Philip K. Eichner
Encyclopedia
Philip K. Eichner, S.M.
, is an American educator, Marianist priest and Catholic activist. He chairs the Board of Directors of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, and he has been president of three Catholic schools on Long Island
. He is perhaps most noted as successful respondent in the New York State legal case In the Matter of Philip K. Eichner, which helped to establish the rights of patients and their proxies to decline extraordinary means of life support.
in Mineola, New York
, in 1953. He received his undergraduate degree at the University of Dayton
and his graduate degree in theology from the University of Fribourg
, in Switzerland
, and he was ordained in 1966, From 1967 to 1992 he served as president of his high school alma mater, Chaminade. He was also leader of the Meribah Province—the religious community of brothers who teach at Chaminade. This community separated from the Marianist’s New York Province during the 1970s “because of deep differences concerning ministry and the role of the school apostolate”. The Meribah Province assumed responsibility for a second school, Kellenberg Memorial High School
, in 1987, with Eichner as president. Eichner is currently President of Kellenberg and of St. Martin de Porres Marianist School, the Meribah Province’s third and final school.
While President of Chaminade, Eichner established an endowment drive called the Torch Fund, to defray the costs of tuition. He thus helped initiate a trend among Catholic schools towards raising endowments and limiting tuition.
One such issue is a terminal patient’s right to refuse "extraordinary means" of life support, or to have them refused on his or her behalf. In 1980, Eichner petitioned the New York State Court of Appeals to allow removal of a respirator keeping Brother Joseph C. Fox alive. Fox, an 88-year old member of the religious community that Eichner led, had fallen into a coma after a cardiac arrest that occurred during a hernia operation. In the wake of the Karen Quinlan case, Fox had expressed his strong desire not to be kept alive by extraordinary means, according to Eichner and other Marianist brothers at Chaminade. The court appointed Eichner “committee of the person of Brother Fox” and authorized him to have the respirator removed. He did so, and on January 24, 1980, Fox died of congestive heart failure.
Another issue on which Eichner has spoken out is “financial decadence,” particularly in Long Island “prom culture.” In 2006, after Kellenberg discontinued the senior prom, Eichner and Kellenberg Principal Kenneth Hoagland, S.M., wrote parents to say that the prom had become synonymous with “flaunting of affluence, assuming exaggerated expenses, a pursuit of vanity for vanity's sake.” The letter was published on the Chicago Tribune
op-ed page and received national attention.
Eichner has also received attention for positions he has taken as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Catholic League, though League President Bill Donahue is the organization’s more outspoken and controversial leader. Eichner has spoken for the League on two matters related to Catholic-Jewish relations. First, in 2004, when accusations of anti-Semitism were raised against Mel Gibson
’s The Passion of the Christ
, Eichner was a strong public supporter of the film. Eichner called the film “a meditation on our own inhumanity to each other and how this doesn't destroy God's love," and he endorsed a two-mile walk by 1,000 Kellenberg upperclassmen to see the movie on Ash Wednesday. Second, Eichner defended a reference to the “conversion of Jews” in the traditional Latin liturgy for Good Friday Mass. He called this a matter not of anti-Semitism, but of concern; "we would say,” he explained, that “everyone who doesn't see Jesus is living in a certain amount of darkness, and we want them to see the light."
Similarly, Eichner has suggested that fundamentalist Christians are limited in their religious perspective. He made this point when a Kellenberg junior was barred from returning for her senior year after her evangelical family had clashed with the school over several religious issues. Her dismissal came after she refused to sing as a choir member in Jesus Christ, Superstar; she objected that one of the songs “only speaks of Jesus' humanity; it does not mention his divinity." Eichner asserted that the school had a right to expect students to respect its religious beliefs and practices. He maintained that “We are Catholic in the true sense of the term. We are not rightist or fundamentalist. We would find their version of Christianity to be narrow and fundamentalist, and we are not a fundamentalist school."
Society of Mary (Marianists)
The Society of Mary, a Roman Catholic Marian Society, is a congregation of brothers and priests called The Marianists or Marianist Brothers and Priests. The Society was founded by Blessed William Joseph Chaminade, a priest who survived the anti-clerical persecution during the French Revolution. ...
, is an American educator, Marianist priest and Catholic activist. He chairs the Board of Directors of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, and he has been president of three Catholic schools on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
. He is perhaps most noted as successful respondent in the New York State legal case In the Matter of Philip K. Eichner, which helped to establish the rights of patients and their proxies to decline extraordinary means of life support.
Educational leadership
Eichner graduated from Chaminade High SchoolChaminade High School
Chaminade High School is a Roman Catholic college preparatory high school for young men. Located in Mineola, New York, the school was founded in 1930 by the Society of Mary , an international Roman Catholic teaching order of priests and religious Brothers. The school is named for Father William...
in Mineola, New York
Mineola, New York
Mineola is a village in Nassau County, New York, USA. The population was 18,799 at the 2010 census. The name is derived from a Native American word meaning a "pleasant place"....
, in 1953. He received his undergraduate degree at the University of Dayton
University of Dayton
The University of Dayton is a private Roman Catholic university operated by the Society of Mary located in Dayton, Ohio...
and his graduate degree in theology from the University of Fribourg
University of Fribourg
The University of Fribourg is a university in the city of Fribourg, Switzerland.The roots of the University can be traced back to 1582, when the notable Jesuit Peter Canisius founded the Collège Saint-Michel in the City of Fribourg. In 1763, an Academy of law was founded by the state of Frobourg...
, in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, and he was ordained in 1966, From 1967 to 1992 he served as president of his high school alma mater, Chaminade. He was also leader of the Meribah Province—the religious community of brothers who teach at Chaminade. This community separated from the Marianist’s New York Province during the 1970s “because of deep differences concerning ministry and the role of the school apostolate”. The Meribah Province assumed responsibility for a second school, Kellenberg Memorial High School
Kellenberg Memorial High School
Kellenberg Memorial High School is a Roman Catholic college-preparatory school in Uniondale, Long Island, New York. Kellenberg is the second Marianist school on Long Island and prides itself on high academic standards combined with a strong focus on faith....
, in 1987, with Eichner as president. Eichner is currently President of Kellenberg and of St. Martin de Porres Marianist School, the Meribah Province’s third and final school.
While President of Chaminade, Eichner established an endowment drive called the Torch Fund, to defray the costs of tuition. He thus helped initiate a trend among Catholic schools towards raising endowments and limiting tuition.
Educational, Religious and Social Stances
Eichner has taken stands on several educational, religious and social issues and controversies.One such issue is a terminal patient’s right to refuse "extraordinary means" of life support, or to have them refused on his or her behalf. In 1980, Eichner petitioned the New York State Court of Appeals to allow removal of a respirator keeping Brother Joseph C. Fox alive. Fox, an 88-year old member of the religious community that Eichner led, had fallen into a coma after a cardiac arrest that occurred during a hernia operation. In the wake of the Karen Quinlan case, Fox had expressed his strong desire not to be kept alive by extraordinary means, according to Eichner and other Marianist brothers at Chaminade. The court appointed Eichner “committee of the person of Brother Fox” and authorized him to have the respirator removed. He did so, and on January 24, 1980, Fox died of congestive heart failure.
Another issue on which Eichner has spoken out is “financial decadence,” particularly in Long Island “prom culture.” In 2006, after Kellenberg discontinued the senior prom, Eichner and Kellenberg Principal Kenneth Hoagland, S.M., wrote parents to say that the prom had become synonymous with “flaunting of affluence, assuming exaggerated expenses, a pursuit of vanity for vanity's sake.” The letter was published on the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
op-ed page and received national attention.
Eichner has also received attention for positions he has taken as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Catholic League, though League President Bill Donahue is the organization’s more outspoken and controversial leader. Eichner has spoken for the League on two matters related to Catholic-Jewish relations. First, in 2004, when accusations of anti-Semitism were raised against Mel Gibson
Mel Gibson
Mel Colm-Cille Gerard Gibson, AO is an American actor, film director, producer and screenwriter. Born in Peekskill, New York, Gibson moved with his parents to Sydney, Australia when he was 12 years old and later studied acting at the Australian National Institute of Dramatic Art.After appearing in...
’s The Passion of the Christ
The Passion of the Christ
The Passion of the Christ is a 2004 American drama film directed by Mel Gibson and starring Jim Caviezel as Jesus. It depicts the Passion of Jesus largely according to the New Testament Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John...
, Eichner was a strong public supporter of the film. Eichner called the film “a meditation on our own inhumanity to each other and how this doesn't destroy God's love," and he endorsed a two-mile walk by 1,000 Kellenberg upperclassmen to see the movie on Ash Wednesday. Second, Eichner defended a reference to the “conversion of Jews” in the traditional Latin liturgy for Good Friday Mass. He called this a matter not of anti-Semitism, but of concern; "we would say,” he explained, that “everyone who doesn't see Jesus is living in a certain amount of darkness, and we want them to see the light."
Similarly, Eichner has suggested that fundamentalist Christians are limited in their religious perspective. He made this point when a Kellenberg junior was barred from returning for her senior year after her evangelical family had clashed with the school over several religious issues. Her dismissal came after she refused to sing as a choir member in Jesus Christ, Superstar; she objected that one of the songs “only speaks of Jesus' humanity; it does not mention his divinity." Eichner asserted that the school had a right to expect students to respect its religious beliefs and practices. He maintained that “We are Catholic in the true sense of the term. We are not rightist or fundamentalist. We would find their version of Christianity to be narrow and fundamentalist, and we are not a fundamentalist school."