Clinton Rally at Catholic University Sparks Controversy

1200 WOAI San Antonio Texas ^ | 2/12/08 | Jim Forsyth

[Jay P.S.]

As Senator Hillary Clinton brings her struggling Presidential campaign to Texas, her visit is sparking controversy ahead of four rallies in the largely Hispanic southern portion of the state today, 1200 WOAI news reports.

Clinton is set to hold a campaign rally at Greehey Auditorium of St. Mary's University, a Catholic institution, prompting San Antonio Archbishop Jose H. Gomez to respond to Catholics who have expressed concerns about Clinton's pro choice political stance.

"It is clear that the records of Senator Clinton and some of the other candidates for President on important life issues are not consistent with the teaching of the Catholic Church," Gomez said.

"Our Catholic institutions must promote the clear understanding of our deep moral convictions on an issue like abortion, an act that the Church calls 'an unspeakable crime' and a non negotiable issue."

St. Mary's said it granted a permit to a student group to use the auditorium for the Clinton rally.

"As a Catholic tax-exempt university, St. Mary's does not endorse political candidates or their positions on issues and acknowledges the fundamental differences between those of the presidential candidates at the Catholic Church," President Charles Cotrell said in a statement.

Archbishop Gomez said he was 'neither advised nor consulted' before the university opened its doors to the Clinton campaign. A spokeswoman for the Clinton campaign in Texas was not immediately available for comment.

Clinton is making five stops in Texas Wednesday and Thursday, all in south Texas, where the Latino vote is looming large in the state's March 4 primary. Several key Latino political leaders incluidng U.S. Rep. Charles Gonzalez (D-San Antonio) have endorsed Clinton's primary opponent, Barack Obama. Gonzalez father, the late Congressman Henry B. Gonzalez, was the first Mexican American elected to the U.S. House and is a legendary figure among Texas Hispanics.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

“Kerry” Catholics?

Or just another group of Clinton plants?

[Mrs. Don-o]

Like I said, the problem is not with the Catholic religion, but with the defectors-in-place.

Keep in mind that when Jesus was arrested, one Apostle betrayed him, His right-hand man denied three times that he even knew Him, and the rest of them (except John) headed for the tall grass.

When King Henry VII wanted to kick out the Catholic religion in 16th century England in order to make his royal self the head of the church, every Bishop in England went along with it except for St. John Fisher.

To reject the Catholic Faith because of the vascillation and unfaithfulness of Catholics, would be like rejecting Jesus because of Judas.

[OPS4]

More like a HIllary plant would be my guess.
They really like to spin the B.S.
Most Catholics allready know her agenda,
and last nite they spoke in MD and Virginia,

Sorry Hillary Keep knockin on doors, you might find someone who believes your crap.

[al_c]

Catholics are like Bill Clinton. They can “compartmentalize” their faith so that it doesn’t have any influence on their politics. The only problem with that is that Jesus said, “By their fruits you will know them.”

What in the heck is happening with the Catholic religion?

Judging the entire Catholic faith on one rogue university president? That's harsh.

[tortdog]

>Thanks for imparting that fantastic wisdom while smearing a great number of devoted catholics everywhere.

But this kind of characterization is okay on the forum.

[Jay P.S.]

My email to the University President and to the Alumni Relations Office:

Dear President Cotrell,

I was shocked and disgusted to read that you are allowing the Clinton campaign to use St. Mary’s University to stage a campaign rally. As you are no doubt aware, Mrs. Clinton has, for years, supported abortion on demand with no regard to parental rights, religious objection, or the term of the pregnancy. She has supported the use of tax dollars to fund abortion and to indoctrinate our children to believe that abortion is just another form of birth control. You were quoted by WOAI radio as acknowledging “the fundamental differences between those of the presidential candidates and the Catholic Church.” How then do you allow a Catholic institution such as St. Mary’s to be the site of a rally to promote a candidate who will continue her assault on our beliefs that all life is sacred? This is an affront to the stewardship of your office.

By allowing this rally to take place, you are violating the University Mission as stated on the website and in the student handbook. The promotion of a candidate who espouses such fervent pro-abortion views is incompatible to the notion that St. Mary’s “fosters the formation of people in faith and educates leaders for the common good.” The unrestricted abortion of millions of unborn children is hardly an example of the “common good.” I am disgusted by the University’s actions and will do all I can to halt contributions and endowments to the university unless this event is canceled immediately. You should be ashamed that you are allowing the grounds to be used in such a destructive manner. If you would like to discuss this issue further or otherwise wish to contact me, I can be reached by email, home phone (xxx-xxx-xxxx) or the address listed below.

Respectfully,

[VRWCmember]

Catholics are like Bill Clinton. They can “compartmentalize” their faith so that it doesn’t have any influence on their politics.

I suppose if you want to generalize on that basis, you can say the same thing about Baptists, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Mormons, Hare Krishnas, Buddhists, Jews, Wiccans, and just about every other "religious" belief with the possible exception of the muslims. I think I have met at least one member of each of the above named faiths who compartmentalizes his/her faith into a tidy little box that doesn't influence the rest of his/her life. But I would not extrapolate that to ASSume that it represents the majority -- or even a substantial plurality of the adherents to those faiths.

[Pyro7480]

Good post (#22)!!

[lastchance]

The Archbishop is by no means endorsing abortion. The University is tax exempt. If the university refused to allow the student group to hold the rally it would no doubt be seen as the university making a political endorsement against Clinton. Yeah does not make sense to me either but I think that is why the Univ gave the go ahead.

Of course that means equal time should be given to other candidates. If the University does not do this than they risk their tax exempt status. So if this is the only rally permitted we can assume the Univ has gone off the rails and should remove the word Catholic from its title.

[joe fonebone]

you are an idiot, anti-catholic bigot...go away,go far away

[xtinct]

Two important things about Hispanic Catholics:

1. They listen to and live the teachings of the Catholic Church if they are practicing Catholics. (From what I've seen in MA, they believe an abortion is a sin given the number of children they have.)

2. They will be influence by Gonzales. He's endorsed Obama. (So, Hildabeast should squish any chance of high hopes with the Hispanics in Texas.)

They employ an incredible grape vine. By now, most know Hildabeast's campaign manage left under peculiar circumstances. (They think the Hispanic campaign manager was fired.)

[Salvation]

**Greehey Auditorium of St. Mary’s University, a Catholic institution, **

Why is a pro-abotionist speaking at a Catholic University?

[Salvation]

**San Antonio Archbishop Jose H. Gomez to respond to Catholics who have expressed concerns about Clinton's pro choice political stance.**

Perhaps the students were not aware of the consequences of doing this:

1:

CCC Search Result - Paragraph # 2271  (618 bytes )  preview document matches 1 Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, URL: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2271.htm

97%

2:

CCC Search Result - Paragraph # 2272  (580 bytes )  preview document matches 2 Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life. "A URL: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2272.htm

96%

3:

CCC Search Result - Paragraph # 2322  (290 bytes )  preview document matches 2 From its conception, the child has the right to life. Direct abortion, that is, abortion willed as an end or as a means, is a "criminal" practice (GS 27 § 3), URL: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2322.htm

96%

4:	CCC Search Result - Paragraph # 2274  (554 bytes )  preview document matches gravely opposed to the moral law when this is done with the thought of possibly inducing an abortion, depending upon the results: a diagnosis must not be the equivalent URL: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2274.htm

[Salvation]

Or perhaps the sponsoring students had never faced the rality of what an abortion looks like. The following link could provide some education for them:

Priests for Life -- What an abortion looks like

[kellynla]

“To reject the Catholic Faith because of the vacillation and unfaithfulness of Catholics, would be like rejecting Jesus because of Judas.”

THANK YOU!

Don't cha just love all these FR Catholic-bashers 'round here who belong to a religion or faith whose members, clergy and/or leadership never committed a sin and/or made a mistake! LMAO

“He who is without sin throw the first stone.”

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

The universities have been infiltrated by liberals, secular humanists, multiculturalists, and anti-Catholic agitators. This has been going on for some years. Obviously anyone who provides a forum for those supporting the genocidal mass murder of the unborn is not a believing Catholic.

It's an actual rule, a law of the Church, that you cannot support abortion, personally or politically. Anyone who does this is no longer a Catholic in good standing and suffers the penalty of excommunication.

Many of the people running universities and colleges claimed to be Catholic are actually liberal secular humanists. They are lying when they claim they are Catholic.

Surely, the president of this institution is literate enough to know that you are not supposed to provide a forum for those who promote the genocide of abortion or embryonic stem cell research. Assuming that he is not insane or has not recently suffered a major head injury.

[Scotswife]

Please show me, Tortdog, where anyone thought it was acceptable to say something stupid like “all mormons are like Bill Clinton..”....

Can you show me that please?

[Scotswife]

Please show me, Tortdog, where anyone thought it was acceptable to say something stupid like “all mormons are like Bill Clinton..”....

Can you show me that please?

[verga]

Catholics are like Bill Clinton. They can “compartmentalize” their faith so that it doesn’t have any influence on their politics.

Please don't lump all of us Catholics into the same group.

There are plenty of Cafeteria Catholics, but there are more of us that take our faith seriously and support politicians who advocate our beliefs.

[tortdog]

Mormons? The comment that I criticized was directed against Catholics.

I merely point out that on this forum it is acceptable to opine that all Catholics (insert other religious group) are stupid (insert othe derogatory comment, e.g., like Bill Clinton).

Not my rules.