Loyola Marymount University's decision to invite former U.S. president Bill Clinton, a pro-abortion politician, as its commencement speaker for the May 7 graduation has been described as "a new low in the University's repeated betrayal of its Catholic mission."
In an editorial, the Cardinal Newman Society denounced the decision of the Los Angeles-based university to invite Clinton.
"The scandal deserves the outrage of faithful Catholics everywhere, most especially those families who rely on LMU to provide the Catholic education that the University holds itself out as providing," it said.
The editorial said Clinton is an extremely poor choice as speaker as he sets a bad moral example to LMU students.
LMU President Dr. Timothy Snyder described Clinton as "one of the great statesmen of our time."
However, the Society said "Clinton's record is one of scandal, immorality and support for the destruction of innocent human life."
It said the Clinton Foundation continues to fund pro-abortion advocates including Planned Parenthood.
Clinton was impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives for perjury and obstruction of justice. He engaged in an adulterous relationship, worked to ensure abortions on U.S. military bases and sought taxpayer funding for abortions. He also supports same-sex marriage, the Society said.
"This Catholic university's deliberate choice to honour former President Clinton is a scandal to the faithful and betrays the Church. The affront is all the greater, as Clinton is in the midst of an active presidential campaign to elect his wife Hillary, who is an even more vigorous proponent of abortion and same-sex marriage," the Society said.
It said inviting Clinton will be perceived as a partisan, political act by the university.
"We call on the leaders at LMU to rescind this invitation to President Clinton, to a conversion of heart and mind, and to a renewed dedication to the mission of Catholic education. This begins with sincere efforts to teach and not oppose Catholic teaching, both in the classroom and by the University's public witness," the Society said.
