Massachusetts Catholics Revoke Invitation to Islam Critic
WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester has rescinded an invitation to a speaker at a men’s conference after Muslims objected to what they call the speaker’s anti-Islamic views.
The diocese on Wednesday withdrew an invitation for Robert Spencer to speak at the March conference. Spencer, a Catholic, runs blogs and has written books that some consider anti-Muslim.
A spokesman for the diocese says Spencer’s appearance at the conference ‘‘is being seen as harmful to Catholic-Islamic relations.’’
A spokesman for the Islamic Council of New England called Spencer a ‘‘hatemonger’’ and lauded the diocese’s decision.
Spencer in emails to The Boston Globe (http://b.globe.com/11a1CKU ) said there is ‘‘nothing hateful or bigoted’’ about his views, and called the diocese’s decision to pull his invitation ‘‘evidence of the cowardice of Roman Catholic officials.’’
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