Obama Notre Dame Speech: Cardinal George Rips Invitation As An 'Extreme Embarrassment' To Catholics (VIDEO)

UPDATE 4/3 Scroll Down To Watch Video Of George's Remarks

One of America's most prominent Catholics has joined the chorus slamming the University of Notre Dame for inviting President Obama to speak at the school's May 17 commencement.

Cardinal Francis George, the archbishop of Chicago, called Obama's planned appearance an "extreme embarrassment" to Catholics while speaking at a recent conference hosted by the archdiocese's Respect Life office in Rosemont, according to a video his remarks on lifesitenews.com.

"[T]he problem is in that you have a Catholic university - the flagship Catholic university - do something that brought extreme embarrassment to many, many people who are Catholic," George told the crowd. "So whatever else is clear, it is clear that Notre Dame didn't understand what it means to be Catholic when they issued this invitation."

Though Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush all spoke at Notre Dame graduation ceremonies and the school has an established tradition of having the current president speak at its commencement, extending the invitation to Obama, who is pro-choice and recently overturned the ban on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, has caused a fierce backlash among some Catholic groups.

At least 13 Bishops, including John D'Arcy, whose diocese includes Notre Dame, said they will boycott the ceremony, according to lifesitenews.com. Republican lawmakers who graduated from Notre Dame have also criticized Obama's appearance.

Notre Dame President the Rev. John Jenkins said that while the University disagrees with some of Obama's positions, it sees the commencement address as "a basis for further positive engagement." A school spokesman further supported Obama's appearance, telling the AP that he did not see any circumstances under which the school would rescind the invitation.

Cardinal George did not call on Notre Dame to disinvite Obama, but he urged Catholics "to do what you are supposed to be doing: to call, to email, to write letters, to express what's in your heart about this: the embarrassment, the difficulties."

Comments

[Chicago jo]

God is Dead.

[Biloxiblues]

Reason # 2,794,386 why I left the Catholic Church.

[bogtrotters]

And I'm right behind you. I'm sick of squirming at Mass while Father blithely ignores Church leaders who would bring back the Inquisition in a heartbeat.

[theiccemann]

I have yet to read about any priest nor cardinal coming out on his own and proclaiming that the sexual abuse of children within the catholic church was an embarrassment and horrible. It's a shame, that it takes Obama to be president, to have these guys all of a sudden find the courage to spew.

[pupbayer]

And how many Baptist, Luthern, Presbyterian, Mormon, or Methodist ministers have you heard come out and say sexual abuse of children within THEIR church is an embarrassment and horrible. Don't say it doesn't happen in other religions because it does. The Cathlic church has just been targeted because of the historical prejudice against it in this country.

They've always been outspoken against the things Obama is a proponent of so I'm not sure I get your point except to slam the Catholic Church. The cardinal encourages people to exercise their right to speak which you have just exercised. All is well.

[lesterbud]

And the recent revelations coming out of the Jewish abuses of Rabbi's and their young students.

[writerjohnny]

Oh yea - all the prejudice against the LARGEST organized religion in the US is just heartbreaking. Here's the deal, local priests, American Bishops, the entire Vatican and the Pope have all known for a hundred years that children were being abused and they did EVERYTHING they could to protect their perverted asses instead of children. F*&^ off Mr. Popey and ANYONE who defends him.

[Quaoar]

I'd agree that sexual abuse of children by church leaders in other religions deserves more attention, but that doesn't excuse the actions of the Catholic Church.

[jwcmass]

Here's what's different between the Catholic abuse scandal, and all the others, --it has to do with the nature of the hierachical structure itself.

All organizations that deal with children have to be on guard against pedophiles-- and have procedures in place both to prevent abuse (policies such as never allowing a staffperson to be alone with a child) and to REPORT abuse and RESPOND to it if it happens. -

-The Catholic hierarchy not only had neither of these, but actually COVERED UP the abuse (paying settlement money to the victim's families, but ORDERING them to be SILENT--what message do you think that sends to a child?--that he or she is the one that's GUILTY--) and they never reported the abuse to the authorities- they would send the offender off to another parish WITH NO WARNING TO PARENTS!!!

When you hear these bishops talk of "the severe damage caused by the abuse scandal" you need to understand that they aren't talking about the damage done to the victims, they are talking about the damage done to THEM--the hierarchy.

This is how dysfuntional the hierarchy has become.

Did he meet with the victims openly and PUBLICLY --NO
(He met --in secret-- with a small delegation --and only afte Boston's Cardinal begged,

NONE of this occurs in any of the other churches you mention.

THAT'S what makes this scandal (and that word doesn't do it justice) unique.

ANd most of these bishops (Pope included) STILL don't get it.

[RustyPatina]

It seems that all Catholics are about anymore are being anti-abortion and a general meanness of spirit.

[turfkiller]

Amen.

[theiccemann]

It should be embarrassing to catholics that this guy made such a statement.

[turfkiller]

No more than many of all of the other religious leaders of many Christian faiths which at this time have anti-abortion, banning stem cell and reproductive research and suppression of women rights in common.

[Billpoch]

I think that they should be looking for pedafile priest instead of acting so pious and mighty. The Catholic Church leadership has been out of touch with reality for sometime. It is a non issue.

[davidly]

Extreme embarrassment? Like, more than the pope?

[PlayTOE]

Does your religion ban condoms even when they reduce the spread of HIV?
Does your religion ban stem cell research despite this being the only path forward to cure many diseases?
Does your religion ban abortion even in situations of rape, incest, and a body too young to carry the child to term?

If your religion is embarrassed by Obama, Then you should be embarrassed by your religion.

[runforfun54]

I tend, not.to. want to comment on this because I am not Catholic, but really... did the Churc.h not get the message that a) there is separation of Church and State and b) OBAMA IS OUR PRESIDENT! They should be thrilled that Notre Dame is one of only 3 universities Obama will be speaking at this year!

[turfkiller]

The Church has authored documents and articles recently stating that the U.S. Constitution is nothing more than a bad statement of dogma. The current leadership of the Church like the republicans have started a war against Obama under the guise of "loyal opposition" and "moral righteousness".

[billygore2000]

The Catholic embarrassment is what has become of our American hierarchy. There was a time when this country had bishops and cardinals who were not in the least toadies to the Vatican. Oh, Happy Days! But John Paul II made sure that the U.S. would have only mediocrities who kissed his ass. It is urgent that American Catholics rediscover the true Catholic practice of electing their own bishops and tell Rome to buzz off.

[Margo Arrowsmith]

Lets see, Reagan and both Bush's had policies that created a larger population of the poor, had philosophies that said that the government should take care of the rich and let the poor get what's left over....Bush has supported torture. And they are boycotting Obama?!?

Have any of these prominent Catholics ever read the words of Jesus Christ?

[Grada3784]

Nope. They can't get past His instruction to call no man Father.

[dontpanic1]

Ha! Good one!

[airforce-army]

I cleansed my inner -self from the brainwashing of a Catholic upbringing and education 40 years ago, when I was 16 I had an epiphany of mind and spirit while listening to the Pastor of St.Stanislaus, the Church my family was a member of since 1890. The Church he was speaking for was not the loving, caring, inclusionary "Christ Like Church" but an exclusionary, hateful, close minded, opinionated group of self-centered, egotistic, homophobic men afraid of letting women join their private club. I believe the Catholic Church is losing the numbers war with the "Come As You Are Churches "of the 21st century.

[CheneysACoward]

I think the cardinal is an extreme embarrassment to Catholics . Thinking like his is the reason many of us are former Catholics.

[Texas Blue]

I concur. Jesus never refused to attend anything.

OH! - but that's right - Jesus was all about love and compassion and forgiveness.

Allegedly.

[deebsflo]

Who cares, in 100 years, there will barely be any organized religion left, in 250 years, it will be gone outright.

The concept of religion, and the institutions that enforce their dogma, particularly the expansionist religions of Christianity and Islam - are the single greatest evil act humanity has ever conspired, in mass, to produce.

Religion must fade into oblivion to ensure our very survival, it does nothing of good, that we are not capable of doing without it, with a sense of common purpose and community.

But it has been the veil through which more acts of cruelty, death, enslavement and inhumanity have been conducted, than any other institution or concept man has ever created. It has been the moral banner for our most immoral acts as mankind.

IMHO - we we're not born in the image of God, we are evolving in the image of God, and religion is a crutch, like nationalities, or differing languages or races, useful at first as we begin to outgrow the initial structures of our development and organize for our common betterment; but ultimately limiting to our potential to recognize ultimate purpose.

Eventually, it will be left behind and looked back upon in antiquity as "something we did once that caused a lot of pain"

[Canuck27]

From your lips to God's ear.Well said.

[elbzee]

Hear hear and BRAVO! Excellent entry! Thank you deebsflo for stating it so well.

[tjdestry]

Please continue to ignore the outpouring of support for the invitation from several alumni groups on Facebook as well as from the bulk of the student body. To suggest that this issue has two sides would not help to promote the Vatican's position that there is only one way to be Catholic.

[Deluded]

Personally I find Cardinal George's adherence to belief in the supernatural deeply embarrassing. Never mind his bad manners implicit in his OTT response to this invite.