WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama ventures to America's foremost Roman Catholic university, where the country's deep divisions over abortion and stem-cell research have moved to the forefront in a time of war and recession.
A storm blew up immediately after the University of Notre Dame invited Obama to address Sunday's commencement exercises. It still rages, with anti-abortion activists promising to disrupt the president's appearance at South Bend, Ind., where he was also to receive an honorary degree.
Students opposed to abortion rights attended an all-night prayer vigil to protest Obama's visit, and 200 people prayed at a packed Alumni Hall Chapel.
More than 100 protesters gathered and 23 marched onto the campus Saturday. Police say they arrested 19 for trespassing and four were also charged with resisting law enforcement.
In Washington on Sunday, the head of the Republican Party said Obama should be denied the honorary degree.
Obama supports abortion rights but says the procedure should be rare. The Catholic Church and many other Christian denominations hold that abortion and the use of embryos for stem cell research amount to the destruction of human life and are morally wrong and should be banned by law.
The contrary argument holds that women have the right to terminate a pregnancy and that unused embryos created outside the womb for couples who cannot otherwise conceive should be available for stem cell research. Such research holds the promise of finding treatments for debilitating ailments.
Within weeks of taking office in January, Obama eased an executive order by President George W. Bush that limited research to a small number of stem-cell strains.
17 comments:
I personally think the dissidents are overreacting, but they do have a valid point. Obama may be an influential, inspirational, and admirable figure, but he does not fully represent the values Notre Dame holds. The person giving the commencement speech should be a shining example of the institution's ideals. Obama is definitely a person worth listening to, but this is not the proper occasion.
I strongly agree with Nathan. It would be amazing to have the president speak at a commencement ceremony but I don’t think he should have done it at a Catholic college. Notre Dame holds ideals that vary greatly from that of President Obama and the college is one of the exceptions to the “Universities are liberal” stereotype.
I agree with both of them. President Obama is an amazing speech giver,( although I have to wonder if he actually writes them) I don't think that he is an appropriate speaker for the ceremony. However, if he decides to speak, I think he should avoid the topic of abortion alltogether, in order to avoid starting more controversies.
I don't think it's a big deal for President Obama to speak at Notre Dame if he sticks to the topic of graduation and avoids making any comments about his political beliefs. People don't need to agree with his policies to respect him as a successful, admirable person.
I think he should just stay out of conflict. Why would true caholics want a guy, who will preaching for murder, to speak to them?
I agree with Nathan and Ryan. I think it was a bad idea to have him speak at a college that is anti-abortion and against stem cell research. I think it was a bad idea and is just stirring up more controversy.
I agree that it's probably not the best idea for President Obama to speak there. I believe that since he has conflicting values compared to the school it makes it not acceptable.
It was a bad idea to have Obama speak at the Commencement ceremony. The speech should not be political what so ever. It should focus on the great accomplishment that the students have acheived. It would be cool to have a president speak at a commencement ceremony but no matter what it will turn out political in some way shap or form si I'd stay away from big name political figures. The students and parents have a valid point and a right to be upset should they choose to be.
I dont see the big deal. Hes not going to go up there and talk about abortion or same sex rights. Hes gonna talk about how they are the future and blah blah blah. Id be honored if someone of his stature and great speaking ablity would speak at any graduation i was involved in. I think people just need to chill out and relax...its gonna be a great time for all envoled and somthing they will never forget not matter there own personal views.
I think that Obama speaking at a private institution is kind of a bad idea. He is sending out an image of what he "believes" in and I personally do not think it is a good idea for his image.
Having the president speak at a graduation ceremony would be amazing. Obama can deliver inspirational speeches, and thats what he should have done. Notre Dame was not the time to unload his liberal ideals on abortion and steam-cell research. He should have considered his audience, and given a speech better directed at them, maybe a speech about how they are going to get jobs in this crippled economy.
As a Catholioc, as someone who is against abortion and stem cell research, and as someone who will be applying to the University of Notre Dame this fall, I have mixed feelings on this. My gerneral opinion is that it is very cool that ND could get the president to speak at their commencement, but why in God's green eatrh would you ever invite Barack Obama? They knew what they'd be getting into if they did. I watched the speech today and thought it was for the most part very good (although I strongly question his sincerity); however, ND is the foremost Catholic institution in the US. There is no reason why they should be honoring the most pro-choice president in nation history with an honorary degree. If I were a member of the 2009 class, yeah I'd show up at the Joyce Center, but I wouldn't agree with what's going on in front of me. Notre Dame lost sight of its morals when they invited Obama to speak this year; the forrmost US Catholic institution should not invite someone who condones the destruction of human life.
By the way, it's time for Nancy Pelosi's resignation. Enough is enough.
To clarify, I was trying to imply in my post that the commencement speech was neither the time, nor the place to discuss abortion rights. I don't take issue with President Obama talking about them, its his job, but a commencement speech should be focused on the achievements of the class, not his personal beliefs or the beliefs of the school itself on specific topics, such as abortion rights.
All I gotta say now is that this "controversey" sure blew over quickly... The news made it seem like it was a much bigger deal than it was (wow big surprise there) but actually its barely being talked about now.
It's just a simple, honorable invitation to a sitting president to speak to it's graduating class. Having the president, no matter who, is a great honor. For a prestigious university, like Notre Dame, that is seen for it's elitist rather than religious roots, it's not at all against Notre Dame's principles to invite Obama.
This whole thing should not be an issue. Abortion is an important and divisive issue, but it should not impede the student's rights to a graduation and subsequent future, not an ideological battleground. Abortion is an issue that I don't think will ever go away as our deep christian roots won't quite let it. Obama is, in his own words, he doesn't want to prolong a bitterly divided America, but bring back the UNITED states of America.
I believe it is outrageous that the most catholic based university in the country would invite Barack Obama to present a speech to these individuals. Granted, it is a great honor to have the opportunity to have the president of the United States speak at your venue, but when the man disagrees with all the beliefs the catholic faith entails, it is just ridiculous for them to even think of inviting him there. ND made a huge mistake on their part to have him speak there, and they created a substantial unneeded amount of controversy and being a catholic, it makes me question the moral fiber of this prestigious university.
Although Obama is an inspirational speaker, I do not think he should have given his liberal speech to this university. I think it is a very good idea and honor to have him speak at a graduation, but that was bad timing on his part. I am torn on this issue, because I do believe he had a right to be there speaking, but the subject to which he was addressing was not fitting to his audience.
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