News

By Gudrun Schultz

  BOSTON, Massachusetts, May 9, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Boston College Law School invited Congressman Edward J. Markey, who openly supports abortion “rights”, to speak at its 2007 Law School commencement.

  Stating his pleasure at announcing Markey’s acceptance of the engagement, the College Law Dean, John H. Garvey, lauded Markey as “one of the most distinguished graduates of Boston College Law School, whose career of public service reflects the very best values and traditions of the School.”

  Markey is a known supporter of embryonic stem cell research and pro-abortion organizations. Planned Parenthood identified him as having been “100 percent” supportive of the organization in 2006, in a listing by the non-partisan voter-information research group “Vote Smart.”

  In 2006 Markey was one of 55 “Catholic” Democrats to sign a declaration attempting to reconcile support for abortion with membership in the Catholic Church. The statement assured the public that the signatories agreed with the Church on the value of human life, but instead of opposing abortion the group advocated for “reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies and creating an environment with policies that encourage pregnancies to be carried to term. We believe this includes promoting alternatives to abortion…”

  For the past nine years, the Cardinal Newman Society (CNS) has tracked Catholic colleges that have invited commencement speakers or honorees who have publicly supported positions contrary to Catholic values or teaching. In addition to Boston College Law, 12 Catholic colleges featured pro-abortion speakers and honorees during commencement ceremonies this spring, LifeSiteNews.com reported May 7.

  The CNS found that the number had dropped by nearly half over that of 2006, however, when 24 Catholic US institutions invited speakers who publicly endorsed positions directly opposed to Church teaching, including abortion rights, embryonic stem cell research, physician-assisted suicide or homosexual marriage, among others.

  In June 2004, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops approved the statement “Catholics in Political Life,” which mandated: “The Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.

  To contact Boston College Law School:
  John H. Garvey, Dean
  Stuart House M307
  Phone: (617) 552-4340
  Henry Clay, Associate Dean for Administration
  (617)-552-4340
  [email protected]

  See previous LifeSiteNews coverage:
  Naming Names – 12 Catholic Colleges have Pro-Abortion Commencement Speakers for 2007
  https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/may/07050704.html

  55 ‘Catholic’ Democrats Out Themselves as Pro-Abortion – Slammed by Catholic Leaders
  https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/mar/06030202.html