Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, is hosting a Countdown to Change get-out-the-vote event sponsored by Obama for America today, Monday, November 3, 2008, one day before the presidential election.

Patrick J. Reilly, President of The Cardinal Newman Society sharply criticized Xavier University.

“Allowing the Obama campaign to come onto a Catholic campus and encourage students to vote for a vehemently pro-abortion candidate on the eve of the election is a scandal,” Reilly said. “If Xavier University wants to engage students in politics, it could have encouraged them to vigorously oppose the destruction of innocent human life.”

Barack Obama has stated that his first act as president of the United States will be to sign into law the Freedom of Choice Act, which would abolish all limitations and restrictions for the so-called “right” to an abortion.

The US bishops’ 2004 document “Catholics in Political Life” states: “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."

According to an announcement on Xavier’s website, the University is not supporting the event. However, the University is providing the event’s venue and working with the Obama Campaign to coordinate logistics. The announcement also notes that the McCain Campaign visited campus last June.

Xavier University states: “This event falls within Xavier’s commitment to the pursuit of knowledge and to the orderly discussion of issues confronting society.”