Tit for Tat
Jan 22nd, 2005 at 1:31 pm by Susan
We all want things to be fair, right?
Newt Gingrich’s scheduled speech at Catholic University next week is prompting criticism from students who contend that the appearance would violate the school’s policy barring speakers who have espoused positions contrary to Vatican teachings.Frank Lankey Jr., 20, political director for the College Democrats, said that Gingrich’s support for the death penalty and his extramarital affair in the 1990s contradict church teachings and should prohibit him from appearing.
Last fall, organizers of an Italian film festival considered inviting actor-director Stanley Tucci to their event, but Catholic University officials objected because of his support for abortion rights organizations. In Gingrich’s case, the college’s student Republican organization invited the former House speaker to speak on politics and world affairs.
“If the university has a policy for what speakers need to represent in regards to church doctrine, they shouldn’t pick and choose which teachings apply to which speakers,” Lankey said.
