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Erie Community Protests Hilary Clinton Appearance at Catholic Mercyhurst College

Ad for bus trip to March for Life was rejected by Mercyhurst newspaper because it mentioned abortion

By Michael Baggot

ERIE, PA April 3, 2008 (LifeSiteNews) - About 150 local residents endured high winds, low temperatures, and even rain during a three-hour protest of pro-abortion presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton's Tuesday visit to the Catholic Mercyhurst College.

Protestors included 15 Mercyhurst students, 12 Gannon students, and three priests.  The most popular sign read "Hillary - Pro-Abortion Extremist"

Tim Broderick of the People for Life told LifeSiteNews.com that the protest "put the abortion issue back up front" in political considerations.  He hopes that the protest also gave those gathered to see Clinton second thoughts about their abortion stance.

"Mercyhurst cannot, with any intellectual or moral credibility simultaneously admit the simple, commonsense truth, which the R.C. Church has famously chosen not to ignore - that abortion is murder - while facilitating the political campaign of an extreme abortion proponent," stated Broderick on the People for Life.org website.

The Catholic college issued the following statement before Clinton's appearance: "By making its facilities available to the candidates, Mercyhurst College is not endorsing the policies of any one or more of the candidates. Rather, the College believes it is within its mission academically, socially and spiritually to allow its students and the general community the opportunity to hear from the presidential candidates and reflect upon and consider the issues."

In a statement released Sunday, Mercyhurst president Dr. Thomas J. Gamble stated, "We have an obligation to provide a faithful presentation of the teachings of the Church and also to support reason by providing a full range of educational opportunities to our students. It is in the spirit of encouraging dialogue on issues important to the future of the United States and its citizens, whose welfare should be a matter of concern to all of us, that we have chosen to permit this visit."

Broderick told LifeSiteNews.com that Mercyhurst's decision to host a Clinton political rally is "unreasonable in light of Mercyhurst being a Catholic institution."

On Monday, Tim Broderick of People for Life told LifeSiteNews.com that he feared that Clinton's speech at a Catholic institution would "mislead the public in general and Catholics in particular about the Catholic Church's very cogent recognition that abortion is precisely the murder of an innocent human being, and that establishing legal protection for the unborn is a matter of tremendous urgency."

In light of Mercyhurst's supposed unpartisan treatment the abortion debate, Broderick noted that an advertisement for a bus trip to the March for Life was rejected from the officially sanctioned Mercyhurst newspaper due to its mention of abortion.  Broderick was not informed about the advertisement's removal until after the paper went to print.

The advertisement finally appeared in the school paper only days before the March for Life after church officials intervened.

Erie Bishop Donald W. Trautman cancelled his scheduled appearance at Mercyhurst's graduation in protest of Clinton's invitation to speak.  Broderick indicated that he has heard numerous parish priests express support for Bishop's Trautman's cancellation.

Broderick stated that he did not oppose on-campus debates between candidates with differing views on abortion, but that he does oppose mere political rallies for pro-abortion speakers. He insisted that the only educational value to be found in Clinton's Tuesday address was an "education in partisan democratic indoctrination."

Broderick recommended that pro-lifers on Catholic campuses faced with speakers opposed to the dignity of human life "encourage Church leadership to take action and stand behind them."

See previous LifeSiteNews coverage:
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/mar/08033103.html

See pictures from the protest:
http://www.peopleforlife.org/mercy.html

Read the US Bishops' statement on Catholic in Political Life:
http://www.usccb.org/bishops/catholicsinpoliticallife.shtml

Read a statement opposing forum's on Catholic campuses for figures advocating anti-life policies:
http://cardinalnewmansociety.org/News/tabid/54/ctl/Details/mid/452/ItemID/99/Def...

To respectfully express concerns contact:

Dr. Thomas J. Gamble
President of Mercyhurst College
Main 111
Office: (814) 824-2311
Fax: (814) 824-3333
E-mail:   

Sue Johnson
Administrative Assistant to President Gamble
Main 111
Office: (814) 824-2311
Fax: (814) 824-3333
Email:

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