Congressman Decides Against Speaking at Catholic School

From Cybercast News Service:

(CNSNews.com) - A congressman who supports abortion rights has voluntarily turned down an invitation to be the commencement speaker at a Catholic school in New York, after a Catholic group protested his planned appearance.

Rep. Sherwood Boehlert was scheduled to speak at St. Elizabeth's College of Nursing in Utica, N.Y. on Saturday, but now school officials say the invitation violated a diocesan ban on such speakers at Catholic institutions.

Bishop James Moynihan of the Diocese of Syracuse voiced his opposition to Boehlert's planned appearance, but it was Boehlert's idea to turn down the invitation because of planned protests.

"Perhaps Congressman Boehlert understands what officials at St. Elizabeth's College did not: It is a scandal and an affront to faithful Catholics when Catholic institutions hold up abortion-rights advocates as role models for their students," said Patrick J. Reilly, president of the Cardinal Newman Society.

(Emphasis added)

My Comments:
Contrast Rep. Boehlert's actions with those of the Landrieu family in Louisiana who will receive an honory doctorate degree from Loyola University, despite criticism by Archbishop Alfred Hughes, who has noted that two of the Landrieus are pro-abortion.

See also:
Cardinal Keeler To Boycott Catholic College Commencement Because of Giuliani Speech