LORETTO, Pa. — A Catholic university in central Pennsylvania has canceled a speech by Pulitzer Prize-winning syndicated columnist Ellen Goodman because of her support for abortion rights.
Goodman was scheduled to speak about civility in public discourse at St. Francis University in Loretto Oct. 12 before a top school official wrote Goodman to cancel the appearance, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Wednesday.
“After careful consideration, the university feels that the body of your work has reflected statements that are not in close enough alignment with some Catholic teachings and with the values and mission of the university as required for an event of this stature,” Saint Francis provost Wayne Powel wrote to Goodman in rescinding the invitation.
Goodman told the newspaper she was disappointed “at having my plea for civility returned with a pie in the face.”
The university rescinded the invitation after the Cardinal Newman Society, a lay watchdog group that monitors how colleges adhere to church teaching, objected earlier this month to her appearance.
“St. Francis University is to be commended for taking such a courageous step in favor of its Catholic identity,” society spokesman Adam Wilson said.
Powel said the school has a committee that typically screens speakers but said there “was a broken process in this case.”
