The brouhaha just won't die over Patricia Ireland's commencement speech at the University of Rhode Island.
Pro-life groups plan to demonstrate at the May 22 ceremony to protest the presence of Ireland, president of the National Organization for Women."For our state university to honor one of America's pro-abortion champions is an insult not only to Catholics of Rhode Island, but to people of all faiths," Maria Parker of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence said Thursday.
University President Robert Carothers at first rejected Ireland, without explaining why. He changed his mind after he was criticized.
Ireland was not available for comment, but Connie Williams, president of NOW Rhode Island, said, "Her speech has nothing to do with women's reproductive health. She really doesn't have a one-track mind."
Ireland will urge graduates to "be the best they can be," Williams said.