Bishop rebukes Jesuit university for inviting pro-abortion speaker

January 13, 2012

Bishop Joseph Bambera of Scranton, Pennsylvania has released a public statement rebuking the Jesuit-administered University of Scranton for inviting a pro-abortion activist to speak.

Bishop Bambera disclosed that he had asked the university to rescind an invitation to Marjorie Margolies, a former member of the US House of Representatives who had been an aggressive defender of legal abortion and later worked for a political organization promoting pro-abortion candidates. The university refused to comply with the bishop’s request.

The bishop’s statement said that the university’s “unwillingness to work with Bishop Bambera in an effort to reach an acceptable resolution to this unfortunate situation is an unsettling turn in the relationship” between the school and the bishop.

“The University of Scranton has left me with no other choice but to publicly express my disapproval of the invitation of this speaker and my concern regarding the University’s evolving relationship with me as Bishop of the Diocese of Scranton,” Bishop Bambera said.

The bishop did not indicate that he was considering disciplinary action against the university. On the contrary, his public statement concluded:

Despite this unfortunate situation, I continue to be open to working with University officials to promote, preserve and strengthen the Catholic character of the University of Scranton.

 

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Further information:

• Bishop issues public disapproval of speaker coming to U. of Scranton (Times-Leader)
• Scranton University Refuses Bishop’s Call to Withdraw Invitation to Pro-Abortion Rights Speaker (Cardinal Newman Society)