(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum will receive an honorary degree next month from Saint Joseph's University.  The school has also asked him to deliver the keynote address at its commencement ceremony.

The decision has outraged many students at the Roman Catholic University on the outskirts of Philadelphia.  Demonstrations on the weekend drew about 125 supporters opposed to honoring the Republican senator who last week equated homosexuality to polygamy and incest.

Despite the protests the university said it will not rescind its invitation to Santorum.

Saint Joseph's spokesperson John Lunardi says the school wants to send a message that all views are welcome, even if they're not popular.

Some graduating students say they will stand and turn their backs to Santorum when he receives his honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree. 

Gay rights groups and leading Democrats are calling for Santorum to step down from the number three GOP spot in the Senate.

Friday, President Bush praised Santorum for being "inclusive."

"The president believes the senator is an inclusive man. And that's what he believes," said White House spokesperson Ari Fleischer at his Friday briefing.