LMU ANNOUNCE PATRICK & CANTER AS COMMENCEMENT SPEAKERS: Both are pro-abortion, favor same-sex marriage

from the CALIFORNIA catholic daily

April 26, 2010 -- The Democratic governor of Massachusetts and a former member of the LA Unified School District board of trustees have been selected as this year’s commencement speakers at Loyola Marymount University, a Jesuit institution in Los Angeles.

“According to Kathleen Flanagan, vice president for communications and government relations, Deval Patrick, governor of Massachusetts, and Marlene Canter, a former member of the L.A. Unified School District (LAUSD) board, will address the undergraduates and graduates, respectively,” the LMU student newspaper Los Angeles Loyolan reported on April 23.

“Patrick is the first black governor of Massachusetts and the second elected black governor in U.S. history,” said the Loyolan. “He also served as assistant attorney general under former President Bill Clinton.”

The student newspaper described Canter this way: “Canter served two terms on the LAUSD board and, according to the Los Angeles Times, is best known for her efforts to "ban sodas and junk food, while also improving the nutrition, taste and accessibility of school breakfasts and lunches.’"

What the Loyolan did not report is that both Patrick and Canter are pro-abortion and favor same-sex marriage.

Patrick was active with the Massachusetts legislature in its successful effort to prevent an initiative going before voters that would have eliminated same-sex marriages in the state following a ruling by the state’s supreme court declaring a ban on such ‘marriages’ unconstitutional.

Patrick also signed into law a measure later upheld by a federal appellate court that creates a 35-foot buffer zone around abortion clinics. The law – aimed at pro-lifers – makes it illegal for anyone who is not entering or leaving an abortion clinic to come within 35 feet of any clinic’s sidewalks or driveways.

In 2006, the Boston Globe reported that, when quizzed about his support for abortion and same-sex marriage by a constituent, Patrick said abortion decisions should be left to women and that the law regards everyone as equals, regardless of sexual orientation.

Patrick also supports stem cell research. In a 2005 policy document entitled “Moving Massachusetts Forward,” the governor said, “We will issue bonds to invest in expansion and development of stem cell research. Proceeds from the bonds will be invested in research facilities and faculty development in the public universities to stimulate their expansion.”

While serving as a Los Angeles school trustee, Canter joined a unanimous board in adopting a resolution opposing Proposition 8 before the November 2008 election, when California voters approved the measure. "This is an issue of simple fairness and basic human rights," said Canter in a statement following the school board vote. "We have an obligation to educate every student and support every family in this District -- we can not stand by while the right to marry for all is threatened."

A few weeks later, on Sept. 23, 2008, Canter again joined a unanimous LA Unified School Board in expressing opposition to Proposition 4, which would have required a family member be notified before a minor girl undergoes an abortion. The resolution mentioned Planned Parenthood by name, and, in fact, the resolution reads as though it had been written by Planned Parenthood, which spent millions to defeat the initiative.

Among other things, the resolution for which Canter voted said of Prop 4, “no law can mandate that families communicate,” “Not all children live in homes where honest communication is possible,” “Proposition 4 puts these young women in a potentially dangerous situation,” and “Parental notification laws in other states have resulted in teens delaying critical care; choosing illegal, unsafe procedures; going across borders to receive medical care; or worse options” – all talking points used by Planned Parenthood in its campaign against the initiative.

This year’s selection of commencement speakers at Loyola Marymount continues a trend by Jesuit institutions in California of inviting dissidents to speak at graduation ceremonies. For many years running, the Jesuit-run University of San Francisco has featured such speakers. (To read an article published earlier this month by California Catholic Daily about USF’s commencement speakers, Click Here.

Loyola Marymount, USF and other Catholic schools seem to be ignoring the spirit if not the letter of a statement issued in June 2004 by the bishops of the United States, “Catholics in Political Life.” Among other things, the statement said, “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.” (Emphasis in original.)