Carroll president withdrew invitation to Planned Parenthood representative at college's conference

Carroll College president Thomas Trebon defended his decision Friday to ban Planned Parenthood from this weekend's ethics conference and continued to ensure that the college would remain open to civil discussion on matters of higher learning.

Trebon, who returned Friday from Washington, said the conference, "Science at the Edges of Humanity," was off to a strong start despite its loss of three panel members and the controversy that has surrounded it.

Last week, Trebon withdrew the school's invitation to Sarah Fredrickson of Planned Parenthood, saying the college was fundamentally opposed to the health-care provider's practices, which include abortion and birth control.

Trebon's decision to withdraw Fredrickson's invitation has drawn fire from some faculty and community members, including Dr. Todd Wampler who withdrew this week from the conference in protest.

Responding to the wash of criticism, Trebon said Carroll would continue to play a leading role on matters of higher learning, including relevant discussions on ethical issues like stem-cell research, euthanasia and cloning -- all part of this weekend's conference.

"Dealing with different opinions is part of what we do in academic life," Trebon said. "The dialogue that has taken place here over the last week is clear evidence that Carroll is an open, civil community where dialog on issues of learning is very important."

Some critics have said the conference has become little more than a mouthpiece for the Catholic Church. Others have suggested that the Diocese of Helena was behind the school's decision to ban Planned Parenthood, something both the church and Trebon denied.

"President Trebon is acting in his role and his duty as president," Renee St. Martin Wizeman, director of communications for the Diocese of Helena, said Tuesday. "It was his decision to do that."

Trebon said that he met with a wide range of faculty, board, community and staff members before reaching his decision to withdraw Fredrickson's invitation. He said he consulted as well with Carroll College chancellor, Bishop George Thomas from the Diocese of Helena.

"Part of this discussion was with the chancellor of the college who is the bishop of the diocese," Trebon said. "But the decision was the decision of the college. The chancellor knows this was a challenging decision to make."

Trebon said the conference was off to a strong start. He added that Carroll College was the right venue for progressive discussions.

"I really hope our faculty and our students play major roles -- as many do already -- in examining today's ethical issues as they pertain to science and technology," Trebon said. "How do we all connect to make meaningful decisions given the technology that is possible today? How do we use that technology given our ethical values? Those topics are being raised here this weekend and I'm proud that Carroll is taking the lead."

When asked how his decision would impact his relationship with members of the faculty, Trebon said the campus has always been open to wide-ranging dialogue and disagreement.

"I've had conversations with a number of the faculty and I'd be glad to continue those conversations," Trebon said. "I think we should continue a dialogue for some time on what it means to be a Catholic Diocesan College. There is an opportunity for dialogue and disagreement. On this campus it's done civily and cordially.

"This has been a civil, serious conversation," Trebon added. "And this is a very wholesome, resilient and tough community. We value one another's opinions and it's in that spirit that we agree and disagree."

Reporter Martin Kidston can be reached at 447-4086, or at helenair.com">mkidston@helenair.com.