Posted on 05/18/2009 4:53:49 AM PDT by IbJensen
President Focuses Notre Dame Speech On His Vision For Overcoming Religious Differences
President Barack Obama is hooded as he receives an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Laws during commencement ceremonies at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., yesterday. (Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press)
President Barack Obama received a controversial honorary doctorate from the University of Notre Dame yesterday and delivered a commencement keynote address focused on religious differences and his vision for overcoming them.
Mr. Obama acknowledged his appearance at the country’s foremost Catholic university had caused controversy over his stance on abortion, but he told of a story from his campaign to illustrate his view of how to come to terms with differences over abortion.
“A few days after I won the Democratic nomination, I received an e-mail from a doctor who told me that while he voted for me in the primary, he had a serious concern that might prevent him from voting for me in the general election,” said Mr. Obama. “He described himself as a Christian who was strongly pro-life, but that’s not what was preventing him from voting for me. What bothered the doctor was an entry that my campaign staff had posted on my Web site — an entry that said I would fight ‘right-wing ideologues who want to take away a woman’s right to choose.’ The doctor said that he had assumed I was a reasonable person, but that if I truly believed that every pro-life individual was simply an ideologue who wanted to inflict suffering on women, then I was not very reasonable. He wrote, ‘I do not ask at this point that you oppose abortion, only that you speak about this issue in fair-minded words.’”
Mr. Obama emphasized finding common ground, but carefully avoided saying the abortion debate should go away. He stressed his view that reducing the number of abortions is the best way to reconcile both sides on the abortion debate once all sides admit to common ground.
“That’s when we begin to say, ‘Maybe we won’t agree on abortion, but we can still agree that this is a heart-wrenching decision for any woman to make, with both moral and spiritual dimensions,” he said. “‘So let’s work together to reduce the number of women seeking abortions by reducing unintended pregnancies, and making adoption more available, and providing care and support for women who do carry their child to term. Let’s honor the conscience of those who disagree with abortion, and draft a sensible conscience clause, and make sure that all of our health-care policies are grounded in clear ethics and sound science, as well as respect for the equality of women.’”
Mr. Obama gave a similar message on religion to the one he delivered in February at the National Prayer Breakfast: that the key to unity among religions is in the golden rule.
“It is no coincidence that it exists in Christianity and Judaism; in Islam and Hinduism; in Buddhism and humanism,” he said. “It is, of course, the golden rule — the call to treat one another as we wish to be treated. The call to love. To serve. To do what we can to make a difference in the lives of those with whom we share the same brief moment on this earth.”
While Mr. Obama spoke, more than 200 pro-life activists protested at Notre Dame’s at the main gates. At least five people were led away in handcuffs, according to a report by the Associated Press. Those arrested included Norma McCorvey, the plaintiff identified as “Roe” in the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. Ms. McCorvey now opposes abortion, offering her story to convince others that abortion doesn’t help women.
The controversy over Mr. Obama’s speech erupted because of a 2004 instruction from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), which said politicians publicly opposed to Catholic morality should not be given honors by Catholic institutions.
Fr. John Jenkins, the president of Notre Dame, did not inform his bishop, Bishop John D’Arcy of the Fort Wayne-South Bend diocese, about the invitation until Mr. Obama had already accepted it. Bishop D’Arcy did not attend yesterday’s commencement exercises. Since the presidential visit was announced, over 70 bishops publicly voiced their opposition to the school’s decision, calling it a scandal.
Although many of the students at Notre Dame are favorable to Mr. Obama, the issue has caused an outcry among many Catholics and not a few alumni. One such organization, known as ReplaceJenkins.com, has recorded more than 1,400 pledges totaling almost $14 million from alumni and donors promising to withhold future donations. Other Catholics have responded to the news by returning all their Notre Dame memorabilia to the school.
Polls over the invitation for Mr. Obama to speak havae been conflicted. A Pew Research Survey showed Catholics were not in favor of rescinding the invitation; however, a Rasmussen Poll showed that Catholics think Notre Dame should obey the USCCB. Mr. Obama won a divided Catholic electorate in the 2008 election, but a Gallup poll released last week showed pro-life self-identification is the highest it has been in 14 years.
He looks absolutely evil. Like ha is being crowned anti-pope. Notre Dame should be ashamed for allowing themselves to be used by 0bama like that.
Can a child be half dead? Do we meet "helfway" and say that 1 million a year is alright and then clap ourselves on the back over our "compromise"?
Besides, Obama and his ilk are not interested in less, irrespective of what they say, they want to open the flood gates to even more. Watch what they do as opposed to what the TOTUS says. <
Ah, yes, the great common ground:
All religions are equal.
All religions are valid.
All people worship a creator.
The only truth rests in consensus.
All power rests with the State.
Buckle up kids. It’s going to get worse.
Is it actual real estate ... terra firma? If so ... we have it already, these great United States.
Is it rhetorical construct?
Then we have a problem. There is no commonality with life and death. There is no concord with Christ and Belial.
I fear we have stepped on the threshold of "Give me Liberty of give me death"
I fear, because I don't want to die .... I fear because I may be one to tip the apple cart. I'm no hero ... I'm no coward ... I'm no leader ... I'm just a guy .... and I'd like to find one of those friendly neighborhood taverns that our colonial forebears visited and talked.
“Let’s honor the conscience of those who disagree with abortion, and draft a sensible conscience clause, and make sure that all of our health-care policies are grounded in clear ethics and sound science, as well as respect for the equality of women.’”
Look at this sentence carefully. He completely dismisses the concerns of the religious medical professionals as “ALL of our health-care policies are grounded in...science...as well as....equality of women.
He has no intention of allowing a religious ethic to be observed.
He pretty much declared war on the Christians yesterday.
This said in the context of finding common ground between pro-abortion and pro-life individuals? And how does the Golden Rule apply to the baby, who could be developed enough to live outside the womb, Mr. President.
The powers that be silenced the pope?
The coup has been successful.
That quote is BS anyway. President Unicorn can get away with it because the corrupt MSM will not call him on it.
I changed my tagline with President Unicorn in mind. :-)
Can we agree that after all the hoopla & build-up, the protest was a fizzle? We might have expected more than students chanting, “Yes we can,” or the overdone bouquets from Rev. Jenkins? The worst was right after, Michael Steele v Doug Kmiec on Fox — Kmiec doesn’t know what he’s talking about but he’s so CERTAIN! The bishops are reaping what they sowed!
It’s enough I guess, just for him to “address” this issue in terms no different from how it’s been addressed for no less than 36 years now. Platitudes, homilies, rancid cliches. NONE of them at all linked to the real issues surrounding abortion-on-demand, or any of its permutations or further “refinements” or later side issues.
And evoking “adoption” when the pro-choice left has always badmouthed that for good reason: it gets in the way of the abortion industry, and is the ONLY thing that threatens their economic standing and hence, political influence.
Abortion is the “slavery issue” of modern times.
Would Obama agree that some slavery should be allowed? Maybe Obama would support a sort of “Missouri Compromise,” where Slavery is allowed in some states, but not others?
Or would he have supported abolition?
Mark
Shame on Notre Dame for stoking this man’s narcissim
he would have learned a more valuable lesson if the dialogue had told him “no compromise on govt funding the destruction of innnocent life for convenience”
Musta missed his call for common ground for Miss California???
PRay for America and Our Troops
The man who espouses infanticide wants calmer rhetoric and common ground, eh?
My BS detector just went off the charts.
Does this mean only kill some babies, then? Less than before? A number which we can all agree upon? Which ones?
Or do the Dems and Planned Parenthood continue to target depressed, poverty stricken minority neighborhoods? When are these poor folks going to wake up and realize the genocide that THEY HAVE VOTED FOR?
There are certainly areas of politics that lend themselves to compromise. This is not one of them.
There is no common ground to find — it’s life or death, where’s the middle?
Pro-lifers want 0 abortions per year in the US.
Common Ground: 2 million abortions per year in the US.
</liberal logic>
How can you compromise on abortion?
Agree to kill babies “only a little bit”?
Agree to only kill every other one?
Maybe just on odd days?
The very notion is ridiculous but then the very notion of Obama in the White House is ridiculous.
I read that Steven King book. Trust me, it's a bad idea.
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