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Archbishop says he would not have approved Biden visit to Catholic university in Cincinnati

By WHIO Staff

Archbishop of Cincinnati Dennis M. Schnurr Archbishop of Cincinnati Dennis M. Schnurr answers questions from the media at the archdiocese cathedral offices in downtown Cincinnati in this 2013 file photo. STAFF

By WHIO Staff

CINCINNATI — The Archbishop of Cincinnati said he was not consulted and ultimately would not have granted permission for President Joe Biden to participate in an upcoming televised town hall at Mount St. Joseph University.

>>PREVIOUS REPORT: President Biden announces visit to southwest Ohio

Biden will be in Cincinnati Wednesday as part of CNN’s televised town hall scheduled to start at 8 p.m. Officials at Mount St. Joseph University confirmed Tuesday the event will happen on their campus.

However if the decision had been up to Archbishop Dennis Schnurr, he would not have granted permission for Biden to speak on Catholic grounds, a spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati said in a statement Tuesday.

“Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr has not been contacted by any involved party about the upcoming visit of President Joseph R. Biden to Cincinnati to participate in a CNN town hall meeting at Mount St. Joseph University,” the spokesperson said in the statement.

“Archbishop Schnurr has therefore not been asked for, nor would he have granted, his approval for any such event to occur on Catholic premises. Mount St. Joseph University operates under the sponsorship of the Sisters of Charity and not under the direct oversight of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.”

The spokesperson did not elaborate why the Archbishop wouldn’t have granted approval for the President’s visit.

Biden is the second practicing Catholic to be elected president. However he does not share the church’s views on abortion and considers himself pro-choice.

University officials issued a statement earlier Tuesday confirming Wednesday’s event.

“We are humbled and honored that both CNN and the White House have recognized Mount St. Joseph University as an outstanding institution of higher learning that is capable and willing to host such an important event.”

“We look forward to introducing the Mount to a nationally televised prime time audience.”

According to our news partners at WCPO-TV in Cincinnati, CNN expects the forum to focus on topics including COVID-19 and the economy.

The audience for the event will be invitation-only.


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