Roman Catholic clergy remain hot under their collars when Act Up is mentioned because of a 1989 demonstration the organization advanced during services being held at St. Patrick's Cathedral. But Joseph R. Sicari was not a member of the group at that time, and, in fact, he says he'd not even known at the time that the incident had taken place.

He had condemned such tactics when he did find out that ACT UP members had chained themselves to St. Patrick's pews and that over a hundred ACT UPers had been arrested.

The Roman Catholic Church opposes birth control and thus condoms, working politically to prevent condom distribution. This fact, many ACT UP members believed, makes the Roman Catholic Church an accomplice in the deaths of people who have been denied knowledge of how to prevent transmissions of diseases.

The 1997 Alumni Achievement Awards, scheduled for Saturday, did not, as had been planned, make a place for Sicari's recognition. News of how Catholic University clergy had denied him his prize only a week before the ceremonies (after promising it to him in springtime) filtered out across the nation's capital. Local newspapers helped spread the word. An immediate burst of fury was the result, and angry phone calls from CU alumni, plus a lawsuit mentioned by Sicari himself, all causing an uproar on campus.

Thus, Catholic University is awash in autumn debates about homophobia, respect for religion, proper methods for social activists, and AIDS.

Brother Patrick Ellis, President of the university, reportedly told Sicari that his reward was being revoked because the Roman Catholic Church depends on contributors who are "to the right" on the political map and that any award given an ACT UP member would no doubt affect contributions from rich right wingers.

Sicari recalls that his entire religious upbringing had been a call to action. "I was told to stand up for what you believe in," he said.

In a formal statement, Catholic University announced that the award "is not being granted because of the individual's involvement with the founding of and connection to an organization whose actions and activities are inconsistent with the university's mission and sponsorship."

The head of the university's drama department admitted she was sad about the school's decision. "To us he (Sicari) is a professional and a role model. Our students can learn from him."

ACT UP D.C.'s committee chair, Steve Michael reflects that "The Catholic Church has no room to be critical. The church should be giving us an award. We forced people to think about the church's stance on AIDS."