All Else Confusion

Notre Dame's decision to host President Barack Obama, who in the short time he has been in office has already enacted several Presidential orders which attack the dignity of life, including rescinding the Mexico City Policy, lifting the restriction of federal dollars being spent for embryonic stem cell research, and removing conscience protections, has far reaching and serious consequences. As America's most notable Catholic University, her example has the ability, like few others, to make a clear statement to the larger American culture of Catholicism's defense of the dignity of life. Instead Notre Dame has chosen to give a platform to the most pro-choice man to ever occupy the office of President of the United States. Though Fr. Jenkins, president of Notre Dame has tried to separate honoring Barack Obama the pro-choice politician from honoring Barack Obama the leader who has inspired "hope" in so many, the truth is that a person is a whole and cannot be so sub-divided. The minds of many across America, Catholic and non-Catholic, will not remember Fr. Jenkins' careful parsing. Instead, they will only remember the picture of the staunchly pro-choice Barack Obama standing at the podium of the most famously Catholic university in America. If a picture says a thousand words, those are words that can never be revoked.

Notre Dame student groups have issued a press release in response to the news released last Friday that President Barack Obama will be the commencement speaker and receive an honorary law degree at the graduation ceremonies in May. The following groups are co-signers of this statement:

Notre Dame Right to Life
The Irish Rover Student Newspaper
Notre Dame College Republicans
The University of Notre Dame Anscombe Society
Notre Dame Identity Project
Militia of the Immaculata
Children of Mary
Orestes Brownson Council
Notre Dame Law School Right to Life
Notre Dame Law St Thomas More Society
The Federalist Society at Notre Dame Law School

Also, here is the statement released by Bishop John D'Arcy, the bishop of Fort Wayne, Indiana, the diocese in which Notre Dame is located. Bishop D'Arcy has decided that he cannot attend the Notre Dame graduation ceremonies.

And, the Cardinal Newman Society petition continues gathering signatures. As of this moment it has collected almost 150,000 signatures.

Labels: Notre Dame