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Should Obama speak at Notre Dame despite anti-Catholic views?
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Angry Catholics from across the country are protesting the University of Notre Dame’s selection of President Barack Obama as this year’s graduation speaker, according to the Associated Press. .jpg)
Many are angry at the Catholic university’s decision to invite Obama because of some of his "anti-Catholic policies."
"He goes against our core beliefs by funding embryonic stem cell research and funding abortion groups,” said Joan O’Reilly, an alumnus of Notre Dame.
“For years, I have donated significant money to my alma mater, and will not continue to do so if they keep Obama as the speaker.”
The student newspaper has received hundreds of letters about Obama's appearance. The letters were evenly divided between alumni and current students.
Seventy percent of the alumni letters opposed having Obama give the speech.
On the other hand, 73% of student letters supported his appearance, including 97% of the seniors who wrote to the newspaper. Many of the seniors are concerned that their graduation ceremony will "turn into a circus.”
Two prominent bishops have written letters to the university.
Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted of the Phoenix Diocese on Wednesday called the Catholic University’s selection of Obama as "a public act of disobedience" and "a grave mistake."
In addition, Bishop John D'Arcy has said that he would not attend the ceremony because of Obama's policies. D’Arcy is in charge of the Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese, which is where Notre Dame is located.
President Obama has recently reaffirmed, and has now placed in public policy, his long-stated unwillingness to hold human life as sacred,” according to D’Arcy.
“This will be the 25th Notre Dame graduation during my time as bishop. After much prayer, I have decided not to attend the graduation," he stated in a letter on his website.
"I wish no disrespect to our president, I pray for him and wish him well…..My decision is not an attack on anyone, but is in defense of the truth about human life.”
D’Arcy referred to the statement of the U.S. Catholic Bishops in 2004, which says that “The Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.”
Officials at Notre Dame are standing firmly behind their decision, and have said that they will not rescind the invitation.
“The university does not condone all of Obama's policies, but it's important to engage in conversation,” stated Notre Dame President, the Reverend John Jenkins.
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said that Obama “looks forward to continuing that dialogue in the leadup to the commencement, and looks forward to delivering the address in May.”
Randall Terry, founder of Operation Rescue held a press conference this week to announce that group’s plans to keep Obama from speaking.
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