Senator Casey Withdraws as Commencement Speaker at St. Vincent's College

By Deacon Keith Fournier
3/27/2009

Did Senator Casey decide he did not want to face the flood of protests which would accompany his address?

U.S. Sen. Robert Casey, D-Pa., has canceled his May 9 appearance without explanation. St. Vincent College spokesman Don Orlando says Casey gave no reason for canceling.
WASHINGTON (Catholic Online) - The Associated Press reported today that Senator Bob Casey Jr. has withdrawn from speaking at St. Vincent College commencement with no explanation.

Senator Bob Casey Jr.’s father, the late, former Governor of Pennsylvania, Bob Casey Sr., was denied a speaking role at the 1992 Democratic nomination convention. He was the last of an almost extinct breed of Democrats, those who consistently defend all of the poor, including those whom Mother Teresa called the “poorest of the poor”, children in the womb.

This champion of life, Senator Bob Casey Sr. once wrote concerning his own Party and its rejection of the Right to Life and embrace of abortion:

“It’s hard to think of anything more foreign to the principles of the Democratic Party or the whole American experience. Far from being “inclusive”, it excludes an entire class of fellow human beings from our care and protection. It’s the only “constitutional right” we’re ashamed of, avoiding the word abortion with contorted euphemisms like “reproductive rights” and “termination” and “evacuation”.

"Far from liberating women, abortion has become a lucrative industry, exploiting young women beyond anything ever imagined. When pregnancy comes at a difficult time, which is the worthier response of society: To surround mother and child alike with protection and love, or to hold out the cold comfort of an abortion clinic? Where is America’s true character to be seen- in an adoptive home or at the abortion clinic? In which role is a woman more empowered – giving life or taking it?

"These are questions that rest uneasily on the conscience of today’s Democratic Party. We have traded our principles for power – the fleeting power offered by loud and well financed factions like NARAL and Planned Parenthood…. "We can choose to extend once again the mantle of protection to all members of the human family, including the unborn. We can choose to provide effective care of mothers and children."”

Sadly, his son has not followed in his fathers footsteps. Neither has the Democratic Party.

Senator Bob Casey Jr. proclaims his pro-life credentials but fails to vote in a consistent manner to defend the fundamental right to life. He also missed an extraordinary opportunity to undo the injustice done to his father all those years ago at another Democratic Convention, when he spoke at the one in 2008. He failed to do so and many, including this writer, were deeply disappointed.

He has come under increasing criticism as he defends the Administrations indefensible anti-right to life agenda and is regularly rolled out as one of President Obama’s Catholic supporters.

Senator Casey has also been consistently and continually engaged by the Pro-Life community. Perhaps the strongest voice calling Senator Casey to consistency in his defense of life and fidelity to the teaching of the Catholic Church is his own Bishop Joseph Martino of Scranton, Pa., the courageous Defender of Life who has captured the deep admiration of so many.

Now, the AP Reports that “A Catholic college in western Pennsylvania is scrambling to find another commencement speaker because U.S. Sen. Robert Casey, D-Pa., has canceled his May 9 appearance without explanation….St. Vincent College spokesman Don Orlando says Casey gave no reason for canceling. Casey spokesman, Larry Smar, also didn't give a reason in an e-mail response to questions from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

"Casey has been criticized by some conservative Catholic groups, including the Cardinal Newman Society, for his positions on federal funding of contraception and legalization of same-sex marriages. The Newman group protested when Casey spoke at Catholic University in 2006, where Casey received his law degree.”

Has Senator Casey decided he does not want to face the flood of protests which would accompany his address in light of the activities surrounding the invitation of President Obama to speak at Notre Dame? Was there a concern over the clear and courageous leadership of his own Bishop? Was he protecting his friend, the President, from possible ramifications such as another Catholic outcry against the administrations' anti-right to life positions?