The Cardinal Newman Society has set up a website and a petition to let University of Notre Dame know that Catholics all over the country view this as the scandal it is.
This is the text of the letter that you can sign your name to.
Dear Father Jenkins:
It has come to our attention that the University of Notre Dame will honor President Barack Obama as its commencement speaker on May 17.
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.
This nation has many thousands of accomplished leaders in the Catholic Church, in business, in law, in education, in politics, in medicine, in social services, and in many other fields who would be far more appropriate choices to receive such an honor from the University of Notre Dame.
Instead Notre Dame has chosen prestige over principles, popularity over morality. Whatever may be President Obama’s admirable qualities, this honor comes on the heels of some of the most anti-life actions of any American president, including expanding federal funding for abortions and inviting taxpayer-funded research on stem cells from human embryos.
The honor also comes amid great concern among Catholics nationwide about President Obama’s future impact on American society, the family, and the Catholic Church on issues such as traditional marriage, conscience protections for Catholic doctors and nurses, and expansion of abortion “rights.”
This honor is clearly a direct violation of the U.S. bishops’ 2004 mandate in “Catholics in Political Life”: “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.”
We prayerfully implore you to halt this travesty immediately. We do so with the hope that Catholics nationwide will likewise call on you to uphold the sacred mission of your Catholic university. May God grant you the courage and wisdom to do what is right.
Sincerely,
If you view this as the scandal it is, consider signing your name to the petition!
March 21, 2009 at 10:55 pm
I am deeply, deeply disappointed in Notre Dame’s decision – especially since they compound it with an honorary degree. You have to wonder what Fr. Jenkins was thinking.
But let’s face it – you don’t withdraw an invitation to a sitting president, or at least not save under the most extraordinary circumstances. Catholics are left to consider other ways of making their voices heard – withdrawal of donations, appropriate protests or events at the commencement, etc.
March 22, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Father Jenkins,
Notre Dame has made a huge mistake inviting President “Abortion” Obama. Infuriating.
Step up!
Un – invite Obama!
March 22, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Father Jenkins,
Notre Dame has made a huge mistake inviting President “Abortion” Obama. Infuriating.
Step up!
Un – invite Obama!
March 22, 2009 at 10:08 pm
If Notre Dame goes through with this very UN-Catholic move, they can be sure that they’ll never see one dime of tuition money from our family.
Grow up, Notre Dame, and start acting like the faithful Catholic university that you advertise yourself to be.
I feel personally betrayed by this. Reprehensible.
March 23, 2009 at 2:42 am
I’m equally certain your family would never get into ND. Face it – people who say that, ignoring all the good at ND, are generally the people who could never hope to attend in the first place. Personally betrayed? Give me a break!
March 23, 2009 at 4:01 am
That’s so sweet. Kindness didn’t come up in your theology courses, huh?
March 25, 2009 at 2:50 am
Clare, My wife and I did graduate from Notre Dame and we also feel personally betrayed. Feeling betrayed does not mean that you are ignoring all that is good about ND. If ND wasn’t such a great place, this wouldn’t be the tragedy that it is.
– Tom Day, NDLS ’02
– Kate Day, NDLS ’02