Baltimore's Cardinal Keeler Refuses to Attend Loyola Commencement Honoring GiulianiCardinal William Keeler of Baltimore informed Loyola College of Maryland interim president David Haddad that the Cardinal refuses to participate in an event honoring Rudolph Giuliani, an advocate of abortion rights and probable Republican candidate for U.S. president in 2008. The former New York City mayor has been invited to deliver Loyola's commencement address and receive an honorary degree on Friday, May 20.
"There will be no representative of the Archdiocese of Baltimore participating in any event honoring former Mayor Giuliani," Keeler wrote in a letter dated May 18, noting that he and Haddad had an "earlier exchange of correspondence" about the college's invitation to Giuliani. In what may be a subtle threat to Loyola College's official recognition by the Cardinal as a Catholic institution, Keeler wrote, "I am confident that, by now, you understand many of the consequences that spring from an invitation having been extended to former Mayor Giuliani to receive an honorary degree at Loyola. May the Lord make this a teaching moment for many." (The Cardinal Newman Society News Alert, 5/18/05)
Saying it would be “foolish and counterproductive to provide a platform to those who favor or support a public policy of abortion-on-demand or of euthanasia or assisted suicide,” Long Island, NY Archbishop James McHugh issued a directive on September 21st establishing a new policy for his archdiocese that “no pro-abortion public official or candidate is to be invited to address Catholic agencies or organizations, school or parish groups, even if the candidate does not intend to express his or her pro-abortion views.” Appearances at 19 scheduled forums by pro-abortion candidates including Mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani and U.S. Senate candidates Rick Lazio and Hillary Clinton, were cancelled. “It would be extremely misleading to provide such persons a platform to promote their views, even on other issues, lest they claim that the Church somehow implicitly tolerates their rejection of Church teaching on pro-life issues.”
The directive was not limited to politicians. It noted that “those who are pro-abortion or claim to be personally opposed to abortion but unwilling to integrate their moral principles with civic responsibilities are not to be given leadership positions in the diocese, parish, or other church agencies or organizations, nor to exercise any liturgical ministry.” He states further, “Parishes and other diocesan agencies or organizations should not bestow public honors or privileges of any type on such persons.” The directive also bans abortion supporters from speaking at graduation ceremonies, celebrated lectures, and from sitting as honorary chairmen of events such as fundraisers. (New York Post, 10/10/00)