Howard Dean, Obama Campaign at Saint Louis University

Howard Dean, Obama Campaign at Saint Louis University

Howard Dean, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, will bring presidential hopeful Barack Obama's Register for Change tour to Saint Louis University tomorrow. It is only the latest incident of a Catholic college hosting a campaign event for the pro-abortion presidential candidate.

Howard Dean, who is also the former Governor of Vermont, is notorious in American politics for his support of legalized abortion. In addition to campaigning for pro-abortion Obama, in 2002 Dean defended the legality of the barbaric practice of partial-birth abortion, in which a third trimester half-delivered baby's skull is evacuated. "The notion of 'partial birth abortion' is nonsense," said Dean. "This is a rare procedure used only to save the life or health of the mother."

"The Bishops have been very clear," said Patrick J. Reilly, President of The Cardinal Newman Society (CNS). "Catholic institutions must not give a public platform to politicians who are publicly opposed to Catholic teaching. The Obama Campaign should not be welcome at Saint Louis University."

This is not the first time this year that Saint Louis University has come under criticism for abusing its Catholic identity. In January, Archbishop Raymond Burke of St. Louis, Missouri, urged the university to discipline its basketball coach for public statements in support of abortion and stem cell research, while campaigning for pro-abortion candidate Hillary Clinton.

During this presidential campaign season, The Cardinal Newman Society has lamented other appearances of pro-abortion politicians on Catholic university campuses. In February, Sen. Hillary Clinton spoke at St. Norbert College in Wisconsin as well as St. Mary's University in Texas. In January, Saint Peter's College in New Jersey hosted a rally for Sen. Barack Obama. And in March 2007 Loras College did the same, while Michelle Obama spoke at Villanova University in March 2008.

The Cardinal Newman Society also opposed appearances of Sen. John McCain at Catholic Xavier University and Villanova last spring because of his support of embryonic stem-cell research.

Last February, CNS led a coalition of 18 Catholic organizations in support of the US Bishop’s speaker policies. They issued a statement urging Catholic institutions to "refrain from all activities that provide a public platform to, or imply support or even neutrality toward, political leaders and candidates who advocate positions on serious moral issues that are clearly contrary to Catholic teaching."

Pro-Abortion/Same-Sex "Marriage" Belinda Stronach to be Keynote Speaker at Catholic College in Western Canada

Pro-Abortion/Same-Sex "Marriage" Belinda Stronach to be Keynote Speaker at Catholic College in Western Canada

By Thaddeus M. Baklinski

MUENSTER, Saskatchewan, August 18, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - St. Peter's College, a Benedictine liberal arts school affiliated with the University of Saskatchewan, and which describes itself as being deeply rooted in the Catholic tradition, has invited Belinda Stronach, known for her support of abortion and same-sex marriage, to be the keynote speaker at its fund-raising dinner to be held September 16, 2008.

A spokeswoman at St. Peter's college told LifeSiteNews.com that Stronach was chosen to speak at their Gala dinner because of her business experience and fund-raising acumen, but declined to comment on whether the college was concerned about Stronach's position on issues which put her in direct opposition to the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Stronach has a lengthy history of actively promoting abortion and homosexual "marriage." Earlier this year LifeSiteNews.com reported that the Liberal MP was one of a handful of Canadian politicians photographed marching in the raunchy Toronto Gay Pride Parade. She has also participated in the parade in previous years.

In 2006 LifeSiteNews reported that Stronach told the Toronto Star that she believed that only pro-abortion women's groups should receive government funding. Stronach said, "[Pro-life women's groups] should be rejected because they're anti-choice and they're also anti-equal rights. They don't support equality."

Stronach's comments to the press closely resembled those she made in the House of Commons the day before the Toronto Star published its story. Stronach slammed the government for even hearing the opinions of REAL Women, a pro-life and pro-family women's group. "This is a group that is anti-choice, anti-gay, does not support equality for women and wants to obliterate the Department on the Status of Women," said Stronach. "This group's website even has links to sites that suggest that day cares do not care and homosexuality is a psychological disorder."

The politician has made numerous other statements throughout the years affirming her support for numerous issues that run directly in opposition to fundamental Catholic moral teachings.

A request for comment to the president of St. Peter's College was not answered by press time.

No one was available for comment at the office of the Bishop of Saskatoon.

To express your concern to St. Peter's College please contact:

Robert Harasymchuk, President
St. Peter's College
Phone: 306.682.7888
Fax: 306.682.4402
Email: spc@stpeters.sk.ca
Website: http://www.stpeterscollege.ca/
Mailing Address
RPO Box 40
Muenster, SK S0K 2Y0

To express your concern to the Bishop of Saskatoon please contact:

Most Reverend Albert Francois LeGatt, Bishop of Saskatoon
100 - 5th Avenue North
Saskatoon, SK S7K 2N7
Phone: (306) 242-1500
Toll Free: 877-661-5005
Fax: (306) 244-6010

In addition, the following may be contacted:

Peter Novecosky OSB - Abbot of St. Peter's Abbey, as he is Chancellor for the College
Phone: 306.682.1777
Fax: 306.682.1766
RPO Box 10
Muenster SK S0K 2Y0
abbotpeter@stpeters.sk.ca,

Demetrius Wasylyniuk OSB, as he is the Chair of St. Peter's College Board of Governors
Phone: 306.682.1777
Fax: 306.682.1766
RPO Box 10
Muenster SK S0K 2Y0

Infanticide Supporter at Villanova

Note: I made my headline include the word "infanticide" because Obama voted against the Born Alive Act which simply stated that a child born alive during an abortion procedure cannot be murdered. That such a law is even needed shows how perverse our society has become. Of course, he also supports partial birth abortion so the principle is the same separated by a birth canal and five minutes. That Villanova welcomes a supporter of such a crime shows how far they will go to cozy up to political power.

VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY HOSTS ABORTION ADVOCATE MICHELLE OBAMA

Manassas, VA - In another example of a Catholic university hosting a pro-abortion political figure, Michelle Obama spoke before 2,500 people at a political rally for her husband, Democratic presidential candidate Barak Obama, at Villanova University's Jake Nevin Fieldhouse on March 13.

Mrs. Obama, an abortion advocate, endorsed partial-birth abortion in a 2004 fundraising letter for her husband. Senator Obama supports Roe v. Wade, partial-birth abortion and embryonic stem cell research. He has voted against parental notification and for increased contraceptive funding for teenagers.

Joseph A. Esposito, director of the Cardinal Newman Society's Center for the Study of Catholic Higher Education, said, "The Obamas' record on abortion is clear and unequivocal. We are disappointed with Villanova University. For a Catholic university to provide a platform for a pro-abortion figure in the midst of a political campaign is simply wrong."

The Cardinal Newman Society had a lead role in drafting a "Statement of Principles Regarding Catholic Institutions, Sanctity of Life and Political Engagement" last month. The statement was endorsed by 18 major Catholic organizations, including the Cardinal Newman Society, Catholics United for the Faith, the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights and the Fellowship of Catholic University Students.

The statement reads, in part, "We call on Catholic institutions to join us in refusing to honor or provide a public forum for any political leader or candidate who acts 'in defiance of our fundamental moral principles.' This includes any politician who undermines a 'culture of life' by advocating public policies to permit or support abortion, physician-assisted suicide, embryonic stem cell research, or any other threat to human life."

This initiative was undertaken in response to an alarming trend of pro-abortion politicians using Catholic college campuses for political rallies during the presidential campaign. In January, Senator Obama appeared at a huge rally on the campus on Saint Peter's College, a Jesuit institution in Jersey City, N.J. Senator Hillary Clinton appeared at St. Norbert's College in Wisconsin and St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Tex., in February.

In objecting to Clinton's visit to St. Mary's University, Archbishop Jose 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."

Esposito added, "It is important to let Catholic college leaders know that such disregard for Catholic Church teachings is morally wrong and ultimately impugns the Catholic mission and integrity of the institution. Faithful Catholics may want to contact Father Peter Donohue, president of Villanova University, to indicate their outrage."

He also said, "It is important, too, to thank Catholic leaders who do stand up for Church principles regarding campus speakers. The Cardinal Newman Society recently praised the University of St. Thomas, Houston, for their top administrators barring the speech of a Latina activist with a record of abortion advocacy from speaking on campus."

Father Donohue, the president of Villanova University, can be reached at president@villanova.edu.

Coalition urges Catholic colleges to avoid hosting pro-abortion politicians

Manassas, Va., Feb 27, 2008 / 03:20 am (CNA).- After some Catholic college campuses hosted campaign events and appearances by pro-abortion political candidates recently, a coalition of Catholic organizations has released a statement urging all Catholic institutions to refuse to host politicians who oppose Church teaching on serious moral issues.

On February 13, St. Mary's University in San Antonio hosted a rally for Senator Hillary Clinton over the objections of Archbishop Jose Gomez. St. Norbert College in Wisconsin hosted a similar rally. St. Peter's College in New Jersey hosted a large rally for Barack Obama on January 9, as did Loras College in Iowa in March. Both candidates favor legalized abortion.

The statement calling for a boycott of politicians in conflict with the Church was organized by the Cardinal Newman Society, a group dedicated to the renewal and strengthening of Catholic identity in higher education. Signatories included the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, Catholics United for the Faith, the Catholic Medical Association and the Society of Catholic Social Scientists.

Cardinal Newman Society President Patrick J. Reilly summarized the need for the statement, saying, "Like any Catholic institution, a Catholic college or university has a distinct and unique responsibility to provide an environment that supports and upholds Catholic values."

While praising Catholic institutions' promotion of peace, charity, justice, individual rights and the common good, the statement criticizes some schools for excessively compromising with moral relativism and secularism.

"Too often, however, some Catholic institutions pursue a misguided engagement with public policy and politics that compromises and even undermines their Catholic mission," the statement said. "Catholic institutions should engage the culture from a faithfully Catholic perspective, not a position of neutrality. Political engagement does not require partisanship or endorsement of particular candidates. But it also does not require secularization, by which Catholic institutions accept moral relativism and simply mirror secular culture."

The statement exhorted Catholic colleges and universities to fidelity to Catholic teaching and respect for human life.

"We call on Catholic institutions to join us in finding opportunities-appropriate to the nature and mission of each institution-to engage in political and public policy dialogue by publicly proclaiming Catholic teaching, especially on issues related to human life and marriage," the statement said.

Catholic College Bashed for Allowing Pro-Abortion Barack Obama Rally

Note: Expect a lot of these stories as apostate Catholic college presidents line up to get close to political power.

Catholic College Bashed for Allowing Pro-Abortion Barack Obama Rally

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com EditorJanuary 14, 2008

Jersey City, NJ (LifeNews.com) -- A Catholic College in New Jersey is coming under fire from a pro-life group for allowing pro-abortion Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama to hold a rally there last week. On Wednesday, St. Peter's College, a Jesuit Catholic institution, allowed Obama to address a large crowd there.

Media estimates indicated Obama greeted more than 4,500 people at the rally, but Patrick Reilly, the president of the Cardinal Newman Society, said the college was irresponsible for giving a pro-abortion politician a forum there.

"It's irresponsible for a Catholic college and its leadership to host a political rally for an aggressively pro-abortion candidate," he told LifeNews.com in a statement Monday.

"Such events curry public attention at the expense of public morality. In so doing, they demonstrate reckless disregard for the most vulnerable human lives and contribute to the general decline of Catholic higher education," Reilly explained.

Not only did St. Peter's College allow the Obama campaign to stage the event on its campus, but its president, Dr. Eugene Cornacchia, endorsed the event beforehand.

He said the school welcomed Obama "as we would welcome any presidential candidate who wishes to discuss and debate the ideas and events that are shaping our history."

Reilly told LifeNews.com that the college went further -- by working in conjunction with the Obama campaign to sign up attendees. According to the Obama campaign web site, 1,074 people registered for the event as a result of the St. Peter's College link.

The Cardinal Newman Society points to the U.S. bishops' 2004 mandate that Catholic institutions should refuse speaking platforms and honors for abortion advocates as a main reason for objecting to the Obama event.

Obama supports Roe v. Wade, partial-birth abortion and making taxpayers fund embryonic stem cell research that involves the destruction of human life -- all stances contrary to Catholic teaching.

Reilly says he hopes other Catholic colleges will go in a different direction from St. Peter's.

"As the 2008 political campaigns intensify, the Cardinal Newman Society calls on all Catholic colleges and universities to remain true to their Catholic identity and principles and reject any manipulation by politicians who work against these principles," he said.

"A college or university is dedicated to seeking and teaching truth, and a Catholic university embraces the truths of the Catholic faith," he added.

This isn't the first occasion on which St. Peter's College has come under fire for giving pro-abortion politicians a platform to speak.

The school honored Judge Reginald Stanton of the New Jersey Superior Court as its commencement speaker in 2003. During his judicial career, Stanton publicly advocated abortion and assisted suicide by starvation.

Reilly also said he was disappointed that the choir of Saint Dominic Academy performed during the Obama event and wearing their distinctive school uniforms. Saint Dominic Academy is a girls' Catholic high school in Jersey City.

Related web sites:Cardinal Newman Society - http://www.cardinalnewmansociety.org