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May 17, 2009

On what Notre Dame has taught us

Tom Piatak on what Notre Dame has taught us in its decision to have President Obama as a commencement speaker and to award him an honorary degree:

[...] That lesson is this: American politicians can freely embrace abortion and face no negative consequences at all. Any pro-abortion politician who climbs to the top of Benjamin Disraeli's "greasy pole" will get nothing but applause and praise from those who now run Notre Dame.

The Second Vatican Council defines abortion as an "unspeakable crime." Not so Notre Dame. Father Jenkins' effusive introduction of Obama never hinted that abortion is an "unspeakable crime." According to Father Jenkins, nothing is "unspeakable" because what matters is that we have a "dialogue," even though "Difference must be acknowledged, and in some cases even cherished." Amazingly, he praised Obama's supposed courage in coming to a place that showered him with applause, that vigorously arrested all pro-life demonstrators coming onto campus, and that provided him with a photo opportunity more effective than millions of dollars spent on campaign ads in demonstrating to Catholics that they need not worry about a candidate's support for abortion in deciding how to vote: "Most of the debate has centered on Notre Dame's decision to invite and honor the President. Less attention has been focused on the President's decision to accept. President Obama has come to Notre Dame, though he knows full well that we are fully supportive of Church teaching on the sancity of human life, and we oppose his policies on abortion and embryonic stem cell research." How Notre Dame opposed Obama's policies was not described. In fact, it is not at all clear from Notre Dame's own statements that it does oppose Obama's policies on abortion and stem cell research. Notre Dame's official press release on the commencement noted that Obama's "stance on abortion was likely unacceptable to some" at Notre Dame. And Father Jenkins could not even bring himself to say that the policies Obama supports are wrong, much less evil. Describing things as they are would apparently interfere with the "dialogue" Father Jenkins is so excited about.

Related: Dr. Obama of Notre Dame: 'Irreconcilable Views' call for a New Catholic Action

(I must admit that one line from Fr. Jonathan Morris, a guest commentator for Fox (who was excoriated by Randall Terry in the FOX broadcast) raised an analogy which broke through the veneer of congeniality about all of this. He asked the viewers to consider this scene: "Imagine Planned Parenthood giving a degree to Pope Benedict?" The analogy worked, well done Father.)

Posted by Hyscience at May 17, 2009 9:33 PM

• On what Notre Dame has taught us - May 17, 2009