Archbishop Ups The Ante Against Majerus

ST. LOUIS - Following up on his demand that give St. Louis University discipline its basketball coach Rick Majerus for Majerus' political believe, Archbishop Raymond Burke said he would not give Majerus Holy Communion, because the coach publicly supports abortion rights and stem cell research. St. Louis University is a Jesuit institution, and after Majerus spoke to a radio reporter at a Hillary Clinton rally on Saturday, the archbishop said, "You can't have a Catholic university with one of its prominent staff making declarations that are inimical to Catholic teaching."

However, the decision on whether to discipline the high-profile coach is up to the college - not the archbishop. Last year, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that the university was not under the rule of the Catholic Church and therefore could receive public funds for - ironically - its new $80 million basketball arena that is set to open in 2009.

SLU President Rev. Lawrence Biondi has made no public comment about the matter, but SLU issued a statement that Majerus' opinions are his and not the university's. Majerus, one of college's most successful coaches, left ESPN last year to become the SLU basketball coach.

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