Archdiocese of Boston's Cardinal Sean O'Malley said today that he
plans to boycott Boston College's commencement ceremony May 20 because
it will feature Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny as its commencement
speaker. The College is scheduled to award Kenny an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. Kenny supports loosening the country's legislation against abortion.
“Since the university has not withdrawn the invitation and because
the Taoiseach (prime minister) has not seen fit to decline, I shall not
attend the graduation,’’ O’Malley said in a statement
released this afternoon. “It is my ardent hope that Boston College will
work to redress the confusion, disappointment and harm caused by not
adhering to the Bishops’ directives," he added, referencing the U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops instruction that Catholic institutions
not honor those whose views are inconsistent with the Church's
teachings.
Traditionally, the Boston archbishop delivers the final benediction at Boston College's commencement each year.
Continued Cardinal O'Malley's statement:
The Irish Bishops have responded to that development by affirming the Church’s teaching that “the deliberate decision to deprive an innocent human being of life is always morally wrong” and expressed serious concern that the proposed legislation “represents a dramatic and morally unacceptable change to Irish law.”
"Boston College invited Prime Minister Kenny a year ago to speak at
our commencement to celebrate its heritage and relationship with Ireland
and our desire to recognize and celebrate our heritage," Boston College
Spokesman Jack Dunn told the Boston Globe. "Our invitation is independent of the proposed bill that will be debated in the Irish parliament this summer."
In an interview
with the Catholic Herald, Cardinal O'Malley urged Ireland to stand
against pressures to legalize abortion. Said Cardinal O'Malley:
"Abortion is the taking of an innocent human life: everyone should resist abortion. Ireland has the good fortune, in part thanks to Catholic sensibilities, that her people have been opposed to abortion despite the great pressure that they have come under from secularizing forces. Ireland should be very proud of its pro-life heritage and how traditionally there has been great importance given to human life. Every life counts, and I am very proud that in Ireland protection is given to life that is as vulnerable as the unborn. I hope that Ireland will continue to stand up against the pressures - I know the pressures are there. Pressure to legislate for abortion is a dehumanizing force in our world. The laws have a function of teaching what is right and wrong. And simply because someone is going to do something, does not mean that we have to facilitate it, condone it, or encourage it."
May 10, 2013
By Tim Drake
Catholic Education Daily
