Mary Ann Glendon has refused the invitation to be honored at Notre Dame. This is huge. Read her letter.
Now that’s what I call dialogue! It seems to me that she was dissapointed that Notre Dame was using her presence there as coverage. This does two things. It keeps the story alive just as it seemed to be dying and it puts the focus back on Father Jenkins who made the terrible decision to invite Obama.
The fact that she took so long to make this decision indicates that this was not an easy decision for her and it was not a reactionary response but a calm and deliberate one.
How sad that the former Ambassador to the Vatican doesn’t feel that she can attend the country’s most well known Catholic University. That alone says so much. Glendon went from “profoundly moved” at the thought of receiving an honor from Notre Dame to “great sadness.” I think we can all understand why.
By Mary Ann Glendon
Monday, April 27, 2009, 9:32 AM
April 27, 2009
The Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.
President
University of Notre DameDear Father Jenkins,
When you informed me in December 2008 that I had been selected to receive Notre Dame’s Laetare Medal, I was profoundly moved. I treasure the memory of receiving an honorary degree from Notre Dame in 1996, and I have always felt honored that the commencement speech I gave that year was included in the anthology of Notre Dame’s most memorable commencement speeches. So I immediately began working on an acceptance speech that I hoped would be worthy of the occasion, of the honor of the medal, and of your students and faculty.Last month, when you called to tell me that the commencement speech was to be given by President Obama, I mentioned to you that I would have to rewrite my speech. Over the ensuing weeks, the task that once seemed so delightful has been complicated by a number of factors.
First, as a longtime consultant to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, I could not help but be dismayed by the news that Notre Dame also planned to award the president an honorary degree. This, as you must know, was in disregard of the U.S. bishops’ express request of 2004 that Catholic institutions “should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles” and that such persons “should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.” That request, which in no way seeks to control or interfere with an institution’s freedom to invite and engage in serious debate with whomever it wishes, seems to me so reasonable that I am at a loss to understand why a Catholic university should disrespect it.
Then I learned that “talking points” issued by Notre Dame in response to widespread criticism of its decision included two statements implying that my acceptance speech would somehow balance the event:
• “President Obama won’t be doing all the talking. Mary Ann Glendon, the former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, will be speaking as the recipient of the Laetare Medal.”
• “We think having the president come to Notre Dame, see our graduates, meet our leaders, and hear a talk from Mary Ann Glendon is a good thing for the president and for the causes we care about.”
A commencement, however, is supposed to be a joyous day for the graduates and their families. It is not the right place, nor is a brief acceptance speech the right vehicle, for engagement with the very serious problems raised by Notre Dame’s decision—in disregard of the settled position of the U.S. bishops—to honor a prominent and uncompromising opponent of the Church’s position on issues involving fundamental principles of justice.
Finally, with recent news reports that other Catholic schools are similarly choosing to disregard the bishops’ guidelines, I am concerned that Notre Dame’s example could have an unfortunate ripple effect.
It is with great sadness, therefore, that I have concluded that I cannot accept the Laetare Medal or participate in the May 17 graduation ceremony.
In order to avoid the inevitable speculation about the reasons for my decision, I will release this letter to the press, but I do not plan to make any further comment on the matter at this time.
Yours Very Truly,
Mary Ann Glendon
HT First Things
Update: Cardinal Newman Society president Patrick J. Reilly issued the following statement:
“Mary Ann Glendon is one of the most accomplished Catholic and pro-life leaders of our time. In heroic fashion, she has willingly sacrificed an award that she richly deserves, as a casualty of Notre Dame’s choice to betray its Catholic mission. We urge Catholics nationwide to continue to pray that Notre Dame will end this scandal.”
Update II: Canon lawyer Ed Peters has more:
The evil that ND President Jenkins and his Board of Trustees committed has, Deus laudetur, occasioned one of the most striking displays of episcopal fortitude I can remember, mobilized hundreds of thousands of American Catholics against another quiet surrender to the Culture of Death, and effected notice to several once great Catholic institutions that it’s time, finally, to decide where they stand…
Update III: Father Raymond J. de Souza writes in the National Catholic Register: Father John Jenkins likely thought himself very clever. Professor Mary Ann Glendon just took him to school.
In declining to receive the Laetare Medal alongside President Barack Obama’s honorary doctorate of laws at next month’s commencement, Glendon has refused to participate in the shabby manipulation Father Jenkins attempted to engineer. It is a rare personage who could ennoble an award by refusing to receive it, but Professor Glendon has done just that. The Laetare Medal will now be known best for the year in which it was declined. Glendon chose, to use the apt words of Bishop John D’Arcy in this regard, truth over prestige…
Continue reading his excellent article here.
Update XVIVLVPVI: David Freddoso of The Corner reports that Notre Dame intends to give the award to someone else. But who else would take it now? David has an idea here.
April 27, 2009 at 4:09 pm
God Bless You Mary Ann Glendon, and Thank You. Suzanne
April 27, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Wow! This woman is a saint on earth! If only Fr. Jenkins could see so clearly.
April 27, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Could the contrast be any more clear?
April 27, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Mary Ann Glendon – hells yeah!
April 27, 2009 at 4:58 pm
How blessed to have someone live her beliefs in the public square in such a thoughful and principled manner.
April 27, 2009 at 5:05 pm
We are blessed in Mary Ann Glendon. May Fr. Jenkins understand what she is saying.
April 27, 2009 at 5:14 pm
To paraphrase Frank Sinatra, “that’s why the Lady is a Lady.”
April 27, 2009 at 5:19 pm
God bless you Mary Ann Glendon.
April 27, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Classy, very classy.
April 27, 2009 at 5:34 pm
As a Notre Dame Graduate I applaud her decision. Father Jenkins and the Board cannot serve two masters as they try to do. Believe me, they will go ahead with honoring The President. Arrogance is their strong suit. Mother Mary weeps.
April 27, 2009 at 5:34 pm
And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why the Church loves women!
April 27, 2009 at 5:37 pm
This is a tremendous embarrassment to Notre Dame… I would have waited longer to ensure that they could not find another recipient for the medal, but this is awesome.
~cmpt
April 27, 2009 at 5:37 pm
Just last week I was talking to a friend of mine who helps run the Replace Jenkins website – and we were talking about this very thing, wondering if it was going to happen or not. Well, wonder no more. This is excellent news! God bless Mary Ann Glendon!
April 27, 2009 at 5:48 pm
How many of you responding to this, citing the weeping of Mother Mary and the blessing of Mary Ann Glendon, actually attended or have anything to do with the University of Notre Dame? What gives you the right to make such smug comments?
I graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2008. The ceremony was a celebration from start to finish – a celebration of completion, of a job well done, of the start of a new chapter in our lives. It was not a forum to debate about anything. We were challenged to go out into the world, to make the most of our experiences and education, to change it and make it better.
Isn’t that how every commencement is supposed to be? On that day, it didn’t matter who was Catholic and who wasn’t, who had been a member of ND Right to Life and who had performed in the Vagina Monologues. On that day, we came together as one, hugged each other one last time, and turned around to face the world, forever changed by our four years under the golden dome.
Shame on all of you for celebrating Mary Ann Glendon’s poor decision to not attend the graduation. ESPECIALLY shame on LarryD and the Replace Jenkins website. Commencement isn’t a time for politics. It’s about the students sitting in uncomfortable chairs, wearing funny hats and medals, terrified about what comes next. Who better to inspire them to greatness than the leader of the free world?
Mary Ann Glendon is missing an opportunity to provide even more inspiration, to move an entire arena full of graduating students toward a life of greatness.
Shame on her, shame on all of you. Find something better to do with your time than to argue about something you cannot possibly understand.
April 27, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Thank you, Mary Ann Glendon, for reminding us all to live our principles. I am sure this decision was difficult. I concur with the idea that there has been a ripple effect.
April 27, 2009 at 5:55 pm
I should have mentioned I am an alumna. I love Notre Dame, but the ND I came to love as a child, nott the new “secular” version.
April 27, 2009 at 6:08 pm
To the 2008 alum….
i agree with parts of your comment as i put myself in your shoes….it would ring true if Notre Dame was a secular school not promoting the Catholic principles she was built upon and once embraced fully….we Catholics must not go down the slippery slope of “acceptance” (in such matters), due to the risk of causing grave scandal to those looking to Catholic Institutions to stand for truth…this opportunity is not about politics or debates…it is about truth…we MUST stand for it, lest we become lax in our beliefs, given us by Christ Himself….
God’s peace and blessings to you, dear one, and your great accomplishments!
April 27, 2009 at 6:25 pm
What gives us the right to comment (smug or not is open to interpretation)? As a Catholic, I reserve the right to comment about actions taken by nominally Catholic organizations, so long as my comments are not contrary to the teachings of the Church.
Inviting a politician to speak adds a huge political factor to the commencement ceremony, no matter what. The awarding of an honor to a politician in opposition to the recommendations/regulations of the USCCB is abhorrent, and as Catholics we have the right to be upset and voice that upset. Fr. Jenkins is playing politics with the commencement, currying favor with Obama by awarding him an honorary law degree.
Who are you to try and shame people into silence? Where do you get the idea that we can’t comment on happenings at a Catholic university unless we attend(ed) or are otherwise involved with that university?
April 27, 2009 at 6:25 pm
I graduated from Notre Dame – and I support Mary Ann Glendon's decision to turn down the Laetare Medal. It is very sad to see how Notre Dame has opted to chase prestige over truth. If ND is Catholic it should act like it – as it is I think a good state university with a good Newman center like Texas A&M is probably a better choice for Catholic students.
April 27, 2009 at 6:28 pm
Mary Ann Glendon demonstrates the most noble aspect of a true Catholic. She loves her Catholic faith more than questionable worldly honors. For this, I am sure that she will receive special honors in Heaven when she arrives there.