Posted on 01/29/2005 11:10:12 AM PST by NYpeanut
The bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo said Friday he is not pleased that Canisius College invited pro-choice Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton to campus but he will allow her to speak Monday at the Catholic school.
The Most Rev. Edward U. Kmiec said the invitation was made without input from the diocese, and the offices of Church Ministry and Catholic Charities have pulled their sponsorship of the lecture.
But Kmiec said the speech should go forward because the church needs to maintain a dialogue with Clinton, D-N.Y., and other public officials with whom they disagree on the issue of abortion.
"It is for that reason, despite calls for the cancellation of the event, that it was thought best to allow it to proceed, though reluctantly," Kmiec said in a new release issued late Friday.
Pro-life advocates who have criticized Clinton's planned appearance weren't satisfied with the bishop's remarks.
"I don't think he went far enough, I'm sorry," said Stasia Zoladz Vogel, president of the Buffalo Regional Right to Life Committee. "They owe her nothing. She's a public official. They can talk to her at any time."
Kmiec issued his statement after speaking with the Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, Canisius president, Friday morning. Their discussion followed several days of heated reaction from local and national pro-life organizations.
The diocese has received about 100 phone calls and e-mails over the past two days on Clinton's appearance at Canisius, the vast majority objecting to her speech, said Kevin Keenan, diocese spokesman.
Canisius has received more calls and e-mails in response to Clinton's speech - both for and against - than in reaction to any other speaker in recent years, said John J. Hurley, vice president for college relations.
Earlier this week, a Clinton spokeswoman said the senator believes that anyone who objects to her appearance at Canisius has the right to express that opinions.
Clinton is speaking at 1:15 p.m. Monday in the Montante Cultural Center as part of Canisius' "Corporal Works of Mercy" lecture series, organized by former Rep. John J. LaFalce.
LaFalce, a Town of Tonawanda Democrat and pro-life Catholic, said he invited Clinton to speak on government's role in caring for the sick because of her expertise on the issue.
"Canisius is an institution of higher education, and I believe, personally, it should be an honor that she is addressing this important issue on the Canisius campus," LaFalce said Friday.
Catholic Charities has sponsored the entire lecture series, and the Office of Church Ministry signed on as a sponsor for this lecture, Keenan said.
The bishop's statement said the diocese did not know Clinton would be a speaker in the series.
The college began removing the names of Catholic Charities and Church Ministry from the list of sponsors for Clinton's speech in promotional materials even before the protests of the past few days, Hurley said.
The diocesan offices did not provide money to support the lecture series. Clinton is not receiving money to appear at Canisius, nor will she speak on the topic of abortion, Hurley said.
Hurley said the college is not planning any changes to its policy on invited speakers. "But what I think is fair to say is we would like to talk to the diocese about the policy and reach a consensus on it," he said.
In explaining why he would not overrule campus officials, Kmiec cited a statement issued last June by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The conference position is that Catholic institutions should not honor pro-choice public officials but should maintain communication with them.
"In regard to Senator Clinton, I believe she will be well aware of the depth of our beliefs on life issues in this very Catholic region of New York State. We trust that she will respect and be sensitive to those sentiments," Kmiec stated.
She is very good at this. People underestimate her.
She wants to be President. She doesn't care if she needs to be liberal or not to do it.
I guess the bishop didn't get the news from Eleanor Clift--Hilary is the Democrat party's Moses, and she's "bringing us together" on abortion.
Why?
But Kmiec said the speech should go forward because the church needs to maintain a dialogue with Clinton, D-N.Y., and other public officials with whom they disagree on the issue of abortion.
"Why?"
My thoughts exactly! Why groups feel they need to give the time of day to anyone that's 180 degrees opposed to their point of view is ridiculous.
The Beast is dwelling amongst us. It's going to take one big old exorcism to be rid of her once and for all.
Big difference between Canisius and the public universities that won't allow conservative speakers on campus. And Hillary isn't going to make any converts here-- just the MSM who will criticize the Catholic Church for not "reaching out".
I agree.
Bishop Kmiec is yet another of those post-Vatican II sad sacks that plague the leadership of the Catholic Church.
This is not "maintaining dialogue."
I have faith in the people of America to discern what the beast's real position is, and the more it gets out the better. I'm counting on "my eyes were blind but now I can see"...Let her roll on and expose what a marxist fast talkin' lying bitch she really is. Have faith, people.
FMCDH(BITS)
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