Cardinal Will Boycott Boston College Commencement

Cardinal Seán Patrick O’Malley on Friday announced that he will boycott the commencement of Boston College because the prime minister of Ireland, Enda Kenny, will receive an honorary degree. Cardinal O'Malley said that it was inappropriate for Boston College, as a Roman Catholic institution, to honor a political leader who favors legal abortion rights. "It is my ardent hope that Boston College will work to redress the confusion, disappointment and harm caused by not adhering to the bishops’ directives," said a statement from the cardinal. After one Catholic group criticized the honor, a spokesman for the college defended it to The Boston Globe, and said that it was not about Kenny's views on abortion. "Boston College invited Prime Minister Kenny a year ago to speak at our commencement in light of our longstanding connection with Ireland and our desire to recognize and celebrate our heritage,” the spokesman said. “Our invitation is independent of the proposed bill that will be debated in the Irish Parliament this summer.”