Presumed Republican Party nominee for President, Senator John McCain, held a campaign event today at Xavier University in New Orleans, La. Although McCain is strongly opposed to abortion, he supports embryonic stem cell research in opposition to the Catholic Church’s moral teachings.

After touring the city with Governor Bobby Jindal in the morning, the Senator was scheduled to hold a private meeting with Xavier President Norman Francis and university officials, according to a McCain campaign news release. This morning McCain held a “town hall” event at the Catholic university to field questions from the public.

“Senator McCain’s public support of embryonic stem cell research conflicts with the Catholic faith espoused by Xavier University,” said Patrick Reilly, President of the Cardinal Newman Society. “Unless Senator McCain conforms his defense of innocent human life from abortion with a similar defense from destructive research, Xavier should not be lending resources and facilities to his campaign.”

“Particularly troubling is the unavoidable implications of a Catholic university president meeting with a political candidate, who is touting the relationship to the media,” Reilly said.

Presidential candidates Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barrack Obama—both supporters of abortion rights and embryonic stem cell research—have made several appearances on Catholic campuses during the 2008 campaign.

The Cardinal Newman Society was one of 18 major Catholic organizations that endorsed a Statement of Principles Regarding Catholic Institutions, Sanctity of Life and Political Engagement in February 2008. Among the issues that were identified for vigilance regarding political speakers was support for embryonic stem cell research.