NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  April 1, 2008

CONTACT:  Diane Gramley  1.814.271.9078 or 1.814.437.5355

Mercyhurst Wrong – Bishop Trautman Right in Clinton’s Visit to Catholic College

(Erie, PA) – Today a statewide pro-life group commended Erie Diocese Bishop Donald Trautman’s decision to not attend the commencement ceremony of Mercyhurst College because of the Catholic school’s decision to host a forum with presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton.  The American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA) noted that Clinton is unashamedly anti-life which is directly against Catholic teaching. 

“It is refreshing to see a church leader take a solid stand for the sanctity of human life and not back down in the face of political correctness,” stated Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA.

Catholic teaching is very clear on the issue of abortion and those who support it.   Article 5 of the Catechism says in part, “Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person - among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life.”

Mercyhurst statement concerning the Clinton visit included the sentence “Rather, the College believes it is within its mission academically, socially and spiritually to allow its students and the general community the opportunity to hear from the presidential candidates and reflect upon and consider the issues.”  

The AFA of PA believes Mercyhurst would have served the community and her students better by taking a strong and public pro-life stand thus sending a clear message about the need to protect life in a society that increasingly is willing to compromise on the issue.

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