Sebelius heckled during Georgetown graduation speech

**catharina** · #1 May 18, '12, 1:39 pm

http://www.newschannel9.com/template...nel9.com.shtml

"WASHINGTON (AP) -- Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius (seh-BEEL'-yuhs) was briefly interrupted by an anti-abortion heckler during a graduation speech today at Georgetown University.

During the speech, Sebelius paid tribute to religious freedom and the separation of church and state.

A man stood up during the speech and heckled her for supporting abortion rights. A university official says the man was escorted off campus by police and released.

Catholic church authorities had earlier denounced Georgetown's invitation for her to speak at the Public Policy Institute's awards ceremony.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Washington says the invitation to Sebelius from the Jesuit school was unfortunate. It says her public actions represent a direct challenge to religious liberty.

Bishops view a requirement to cover birth control and other parts of President Barack Obama's health care law as attacks on religious freedom."

_Abyssinia · #2 May 18, '12, 1:51 pm

Bishop Morlino criticized Georgetown for the invitation to Sebelius.

Sebelius is so out of line with Catholic teaching that Bishop Joseph Naumann said she should not approach for communion and Archbishop Raymond Burke said sh should not approach for Communion.

USSCB:

The Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.

35,000 people signed a petition against Sebelius' invitation which was presented to Georgetown's president.

CatholicBoy1957 · #3 May 18, '12, 1:52 pm

Just one? How sad for the human race.

Quote:

New International Version (©1984)
I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

It looks like he'll find one at Georgetown, that's it.

CatholicBoy1957 · #4 May 18, '12, 1:57 pm

Quote:

26“Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.

28“It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.

30“It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed.

Thanks for the reminder, Kathleen.

**SamH** · #5 May 18, '12, 2:52 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by catharina

During the speech, Sebelius paid tribute to religious freedom and the separation of church and state.

Baghdad Bob had more credibility.

Scott_Lafrance · #6 May 18, '12, 2:58 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamH

Baghdad Bob had more credibility.

No kidding. Watching the people in this administration is like seeing a live action screening of 1984, complete with newspeak and doublethink.

aicirt · #7 May 18, '12, 3:58 pm

How does this happen? First Notre Dame with Obama and now Georgetown. If the laity is to follow the Church why not the Catholic intellectuals who run these institutions. They are supposedly the best and the brightest. It is such a slap in the face to everyone who tries to fight abortion.

Sebelius was denied communion in her former church by the bishop in her home state. But the Catholics who run this institution invite her to speak.....and probably paid her for the honor. Georgetown couldn't find a Catholic who supports the Church? The honor should have gone to the bishop who had the backbone to deny her communion.

I do not understand any of this.

anp1215 · #8 May 18, '12, 5:10 pm

Disappointed that a few pro-lifers felt the need to heckle her during her speech. Abby Johnson has the same view, after being heckled during her pro-life speech in Washington. It doesn't do the pro-life side any favors to interrupt and heckle people during a speech.

DoGodsBidding · #9 May 18, '12, 5:21 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by aicirt

How does this happen? First Notre Dame with Obama and now Georgetown. If the laity is to follow the Church why not the Catholic intellectuals who run these institutions. They are supposedly the best and the brightest. It is such a slap in the face to everyone who tries to fight abortion.

Sebelius was denied communion in her former church by the bishop in her home state. But the Catholics who run this institution invite her to speak.....and probably paid her for the honor. Georgetown couldn't find a Catholic who supports the Church? The honor should have gone to the bishop who had the backbone to deny her communion.

I do not understand any of this.

I don't understand any of this either. It is indeed a sad situation. I agree with your suggestion to have her former bishop speak. I would be glad to speak also.

DGB

**Ridgerunner** · #10 May 18, '12, 6:03 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by aicirt

How does this happen? First Notre Dame with Obama and now Georgetown. If the laity is to follow the Church why not the Catholic intellectuals who run these institutions. They are supposedly the best and the brightest. .

First of all, the percentage of Catholic professors at Georgetown is just a hair over 50%. Of new faculty, it's less than 50%.

And why should anyone assume that even those Catholics among them, who think they know better than every Pope, every Doctor of the Church, virtually every bishop and the time-honored Catholic theologians, are "the best and the brightest"? The most arrogant, perhaps, but not the "best and the brightest".

Cider · #11 May 18, '12, 6:07 pm

She has no business speaking there anyway. And to speak about religious freedom, you're kidding me right? Talk about hypocrisy.

aicirt · #12 May 18, '12, 6:12 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ridgerunner

First of all, the percentage of Catholic professors at Georgetown is just a hair over 50%. Of new faculty, it's less than 50%.

And why should anyone assume that even those Catholics among them, who think they know better than every Pope, every Doctor of the Church, virtually every bishop and the time-honored Catholic theologians, are "the best and the brightest"? The most arrogant, perhaps, but not the "best and the brightest".

I assumed it because both Georgetown and Notre Dame had stelar reputations until the Obama invitation went out. If this is the result of arrogance, then something better change.

I would like to think that even with the Catholic professors at 50%, the institution is still Catholic. So much for that thinking.

I still don't understand how this happens. There must be a mission statement requiring those in charge to adhere to the teachings of the Church and not to give scandal. Did they think the uproar at Notre Dame was something they wanted to duplicate at Georgetown?

**Ridgerunner** · #13 May 18, '12, 6:15 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by aicirt

I assumed it because both Georgetown and Notre Dame had stelar reputations until the Obama invitation went out. If this is the result of arrogance, then something better change.

I would like to think that even with the Catholic professors at 50%, the institution is still Catholic. So much for that thinking.

I still don't understand how this happens. There must be a mission statement requiring those in charge to adhere to the teachings of the Church and not to give scandal. Did they think the uproar at Notre Dame was something they wanted to duplicate at Georgetown?

I doubt they care.

I would not be so quick to say it's "still Catholic". Catholic is as Catholic does.

loko · #14 May 18, '12, 6:18 pm

Why am I not surprised, look at what happened with the Notre Dame debacle. Now they realise that Obama is the most pro-abortion U.S. President in their history and also supports gay marriage.

Roy5 · #15 May 18, '12, 6:34 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by aicirt

How does this happen? First Notre Dame with Obama and now Georgetown. If the laity is to follow the Church why not the Catholic intellectuals who run these institutions. They are supposedly the best and the brightest. It is such a slap in the face to everyone who tries to fight abortion. .

It appears that many here on CAF don't realize that there is enormous division within the Catholic Church, with many of its intellectuals and general laity refusing to knuckle under to the hierarchy. They hold the view that freedom of speech should allow for persons of different opinions to express them, yes, even on Catholic campuses. The old idea that error has no rights, as Catholicism used to teach - and Catholic governments once enforced - is kaput.

It did strike me a bit odd that Sibelius would be invited to Georgetown, and especially Georgetown. But it certainly doesn't offend me, especially if students had a part in making the decision as to whom to invite. As for Obama visiting Notre Dame, he is, after all, president of the United States, president of all of us whether we share his views or not. I think his presence honored Notre Dame.

As far as I recall, Hitler and Mussolini and other villains of modern history were never excommunicated. Pius XII kept quite mum on the subject, except to bless Franco who was aided by the Nazis of Germany and the Fascists of Italy.

History is complicated. Didn't we fight with Stalin against Hitler?

Democracy means freedom of speech as well as freedom of religion. The Bishops are waving that banner of religious freedom right now. But apparently they are half-hearted when it comes to practicing what you preach. I well recall reading the "Syllabus of Errors" by Pius IX and I sometimes wonder whether he still represents considerable thinking within the Church leadership. The overwhelming majority of American Catholics, however, would abhor what he wrote if they knew what it was.