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Georgetown Law Journal Honors Biden
Pro-Abortion VP To Receive Award At Catholic University
By ERIN MAGUIRE, The Bulletin
A Georgetown University law journal will honor pro-abortion Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. today, a week after the Catholic university drew criticism from Catholic and pro-life groups for inviting President Barack Obama to deliver his economic address and for covering Jesus’ name during the speech.
Mr. Biden also is a professed Catholic. He will receive the “Legal Momentum Hero Award” at a symposium celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Georgetown Journal of Gender and the Law and Legal Momentum are sponsoring the event.
Legal Momentum, then known as NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund, worked with Mr. Biden, his staff and advocacy organizations to pass VAWA. The act allocates billions of federal dollars to prevent violence against women and improve justice in the case of violent crimes perpetrated against them. It was reauthorized in 2000 and 2005 and is up for reauthorization in 2010.
The group’s board chair, Linda Willett, and its president, Irasema Garza, will present the award to Mr. Biden. This group opposes Catholic teaching by advocating same-sex marriage. It also opposes abstinence-only education programs and pro-life crisis pregnancy centers.
According to a 2004 statement by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops: “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.”
More than 40 U.S. bishops have cited this document when denouncing the University of Notre Dame’s plan to honor Mr. Obama at its commencement next month. Yet, Patrick Reilly, president of the Catholic education organization, The Cardinal Newman Society, said he believes Georgetown has ignored the bishops’ outcry.
“Even as Notre Dame publicly snubs the Catholic bishops, Georgetown appears to be saying, ‘Me, too!’” said Mr. Reilly. “Scandal after scandal at Georgetown, including the stunning 2007 law school policy that offers paid internships for students to work at organizations that advocate for abortion rights, has severely compromised its integrity as a Catholic institution.”
Georgetown University did not respond in time for this report.
Erin Maguire can be reached at emaguire@thebulletin.us
Mr. Biden also is a professed Catholic. He will receive the “Legal Momentum Hero Award” at a symposium celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Georgetown Journal of Gender and the Law and Legal Momentum are sponsoring the event.
Legal Momentum, then known as NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund, worked with Mr. Biden, his staff and advocacy organizations to pass VAWA. The act allocates billions of federal dollars to prevent violence against women and improve justice in the case of violent crimes perpetrated against them. It was reauthorized in 2000 and 2005 and is up for reauthorization in 2010.
The group’s board chair, Linda Willett, and its president, Irasema Garza, will present the award to Mr. Biden. This group opposes Catholic teaching by advocating same-sex marriage. It also opposes abstinence-only education programs and pro-life crisis pregnancy centers.
According to a 2004 statement by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops: “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.”
More than 40 U.S. bishops have cited this document when denouncing the University of Notre Dame’s plan to honor Mr. Obama at its commencement next month. Yet, Patrick Reilly, president of the Catholic education organization, The Cardinal Newman Society, said he believes Georgetown has ignored the bishops’ outcry.
“Even as Notre Dame publicly snubs the Catholic bishops, Georgetown appears to be saying, ‘Me, too!’” said Mr. Reilly. “Scandal after scandal at Georgetown, including the stunning 2007 law school policy that offers paid internships for students to work at organizations that advocate for abortion rights, has severely compromised its integrity as a Catholic institution.”
Georgetown University did not respond in time for this report.
Erin Maguire can be reached at emaguire@thebulletin.us
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Panama City Tom wrote on Apr 29, 2009 10:19 AM: