Standing Proud with Notre Dame

Controversy swirling around President Barack Obama's commencement address at the University of Notre Dame this weekend has generated more heat than light. As a Notre Dame alumnus and former student body president, I invite civil dialogue about this issue -- especially since part of our university's mission is to foster "the presence and voices of diverse scholars and students." Regrettably, those more concerned with scoring political points and stoking the flames of our nation's culture wars have attempted to thwart this proud intellectual tradition.

Let's look at the facts. For decades, presidents of both political parties have come to Notre Dame as commencement speakers to address such profound issues as poverty, peace building, international affairs and human rights. When I was a student, George W. Bush visited the university. Along with many other Catholics, I found his positions on the death penalty, imprudent use of military power and contempt for international human rights treaties unconscionable. But he was the president of the United States. His visit fostered open discussion of, and free inquiry into, urgent issues of our time. Why should president Obama's visit be viewed any differently?

Most students and professors at my alma mater are proud that our nation's first African-American president will speak at the graduation ceremony. Whether worshiping amid the stained-glassed beauty of Sacred Heart Basilica or studying in the scholastic silence of Hesburgh library, Notre Dame taught us the virtues of prudence and reasoned engagement with the world outside the confines of our college community. I have fond memories of my days exploring science, religion and literature in classrooms where faith and reason did not clash, but together nourished minds and hearts in the pursuit of excellence. Many of us hope that outside interest groups will not hijack this treasured heritage.

Catholic teaching about the sanctity of human life is clear. As Notre Dame President Fr. John Jenkins has stated, this invitation is not an endorsement of all of President Obama's political views. Instead, it is a proper recognition of a president who is leading our nation in perilous times, and who engaged young citizens in the political process in ways unseen in a generation. President Obama has spoken eloquently about the American experience and his speech should provide a unique opportunity for students to hear personally from a committed world leader facing daunting challenges. As John Quinn, Archbishop Emeritus of San Francisco has said about President Obama's appearance, it "is in the interest of both the church and the nation if both work together in civility, honesty, and friendship for the common good where there are grave divisions, as there are on abortion."

While acknowledging fundamental disagreements on issues, both the Vatican and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops sent congratulatory messages to President Obama after his election victory. Catholic Charities USA and other faith-based advocates for the poor have applauded his federal budget proposal as a welcome break from policies that favored the privileged few over the common good. The president has reached out to pro-life leaders and directed his senior staff, including the Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, to support a range of programs that will help strengthen families and prevent abortions. When it comes to fighting for health care as a human right, compassionate immigration reform and a range of social programs that help uplift the poor, President Obama's policy priorities align with traditional Catholic values.

President Obama will not have the opportunity to shake every student's hand or meet individually with each professor. But I do hope he takes some time to listen as well as speak during his visit. In the voices of students, priests and professors, the president will hear from Catholics resolute in faith, gracious in spirit and eager to engage with him about our most urgent moral and political challenges. This is the Notre Dame I remember and love. This is the ideal of a Catholic university at work in the world.

The writer was the Student Body President at the University of Notre Dame in 2004-2005.

Comments

[SeattleWill]

By supporting compassionate immigration reform, am sure you mean supporting those immigrants who took the time and effort to legally immigrate to America. The people who followed the law, learned English and are welcome and productive members of our society. So we must defend them against the millions who have flounted our laws, illegally came to our country and refuse to respect our system. These illegal aliens must be deported immediately. That was the basis for the last round of immkigration reform that made millions citizens and said "no more" to illegals.
As for supporting health care, I assume that you mean supporting our system that provides quality health care for the vast majority of Americans. The system that is enjoyed by 85% of Americans, and the same system that 94% of those uninsured are eligible for if they would just apply. I am sure you mean we should reach out to the 44 million people who are eligible but have not yet signed up. And of course we must find a solution for the 6% of the 15%, the two to three million people truly without health care. We can surely find a solution for them without throwing out our current system, enjoyed by the vast majority of Americans.

[BillSamuel]

I don't care that much who speaks at universities, but it is clear that Notre Dame loves to curry favor with those who support war, abortion and the death penalty.

I'm not Catholic, but if I was, I'd be ashamed that Notre Dame calls itself Catholic.

[Danigirl65]

Frankly, I am fed up with people who have decided that those of us who are "pro-choice" are actually "pro -abortion." NOBODY is "pro-abortion" - NOBODY.

At least the pro-choice movement has support and education programs to help reduce the number of abortions in the U.S. What does the pro-life movement do other than sit in judgement of others who do not have the same view as they do??

[jckapla]

Really? If no-one is pro-abortion, then...

Why reject a bill that requires ultrasounds be given and shown to mothers who want an abortion?

Why reject a bill that simply requires a clinic to give information about abortion alternatives such as adoption?

Why reject a bill that requires a 24-hour waiting period to give mother's a chance to make sure they are making the right, informed choice?

Honestly, can someone call themselves pro-choice if they do everything in their power to prevent an alternate choice from being made?

Pro-abortion sounds like an appropriate term to me.

[tgriffy]

How about those because measures are unnecessary and insulting to women?

[MoeB]

1. It seems rather pointless to give an ultrasound to someone who's going to get an abortion. That just seems like some last ditch effort to guilt the mother into NOT having an abortion. Unless you can show some statistics where that actually reduces abortions, it's a waste.
2.I'm for giving clinics additional information about alternatives. However, our adoption system is a bit flawed and plenty of those kids never end up in loving homes and end up being at-risk teens and adults.
3.Pregnant women who choose abortions don't just do so at the spur of the moment. The ALREADY put time and thought into whether or not to get an abortion. Trust me, I've had this conversation with a couple of my friends who are female.

So no, "pro-abortion" is just a term that's intentionally used to demonize anyone who is pro-choice (kind of like the made-up term "partial-birth abortion")

[jckapla]

By the way, consider this quote from Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood:

“The most merciful thing that a family does to one of its infant members is to kill it.” **

Sure sounds pro-abortion to me.

** The Woman Rebel, Volume I, Number 1. Reprinted in Woman and the New Race. New York: Brentanos Publishers, 1922.

[Petey131]

"Why should president Obama's visit be viewed any differently?


Lets face it he is Black. As an ex-catholic I know that there is also bigotry in the catholic church.

[Nova16]

I would never send my child to a University or college whose religious views and dogma superceded common sense, rational thinking and inquiry. Religious or spiritual beliefs are a matter of choice to meet the emotional needs of the individual and there is no demand upon our honesty to choose to believe them. The values we all need in life are equally available on common ground and can be authenticated by reason and practical demand. No one institution or group can be permitted to control the lives and thoughts of the rest of us with out causing conflict and attacking freedom. Notre Dame and its constituents protesting the President demean themselves and embarrass the nation as well.

[alfrede]

Is there a difference between someone speaking about their opinion and awarding that person for something that is totally in opposition to your view???

[Layman23]

Bishops deciding who speaks where ? What has this country come to ? Whats next ? Dont drink coffee anymore since its botanical name has the words "arabica" ?

I wish Copernicus was alive today. Should have the bishops hurrying back to wherever they came from.

[timewaster2dcore]

Hahaha

[timinhi]

You are a scholar and a gentleman. Best of luck in all your endeavors.

[londonexpat]

Bravo! As the mother of 2 Domers-one graduating Sunday-I am reminded by your thoughtful writing why we love and value the Notre Dame education our children received. You have done us proud.

[Kateyras]

This was a very thoughtful and eloquent essay. Notre Dame can be very proud of the fine education he received. Maybe some of the Bishops need to go bacvk to school.

[JohnnyKay]

I think it might be helpful to understand that the supposed 'theology' connecting the church of Rome' s obstinancy on abortion is tied to Aquinas and Augustine who wrote that the 'soul' in the first trimesters progressed from a mineral, plany and even animal 'souls', finally culminating in a 'Soul" soul for the fetus.

In exactly the same manner the church of R ome finally admitted recently they had no idea what happens to an infant who dies and is not baptized, it's time to admit this church of misinformation and outright li es hasn't any more of a clue today what abortion entails than they did about unbaptized babies.

The contract between the mother and the potential child is broken through abortion, and a karmic debt is owed to that Soul, but that is it. As usual, the debt and repayment are between those two Souls and no one else; certainly not between the church and the mother.

For a church given its authority by Constantine, it's still impossible to prove it represents God with its teachings, its actions and its continued inability to speak the truth.

[vieja]

President Obama is not pro-abortion, instead, he is in favor of measures to prevent unwanted pregnancies. He is "for" free choice which we Catholics believe was God given. So what is the problem?
The Church, and all other churches should not have tax exempt status if they become "political". To force their political views on us is un-American.

[Appleton]

This is an outstanding post. Most of the opponents of the invitation suffer from the same self-delusion that prevails among those who attend Tea Parties, promote neo-secessionism, mutter threats of revolution and accuse the president of communism, socialism, fascism and a host of other ideologically contradictory political beliefs. The fears and unspoken hatreds unleashed by the election of a black president are truly astounding. Perhaps those with the most virulent feelings should simply send their children and their money to Bob Jones University. You can rest assured that Pres. Obama will never be invited to speak at that distinguished monument to higher learning.

[nowme]

perhaps you forgot the quotation marks around the last 5 words in your response--wouldn't want anyone to misunderstand

[JohnnyKay]

Thank you for pointing it out.

[Appleton]

"...that distinguished monument to higher learning." Thanks for the heads-up.

[Fritziscool]

Why do the adults have to ruin it for the kids. Alumnus of Notre Dame who hate President Obama so much should not participate and not give financial support. The rest of the people should show up in droves and support this great man. Let the good drive out the bad. These graduates will have a great memory to tell their prodigy one day. How I envy them.

[teresamerica]

This article is so misleading. Obama is not in any way in cooperation with the Catholic faith. Obama is anti-life and the proof is in his voting record. He has voted NO on The INFANTS BORN ALIVE ACT and is pushing for the passage of the Freedom of Choice Act which would roll back all of the states' limitations on abortions. He appointed one the most Pro-abortion Secretaries of health in history-Kathleen Sebelious. The Catholic Church may agree with him on some issues but not the most important and precious issues concerning promoting the culture of life. obama promotes the culture of death. I am totally supportive of the protesters at Notre Dame who have a right to stand up for their catholicity. Fr.Jenkins should never have invited Obama to Notre Dame and especially Obama should not be given an honorary degree. He is not in communion with the Catholic and does not display the Catholic Churches values in any way, shape, or form.

[posttheist]

I bet you are the same kind of "Pro-Life" person that likes wars and torture to "protect lives". Besides, the lead god clown, aka the pope, is an accesory to the delusional teachings to all of its followers that we should believe in third person incantations, or holy ghosts, of our own human machinations. Perhaps if people started believing in human beings instead of ghosts froma nother dimension we could finally grow up and stop having these stupid conversations concerning the alpha con person, the pope.

[ohiodem250]

Your assertion that the spiritual realm is merely human machination is as equally non-demonstrable as the existence of a god. As a result, one could say you have just as much FAITH as that of a believer in organized religion, for you can only assent to a belief that can never be measured by fact. Thanks for trying!

[ohiodem250]

I'm a Catholic and graduate of the University of Notre Dame and fully support the invitation from Fr. Jenkins to have President Obama speak at Our Lady's University. He is fully in line with the Church in regards to other matters of national policy, including human rights, the death penalty, health care as a right of the human being, poverty assistance, protecting the rights of minority groups against the tyrannies of majority groups, etc. Thank you for your opinion. And I especially thank God that you only have the right to do just that - opine.

[docallen001]

The born alive act allegations against Obama are old and were tried to death during the presidential campaign. It is very misleading and was caused by sneaky Repub reps trying to muck up the choice options of women in IL, since there was already adequate protection for an infant that might be able to live after an abortion. Where is your indignation that Bush while governor signed a law to allow the medical staffs to pull the plug on a new born who had medical conditions that would result in its eventual death no matter how much treatment was provided? Abortion is legal in the US. As such, as President I think he has to represent the people of the US. A majority of the public does not agree with making abortion illegal - I know when the majority is wrong, the minority opinion shall prevail. Much like the Repubs not appreciating the fact that Obama is now President and they need to get different songs to play.

[continentalshelf]

Forget the poor, torture others, impose the death penalty, endorse incarceration for punishment rather than rehabilitation, and promote the subjugation of peoples everywhere (see history books on the Bushes and Latin America). Oh yeah, I forgot, make the highest good of society the pursuit and massing of wealth. Hmmm money changers in the temple anyone? I didn't realize that none of these are part of the culture of death, only abortion.

What's it like not to realize you are a cafeteria Catholic?

Mary magdelene of America

[JohnnyKay]

Thank you for the honesty in your passion.

[Didactic Curveball]

Well while you're on a roll of distorting the facts, let me join in. Pro-Death Penalty is no different than Pro-Murder. Notre Dame and the Catholic religion openly supported Republican presidents who support the death penalty. Therefore, Notre Dame and the Catholic religion supports murder and, hence, cannot be Pro-Life.

No cherry-picking allowed.

[JohnnyKay]

Well done.