Obama at Notre Dame, Why the Controversy?

By U.S. News Staff

May 18, 2009 RSS Feed Print

President Obama delivered the commencement speech at Notre Dame over the weekend. The university's invitation to Obama was controversial within the Catholic community due to the president's stance on abortion. Writes MJ Rosenberg: "Yes, a Catholic university can take any stand it chooses on matters relating to faith. So may Jewish, Muslim, or any other kind of institution. However, disrespecting the President because he chooses not to observe the tenets of that institution's faith is disrespectful and utterly unpatriotic." Is Rosenberg right? Why all the controversy around one commencement speech? Is it unpatriotic to object to Notre Dame's invitation to President Obama? Post your thoughts.

Previously: Did Torture Get the U.S. Into the War in Iraq?

Take our poll: Is it unpatriotic to object to Notre Dame's invitation to President Obama?

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University of Notre Dame,
Barack Obama

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Does ND have to be closed minded to be Catholic? Should it follow the model of Bob Jones University?

This has long been a problem at ND, which has given honorary degrees in the past to people whose religions explicitly reject core Catholic doctrines, such as immaculate conception, virgin birth, transubstantiation, Good Works, papal authority, and the power of indulgences, otherwise known as Protestants. Unlike abortion, these issues are core doctrine! Most Protestant churches are made up of screaming heretics and schismatics who oppose restoring the Catholic Church to its natural and God-given role; why give them honorary degrees? Let the Catholic Church and its affiliated universities retreat into themselves and talk only to each other! Keep the faith pure!

Byron of MI 7:16AM May 19, 2009

I was hoping for a stirring speech on pedophile priests.

Luther of IL 4:51PM May 18, 2009

If President Obama had a record against homosexuals like he has against the unborn, do you believe the Fr. Jenkins would have invited him to Notre Dame? My answer is that he wouldn't be allowed within 100 miles of the place if he was anti-homosexual. Open your eyes Catholics!! This wasn't about "hearing the other side" it was about agenda's, plain and simple. By the way were any of you as disgusted as i was watching Jenkins fall all over himself like a little school girl with a crush. I used to respect Priests, not any more.

steve of TX 3:46PM May 18, 2009

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