Some Catholics are upset that Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is scheduled to give a commencement address May 18 at Georgetown University’s Public Policy Institute. Patrick J. Reilly, president of the Cardinal Newman Society, wrote a letter urging Georgetown to rescind the invitation to the former Kansas governor, calling it “scandalous and outrageous that America’s oldest Catholic and Jesuit university has elected to provide this prestigious platform to a publicly ‘pro-choice’ Catholic.” The letter mentioned Sebelius’ role in mandating that most employers cover birth control under the health reform law – a mandate since altered to try to accommodate religiously affiliated employers. The University of Notre Dame drew similar flak when President Obama addressed the graduating class of 2009.
When the economy crashed and the state made large budget cuts to education funding, lawmakers urged school districts to be patient. “The common goal is restoring that money, and we will restore that money,” Rep. Steve Huebert, R-Valley Center, told Wichita superintendent John Allison in 2010. Well, the economy is growing again and the state now has a significant budget surplus. Yet the House has resisted a Senate proposal to restore about 10 percent of the base state aid that was cut over the past four years.
Congratulations to Hunter Health Clinic for receiving a $4.6 million federal grant last week that will help it build a new facility. The clinic has been operating for the past 35 years out of a former shopping center at Central and Grove. Dramatic increases in patients the past few years have caused it to run out of room. It converted closets into exam rooms and has had to put off care to some patients. The grant, which is part of the federal health care reform law, will help it construct a new facility next to its current clinic.
Some Catholics are upset that Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is scheduled to give a commencement address May 18 at Georgetown University’s Public Policy Institute. Patrick J. Reilly, president of the Cardinal Newman Society, wrote a letter urging Georgetown to rescind the invitation to the former Kansas governor, calling it “scandalous and outrageous that America’s oldest Catholic and Jesuit university has elected to provide this prestigious platform to a publicly ‘pro-choice’ Catholic.” The letter mentioned Sebelius’ role in mandating that most employers cover birth control under the health reform law – a mandate since altered to try to accommodate religiously affiliated employers. The University of Notre Dame drew similar flak when President Obama addressed the graduating class of 2009.
