Concerning President Barack Obama speaking at Notre Dame graduation, receiving honorary law degree
March 24, 2009
On Friday, March 21, Father John Jenkins, CSC, phoned to inform me that President Obama had accepted his invitation to speak to the graduating class at Notre Dame and receive an honorary degree. We spoke shortly before the announcement was made public at the White House press briefing. It was the first time that I had been informed that Notre Dame had issued this invitation.
President Obama has recently reaffirmed, and has now placed in public policy, his long-stated unwillingness to hold human life as sacred. While claiming to separate politics from science, he has in fact separated science from ethics and has brought the American government, for the first time in history, into supporting direct destruction of innocent human life.
This will be the 25th Notre Dame graduation during my time as bishop. After much prayer, I have decided not to attend the graduation. I wish no disrespect to our president, I pray for him and wish him well. I have always revered the Office of the Presidency. But a bishop must teach the Catholic faith “in season and out of season,” and he teaches not only by his words — but by his actions.
My decision is not an attack on anyone, but is in defense of the truth about human life.
I have in mind also the statement of the U.S. Catholic Bishops in 2004. “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.” Indeed, the measure of any Catholic institution is not only what it stands for, but also what it will not stand for.
I have spoken with Professor Mary Ann Glendon, who is to receive the Laetare Medal. I have known her for many years and hold her in high esteem. We are both teachers, but in different ways. I have encouraged her to accept this award and take the opportunity such an award gives her to teach.
Even as I continue to ponder in prayer these events, which many have found shocking, so must Notre Dame. Indeed, as a Catholic University, Notre Dame must ask itself, if by this decision it has chosen prestige over truth.
Tomorrow, we celebrate as Catholics the moment when our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, became a child in the womb of his most holy mother. Let us ask Our Lady to intercede for the university named in her honor, that it may recommit itself to the primacy of truth over prestige.
Bishop D'Arcy: President Obama "Has Separated Science From Ethics"
By Scott P. Richert, About.com GuideMarch 24, 2009
Bishop John M. D'Arcy of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, in which the University of Notre Dame is located, has released a statement on the university's decision to honor President Obama by granting him an honorary law degree and inviting him to be its 2009 commencement speaker. The text of Bishop D'Arcy's statement follows; I have bolded a number of important parts:
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Dear Scott,
What authority does Bishop D’Arcy have over Notre Dame University?
Does he have the power to ACT and prevent the honorary doctorate from being given to Obama?
God bless you
Michael, Notre Dame is not a diocesan school, so he’s likely limited in his options. Technically, any religious order that operates in a diocese needs the approval of the bishop of that diocese to operate, but they don’t need to get approval from the bishop for all of their activities.
In other words, Bishop D’Arcy’s options may be all or nothing: He might be able to revoke permission for the Congregation of the Holy Cross to operate within his diocese, but such an action would likely be seen as overkill.
His statement, on the other hand, strikes me as perfectly explained and argued.
Great for the Bishop. It is now up to the President to reject the invitation…
YNIC
rolando
I believe the diocese owns the land upon which Notre Dame sits. And the Congregation of the Holy Cross is there at the bishop’s discretion. So- while the Bishop does not have direct say so over every decision, he can make a stink about the invitation. Pulling the Holy Cross fathers would be overkill. He could, however, put a lot of pressure on the order to remove the key personnel who made the decision to invite.
I think you make a telling point Scott, Bishop D’Arcy explains and argues, he also makes the point that he is a teacher and tellingly he does not threaten what is, after all, just another education albeat Catholic institution. I respect the Bishop’s decision (always the better part of valour with Bishops) and understand it. He dosent call for a boycot though and he, in turn, respects the office of President while profoundly disagreeing with Government policy. He chooses his ground, as we all must when dealing with elected leaders. I suspect that stronger conversations will have taken place elsewhere and he has disagreed with the decision to invite (he could do no other). This Catholic University is now world renouned for a controversial decision which, it seems, it was entitled to make. I take a different approach (but then I’m not a Bishop) and see this as an opportunity to find common Christian ground with the President while making clear our abhorence for abortion, lets try and walk and talk at the same time and not just continue an election that is now over. By the way, large numbers of us with no vote are subject to US policy and wether this otherwise decent man goes for peace or more war is very important for all of us, especially the dispossesed.
I understand asking a President to speak but could someone PLEASE explain to me why Obama is getting an honorary degree.