Obama’s commencement speech at Notre Dame was met by abortion protesters

May 18, 10:56 AMSeattle Women's Health ExaminerKellie Fielding

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President Barack Obama delivers the commencement speech during the
2009 graduation ceremony at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend,
Indiana on Sunday, May 17, 2009. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

 

 President Barack Obama delivered the commencement speech yesterday at the University of Notre Dame. He had accepted the invitation back in March to address the Catholic university that is located in South Bend, Indiana. Shortly after he’d accepted the invitation, an online petition was started by anti-abortion students that gained close to 300,000 signatures against having him speak on campus.

Prior to Obama’s arrival at Notre Dame, there were already hundreds of anti-abortion demonstrators protesting the schools decision to allow him to give the commencement address. The police estimated that nearly 40 people had been arrested on trespassing charges throughout the day.

Inside Joyce Center, some graduates chose to express their views on abortion by displaying symbols on top of their mortarboards. Those opposed to abortion had affixed a cross and two baby feet, while those who were in support of the President had red, white, and blue. As he began to speak, a few hecklers in the crowd shouted at him regarding his views on abortion, but they were promptly removed from the arena. “I do not suggest that the debate surrounding abortion can or should go away,” Obama said in his commencement address. “Because no matter how much we may want to fudge it — indeed, while we know that the views of most Americans on the subject are complex and even contradictory — the fact is that at some level, the views of the two camps are irreconcilable.” During his speech, the President also asked for “common ground” and said that this will only come “when we open our hearts and our minds to those who may not think precisely like we do or believe precisely what we believe.”

The long standing debate over abortion has been one of the most controversial political and religious topics that each President must face while in office. President Obama’s formal stand on this debate is that he is in favor of a woman’s right to choose, but he believes that abortion should be done as rarely as possible. What can be done to decrease the rate of abortion? “Maybe we won’t agree on abortion, but we can still agree that this is a heart-wrenching decision for any woman. It has both moral and spiritual dimensions,” Obama said. “So let us work together to reduce the number of women seeking abortions by reducing unintended pregnancies. Let’s make adoption more available. Let’s provide care and support for women who do carry their children to term.”

This YouTube video starts with President Barack Obama's discussion regarding abortion.  Please share your thoughts and comments on his commencement address to the University of Notre Dame.