Barack Obama's Notre Dame visit provokes huge Catholic backlash, PR disaster

Daily Telegraph (London) ^ | May 5, 2009 | Gerald Warner

[Zakeet]

Barack Obama's ill-fated decision to speak at the commencement ceremony of the Catholic University of Notre Dame on May 17 and to accept an honorary degree, despite his aggressively pro-abortion activities, has turned into a nasty car-crash for the White House. The Catholic and broader Christian backlash against this outrage has built up a head of steam beyond anything the cack-handed university administration could have anticipated.

Last week the first 300,000 signatures on a petition opposing the invitation to Obama were delivered to Notre Dame. This section of the petition was sent in advance so that it could be seen by the members of the Boards of Fellows and Trustees at their meeting last Friday. But, with signatures coming in at an average of 8,800 per day, there will be many more to follow.

[Snip]

Every spin doctor knows the most dangerous ploy is to attempt to present a hostile community as friendly by suborning a minority element of it. In this instance the Vichy Catholics selling the pass to the anti-life forces have been swamped by genuine Catholics. The university's defiance of the US Bishops' Conference resolution on awards to pro-abortionists has forced the American bishops to denounce Obama publicly. The cracks that were disgracefully papered over by "liberal" Catholics during the presidential election have been split wide open.

Thanks to Jenkins and his fellow collaborators, Barack Obama is now on a direct collision course with the Catholic community and that confrontation will now endure for the remainder of his presidency and influence the next election. Who said Catholic lefties were useless?

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

I seem to recall some group doing that to President Bush and I thought it was horribly disrespectful.....so it would be perfect because even the audience could do the same - it would make a powerful statement.

[Vinnie]

Barack Obama's ill-fated decision to speak at the commencement ceremony of the Catholic University of Notre Dame on May 17 and to accept an honorary degree, despite his aggressively pro-abortion activities, has turned into a nasty car-crash for the White House.

He'll go anywhere for 'face' time.

The real question is why ND invited him in the first place.!!

[kenmcg]

Would it not be great to see courageous patriots stand and either turn their backs on Obama or walk out during his speech?

[Cboldt]

That was a picture of Fr. Jenkins.

I wonder how many seniors will protest by abstaining from attendance of making their objection know by armband or back turning.

[Mr. Lucky]

Thanks.

(Although Fr. Jenkins does seem to have made this year's graduation all about him.)

[xsmommy]

i don’t have a good read on the feelings of the graduating class on this. if there won’t be a majority standing and turning their backs, would that be good? i am still hoping that Obams will be worried about potential controversy and look for a way out via pretext.

[shalom aleichem]

The photo in #1 of Fr Jenkins is the spitin’ image of Dan Brown ala DaVinci Code and Angels & Demons. They share the same level of popularity with the Vatican. LOL

[Cboldt]

-- Wonder if there are plans afoot to have a separate graduation ceremony. --

A separate ceremony/protest, but it's not a commencement. Fr. Jenkins really stepped in it.

ND Response is an excellent focal point describing ND-student endorsed opposition, and their planned activities.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

I would assume that the graduating class is going to be representative of the country as a whole and there would be at least 50% who are prolife - I could be wrong, I was once. ;^)

[Cboldt]

-- i don’t have a good read on the feelings of the graduating class on this. --

I don't either. I was trying to get some accurate information, faced with an opponent in argument who asserted that 97% of the graduating class has no objection to Obama being the keynote (and likewise, finds Mary Ann Glendon's reaction inappropriate). My guess is that the graduating class is split about 50-50 on this, and that it's a painful split.

[xsmommy]

i would like some insight into the class. xsteen has at least a few HS friends who are there now [sophomores though, not graduating seniors] and she hasn’t seen their names on any of the facebook protest groups etc. which surprised her.

[xsmommy]

i agree that 50-50 is far more likely that whoever was postulating 97%.

[Cboldt]

-- i agree that 50-50 is far more likely that whoever was postulating 97%. --

As of March 27, 92 of 95 letters from seniors, to "The Observer" (student paper) "were positive" (whatever that means, I think that Obama should be allowed to speak). My opponent in argument took that as "97% of the graduating class." Typical lying Democrat.

[BlueStateBlues]

Maybe he is Dan Brown. An alias. Only an insider could have written those books, especially about the long-held Vatican secret of the killer Albino Monk brigade.

[xsmommy]

not too bright either, apparently LOL!

[Niuhuru]

Either that or walk out during the speech if Obama gives the speech.

[Rome2000]

Catholics need to turn out en masse and protes,t get arrested.

[oust the louse]

Our priest announced he was one of the 300,000 signatures and he got a huge enthusiastic round of applause this Sunday at mass. BO would be an idiot to keep this appointment at ND....

[marshmallow]

Gaydar alarm!!

[Cboldt]

-- not too bright either, apparently --

He just threw out the 97% figure, as reported on multiple news outlets, then built his argument on that foundation. He didn't account for my inclination to research the source and substance that produced the statistic. "Lies, damn lies and statistics." Same person asserted that 2/3rds of Catholics voted for Obama, and a majority are pro-choice. No evidence, just assertions.