Another Catholic college rescinds invitation to pro-abortion commencement speaker
April 30, 2012
For the 2nd time in less than a month, a Catholic college has rescinded a commencement invitation because the local bishop objected to a proposed speaker’s views on issues involving the sanctity of human life.
Mercy College of Ohio had scheduled a speech by a state lawmaker, Bob Hagan. The school retracted the invitation at the urging of Youngstown’s Bishop George Murry.
Earlier in April another small Catholic school, Anna Maria College in Massachusetts, had decided against a commencement speech by Victoria Kennedy, the widow of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, after an intervention by Worcester’s Bishop Richard McManus.
The Cardinal Newman Society has assembled a list of 11 Catholic colleges and universities that are scheduled to hear commencement addresses by individuals whose public views are at odds with Church teachings on culture-of-life issues. However, the Cardinal Newman Society notes that the number of Catholic colleges including pro-abortion speakers on their commencement programs appears to be down from the numbers in previous years.
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Further information:
- Catholic College Disinvites Pro-Abortion Rights Pol at Request of Bishop (Cardinal Newman Society)
- Special report: Catholic college commencement scandals in 2012 (Cardinal Newman Society)
- Bishop not swayed by petition, maintains ban on campus speech by Kennedy widow (CWN, 4/27)
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Posted by: impossible -
May. 03, 2012 12:24 AM ET USA
Yes, we need to contact our good bishops and encourage them when they do the right thing. They need to know that the laity is awake and supporting them.
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Posted by: chasann113163 -
May. 01, 2012 8:49 AM ET USA
Thank You Bishops, I at last feel like there is hope for our Catholic Universities but I also think the Cardinal Newman Society should get some credit for thier work in this too. I thank those Collage Administrator who are listening to the Bishops. Pray, Pray, Pray, God is listening, and he is answering our prayers.
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Posted by: lauriem5377 -
Apr. 30, 2012 6:50 PM ET USA
God bless these Bishops for speaking out in support of life and God bless the college administrations for responding to their Bishops. By next year, let us pray more care will be taken with such invitations in the first place so no invitations will need to be rescinded.
