14,000 sign petition opposing Sebelius commencement speech at Georgetown

CWN - May 08, 2012

The Cardinal Newman Society has quickly collected more than 14,000 signatures on a petition opposing the appearance of Kathleen Sebelius, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), as a commencement speaker at Georgetown University.

The Cardinal Newman Society drafted a letter to Georgetown’s president, John DeGioia, asking him to withdraw the invitation to Sebelius to speak at graduation for the school’s Public Policy Institute. The petition also calls the attention of Washington’s Cardinal Donald Wuerl to the situation.

Sebelius, who identifies herself as Catholic, supports public funding of abortion; while serving as governor of Kansas, she was informed by Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City that she should not present herself for Communion. More recently, as HHS secretary, she has taken the lead in enforcing the mandate requiring contraceptive coverage in health-insurance programs.

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Show 3 Comments? (Hidden)Hide Comments
  • Posted by: Savonarola - May. 10, 2012 11:37 AM ET USA

    Cardinal Wuerl remains silent, you say? He's hiding under his desk. Is that news?

  • Posted by: impossible - May. 09, 2012 11:43 PM ET USA

    Perhaps Cardinal Wuerl will make Sebelius an honorary Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist in his diocese to demonstrate that he is not one to make a weapon of the Eucharist by obeying Canon 915. Instead of writing books, it would be better to practice St. Francis’ admonition to preach the Gospel always, using words if necessary. We’ve seen Cardinal Wuerl’s words. We need to see some orthodox actions.

  • Posted by: dagbat - May. 08, 2012 11:27 PM ET USA

    The Cardinal Newman Society should be congratulated in their petition to Georgetown and also informing Cardinal Wuerl of their action. This will shine the spotlight on Cardinal Wuerl and hopefully put pressure on him to take firm action against Georgetown (for forgetting that they are a Catholic institution), and also action against Kathleen Sebelius, a Catholic in name only, and the main proponent of the HHS mandate. Should Cardinal Wuerl decide to do nothing then he will need to defend this decision to his fellow Cardinals and Bishops, and also to the Holy See.

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