Pa. Catholic Bishop To Boycott College Graduation Over Clinton Visit, Citing Her Support Of Abortion Rights

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 02 Apr 2008 - 6:00 PDT

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Donald Trautman -- the Roman Catholic Bishop for Erie, Pa. -- announced on Monday that he will not attend the Catholic Mercyhurst College's graduation because of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's (N.Y.) planned visit to the college on Tuesday, the Erie Times-News reports. Trautman said he was "disappointed" that the college would host Clinton, who supports abortion rights. In a statement, Trautman said that he will not attend Mercyhurst's graduation as a "tangible expression" of his disappointment that the college did not "reflec[t] the pro-life stance of the Catholic Church regarding abortion." According to the Times-News, Trautman has attended the school's graduation ceremony for undergraduates in recent years.

After school officials announced Clinton's visit earlier this year, Mercyhurst Vice President of Student Life Gerry Tobin said, "Certainly as Catholics we have our differences regarding the abortion stance of Sen. Clinton, but we also have a responsibility to go beyond single-issue politics." After Trautman released his statement Tuesday, Mercyhurst President Tom Gamble issued a statement saying, "While we respect Bishop Trautman's decision, we are saddened by it and will deeply miss his presence at graduation." Gamble added that the school is planning to host a forum before the November election about the "[r]esponsbile Catholic and the 2008 election."

Kamyl Bazbaz, Clinton's press secretary in Erie, in a statement said, "We greatly respect the bishop's point of view on the subject and also appreciate the opportunity to speak to students and the Erie community in this historic election" (Erwin, Erie Times-News, 4/1).

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