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Notre Dame Scandal: Obama Bad Choice for 2009 Commencement Speech
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by Tina Kells | March 25, 2009 at 07:39 am
1238 views | 18 Recommendations | 9 comments
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Seems like Notre Dame's Fighting Irish are embroiled in a bit of a scandal. Notre Dame invited President Barack Obama to speak at this year's commencement and some Catholics are up in arms over the choice.
Catholics have petitioned Notre Dame to un-invite Obama to speak to the 2009 graduating class citing his views on abortion and stem cell research as too at odds with Church teachings.
Despite the swelling objections Notre Dame has no plans to cancel President Obama's appearance and does not believe that hosting a Presidential visit is an endorsement of the administration's policies.
Obama will address the Notre Dame class of 2009 on Sunday, May 17, 2009. 2,620 students will be in attendance as the graduation address. Notre Dame will also give President Barack Obama an honorary degree making him the ninth US president to receive such an award.
The other presidential honorees given Notre Dame degrees are; Dwight Eisenhower, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush Sr., George W. Bush, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Gerald Ford and, of course, John F. Kennedy, who is still the only Catholic ever to hold the office of President of the United States.
The Notre Dame Scandal Petition is collecting more virtual signatures every day. Sponsored by the Cardinal Newman Society and CatholicVote.org the petition had 120,525 signatures as of 8:30am PST March 25.
The Cardinal Newman Society, a conservative Roman Catholic group, says more than 28,000 people have signed an online petition calling the choice of Obama as commencement speaker "an outrage and a scandal."
Newt Gingrich — he of the three wives — says on Twitter, that it’s “sad … since his policies are so anti catholic values. ” Katherine Jean Lopez of the National Review calls the invitation “shameful.”
“Last week the president of the United States perpetrated an assault on human dignity. No statements or press releases will undo what Notre Dame’s position in the eyes of the world is in response: “Doesn’t matter.” We’ve got THE ONE. So much for the One to whom the school’s namesake gave birth…. At Notre Dame, the administration there just made a choice. They took a giant step away from their identity as “Catholic.” They would rather be of this world than the one they supposedly exist to bring people toward.”
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (9)
at 13:59 on March 25th, 2009
I think that the alumni at this school can make the biggest statement and should if they believe one iota of their Catholic Religion. They should every last one hit this University where it will hurt them the most in the pocket book. Don't give them a penny.
at 08:17 on March 29th, 2009
I do not want this creature in my state whatsoever! Please resind invitatiion to this anti-christ! This day should be about your graduating students not the controversy of this sad & empty incompetent creature. I will be joing the protest should there be one! I'm a 53 year old grannie not a catholic, but I have morals. If Obama is there on May 17th it will only further his radical agenda and shamless torture of babies not born. The misinformed will see this as an endorsement of his shamless tactics! His appearance will continue & expand his strong hold on the youth & innocence of america. P.S I will be bring lots shoes!
at 16:38 on March 29th, 2009
Please invite Governor Sarah Palin for the commencement ceremony she is the epitomy of what your faith reprensents!
at 08:11 on April 1st, 2009
To Who It May Concern:
The Archbishop who is making such a fuss, should ask himself, "What would Jesus do?"
We remember Jesus walking and talking among ALL his people. Thank God we have
the freedom to worship God in our country. WE MUST PRAY FOR OUR LEADERS.
eam
at 17:28 on April 30th, 2009
This video makes several points why Barack Obama is mocking Jesus and president Jenkins has shamed Notre Dame and must resign:
http://www.praydailyamerica.com/resign.html
at 23:04 on May 15th, 2009
The truth on Obama will be coming soon @ www.integrityforamerica.org
at 07:38 on May 16th, 2009
A question?
""Bob Jones also practices homophobia. Two years ago, when a gay, 60-year-old alum asked if he could come back to visit the school, the dean of students wrote back, ''With grief we must tell you that as long as you are living as a homosexual, you, of course, would not be welcome on the campus and would be arrested for trespassing if you did. We take no delight in that action. Our greatest delight would be in your return to the Lord.'' George W. took delight in validating this perverted version of Christianity, telling 6,000 students, almost all white, ''I look forward to publicly defending our conservative philosophy.'' "" NBC----
So by speaking, is Obama endorsing Catholic anti-abortion policies.
at 07:27 on May 17th, 2009
The only reason Obama is the commencement speaker is he is the first Black president. That's all. Nothing else. Those who don't want him to speak should take out their aggression on whoever approved all of this. Clearly whoever ok'ed this doesn't watch the news or read the newspaper. A graduation ceremony is not the place for politics.
at 12:20 on May 18th, 2009
Who allowed Fr. Jenkins to invite Obama to ND ?
Don't we have a hierarchy in the Catholic Church ?
I think that Bishop D'Arcy should tell Fr. Jenkins -NO, you will not do it or you'll be fired !
Why Archbishop did nothing and also why the POPE did not interfere in this scandal ????
Who is now in charge in our, Catholic Church ?
The Cardinal Newman Society delivered over 360,000 signatures against the invitation and honoring of Obama who stands for abortion, late term abortion, embryo research...., to mention a few. He is PRO DEATH and we, the Catholics should be PRO LIFE, or maybe not anymore ?
The same 360,000 ( + ) signatures were delivered to our POPE.
Why He kept silence ? !!!!!!
Frustrated , your brother in Christ
Greg Wyrem