University of Notre Dame Confirms Obama Invitation

The University of Notre Dame spokesman, Dennis K. Brown, affirmed on March 20 that the invitation to President Barack Obama to speak at the May commencement ceremonies and receive an honorary law degree from the Catholic university would not be rescinded.

Despite a statement signed by thousands of members of more than a dozen student organization at Notre Dame protesting the invitation and the award to the pro-abortion president, Holy Cross Fr. John Jenkins, University President, has been firm in his intention to honor the 44th President of the United States at the Catholic institution.  It has been a tradition at the school to invite the sitting President to speak and be honored. 

The students’ statement said its objection was based on President Obama’s “hostility to the Catholic Church’s teachings on the sanctity of human life at its earliest stages.  His recent dedication of federal funds to overseas abortions and to embryonic stem cell research will directly result in the deaths of thousands of innocent human beings.”

It added, “We cannot sit by idly while the university honors someone who believes that an entire class of human beings is undeserving of the most basic of all legal rights, the right to live.”
The statement cited the U.S. Bishops’ Conference statement that Catholic institutions should not give “awards, honors or platforms” to those “who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles.” 

Fr. Jenkins said the Bishops’ statement applied to Catholics who did not follow the fundamental moral principles of the Catholic Church.  He added that President Obama was Protestant and it did not apply to him.  Fifty-two American Bishops had expressed their opposition to the University of Notre Dame’s action.

Regarding the honorary law degree, the statement, signed by several law school groups, said the university law school’s mission is to facilitate an understanding of and commitment to the relationship between law and social justice.  “The social issue of our day is the deliberate, legal attack on the most vulnerable members of society, the unborn.”

It added, “To award a Notre Dame law degree to a lawyer and politician who has used the law to deny equality to the unborn diminishes the value of the degree itself.”

It was noted by students that many pro-life seniors and their families are conflicted about attending their own graduation ceremonies.  The protesting student groups have pledged to acts of witness and are committed to hold academic and religious events to engage the university officials.

Brown noted the criticism was expected and was no more than had been anticipated.  He reported 73% of the students were pleased that the first African American president had accepted the invitation.  It had been reported that more than 150,000 alumni and students had signed the protest statement.