Notre Dame scandal: We don’t want Obama!
President Barack Obama, it was announced Friday, will deliver the 164th commencement address at the University of Notre Dame.
Soon after the announcement, controversy arose from some Catholics who believe that Obama’s views on abortion and embryonic stem cell research contradict the Catholic institution’s beliefs and teachings.
In a campaign organized by The Cardinal Newman Society, a conservative Roman Catholic group, a website has been set up to encourage Catholics to protest President Obama’s visit by signing an online petition to Notre Dame President Rev. John Jenkins.
“It is an outrage and a scandal that ‘Our Lady’s University,’ one of the premier Catholic universities in the United States, would bestow such an honor on President Obama given his clear support for policies and laws that directly contradict fundamental Catholic teachings on life and marriage,” the petition states.
The website and petition have amassed over 66,000 signatures, some 270 per hour.
In response, Rev. Jenkins issued a statement yesterday saying, “Of course, this does not mean we support all of his positions. The invitation to President Obama to be our commencement speaker should not be taken as condoning or endorsing his positions on specific issues regarding the protection of human life, including abortion and embryonic stem cell research. Yet, we see his visit as a basis for further positive engagement.”
In addition, Dennis Brown, a spokesman for Notre Dame, told the Associated Press, “I don’t foresee a circumstance in which we would rescind the invitation.”
The University is located in South Bend, Indiana near the town of Elkhart where Obama took his first trip outside of Washington after becoming president. Obama went there to sell his economic stimulus package, which Congress later approved.
In addition to the commencement address, Obama will be awarded an honorary doctor of law degree.
#1 by becker on March 24, 2009 - 5:17 pm
some people are retarded
#2 by Domer Mother on March 24, 2009 - 5:55 pm
As a parent of two Notre Dame grads, I fully support asking President Obama to speak at the commencement ceremony.
Shoot, I don’t agree with my own husband on every single issue– but I haven’t rescinded his status as my husband.
Let Obama speak.
#3 by WILLIAM DRUMMOND on March 24, 2009 - 5:56 pm
“…controversy arose from some Catholics who believe that Obama’s views on abortion and embryonic stem cell research contradict the Catholic institution’s beliefs and teachings.”
What?? It’s not a matter of belief: The President’s views on abortion and embryonic stem cell research DO contradict the Church’s beliefs and teachings. What the author is stating is immature in understanding the topic.
It’s not unlike saying, “some Americans believe that the Obama’s views on eating food contradict the U.S. Constitution,” even though we all DO eat to live.
What “some” believe is irrelevant. What the author fails to include is the actual teaching of the church, which is found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC).
CCC, Paragraph 2271:
“Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law:
You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to perish.”
#4 by Sandra Ferguson on March 24, 2009 - 11:04 pm
My son, Tom, was a 1988 graduate of ND. Sadly, he died from cancer in 1994. He loved Notre Dame, loved his country, was a very devout Catholic, and a true conservative. On his behalf, I want to register a firm objection to ND’s invitation to President Obama. He is indeed our president and deserves our prayers, but, based on his actions that fly in the face of our Catholic principles relative to respect for human life and individual freedom, he should not be invited to this university. This is an outrage! Just before he passed, Tom said that he would soon be with our Father in heaven and he would pray for us. I constantly remind him of that promise and ask him to pray for this country that he so dearly loved. How can a president of a Catholic university reconcile Catholic teachings with politics! God help us all.
#5 by Berta Hesser on March 29, 2009 - 2:22 am
USCCB June 2004 Statement “Catholics in Politica Life” states: “The Catholic
Community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.”
#6 by Unbelievable on May 15, 2009 - 10:52 pm
I am actually shocked that Notre Dame would honor President Obama in this manner.
He has, of yet, to do anything to deserve an honorary doctorate. Even Hillary Clinton said that John McCain offers a lifetime of experience, but Obama has that speech he wrote in 2002.
Also, his stances on life and family matters directly contradict the Catholic teachings. I am just curious if he will force Notre Dame to cover up every religious symbol in sight as he did in an earlier speech…