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Attorneys representing Thomas Aquinas College and its co-plaintiffs have submitted a petition for a writ of certiorari (PDF) to the U.S. Supreme Court, seeking relief from the HHS Mandate that threatens the religious liberty of Catholic institutions across the United States.

On April 25, 1970, almost 18 months before Thomas Aquinas College opened for its first academic year, its founders staged a major promotional dinner at San Francisco’s Fairmont Hotel. Some 450 guests attended the event, at which the Venerable Fulton J. Sheen served as the keynote speaker.

Below is the audio of the remarks that the College’s founding president, Dr. Ronald P. McArthur, gave that evening:

Note: In May Ignatius Press published Who Designed the Designer? A Rediscovered Path to God’s Existence by Dr. Michael A. Augros (’92), a graduate of Thomas Aquinas College and a member of its teaching faculty.

Note: After serving for two years as a chaplain at Thomas Aquinas College, Rev. Joseph Illo departed last summer for San Francisco, where, at the invitation of Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, he is now the pastor of Star of the Sea Church and a co-founder of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri. Fr. Illo graciously accepted the College’s invitation to return to campus for this year’s Commencement ceremonies, where he served as the principal celebrant and homilist at the Baccalaureate Mass.

After hearing the prayers of his loved ones, William C. Grimm — the father of 14 Thomas Aquinas College alumni and the grandfather of 51 more — passed away on the evening of June 15, his 88th birthday. The College prays for the repose of his soul and the consolation of the Grimm family, which has played a vital role in the history and culture of Thomas Aquinas College.

By Michael F. McLean, Ph.D.
President, Thomas Aquinas College
Talk given at the Catholic Professional & Business Group
Reno, Nevada
June 11, 2015

On June 10 the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit granted a stay (PDF) against the HHS Mandate that would otherwise require Thomas Aquinas College to facilitate the availability of free contraceptives, abortifacients, and sterilization services to its employees. The College’s attorneys at the Jones Day firm will next submit a writ of certiorari to the United States Supreme Court asking it to take up the case.

“As I watched this year’s graduates receive their diplomas with the Chapel in the background,” recalls Thomas Aquinas College Governor Berni Neal, “it struck me that Mass, quiet time for prayer, and intellectual discussions of faith would be so very different in their lives off campus.”

Photographs of the Class of 2015 and this year’s Commencement exercises are now available, for viewing and for purchase, at the Thomas Aquinas College Gallery Page of Timothy Teague, an Ojai-based photographer who has been capturing key College events for some 20 years. The images include portraits of this year’s graduates, both individually and as a group, as well as candids from the May 16 Commencement exercises.