Contact: Andre Kim, Priests for Life, 347-286-7277

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y., May 18, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, issued the following statement regarding Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius's commencement address today at Georgetown University.

"It was outrageous when Notre Dame University awarded an honorary degree to President Obama during commencement exercises in 2009," said Father Pavone, who was invited by pro-life students to lead an alternative graduation ceremony at the Indiana university. "Georgetown's decision to invite Secretary Sebelius is just as bad. She is leading the assault on religious freedom that has grave implications for the Catholic Church. By inviting her to speak, Georgetown offers the image of a Church that is, at best divided and at worst hypocritical. What we need instead is a show of unity and resolve."

Priests for Life in February filed the fourth of what are now 11 lawsuits against the Health and Human Services mandate that would require most faith-based employers to provide their employees with insurance coverage for contraception, sterilization services and abortifacient drugs.

Father Pavone stated, "Not only do we urge the bishops to voice their objections regarding the Sebelius invitation just as they did over Notre Dame's invitation of Obama, but we further urge the bishops to join in the legal action that we and others have taken against Sebelius and the HHS."

For more information, see www.priestsforlife.org/hhsmandate.

Priests for Life is the nation's largest Catholic pro-life organization dedicated to ending abortion and euthanasia. For more information, visit www.priestsforlife.org.