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The distinct sound of a baby crying broke out in the capacious basketball arena where the Notre Dame commencement exercise was being held on Sunday when President Obama--who was giving the commencement address--began talking about abortion.   Obama not only gave the commencement address at Notre Dame’s May 17 graduation ceremony but also received an honorary doctorate in law from the university. Fr. John Jenkins, Notre Dame’s president, had followed through on his decision to have Obama speak and to honor him with an honorary degree at the ceremony even though that decision was criticized by more than 70 American Catholic...

Obama calls for 'fair-minded' abortion debate The president is greeted by cheers, protests at University of Notre Dame The Associated Press updated 4:18 p.m. PT, Sun., May 17, 2009 WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama strode head-on Sunday into the stormy abortion debate and told graduates at America's leading Roman Catholic university that both sides must stop demonizing one another. Obama acknowledged that "no matter how much we want to fudge it ... the fact is that at some level, the views of the two camps are irreconcilable." But he still implored the University of Notre Dame's graduating class and all...

From Jill Stanek at http://www.jillstanek.com/ May 17, 2009 Notre Dame update 5/17, 7:40a EST Turns out Norma McCorvey, the Roe in Roe v. Wade who is now pro-life, wanted to get arrested with Fr. Weslin yesterday and was insulted when police pushed her aside to grab the frail old guy. (Above photo shows Norma to Fr.'s right just before the arrest.) Norma attended the rally last night. This would be the quote of the day were it not Sunday. From Fox News, yesterday: Asked what she'd say to President Obama if given the opportunity, McCorvey replied, "I can't talk like...

I don't see ONE seat empty...I even saw Obama logo on hats...When you own the young, you own the country. America is gone. I am so so so sad...

I just spoke by phone with a friend, Sonny Torres, who went to Notre Dame this weekend with his wife Karen to protest the university giving Obama an honorary degree and a platform for promoting his policies which include murdering unborn children. Neither of my friends had any intention of getting arrested, but the Lord apparently had other plans. After six hours of joining in the protests off campus, Karen and Sonny left to begin their long ride back to Virginia. But they got turned around and pulled into the parking lot of a credit union bordering the university campus...

Notre Dame, The President’s Perspective According to Reuters News Agency, the following quote was given by the President to the University of Notre Dame in his Commencement Address. “SOUTH BEND, Indiana (Reuters) - President Barack Obama urged both sides in the abortion debate on Sunday to pursue a "fair-minded" discussion as he sought to quell a firestorm over his invitation to speak at Notre Dame, a premier U.S. Catholic university. The President has proposed his vision of a fair minded approach when he signed off on the confiscation of tax monies to fund abortions on an International Scale. The Bible...

SOUTH BEND, Indiana (Reuters) - President Barack Obama urged both sides in the abortion debate on Sunday to pursue a "fair-minded" discussion as he sought to quell a firestorm over his invitation to speak at Notre Dame, a premier U.S. Catholic university. Notre Dame's decision to confer an honorary degree on Obama and invite him to be the keynote speaker for the commencement sparked petitions and several days of protests. Some students vowed to boycott the commencement. But the speech itself drew mostly cheers, applause, standing ovations. Critics who said Obama's support for abortion rights violated Catholic Church doctrine had...

Bishop: Obama at Notre Dame 'day of shame' BY DANA MASSING Published: May 15. 2009 1:15AM Erie's Catholic bishop has added his voice to those opposing the University of Notre Dame's invitation to President Barack Obama to speak at Sunday's commencement and receive an honorary degree. In a statement released this week, Erie Bishop Donald W. Trautman called Obama "a relentless advocate of unrestricted abortion" and said it was a "bad decision" by Notre Dame officials to give him a platform. The U.S. Catholic bishops, in their 2004 statement "Catholics in Political Life," had said that "the Catholic community and...

(CBS/AP) Protests continued through the night at the United States' foremost Roman Catholic university, as demonstrators object to the school's decision to invite President Obama to give the commencement address this afternoon, given his stands on abortion and embryonic stem-cell research. Anti-abortion activists promise to disrupt the president's appearance on Sunday at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., where he also will receive an honorary degree. Mr. Obama is scheduled to speak at 2:00 p.m. ET. South Bend police expect thousands of demonstrators opposed to abortion rights on Sunday, reports CBS affiliate WSBT. But some anti-abortion right...

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.

Date Presidential Approval Index Strongly Approve Strongly Disapprove Total Approve Total Disapprove 05/16/2009 +4 34% 30% 55% 44% 05/15/2009 +7 36% 29% 57% 43% 05/14/2009 +8 37% 29% 57% 42%

In May 1995, his first year as Pennsylvania governor, Tom Ridge was invited by Gannon University, a Catholic college in Erie, Pa., to give the commencement address and receive an honorary degree. But the distinguished Republican and native son had a problem: he was a pro-choice Catholic. Erie Bishop Donald Trautman expressed his "concerns." Governor Ridge declined the degree. "The last thing I would want is for those differences to distract in any way from this wonderful day of recognition for Gannon's class of 1995," said Ridge. His spokesman explained that the decision "came from the governor." Ridge did the...

At the rate things are going, Pope Benedict XVI may find his next trip to the U.S. dogged by airplanes overhead trailing banners with images of aborted fetuses. O.K., that's a bit of hyperbole. But while several prominent conservative Catholics in this country are apoplectic over the University of Notre Dame's invitation of the pro-choice Barack Obama to give the school's commencement address on May 17, the Vatican has stayed completely silent on the matter. The two very different reactions to the question of whether a Catholic institution should honor anyone who disagrees with the Church's teaching on abortion are...

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – President Barack Obama strode head-on Sunday into the stormy abortion debate and told graduates at America's leading Roman Catholic university that both sides must stop demonizing one another. Obama acknowledged that "no matter how much we want to fudge it ... the fact is that at some level, the views of the two camps are irreconcilable." But he still implored the University of Notre Dame's graduating class and all in the U.S. to stop "reducing those with differing views to caricature. Open hearts. Open minds. Fair-minded words. It's a way of life that always has been...

SOUTH BEND, Ind.—President Barack Obama confronted the issue of abortion head on Sunday at Notre Dame, acknowledging that differences over the issue are largely irreconcilable but issuing a plea to those on both sides to tone down harsh rhetoric and search for “common ground” he believes is possible. “I do not suggest that the debate surrounding abortion can or should go away,” Obama said. “No matter how much we may want to fudge it – indeed, while we know that the views of most Americans on the subject are complex and even contradictory – the fact is that at some...

Thank you, Father Jenkins, for that generous introduction. You are doing an outstanding job as president of this fine institution, and your continued and courageous commitment to honest, thoughtful dialogue is an inspiration to us all.

18 More Anti Abortion Activists Arrested at Notre Dame on Saturday; More Arrests Planned for Sunday. Notre Dame Warns TV Networks that They Will 'Cut the Feed' of Any Network that Covers Disruption of Obama Speech on Sunday Dr. Alan Keyes to be available soon for interview - judge grants hearing and posts $1,000 bond each for 5 prolifers that have been held in jail without bond. They will be released soon. Contact: Kathy Veritas to schedule an interview with Alan Keyes after his release from jail. Contact: Kathy Veritas, 904-687-9804; stopobamanotredame.com SOUTH BEND, Ind., May 16 /Christian Newswire/ --...

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Former Republican presidential hopeful Alan Keyes, a Roman Catholic priest and 19 others were arrested Friday after marching onto the University of Notre Dame campus to protest President Barack Obama's planned commencement speech.....

Each year, the University videotapes the Notre Dame Commencement exercises. This year, you can see the following ceremonies live via streaming video.

Abortion Plane and Trucks Will Show Gory Abortion Images to Graduates and ParentsContact: Mark Harrington, Center for Bio Ethical Reform, 614-419-9000, cbrmidwest@cbrinfo.orgSOUTH BEND, Ind., May 16 /Christian Newswire/ -- Today the Center for Bio Ethical Reform (CBR) begins its 20th day of operations of the Obama Awareness Campaign in South Bend, IN. For three full weeks CBR has been forcing students, faculty, and trustees to see what America's abortion President means to unborn children. CBR's tow banner airplane and billboard trucks have educated students, faculty, and the community by forcing them to see abortion differently. Now, when abortion is mentioned in...