Catholic Xavier University to Host Speech From Pro-Abortion President Obama
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
August 17, 2010
New Orleans, LA (LifeNews.com) — Xavier University, a Catholic college, will host a speech on August 29 by pro-abortion President Barack Obama. The speech will mark the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina but the college is coming under fire because it violates a request from the nation’s Catholic bishops.
“We are pleased and grateful that the President has decided to include a visit to the Xavier University campus as part of his visit to New Orleans on August 29 to commemorate the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina," Xavier President Dr. Norman Francis said, according to WDSU.
"Obama will get to see firsthand why we are so proud of the progress we have made here at Xavier during the five years since Katrina, not only restoring our campus but expanding our facilities and services since then in order to fulfill our mission established 85 years ago," he added.
But the Cardinal Newman Society, a watchdog for Catholic colleges and universities, is not pleased.
“U.S. bishops’ policy is clear,” it said in a statement to LifeSite. “No Catholic institution should provide an honor or platform to a public opponent of fundamental Catholic teachings. This is most important at a university that is dedicated to seeking and teaching the truth, and which embraces the Catholic faith.”
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops adopted a policy in June 2004 that addresses pro-abortion politicians as well as colleges giving a platform to pro-abortion speakers.
The statement makes it clear that Catholic colleges should not allow abortion advocates to have a platform to speak to students or be honored with special awards and degrees.
"Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions," the bishops say.
But that didn’t stop the University of Notre Dame from inviting Obama to give the college’s commencement address and bestowing an honorary degree upon him.
“Last year President Obama used his platform at the University of Notre Dame to reiterate his support for abortion and embryonic stem cell research. Xavier University is willingly inviting the same scandal,” CNS said.
Xavier University already hosted Obama in 2006 and gave him an honorary degree and allowed him to give its commencement address.
ACTION: Contact the college with your protests at https://www.xula.edu/about-xavier/contactus.php
Related web sites:
Cardinal Newman Society – https://www.cardinalnewmansociety.org
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