KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Archbishop James Keleher asked Roman Catholic institutions in the 200,000-member archdiocese to halt invitations to politicians and others who favor abortion rights.
The statement came a day after Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a Catholic who supports abortion rights, spoke at the University of St. Mary in Leavenworth.
Archbishop Keleher said "it is imperative that our Catholic churches, schools and institutions make every effort not only to support the pro-life movement, but especially to ensure that the public understand our unequivocal stand." Thus, he said, abortion-rights proponents should not speak or give other presentations at Catholic institutions.
When Sebelius took office last year, Archbishop Keleher asked her to move an inauguration interfaith service from her own Assumption Catholic Church in Topeka, but she refused.