Catholic activists protest Notre Dame honor for President Obama

March 23, 2009

A group of Catholic activists (including CWN editor Phil Lawler) has called upon the University of Notre Dame to reconsider an invitation for President Barack Obama to speak at the school's commencement, in light of Obama's aggressive advocacy of abortion. The Cardinal Newman Society reported that by March 23, over 18,000 people had signed a petition opposing the presidential appearance. But David Gibson notes that in a campus poll last year, 53% of Notre Dame students indicated a preference for Obama.

Longtime Notre Dame philosophy professor Ralph McInerny poses a related question. If it is seriously wrong for a Catholic to support abortion, he asks: "Is it any worse to celebrate such a politician as Barack Obama? So where does that put ND President Father Jenkins?" McInerny argues:

By inviting Barack Obama to be the 2009 commencement speaker, Notre Dame has forfeited its right to call itself a Catholic university. It invites an official rebuke. May it come.

 

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Further information:

• Obama set to speak at Notre Dame graduation (Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette)
• Notre Dame students (heart) Obama (David Gibson/BeliefNet)
• Is Obama Worth a Mass? (Ralph McInerny/The Catholic Thing)
• Help Stop the Scandal at Our Lady's University (Cardinal Newman Society petition)