His statement was published in the archdiocesan newspaper on Friday, the day after Governor Kathleen Sebelius, a Catholic who defends abortion, spoke at the University of St. Mary in Leavenworth, the Associated Press said.

The governor, invited to speak as part of the school's Lincoln Lectureship series, talked about education and economic development. Pro-life advocates had been critical of the invitation for her to speak on the Catholic campus.