N.O. Archbishop Criticizes Notre Dame for Inviting Obama to Speak at Commencement

New Orleans Archbishop Alfred Hughes on Thursday joined a growing chorus of Catholic bishops deploring the University of Notre Dame's decision to award President Barack Obama an honorary degree at graduation exercises next month.

Notre Dame is perhaps the flagship Catholic university in the country. But Obama favors abortion rights and embryonic stem-cell research, two public policies vigorously opposed by the Roman Catholic Church.

His administration recently suspended federal "conscience rules" that, under the Bush administration, had shielded some health care workers who refuse to participate in abortions on the basis of "religious beliefs or moral convictions."

Hughes wrote Notre Dame's president, the Rev. John Jenkins, expressing his opposition, archdiocesan spokeswoman Sarah Comiskey said.

"He feels as though this is not just an issue for Notre Dame. This is an issue on which Catholics everywhere are expressing disappointment. It clearly goes against Catholic policy against honoring pro-choice politicians. He's just making the point that Catholics should be standing up for life everywhere, " Comiskey said.

Fifty-four percent of Catholics voted for Obama in the 2008 election. Still, news that Notre Dame would honor Obama at its May 17 commencement has jolted Catholic opponents of abortion since the March 20 White House announcement that he would speak at Notre Dame.

Handling a hot potato

Critics include New York's new Archbishop-Designate Timothy Dolan, who said "they made a big mistake, " and Chicago Cardinal Francis George.

In addition, Hughes joins a growing list of at least 15 individual bishops across the country speaking out against Notre Dame's invitation.

A conservative watchdog group, the Cardinal Newman Society, has become an online gathering place for opposition, gathering computer signatures in protest for delivery to the university.

kellynla wrote:

Can't Pope Benedict just tell Fr. Jenkins to rescind the invitation to Hussien?
Or are we gonna have to put up with this nonsense until May?

Canon Law clearly gives the pastor jurisdiction. The only thing that can be done is to remove the pastor.

And I believe Father Jenkins is considered a pastor under Canon Law.

However, why put SSPX in charge of Notre Dame...

That would spark some fireworks...

[Note: SSPX stands for the Society of Saint Pius X

She noted a sharp difference in sentiment between alumni, 70 percent of whom oppose the invitation, and students, 73 percent of whom favor it.

Most of these articles don't mention how Obama voted against the Born Alive Protection Act, the worst and most despicable thing of all. It's as though people don't know about it, or they're afraid to mention it. If students all over this country and at ND who admire Obama knew this one fact, they would change their mind about him....IMO

It should be noted that Archbishop Alfred Hughes boycotted an honors ceremony for former New Orleans Mayor Moon Landrieu at Xavier College (New Orleans).

The reason the Archbishop gave was in the involvement in the support of abortion by the children of Moon Landrieu -- Mitch Landrieu and Mary Landrieu...

People should remember that Cardinal Egan made his life simple when Hillary Clinton was invited to speak at Marymount Manhattan College.

The good Cardinal simply tossed Marymount Manhattan out of the Catholic Church...

His phones, faxes and email were much more peaceful after he took that decision...

1.    Francis Cardinal George
2.    Bishop John D'Arcy
3.     Bishop Robert Lynch
4.    Archbishop John Nienstedt

5. Archbishop Timothy Dolan

6. Bishop Thomas Olmsted

7. Bishop Gregory Aymond

8. Daniel Cardinal DiNardo

9. Archbishop John J. Myers

10. Bishop Edward J. Slattery

11. Bishop Kevin Rhoades

12. Bishop R. Walker Nickless

13. Bishop Robert Charles Morlino

14. Bishop Thomas Doran

15. Archbishop Eusebius Beltran

16. Bishop Alfred Hughes

Sixteen Bishops have spoken out against Notre Dame. Who will be next?

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