Topeka ? Anti-abortion activists today criticized Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and the Catholic Church over Sebelius’ plan to speak later at University of Saint Mary.

Mark Gietzen, of the Kansas Coalition for Life, said his and other anti-abortion groups planned a “prayerful protest” concerning the event.

Sebelius, who is Catholic and supports abortion rights, is scheduled to give the Lincoln Lecture at the Catholic school tonight.

Sebelius said she saw no conflict between her views on abortion and her religious beliefs.

“The reality is that the vast majority of views that I hold and act on, I share with the Catholic Conference, and they are comfortable with that and I am too,” she said.

Gietzen said if Sebelius is allowed to speak at the school “the Catholic Church in Kansas will no longer be able to claim to be a pro-life instituion.”

For more on this story, pick up a copy of Friday’s Journal-World.