The Cardinal Newman Society, a national nonprofit organization supported by more than 20,000 faithful Catholics, has called on St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Tex. to cancel a Clinton campaign rally scheduled for today, Wednesday February 13th. 

“A Catholic university has a distinct and unique responsibility to its students to provide an environment that supports and upholds fundamental Catholic values.  These fundamental values include the fact that abortion is always wrong, and St. Mary’s promotion of Senator Clinton’s campaign lends credence to the ‘pro-choice’ position,” wrote Patrick J. Reilly, President of The Cardinal Newman Society (CNS), in a letter faxed this morning to the president of St. Mary’s University, Charles Cotrell.  “A political rally by any candidate with a long public record of support for abortion has no academic or educational value and I encourage you to cancel it immediately.”

Reilly also faxed a letter to San Antonio Archbishop Jose Gomez thanking him for his statement yesterday that noted that “Catholic institutions are obliged to teach and promote Catholic values in all instances. This is especially important when people look to our Catholic universities and colleges to provide leadership and clarity to the often complicated and conflicting political discourse.”

Gomez continued that: “It is clear that the records of Senator Clinton and some of the other candidates for president on important life issues are not consistent with the teaching of the Catholic Church.” 

St. Mary’s University has released a statement in which they write that “St. Mary’s does not endorse political candidates or their positions on issues and acknowledges the fundamental differences between those of the presidential candidates and the Catholic Church.”

Archbishop Gomez answered St. Mary’s by declaring that “Our Catholic institutions must promote the clear understanding of our deep moral convictions on an issue like abortion, an act that the Church calls “an unspeakable crime” and a non-negotiable issue.”

The Cardinal Newman Society applauds the strong public witness that Archbishop Gomez has shown and hopes that St. Mary’s University will affirm its Catholic identity by canceling the Clinton campaign rally.