Bishop 'reluctantly' lets Catholic college host Sen. Clinton speech

Published: 2005-02-01

BUFFALO, N.Y. (CNS) -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., gave a speech at Jesuit-run Canisius College Jan. 31 despite protests by abortion opponents and the withdrawal of sponsorship of the event by agencies of the Buffalo Diocese. Bishop Edward U. Kmiec of Buffalo cited the U.S. bishops' statement on "Catholics in Political Life" in a Jan. 28 announcement that he would "reluctantly" allow the event to take place despite Clinton's strong support for keeping abortion legal. John J. Hurley, Canisius' vice president for college relations, told Catholic News Service that the college "will not give ... awards or honors" to public officials who espouse positions in conflict with fundamental church teachings, "but they can be invited to speak on campus so long as they do not use that as a forum to disagree with church teachings." Clinton's talk was on the government's role in health care. About 500 people attended the event, held in the college's Montante Cultural Center. It was part of a lecture series at the college on "The Governmental Role in Effectuating the Corporal Works of Mercy."

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