WASHINGTON — Three separate instances of pro-abortion speakers highlighting Catholic events are being vigorously challenged by different pro-life groups in the U.S.
American Life League (ALL) has written Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles about a college within his diocese which is having two pro-abortion politicians address their students at graduation ceremonies.
Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.), and her sibling, freshman Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.), militant supporters of abortion on demand, are scheduled to speak at Mount St. Mary's graduation in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 10. ALL is calling for an immediate cancellation of the pro-abortion talks and said that it will lead a protest of the event if the pro-abortion speakers are not cancelled.
Catholic World News reports that The Cardinal Newman Society is leading a campaign to prevent a Catholic college in Massachusetts from having a famous but pro-abortion alumnus speak at its commencement ceremonies. Holy Cross College, a Jesuit institution in Worcester, has come under fire from alumni groups for inviting political commentator Chris Matthews, a supporter of legal abortion, to give this year's commencement address. However, despite the support of one of the prominent trustees on the college's board, Holy Cross President Father Michael McFarland, SJ, is adamant that Matthews will speak. He responded to the criticism by saying that Matthews' support for legal abortion is “allowable in Catholic thought” — a position that is clearly incompatible with the teachings of Pope John Paul II and the Catholic Church.
Finally, a group called Roman Catholic Faithful (RCF) is protesting a decision by Bishop George Lucas of Springfield, Illinois to invite a Rabbi well known for his pro-abortion activism to speak at the diocese's 150th anniversary. Last Thursday, May 1, 2003 at 6:30 pm an “Interfaith Worship Service” was scheduled to be held at the “Cathedral Church of the Immaculate Conception” in Springfield. The speakers included “Rabbi Barry Marks, Temple Israel, Springfield,” who RCF notes served on Planned Parenthood's clergy committee. RCF invites pro-lifers to contact the diocese to voice objections.
See pro-life action items on all of these events:
Holy Cross Cardinal Newman Society
ALL: Deadly Duo to Speak at Catholic College
(This article courtesy of Steven Ertelt and the Pro-Life Infonet email newsletter. For more information or to subscribe go to www.prolifeinfo.org or email infonet@prolifeinfo.org.)
