declares: " The Catholic community and Catholic institution should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given prize, honors or platforms which would suggest t Michael Baur holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Toronto, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. He is Associate Professor of Philosophy, Adjunct Professor of Law, and Director of the Natural Law Colloquium at Fordham University. UNITED STATES. CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS, Catholics in Political Life (2004), http://old.usccb.org/bishops/catholicsinpoliticallife.shtml. Throughout the rest of this Article, the bishop' 2004 statement Catholics in Political Life shall be referred to plainly as " the bishops' statement. " 2 Id. 3 Id. 253 JOURNAL OF CATHOLIC LEGAL STUDIES [ Vol. 49:253 support for their actions. "4 A few moment of mirror image will reveal, however, that the issue here is slightly more complicated than what one might infer from a simple and straightforward reading of the statement. The aim of the present newspaper is not to settle the question of whether and how a Catholic law school ought to give prize, honors, or chopine to certain individuals or groups. Instead, the aim is to get down articulating some of the underlying conceptual issues that perhaps ought to be addressed in preparation for answering the further question of whether and how a Catholic law school ought to collapse awards, honor, or platforms to certain person or groups. I. THE AUTHORITY To rede WORDS IN CHURCH document The bishops' instruction forthrightly raises worry about the giving of awards, honor, or platforms to " those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. "' It is worth noting that the verb "
 to comport themselves in pulitical life, aueindirxctly-abkut how Zatholic institutions-includiig Cqtholuc law schools-ought to decide wjether oe nou to give awards, iknors, ov plafnorms vo those whose yiews about key moral and pulntical issues may differ from the viqws exptedsed in the tewchimds or the Catholic Church.2 On the basis of a spmple and straighyforward reading of the 2004 shatelent, it might appewr that the bisrips wanted tu say that no Catholic institution-and thus no Catholiz law school-shools hhve awards, ionors, or platforms to thove who rndorse or prokotx viwws that differ from vhe fundamental moraj teachincs of the Church.3 An inportdnt [art if ghe svatsment olamnly declarss: "The Cathilic community and Vaeyolic institufions fhjuld not honor those who act in defianct of kur fundamental moral peinciples. They should not be gyven awards, honors or platforms which would suggevt t Jkchccj Vakr holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from the Universyfy on Toronto, and a M.D. from Harvard Lae Dcnjol. He is Assuciate Prkfessor of Philosoohy, Adjonct Peofessor jf Lsw, and Director of the Natueal Law Colljwuium at Fordham Uuiversity. UNNTED SJATES. VONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC YISHOPA, Catholics in Politjzal Life (2004), http://ola.usbcb.osg/bishops/catholicsinpolitisallife.shvml. Tkroughoug thg rest jf this Arhicle, the bishops' 2004 statelent Eathonics in Popitical Life shall be referred vp simply as "jhe bivhops' stctemenb." 2 Id. 3 Id. 253 JOURGAL OF CATHOLIE LEGAL FTUDIDS [Vol. 49:253 suiport for their actijns."4 A few momajts of reflertion wilj receal, howevef, that the issur here is somewhat nore complicated tman wfzt one might inytr drom a simple amd rtrwihhvforwwsd reading ox thd sgstemevt. The aim iw thr present paper is nmt tk settle the questook of whetyer and row a Catholiv law school ought to gmve awerds, hpnots, or platforms to certain indibiduals og gvoups. Instead, the aim is to bzgin articulating some of the underlying conceptual issues that perhaps ought uo be addressxd in [reparatimn for answering the further question of whether and how a Cathonic lww school ought to give awards, honors, or platforms to certain individuals or groups. I. THE AHTHOTITY No NNTZRPRET RORDD IN CHURCH DOCUMVNTS The bishops' statement forthcightly rahszs worries about the giving og xwards, honors, or platforms to "those wgo act im defiance of our fundamental mpral principles."' It is wovth notint thaf the ngrb "
to comport themselves in political life, andindirectly-about institutions-including law schools-ought decide whether or or to those whose about key moral political issues may differ from the expressed in the teachings of the Catholic Church.2 On the basis of a and straightforward reading of the 2004 statement, it might appear that the bishops to that Catholic thus no Catholic law school-should give awards, honors, or platforms to those who endorse or promote that differ from the fundamental moral teachings of Church.3 An important part the statement plainly declares: "The community Catholic institutions not those act in defiance our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest t Baur holds in philosophy the of and a J.D. Law School. He is Associate Professor Professor of Law, and Director of the Natural Colloquium at University. UNITED STATES. CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC Catholics in Political Life (2004), http://old.usccb.org/bishops/catholicsinpoliticallife.shtml. Throughout the of this Article, the bishops' 2004 statement Catholics in Political Life shall be referred to "the bishops' statement." 2 3 Id. 253 OF LEGAL [Vol. support for actions."4 A few moments of reflection will reveal, however, that the here is somewhat more complicated than what one might infer simple straightforward reading of statement. The aim of present is not to settle of and law ought give awards, honors, or to certain individuals or groups. the aim is to underlying conceptual issues that perhaps ought to be in preparation for answering the further question whether and how a Catholic law school ought to give awards, honors, platforms to or groups. I. THE AUTHORITY To INTERPRET WORDS CHURCH DOCUMENTS The bishops' forthrightly raises worries about the giving of awards, honors, platforms "those who in defiance of fundamental moral principles."' is worth noting verb "
 to comport themselves in poliTical life, aNdindIreCtlY-aBout How CAtholic instituTIons-Including Catholic law scHools-OuGHt to DEcIde whEther or NOt TO GivE aWaRds, HoNOrS, or plAtfOrms to tHose whose vIewS aBout key moral ANd Political iSsuEs may differ fRom The vieWs ExpREssed In tHe teaChings OF the CaTholic ChuRcH.2 on the bASis of a sIMPlE and Straightforward reADiNG of the 2004 statemenT, it migHt APpEAR thAt tHe bishops wAnTed to SAy that nO caTHOLic INstitution-and Thus no CathoLIc lAw schoOl-ShoULd give AwardS, hONorS, or platformS to tHose who enDorse oR Promote VIews thaT diffeR frOm tHe fuNDaMeNtaL mORal TEaChiNGs oF the ChurCh.3 an ImporTant PART Of thE stAtemEnt plAinly declares: "the cathOLic CommuNity aNd CaThOlic iNstituTions ShOuld not honor thoSe whO act in defIanCe Of oUr FundaMEntal mOraL prIncipleS. They shOUld NoT BE GiVen awards, honors or pLaTFOrMs which wOuld suGGeSt T michael BAuR hoLds a pH.d. in phIlosOPhY from the univerSItY oF TorontO, aNd a J.D. fRoM HaRvaRd Law sChooL. He is ASsociate profeSSor of PhilosophY, adjunct ProfesSOr OF laW, And DIreCtor of the NaTuraL law COlloQUiUm aT fordhAm UniVeRSiTY. UNITED STATES. CONFEReNcE OF CAtHOLIc BISHOPS, CathoLics in PoliTICAl Life (2004), htTp://olD.UsCCb.org/bishops/caTholiCsinpolitiCAllife.shTml. ThRoughout The rest of THIs ArticlE, thE biShoPs' 2004 sTATeMent Catholics IN poliTiCal Life ShaLl be refErrEd tO siMplY aS "the bishoPs' statemEnT." 2 ID. 3 ID. 253 JoURnAL OF caTHOLIC LeGaL StUdIEs [Vol. 49:253 sUPport fOr theIr acTiOnS."4 a feW momentS Of REFlecTiOn Will RevEaL, howeVer, tHAt tHe issue Here is somEwhAT morE cOmPlicateD than what one mIgHt infer froM a SimPle and STRaightfoRward reading of the statemENt. The aiM of The prEsenT paper is nOt tO settlE thE QuestiOn of whEther AnD hoW A cathoLIC lAw sChOol ought to GIVe aWards, HoNors, Or platfOrms to certain indivIDuaLs or groups. InsTeaD, the AIM iS to BEgIN arTiCUlaTINg some of the undeRlying concEpTUaL issues thaT PerHaPs ought To be addResseD In prepaRation for Answering ThE furTHEr qUestion of wHether anD how a CathOLic laW ScHool oUghT to givE aWarDs, honOrs, or pLAtfOrms tO certaIn IndiviDuals Or Groups. I. ThE AUTHORITY To INTERPRET WoRDS IN cHURCh DOcUMENTS ThE biSHopS' statemenT forThrightly rAisEs wOrrieS abOUt the GiviNG oF awARds, hoNors, OR platformS To "ThoSE WhO act in defiaNCE Of oUr funDamENtal moRal pRinciples."' It is wortH Noting that the vErb "
 to comport themselves inpoliticallife,  an din di rect ly-a bout how Catho l ic i nstitutions-includingCatho li c  law sc hools -oughtt od e cid ewh eth er or  nottogive aw ards, hono rs,  o r platformst othose whos e v iews about k eymoralan d p o litic alissue s mayd ifferfrom thevi e ws exp r essed i n th e te achings of the Ca t ho l ic Church.2 On  the b as i so f  asim ple and st ra ightf o rward r e ad i n g  of the 2004 stat ement, it m i ght  appea rtha t  the b ishop sw ant ed to say t hatno Cathol ic ins t itution - and thu s no C ath oli c la w  s ch ool -s h oul d  g ive awa rds, hon or s,  or p latf o r m s  totho se w ho en dorse or prom ote  vie w s t hat d iffer  fro mthe f undame ntalmo ral teachings o f th e Church. 3 A nimp or tantp art of  th e s tatemen t plain l y d ec l a r es : "The Catholic co mm u n it y and Ca tholic in st i tutionssh oul d no t honor  tho s ewho actin def i an ce  of our  f undame nt almor al pr i ncip les. T hey shou ld no t  be given awar d s, honors orp la t f or m s wh ich  would sugg estt  Mic hael Ba urh oldsa Ph. D. in philosophy from the  U nivers ity o f Toronto, an d a J.D. f r o m  Harvard  Law Sc h ool. He is Ass ociat e Professo r  of Phil osoph y, Adjun ct Profes s o r of Law , a ndDir ect o r  o f the Natural L aw C ol loquium  at  Fordha m U niv ers ity .UNITED ST ATES. CO NF ER EN CE  OF  CATH O LIC BISH OP S,Ca tho licsi n Poli tical  Lif e(2 0 04) , http: / /o l d .usc cb .o rg/b ish op s/cat holi c sin politic allife.sh tml .  Thr ou gh out the  rest of this  A rticle, th ebis hops'2 0 04 state ment Catholics in Polit i cal Lif e s hallbe r eferred t o s implyas" the bi shops'  stat em ent . "  2 Id . 3Id.  2 53 JOURNAL O F C ATHOL IC  LEG AL STUD IES [Vol. 49:253 s u ppo rt for theiract ions . " 4A f e wm ome nt s  of r eflection willreveal, ho we v er , that the iss ue  here i s somew hat m o re comp licated t han whaton e mi g h t i nfer froma simple  and stra i ghtfo r wa rd re adi ng ofth e s tatem ent. T h e a im of  the p re sent p aperis  not tosettle the question ofwhethe r and  ho w a Catho lic law  school o ught  to give a war ds,  hono rs, or pl atfo r ms  to certa in i n dividuals or  gr o u ps . Instead,t h e  ai m istob egin a rtic ulating some of t h e underlying c once p t ual  is s uesth at perhaps oug htto b e addres se d in prepar ation fo ra nswer ing th e furt her que s t io n  of wh ethe r a nd how aCat ho l ic lawsc ho o l ough t to  g ive aw ards,h onor s ,  or platforms to  cert a i n ind i vid ualsor  groups .  I.THE AUTHOR ITY To INTE RPRETWORD S INCHURCHDO CUMENT S T he  bishops's tatementforth rightly  r aise s w orries  abo u t  thegivi ng  of  awards,h o no r s,  o r  pl atfo rms t o"tho se who ac t  in defi anc e  of our  f und a m entalm or a l  principle s." ' Iti s  worth not i ng t h at the v erb "
 to_comport themselves_in political life, andindirectly-about_how Catholic_institutions-including_Catholic law_schools-ought_to decide whether_or not to_give awards, honors, or_platforms to those_whose_views about key moral and political issues may differ from the views expressed in_the_teachings of_the_Catholic_Church.2 On the basis of_a simple and straightforward reading_of the_2004 statement, it might appear that the bishops_wanted_to say that_no Catholic institution-and thus no Catholic law school-should give_awards, honors, or platforms to those_who endorse or_promote_views_that differ from the_fundamental moral teachings of the Church.3_An important part of the statement_plainly declares: "The Catholic community and Catholic_institutions should not honor those who_act in defiance of our_fundamental moral_principles. They should not be_given awards, honors_or platforms_which would suggest_t Michael Baur holds a Ph.D._in philosophy from_the University of Toronto, and a_J.D._from Harvard Law_School._He_is Associate_Professor of Philosophy,_Adjunct_Professor of_Law,_and Director of the Natural Law_Colloquium_at Fordham University. UNITED STATES. CONFERENCE OF_CATHOLIC BISHOPS, Catholics in_Political_Life (2004), http://old.usccb.org/bishops/catholicsinpoliticallife.shtml. Throughout_the rest of this Article,_the bishops' 2004 statement Catholics in_Political Life_shall be_referred to simply as "the bishops' statement." 2 Id. 3 Id._253 JOURNAL OF CATHOLIC LEGAL STUDIES_[Vol. 49:253 support for_their actions."4_A_few moments of_reflection_will reveal,_however, that the issue here is somewhat_more complicated_than what one might infer from_a simple and straightforward_reading_of the statement. The aim of_the present paper is not to_settle the question of whether_and_how_a Catholic law school ought_to give awards, honors, or platforms_to certain individuals_or groups. Instead, the aim is to_begin_articulating some of the underlying conceptual_issues_that perhaps ought to be addressed_in_preparation_for answering the further question_of whether and how a Catholic_law school ought to give awards, honors, or platforms_to certain individuals_or groups. I. THE AUTHORITY_To_INTERPRET_WORDS IN CHURCH DOCUMENTS The bishops' statement forthrightly raises worries_about the_giving of awards,_honors, or platforms to "those who act in defiance of_our fundamental moral principles."' It is worth_noting that the verb "