by Christopher S. Pineo
BOSTON (CNS) – Boston Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley did not attend Boston College’s commencement this year because the college honored the prime minister of Ireland, who has supported a bill to introduce legalized abortion in that country.
Cardinal O’Malley said he could not support the Jesuit-run university when it conferred an honorary degree on Prime Minister Enda Kenny at commencement ceremonies May 20 – an event traditionally attended by Boston’s archbishop.
“Because the Gospel of life is the centerpiece of the church’s social doctrine and because we consider abortion a crime against humanity, the Catholic bishops of the United States have asked that Catholic institutions not honor government officials or politicians who promote abortion with their laws and policies,” Cardinal O’Malley said.
“I am sure that the invitation was made in good faith, long before it came to the attention of the leadership of Boston College that Mr. Kenny is aggressively promoting abortion legislation,” the cardinal said after recently becoming aware of Kenny’s invitation to speak and receive honors at the commencement.
Since the university did not rescind the invitation and the prime minister did not decline, the cardinal did not attend but promised to keep students graduating that day in his thoughts and prayers.
Boston College spokesman Jack Dunn said in a statement the university invited the prime minister in recognition of its close relationship with Ireland.
He also said that Kenny “has encouraged individuals to read the proposed bill and his position statement, which reaffirms the constitutional prohibition on abortion in Ireland and attempts to clarify and regulate Ireland’s response to the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights.”
As a Catholic institution, Boston College supports the Church’s commitment to protecting the lives of the unborn, he added.
“We respect Cardinal O’Malley and regret that he will not be in attendance,” Dunn said before the ceremony. “However, in light of the prime minister’s assurances, we are proceeding with our commencement plans.”
Despite a 2011 campaign promise by Kenny not to introduce abortion to Ireland, the Irish government proposed legislation in 2012 that would decriminalize abortion in cases where the mother faced a threat to her life, including the possibility of suicide.
In practice, abortion has been illegal in Ireland under 1861 legislation. In a 1983 referendum, Irish voters amended the constitution to prohibit the passage of a law that would allow abortion. However, a 1992 Supreme Court judgment – known as the X case – found that there is a constitutional right to abortion where there is a substantial risk to the life of the mother, including the risk of suicide, up to birth.
