Mrs. Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Receives Honorary Degree
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The Joseph and Rose Kennedy The Kennedy Institute Volume 4, Number 1 Institute for the Study Georgetown University of Human Reproduction Washington, D.C. 20057 and Bioethics Quarterly Report Winter 1978 Mrs. Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Receives Honorary Degree Mrs. Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy was Many were the well-wishers who gathered Kennedy’s years in London when Joseph presented an honorary degree of in Gaston Hall to witness the P. Kennedy was the American Ambassador Doctor of Humane Letters on October ceremony, while others—unable to be to the Court of Saint James. 1, 1977, by the Rev. Timothy S. there—sent their best wishes. Mrs. Pope Paul VI conferred the Apostolic H ealy, S.J., President of Georgetown Kennedy received personal congratulations Blessing on Mrs. Kennedy. University. It was an extraordinarily from President Jimmy Carter warm and inspiring occasion solely and his regrets that he was unable to devoted to recognizing a woman who attend. Mr. Norman St. John-Stevas, The citation read by Dr. Andre E. has worked many, many years at member of Parliament, brought the Hellegers, M.D., Director of Georgetown bringing hope and understanding to best wishes of the Queen Mother and University’s Kennedy Institute, the mentally retarded. her fond remembrances of Mrs. Ken- spoke of Mrs. Kennedy’s inner strength that she directed toward parenting a large family, which in this more technological age might be called “intensive care”. Dr. Hellegers Mirth . and . Good Cheer continued that “Faced with the grief- shared by many millions of other parents of knowing one of her children to be mentally retarded, she chose, unlike so many of her contemporaries , not to hide the fact. Rather she turned this affliction into the occasion for beginning a crusade on behalf of all others similarly afflicted . It is this crusade which this University particularly wishes to honor today. Through the establishment of institutions for care and research and institutions reflecting on ethical problems relating to such care and research, Mrs. Kennedy has given hope to countless millions here and abroad. Today we see school children and college students, sports stars and public figures no longer shying away from the mentally retarded, but working on their behalf in Special Olympic games, in legislatures, in hospitals and in homes. They have derived inspiration from her quiet leadership.” Senator Edward M. Kennedy spoke for his mother after she received her degree. “On behalf of my mother,” he said, “I am honored to accept the degree that Georgetown University has so graciously and eloquently conferred on her this morning. Speaking for the three generations of the Kennedy During the Degree Ceremony family who are gathered here, I express the deep gratitude of all the Kennedys and Fitzgeralds and Shrivers and Smiths and Lawfords—and unto Mr. Sargent Shiver, Mrs. Patricia Lawford, Mrs. Jean Smith and Mr. Steven Smith witness the honoring of Mrs. Kennedy by Georgetown University. 3 the 29th grandchild—for this extra- ordinary honor and recognition the University has given to our mother. “Because of mother and her devotion to our sister, America is shedding its degrading medieval attitudes toward the retarded. Because of Rose, a black child in Bedford-Stuyvesant has hope beyond the ghetto. Because of Rose, a Spanish Jesuit with a degree from Georgetown is teaching ethics and child development at the University of Barcelona. Because of Rose, hundreds of thousands of retarded children have won the right to play, as they swim and run and jump and skate and throw a ball in their own Olympic Games in their own communities. “Our family is especially proud of the close ties we have established with Georgetown University. The Joseph and Rose Kennedy Institute for the Fr. Healy hosted a reception in his office . Study of Human Reproduction and Bioethics, established on this campus, is the culmination of mother’s dream. The Institute is bringing help and hope to those who are mentally retarded . It is breaking new ground in dealing with the complex scientific, medical and ethical challenges involved in the care and prevention of this affliction. “Three distinguished scholars of philosophy , theology, and medicine hold the Georgetown University chairs that are named for my parents and my sister Rosemary. We are proud of the Kennedy Institute and its emerging role in building better bridges between . Fr. Kelley sheltered Mrs. Kennedy from science and the humanities. For us, the rain. The Hon. Norman St. John-Stevas, speaking at the “Dean’s Office Seminars”. 4 this University is the ideal setting for Dr. Jerome Lejeune, discoverer of the the Institute, with its outstanding British Member of cause of Down’s Syndrome, or Mongolism facilities for medical care and research Parliament and , spoke before an audience of and its equally outstanding religious Georgetown University’s School of tradition.” French Geneticist Medicine on September 29th. Dr. Le Speak at Georgetown jeune’s lecture was entitled, “The Upon the conclusion of Senator Kennedy's Congruence Code; an Essay on Mutual remarks, Mrs. Rose Kennedy Recognition Between D.N.A. and Pro- spoke. Her diminutive figure was al- teins,” and was part of the annual most hidden by the podium but her The Hon, Norman St. John-Stevas, Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Lecture Series voice rang out to the audience. Member of Parliament, Great Britain, for 1977. “Everybody has cooperated so very and Dr. Jerome Lejeune, Paris, generously with what I wanted to France, were featured lecturers this Dr. Lejeune is a member of the Insti do,” she said. “We’ve had the support fall on the Georgetown Campus. As tute of Procreation at the University of you people when we were doing members of the Kennedy Institute’s of Paris, and is one of the pioneers in this work with the retarded children. International Advisory Board, they locating genetic causes of mental retardation I want to express that very strongly were in Washington, D.C., attending . Dr. Lejeune is a past winner because we couldn’t have done half the Fourth Biennial Meeting of the of the Kennedy International Award of what we’ve done if it hadn’t been Board, as well as participating in Mrs. for his work in mental retardation. for the cooperation and the interest Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy’s Honorary and the work of the people whom we Degree Ceremony. have met in different countries. All over the world people have respon- Mr. Norman St. John-Stevas spoke on ded—in South America, or in Europe, September 29th before a select group all over the world.” of faculty and students as part of the “Dean’s Office Seminars” conducted Speaking directly to the young by Dean Peter Krogh of the George people especially the Georgetown town School of Foreign Service. Mr. students and her many grandchildren Stevas’ topic was “Great Britain and Mrs. Kennedy encouraged the World Today.” them in the spirit of volunteerism to personally help handicapped children. Mr. Stevas is a noted author and journalist and has written numerous “If some of your children would books, such as Obscenity and the volunteer to help these children in the Law; Life, Death and the Law; The summer it would be very good for Right to Life; and The Agonising them to realize how much, how many Choice, as well as a number of volumes abilities they have themselves and how on the work of Walter Bagehot. thankful they should be. It would give Mr. Stevas now serves as the Minister them an opportunity to help these for Education and the Arts in the others, which is a great satisfaction.” Conservative Shadow Cabinet of Great Britain. 5 Yet not only do the physically or offers; others may be too violent. One Man’s mentally weak suffer from such In any case, the essential factor is that feelings of rejection, loneliness, and the community and applicant respond Search worthlessness, he continued. The to each other’s needs. stronger, more “normal” members of society are also subject to similar New members entering the community Jean Vanier, Ph.D., is the founder feelings. Dr. Vanier felt it was his duty find something they have not and director of “L’Arche”, a community to expose persons to their own weaknesses known for a long time, indeed if ever for mentally handicapped adults and vulnerability, and insisted before. That is, they learn they are and those who assist them. Since its that “we are frightened of ourselves trusted. In Dr. Vanier’s opinion, it is founding in the early 1960’s, interest because we have not learnt to accept because the mentally retarded have in this community has burgeoned until who we are.” “Touching a weakness,” never been trusted or confidently are now over forty similar communities he said, “is finally touching a light.” accepted by society that they withdraw around the world. so desperately, and they may not In the second lecture, Dr. Vanier know how to react, nor how to trust Dr. Vanier delivered two lectures in stressed that the source of weakness their own wounded instincts. L’Arche October as part of the Rose Fitzgerald was also a source of strength. “To enables the new member to abandon Kennedy Lecture Series, held on the love,” said Dr. Vanier, “is the most some of his old defenses and live with Georgetown Campus. dangerous of realities, because to love others in the community in an open is to share your heart, and to share and Christian exchange of feelings and Dr. Vanier’s first lecture was entitled, your heart, you risk losing it.” He ad- experiences. As Dr. Vanier says, “Com- “Hope for Humanity,” and was an vised that, “it is only once we have integrated munity living is a process of moving examination of the weakness and our weaknesses that we from egotism to love.” This is what loneliness of humanity, especially of become a whole person.” L’Arche hopes each new member will the world’s totally defenseless indi achieve: the ability to love.