Smart move AMC! tyvm for your stand on your religious values. We need more of this.

I had never heard of Anna Maria College, but this situation makes me wonder whether it's an institution where students have their minds opened to a world with multitudes of often conflicting ideas, as colleges are supposed to do, or is it a Catholic version of Bob Jones University.

Colleges are places for the free exchange of ideas. AMC should have defied the bishop and made good on its invitation to Ms. Kennedy.

It is about time that Catholics, such as Vicky Kennedy, are called to out for their hypocrisy. Teddy is burning in Hell so will Vicky unless she recants her moral errors.

Shame on the Bishop & for AMC administrators for listening to him. What would Jesus say?

What hypocrites! Maybe if she was a pedophile she would be more welcomed.

Who are you to judge? Are you without sin? You seem to think you are.

This is a wonderful way to redirect the argument. Mostly because you miss the point.

I'm afraid that Mr Numeral is the one missing the point. Mr McManus is behaving in a highly judgmental way regarding his perception of the goodness of one particular Catholic. He wishes to impose his perceptions and judgments onto others, apparently based on his political power within the RCC enterprise. This same Mr McManus chose to sit out the whole pedophile issue when it came down to judging priests who were destroying innocent souls. Mr McManus abdicated any claim to moral high ground on this single issue. The very fact that he dares to judge other Catholics outside of confession is beyond appalling.

I was educated as a Catholic and one thing that I learned from the good sisters and the Jesuits was that it is God who judges, not man. If you truly believe in your cant, you best head off to confession, because your god will not appreciate your presumptuousness. Senator Kennedy was a man with both virtues and flaws. It's not my place or yours to judge anyone in matters of faith. Hypocrisy? Don't make me laugh.

Special shout out to Mrs Kennedy! If a Catholic bishop disses you in this fashion, you are doing something right. Keep up the good work!

Would that the hierarchy sanctioned Catholic colleges that invite immoral war mongers like Condoleeza Rice who actually delivered the 2006 commencement address at Boston College! Then, the Catholic bishops would not be accused of hypocrisy when they claim to defend the sanctity of life.

This situation reveals that the issue is one of donor money and politics. I remembered when bishops were shepherds now they are just pawns of the political right. Vickie Kennedy deserved better.

And the Church wonders why people are abandoning it in droves...

I feel compelled to point out the Bishop's name. McManus. Oddly appropriate.

No one is denying the students their right to personal opinions. Vicki is entitled to hers- defending a woman's right to abortions . HOWEVER-this is a Roman Catholic College. In the Catholic FAITH abortions are a sin against GOD. That is just the way it is. There are , what are called, cafeteria catholics, who pick and choose beliefs according to what feels good to them. What the MAN RUN church allowed to have happen with the horrible abuse that took place, that is not the Catholic faith. That was the men in charge. GOD VALUES ALL LIFE. "THOU SHALT NOT KILL" IT IS NOT UP TO A HUMAN BEING TO DETERMINE WHO SHOULD LIVE OR DIE. WE ARE ALL GIVEN THE GIFT OF LIFE AND HIS LOVE.

"independent liberal arts college .... Anna Maria is deeply entwined with the Worcester Diocese." An oxymoron if I've ever heard one

Last I checked, Victoria Kennedy was not a politician. If they ask a CEO to speak, does that coincide with the Catholic values? Will tey ask that CEO their views on gay rights and abortion? What about politicians who support defunding clinic that provide health services to the poor? If the church is going to get this involved in politics, maybe its tome to revoke its tax exempt status. Same for this college. I guess this college and the church and against diverse views.

NH They can have their views, but they are highly hyprocritical. Such as the death penalty, and shutting down clinics that provide health services to the poor.

What values? Any idea how much she gives to the poor? Isn't that a christian value?

Perhaps McManus wants to run for office. It's very clear that the bishop chose to politicize this matter. He is no stranger to controversy or arriving at uncompromising decisions. In fact, a few weeks ago, his letter to his constituency regarding the health care issue directs them to them to take political action. His headstrong stance of rejecting Mrs. Kennedy's offer to meet with him to discuss his concerns was adolescent. If the goal of AMC trustees was to avoid a negative public relations incident, it has been handled so poorly that is can now be labeled a fiasco, generating bad will regarding the bishop, the church and AMC itself for caving to his rigid, and rather childish demands. Read his letter railing against "The Administration" a.k.a. President Obama here: worcesterdiocese.org/bishop/HHSLetter/tabid/1295/Default.aspx

Oh please enough with the Catholics in Name Only! I see the CAtholic bashers are out in force. The Bishop was exactly right to reject this pro-abotion speaker. Her obstinence in refusing to accept the basic teaching on human life left the Bishop no other choice....I congratulate him for his courage....There is hope for this state now....

You mean homosexual pedophile don't you???/