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Catholic controversy erupts for Salve Regina U, “sole host” of event for pro-choice Tim Walz
All week the media tried to find out where the fundraising event would be held in Rhode Island for vice president candidate, Tim Walz. Initially planned for Belcourt Castle, a new location was needed for undisclosed reasons. It was then narrowed down to CCRI in Newport or Salve Regina University in Newport. Last night, Ochre Court, at Salve Regina, a Catholic university, was confirmed.
The Party of Socialism and Liberalism will protest at the school this morning. The event is set to begin at 11:30am. In addition, the RI Right to Life has called upon the leadership of Salve Regina University to resign.
Controversy began even before the location was confirmed. Last night Sue Cienki, head of the RI Republican Party – she tweeted this statement:
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Salve Regina’s information from their website:
The statement, above, specifically states that all private events, including fundraisers…are expected to complement the character and mission of Salve Regina University.
The mission is embellished in this page taken from the university’s orientation materials. Note the section, “Life and Dignity of the Human person”:
Salve leadership:
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Early today, prior to the event, Salve Regina responded to RINewsToday’s request for a statement:
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Statement of Bishop Henning’s office, Diocese of Providence
Bishop Henning is traveling. When asked for a statement, Michael Kieloch, Director of Communications and Public Relations for the Diocese sent this:
“The Diocese of Providence does not permit Catholic institutions in Rhode Island to endorse candidates for office nor even give the appearance of such endorsements. The Church’s role in political matters is firstly to form the consciences of the lay faithful.
We were surprised and disappointed by the decision of Salve Regina University to rent space to a partisan political event and fundraiser and we’ve received a number of messages from Catholics across Rhode Island expressing the same surprise and disappointment.”
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We ask our readers
RINewsToday believes the discussion of controversial matters is important in a civilized society, regardless of one’s personal belief, such as, in this case, abortion.
We ask our readers – what do you think about a Catholic university, with policies stated, above, hosting a pro-choice political candidate for a high-ticket fundraiser? Leave comments, below. All respectful comments will be approved.
Conveniently anonymous. “ Spokesperson, Salve Regina University “
Merciful?
“We support …a world that is more …just and merciful.”
Ask the fetuses or live births that Walz Harris find acceptable to murder, how “just and merciful” their world is…you can’t. They are killed without so much as having been given the opportunity to breathe in the life they justly deserved. Walz Harris believe in murder.
SRU is Catholic in name only…like the Kennedys.
The Church and others have always used a venue other than what people think it should be for. As I stated, that money (which I don’t care about) goes for something at Salve. It might be upkeep, tuition aid, etc. Because a Catholic institution now owns Ochre Ct. doesn’t make it a ‘Catholic’ building. I don’t know of any building that has a religion – it’s bricks and mortar. Salve advertises it as a public venue.
And no, this isn’t a duplicate comment.
The Church owns tons of property. Ochre Court is one. I’d like to know how often Salve uses it and for what. I doubt that it’s used for classes or Mass. If they rent it for events, it pays toward the upkeep. Since when is the Church averse to making a few bucks?
they have clearly printed policies on use of Ochre Court. Rental is $10K. It’s in the article.
[…] Salve Regina spokesperson told digital news site RINewsToday that the Rhode Island Democratic Party Committee selected Ochre Court “based on availability for […]
The Catholic Church is a hypocritical joke … that did WORSE than nothing while their priest were raping children – they LITERALLY hide that fact, protected the prepertrators, and placed them in portions where they could easily continue their inexcusable, abhorrent behavior.
So, I could give a flying f what they – and others like them – think.
If Lefties keep killing their unborn, there will be less lefties.
Mr. Conley, It works both ways.
There is nothing Catholic about this university, it’s in name only.
Prove your mission statement by allowing a conservative speaker to hold any event on campus.
And the Democratic nominee for VP has many twisted views on a variety of subjects. He is very extreme in his pro-choice stance. He has allowed 8 survivors of “botched” abortions to die by “lack of medical attention” on his watch…just let them die. If that doesn’t make you sad for humanity, I don’t think that anything could.
I’m sure that he is proud of his accomplishments, but Salve should be ashamed to have accommodated this event….and again, like others have mentioned…on the Feast of the Assumption
Having read the articles about botched abortions, we don’t know who decided to have an abortion – the doctor or the patient. We don’t know the circumstances. Advances in childbirth have led to discoveries that in some cases, there is something wrong with the unborn child. Of the 8 mentioned, only one was thought to be viable. Again, who makes the decision to let the child go – the mother or the doctor? I would think the doctor would give the mother the facts of the child’s condition and she would make the decision. As to comfort care, despite what one Minnesota politician said, comfort care isn’t putting a baby in a blanket on a hard surface & then leaving them. Comfort care is pretty much the same as Hospice. The ill person makes the call so as not to receive further treatment.
Trump & Vance have been against abortion and IVF. Mr. Walz’s children were born via IVF.
I find it contradictory for the Right to Life groups to think of supporting those two. One may be ending a life because it’s not viable but IVF is creating a life. They wouldn’t allow a couple to have a child by so-called “artificial” means. God would like us to procreate and if IVF is the only way, my own beliefs think He would say – Go for it! Bring a child into the world, take care of him, love him, teach him well. Gov. & Mrs. Walz have done just that. They love their two kids. Their faces light up when speaking of their kids. I think that they made God very happy.
I am always pro choice. One can choose to come listen, choose to disagree, or choose to go swimming instead. Thank you Salve, for giving us a choice.
My personal beliefs are different from my public beliefs. While Salve is a Catholic university, I’m sure many of its students, past & present, aren’t Catholic. The emphasis of any college is education, Catholic or not. We should be open to ideas and see both sides of issues. It’s to our benefit to listen & learn. Salve is giving that opportunity – listen & learn.
A politician has to apply & enact rules for all constituents, not a select group. Pres. Biden is a devout Catholic. Before agreeing to anything that went against Church teachings, he consulted his spiritual adviser. His personal beliefs don’t align with his public stance. He looks at the whole picture as he should. We can’t & shouldn’t take the whole pie and slice it. The law is there. Whether you choose to use it or not is your decision. That’s not only per our Constitution but a basic tenet of the Church. God gave us Free Will. It’s up to us to choose which path to follow.
Shame on Salve!
On the day of the feast of the Assumption a Catholic University named after the Blessed Mother allows its facilities to be used to raise money for the most pro abortion ticket in history. Shame on you Salve!
Just saying…..Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Bush. Republican administrations who did nothing to reverse Roe vs Wade. It wasn’t reversed then because it shouldn’t have been. This reversal was engineered by Trump backers for the sole purpose of gaining your vote. Those immoral, unscrupulous lunatics do not care about abortion/abortion rights. And you (pious Catholics) don’t care about voting in immoral politicians, as long as you get your righteous way.
Newport’s history is grounded in religious tolerance, our founding father’s codified freedom of speech and the separation of church and state. Salve is an institution of higher learning, ergo critical thinking. The catholic church teaches tolerance and understanding. If the teaching of the catholic church are sound they should be able to withstand any and all challenges to their ethos. If you belief God gave us free will, then any challenge is an affirmation of that gift. Embrace that gift and neither the government, the church nor the press can persuade you otherwise. In other words, “think for yourself!”
Salve, as any private school, can decide who can speak on its campus. Anti-abortion zealots, Catholic or otherwise, have every right to try to persuade women not to have abortions.
But when they want to use the power of government to force women to bear unwanted children they will be opposed by those who value freedom and the right of women to make their own reproductive decisions.
I think Salve will be making a mistake if they prevent Walz from speaking there, it will generate a negative backlash and they will be seen as enemies of free speech, but they have a right to do so.
Thank you, Salve Regina, for hosting this important event.
Our differences can be our strength.
Respect for Life will hopefully guide our choices.
In this complex world, humanity continues to be educated.
You are providing a platform for dialogue.
I applaud you.
Hypocrite Democrats they are of party of hypocrisy
Unfortunately hypocrites are all around us. No party, religion, community has a monopoly.
Do you know if there is an outline of the VP nominee’s speech available? Will he be discussing the subject of ProChoice? Will questions be allowed? I am a lifelong Catholic, a graduate of 12 years of Catholic School, I am always willing to hear both sides of an idea. I do object to the press continually giving voice to the statement that there are after-birth abortions, something that physically does not exist.
No info available. No photos or video recordings. We’ll have to depend on one pool reporter.
What a disgrace, Salve Regina University!!!! All 3 of my daughters and my nephew graduated from SRU and I am appalled by your decision to host this event that clearly goes against Catholic values AND furthermore, on the Feast of the Assumption of our Blessed Mother!! What are those decision makers thinking??? I will certainly no longer by supporting this university.
As mentioned in there statement, it’s a university which has freedom of speech and discourse. It’s not at a Catholic Church. I went to a very Catholic college that frequently hosted quests for students that didn’t “align” with the Catholic mission. I also find this article appalling the way it reduces Tim Walz, to this one issue – when he is someone who cares deeply about feeding live children (in mission with Christianity and other world religions).
The only issue of discussion is abortion and the position of the Catholic Church and Salve’s own stated position on events is what is in discussion. Thank you for your comments.