Notre Dame's Betrayal

It is no wonder 74 Catholic bishops, including Chicago's Cardinal George, President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (as the Tribune notes, though way at the end of the story) have openly condemned Notre Dame's commencement speech invitation to President Obama and its awarding him a law degree. Notre Dame's decision to invite and honor the president is not routine--it is expressly in defiance of a recent church resolution. This calls into question Notre Dame's representing itself as a Catholic university.

The Cardinal Newman Society with more perspective:

In 2004, the U.S. bishops approved a policy stating, in part: “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.”

The number of commencement scandals at Catholic institutions has declined rapidly in recent years, from 24 in 2007, to 13 in 2006, to eight in 2007, and just six identified thus far in 2009, including Notre Dame.

“Given the bishops’ clear policy against Catholic honors to pro-abortion leaders, and the proven success of that policy throughout most of Catholic higher education, it should be no surprise that the bishops have responded so strongly to Notre Dame’s betrayal,” said Patrick J. Reilly, President of The Cardinal Newman Society.

A recent Rasmussen Reports poll shows that when respondents are made aware of the Catholic bishops’ policy, Americans overwhelmingly oppose Notre Dame’s selection of President Barack Obama as commencement speaker and honoree. The poll, released on May 5, finds that Catholics oppose the honor by a 60% to 25% margin and all Americans oppose it by a 52% to 25% margin.

Notre Dame has a responsibility as the most well-known Catholic institution in America to uphold its values and act with integrity. It has done neither.

Notre Dame has betrayed the faithful.

Previous posts: God and Obama at ND, What we choose to honor, Two Honest Women, The Root of Tolerance, Real Debate, Yes, The Name of Jesus, Bad Catholics, ND, what does it stand for?, Hundreds at ND Protest Obama Invitation, Rockford Bishop Outraged at ND, Obama is Losing Catholics, Freedom of Conscience, Cardinal George: ND Wrong, You think you have a choice, Our Sanctimonious President