It has been seven years since the U.S. bishops, in their statement Catholics in Political Life banned platforms or honors for public opponents of Catholic teaching at Catholic institutions.

Our bishops have declared that “The Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.”

Nevertheless, in the spring of 2010 11 Catholic colleges and universities hosted scandalous commencement speakers and honorees including supporters of abortion rights, stem-cell research, same-sex "marriage".  This number has declined from the 24 commencement scandals that occurred in 2006.