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Dear President DeGioia:

It has come to the attention of The Cardinal Newman Society and the following signers that U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has been granted the honor of speaking at the commencement ceremony for Georgetown University’s Public Policy Institute on Friday, May 18.  We strongly urge you to withdraw the invitation to Secretary Sebelius immediately.

It is scandalous and outrageous that America’s oldest Catholic and Jesuit university has elected to provide this prestigious platform to a publicly “pro-choice” Catholic who is most responsible for the Obama administration’s effort to restrict the Constitution’s first freedom—the right to free exercise of religion—while threatening the survival of many Catholic and other religious colleges and universities, schools, charities, hospitals and other apostolates.

Georgetown insults all Americans by this honor.  The selection is especially insulting to faithful Catholics and their bishops, who are engaged in the fight for religious liberty and against abortion.  The contrast is stark between Georgetown University and those faithful Catholic colleges and universities that have stood for faith and freedom.

Sincerely,
Patrick J. Reilly
President
The Cardinal Newman Society

Items of notes and interest from the web.