University officials were reportedly worried about what to expect from de Bruyn, who was SDA national secretary from 1978 to 2014, given his public opposition to same-sex marriage, abortion, gay rights and IVF.
For years the SDA was a major obstacle to the ALP legalising same-sex marriage.
Students walked out en-masse during the speech.
“Marriage between a man and a woman was instituted by God at the origin of humanity in the Garden of Eden, as the book of Genesis in the Bible tells us,” de Bruyn told students on Monday.
“Since then, every society on Earth at all times has recognised marriage as being between a man and a woman.”
During his speech, de Bruyn recalled how in the 1980s researchers at Monash University developed “the technique of IVF for infertile women”.
“In the controversy that followed, the media asked me for my opinion,” de Bruyn said. “I responded that it was morally wrong to deliberately bring children into the world in an environment where the child would have no father.”
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A spokesperson for the ACU said de Bruyn’s remarks at the ceremony were delivered in a personal capacity.
“While his views may not be shared by some of our staff and students, as a university we encourage the respectful exchange of ideas that represent the wide spectrum of our diverse community,” they said.
“The university understands that many of our staff, graduates and their families disagreed with the content of Mr de Bruyn’s speech, and we regret that this occurred.”
The spokesperson said the university was committed to open, respectful debate.
Joe de Bruyn was given an honorary degree by the ACU.Credit: Jesse Marlow
“We always encourage people to present their views and beliefs while also being respectful to those who hold a contrary view,” the spokesperson said.
“ACU is committed to providing a safe, inclusive and respectful environment for students and staff of all beliefs. ”
The ACU graduation program noted de Bruyn had received the honorary doctorate for his “outstanding support of the Catholic Church in Australia, particularly in the promotion of liberal arts education, and his outstanding contributions to the general wellbeing of the Australian community through a lifetime of serving and representing the interests of Australian workers, and thereby supporting the mission of ACU”.
As the exhibition centre emptied, de Bruyn implored students to stick to their Catholic beliefs as they entered the workforce.
“My experience is that many Catholics cave in to peer pressure. They think their professional lives will be harmed if they promote the teachings of the church.
“My experience is that this is not so. Despite my view on some issues being at odds with the views of my contemporaries over the past 50 years, it has never affected my career at all.”
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