Dear Matt Walsh,

On April 6, 2016, I attended an event that featured you as a speaker at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Prior to the event, I had never even heard about you. In fact, I was not even aware the event was happening until that day. But as a political science student, I was informed by a number of my friends that a “homophobic, Islamaphobic, misogynistic, hateful, bigot” was coming to speak on campus. Their words, not mine. As I have previously said, I literally had no idea who you were. But my friends did, or at least they googled you to see what you are about. I decided to do the same. Much to my dismay, there was no Wikipedia article about you. Eventually someday you may become important enough to earn your very own Wikipedia page.

Upon reading some of your stuff, I decided some your views did not align with mine. You think more people should not vote; I happen to think that voting is an essential part of American democracy. It is quintessentially American. Of course there was your piece essentially equating transgender people to child molesters and sexual predators, which I disagreed with because it is not statistically accurate.

Then there were views I did agree with. Such as your piece about the feelings of college students-- I can’t say I really want, or need, a safe space. I could go on and on listing your pieces, but in the interest of time, let me just say the ones I disagree with outnumber the ones I agree with. But neither of us like Donald Trump, so there’s that.

Originally I had not intended to go to your event, not because I was worried about your views and how they might offend me, but because I was working on a paper. But alas, I was able to attend. As I made my way into the great room where the event was held, you were beginning your comments about the right to discriminate. You said that discrimination was something protected by the constitution because freedom of religion is protected, and certainly, it is only right for religions to discriminate. Then, you went on a tirade about how people do not have a right to not be offended in a society with free speech. I certainly sympathize with this view as well.Then upon saying that people in America, particularly religious individuals and religious institutions, have a right to discriminate, you explained you believed desecration of a Eucharist was too far, since it would personally offend you. Furthermore, you would consider assaulting an individual who would do such a thing.

I must say I was taken aback by this statement, especially because people are not protected from discrimination, and there is no Constitutional right protecting someone from hurt feelings, as you said. It seemed ironic that you want your own safe space, but I digress.

At one point in your speech you conceded that your views on the right to discriminate could extend to a person discriminating against Christians and Catholics. You called it a "slippery slope." But you should probably be aware that more often than not, the slope works the other way. Engaging in homosexual behavior is a moral evil, we must ban the moral evil, we must punish people engaging in that moral evil, we must kill people who commit this moral evil. That is not hypothetical that is exactly what has happened in Uganda, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Russia. The real irony is you believe yourself to be pious, while Islam is violent and intolerant of other faiths, but you agree with most ideals of the Ayatollah and radical fundamentalists. After concluding your speech by suggesting Satan was the first liberal and that liberals (and progressives) are simply trying to destroy Christianity in America you opened the floor for questions. One student asked you to explain your harsh rhetoric towards the LGBT community while juxtaposing the position he was taught about "loving the sinner, but hating the sin". You said you did not hate gay people and the student was twisting your words. But perhaps he confused your not hating gay people because you have said people should be able to deny LGBT people services, that more people should deny services in order to truly live their faith, and gay people ought to burn in hell for violating God’s law. You will have to forgive us for confusing your Westboro Baptist Church rhetoric with hate. Our mistake.

Another student asked if you believed people who engage in gay behavior should be punished. You said no because it’s not plausible. Not because they should not be criminally punished, but because it is not plausible. This leads to the obvious follow up question. If it were plausible, would you support such an action? If the answer is yes, then again, you would have to forgive me for confusing that view with hate.

A third student mentioned in the New Testament, Jesus does not cover the concept of same-sex marriage. You gleefully pointed out that in Matthew 19, Jesus mentions man and wife, while denouncing divorce. You held this as proof that Jesus opposed same-sex relations. Except the student was not wrong. Jesus never says such an act is a moral evil. You responded by suggesting that when Jesus says things ought to be a certain way, it denounces actions and views that don’t align with that way. However, eight of the Ten Commandments do say explicitly what not to do. And the passage you cite, Jesus says to not divorce. Jesus did explicitly say to not do something in the passage. And that action is divorce, not same-sex marriage.

After you visited my campus you tweeted: “Gave a speech at Catholic University. Most hostile audience I've ever had. Protesters held a gay rights banner. Sad times in our culture."

Additionally in a response to a student, you tweeted: “No, it's a bad thing that you openly reject Christian teaching, but still call yourself a Christian.”

First, I take issue with the idea that we were hostile and certainly not the “most hostile” audience you have ever dealt with. Certainly there was a silent protest in the back and students asked questions you did not like. But I failed to see the hostility you saw unless silence is somehow hostile.

Contrast that with Milo Yiannopoulos who has seen a sizable number of his speeches cancelled due to students protesting them. While you probably take no pleasure in being compared to Yiannopoulos on account of him being openly gay, I imagine if you gave a tour like his you would likely have a majority of your speeches cancelled and protested from significantly more hostile students. The sheer fact you spoke without interruption I think contradicts your statement that we were the most hostile crowd you have ever dealt with. Unless, that is, you only give speeches where you anticipate you will have no one contradicting your opinion.

Secondly, the idea you espouse Catholic views as you tweeted before the event, is wrong. Sure, you share the church’s view on marriage and abortion, but that is about it. In my time in Catholic school I was taught by deacons, priests and bishops about God's unconditional love for everyone, and how Jesus calls us to do the same.

Let me clarify. He does not call us to love all Catholics unconditionally, but all people. Perhaps I should clarify some more. That would include people who are Muslim, atheists, gay, and everyone on God's green Earth. Now as a Christian, you are of course welcome to reject that view as the Westboro Baptist Church has. You’ll forgive me for following the Pope’s call for loving all of God’s children over your call to discriminate against God’s children.

If you happen to think that deacons, priests, bishops, cardinals, and the Pope are wrong, then you actually do not, as you claim, espouse Catholic teaching. You can believe Muslims, atheists, and gays are going to hell. But I believe, as the Pope does, that “God’s mercy has no limits if you go to him with a sincere and contrite heart.” You do not espouse Catholic beliefs. In fact, you espouse beliefs that directly contradict the views and teachings of clergymen. So as you get ready to respond to me telling me that I should be excommunicated, I would ask that you try not let your feelings be hurt as I am merely espousing Catholic teachings.

Sincerely,

A Student for the Catholic University of America