Worcester, Mass., Apr 28, 2012 / 12:01 pm
In response to a petition from supporters of Victoria Kennedy, Bishop Robert J. McManus of Worcester, Mass. reaffirmed his support for Anna Maria College’s withdrawal of its invitation for her to be commencement speaker.
“While I recognize that there are those who do not agree with Anna Maria’s decision to disinvite Mrs. Kennedy as its commencement speaker, I continue to stand behind the concerns which I shared with Dr. Jack Calareso, the college’s president, last March,” Bishop McManus said April 26.
He said he supports the public statement of the college’s board of trustees, which said the invitation withdrawal is “in the best interest of all parties.”
The board withdrew the invitation last month after Bishop McManus asked the Paxton, Mass. college to withdraw the invitation in February.