Hillary invite draws protest from GOP front organizations
GOPers Protest Invitation
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Republican abortion opponents on Friday urged a Catholic college to withdraw its speaking invitation to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton because she is pro-choice.
The Democrat senator is scheduled to speak at Canisius College on Monday on the government's role in caring for the sick. The address is part of the college's "Corporal Works of Mercy" lecture series.
An aide said Clinton would not discuss abortion as part of her speech, and never intended to. Nor had Clinton considered canceling her appearance because of the objections.
"She's absolutely planning on being there," spokeswoman Jennifer Hanley said.
The Diocese of Buffalo received about 20 calls of protest by early Friday afternoon, spokesman Kevin Keenan said.
"People are upset that a Catholic college would be hosting Senator Clinton because of her pro-choice position when it comes to abortion," Keenan said.
He indicated the diocese would weigh in on the discussion later Friday.
Canisius is an independent college founded by Jesuits in 1870. College officials said they, too, received calls and e-mails protesting the appearance, but also received support for the decision to invite Clinton.
"We've heard from alumni who think that having speakers on campus with whom you may not agree is an essential part of the learning process that takes place at a Jesuit university," said John Hurley, vice president for college relations.
Clinton, long a supporter of abortion rights, as recently as Monday repeated her call for all sides in the debate to seek common ground and work together to reduce the number of abortions. The remarks came during an address to 1,000 abortion rights supporters.
Hurley said the college takes seriously protesters' concerns, "but in this case, we don't think that having Senator Clinton here constitutes an endorsement of her position on abortion or even her position on other things."
The president of the Buffalo Regional Right to Life Committee disagreed.
"They're giving her a platform," said Stasia Zoladz Vogel. "We know what she stands for."
Vogel, who called Clinton's appearance an affront to Catholics, said she had brought her concerns to the Buffalo bishop, Canisius officials and former Democratic Rep. John LaFalce, the series organizer.
The Republican National Coalition for Life and the Cardinal Newman Society used their Web sites to urge members to complain to Canisius' president, the Rev. Vincent Cooke.
The appearance will not be the senator's first at the college. She most recently spoke in August, announcing a women's small-business program.
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--clin
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Posted by Editor at January 28, 2005 05:16 PM
