By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Writer
In an attempt to respond to the avalanche of criticism Notre Dame is facing for inviting President Obama to be this year’s commencement speaker, they have distributed “talking points” to their Board of Trustees to help them defend the embattled institution.
The talking points, which were obtained by LifeSiteNews.com, are as follows:
– Presidents from both parties have come to Notre Dame for decades to speak to our graduates. Barack Obama will be the sixth President to speak at commencement, and the ninth to receive an honorary degree from the University.
– It’s a rare thing to be able to offer your graduates a commencement address from one of the most influential figures in the world – especially as they’re entering that world hoping to make it better.
– We think a visit from the President will help inspire our graduates to be active citizens – whether they agree with his politics or not.
– We knew there would be some controversy over this choice. Frankly, I was impressed that Fr. Jenkins invited him; he’s facing some criticism for this. And I admire President Obama for accepting. It shows he respects his audience.
– But there shouldn’t be any confusion about the honorary degree. We’re honoring him as the sitting president of the United States…for his historic election, for fighting poverty, expanding health care, improving schools, seeking peace, breaking barriers of race.
– These issues are dear to the heart of Catholics and the president has elevated them, and we honor that.
– We are aware of the discussion surrounding the bishops’ document, Catholics in Political Life. The University took this document into full consideration. We believe it allows those non-Catholics to be invited to give their views on important issues.
-We have said from the start, that this invitation does not mean we agree with all positions the President has taken. We do not condone the President’s positions on abortion and embryonic stem cell research. We have crucial differences with him on issues of protecting human life. Fr. Jenkins made that clear.
– Butt that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t invite him to Notre Dame. We can never change the President’s views unless he listens to us. And how can we expect him to listen to us if we won’t listen to him?
– And 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.
Thus far, 25 U.S. bishops have spoken out against the invitation, including the president of the U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the bishop of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, the Most Rev. John D. D’Arcy, who is refusing to attend the commencement ceremonies.
In addition, more than a quarter of a million people have signed petitions asking the president of Notre Dame, Fr. John Jenkins, to rescind the invitation.
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