Bishop to Boycott Obama Commencement Speech
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Bishop to Boycott Obama Commencement Speech at Notre Dame
Kaitlynn RielyPosted: Mar 25th 2009 12:30AM
Filed under: Politics, Small Campus, Big Story, Culture, Religion, News, Local, Media, Notre Dame
Bishop John M. D'Arcy, who presides over Indiana's Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese, which includes Notre Dame, announced Tuesday he will not be attending Notre Dame's May 17 Commencement, since President Barack Obama will be speaking.
"Can I have the Bishop's ticket?" my friend posted on the Web site Twitter.com.
D'Arcy has clashed with Notre Dame in the past, most significantly when University President Fr. John Jenkins issued a statement in 2006 allowing The Vagina Monologues to be performed on campus. Now it's Obama's pro-choice stances and decisions, rather than vaginas, that have gotten D'Arcy's Irish up.
Notre Dame and the White House announced Friday that Obama would be speaking at Notre Dame's May 17 Commencement ceremony, with Jenkins following up Monday clarifying that asking Obama to speak, and awarding him with an honorary doctor of laws degree, does not signify support of his policies. Most students, from my observations on campus, seem to be supportive of and excited about hearing Obama speak. But a vocal student minority, as well as alumni and unaffiliated pro-life groups, have protested the decision vehemently.
In his statement Tuesday, D'Arcy said Jenkins informed him of Obama's acceptance shortly before the announcement was made. D'Arcy said it was the first time he'd been told about the invitation. This May is the 25th Notre Dame graduation since D'Arcy became bishop, and for the first time, he said, he will not attend.
"After much prayer, I have decided not to attend the graduation," he said. "I wish no disrespect to our president, I pray for him and wish him well. I have always revered the Office of the Presidency. But a bishop must teach the Catholic faith 'in season and out of season,' and he teaches not only by his words -- but by his actions."
He added: "My decision is not an attack on anyone, but is in defense of the truth about human life."
I understand that D'Arcy has major disagreements with Obama over abortion and stem cell issues. But isn't he giving up a unique opportunity to pull the president aside for a moment and voice his concerns? It may not make a difference in Obama's stances, but when else will D'Arcy have the ear of the president?
I'm unimpressed with D'Arcy's leadership. The pro-life movement's sign-carrying, march-making approach hasn't worked so far, and I doubt the Bishop's boycott will make any difference in abortion policy in the United States. It just distances the Catholic Church from the decision-making process.
Too bad. I wish D'Arcy had been a bit braver and seen the opportunity, rather than ask whether Notre Dame has "chosen prestige over truth."
D'Arcy's ticket won't go to waste. Notre Dame seniors, who are only guaranteed 3 tickets each for graduation, have been posting on Facebook asking those who don't want Obama to speak at Notre Dame to give away their tickets.
Security itself on graduation day promises to be intense. But already, with two months to go, life in the Notre Dame bubble is becoming surreal. Leaving the gym this afternoon, I stopped by a television because a woman from a local television station was delivering a report from my campus.
When I got back to my room, a friend told me Notre Dame was on CNN.
Does this controversy have the momentum to last two months? Pro-life groups will certainly try their best. Everyone here has a viewpoint on the Obama drama.
My favorite opinion of the day came in a letter to the editor published in Notre Dame's student newspaper, The Observer. The author of the letter is a student at Saint Mary's, the all-women college across the street from Notre Dame, who asked whether the Notre Dame "administration considered the impact such an important political figurehead will have on the travel plans of the other schools graduating that weekend."
I imagine potential traffic congestion is the last thing Jenkins is thinking about this week.
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greg
1:46AM 1:46AM Mar 25th 2009
As a lifelong Catholic, I am saddened that the good Bishop feels he must boycott the President's address at Notre Dame. I would have been much more impressed if the Bishop has spoken loudly and clearly against the Church's cover up of molesting priests. Walk the walk, Bishop. Talk is cheap and that is all the Church has to offer, from lip service over a Holocaust denier to their idiotic comments on condoms INCREASING AIDS in poor countries. It may be time to hand in your mitre and call it a failed career.
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mw
4:51PM 4:51PM Mar 25th 2009
The church is fessing up to their inactions. The guy has a right to stand up for what he believes in. Why is Obama going to a Catholic school? He doesn't agree with what they have to say. It's about votes and PR and the fact that these grads and their kids will be paying for his programs for the rest of their lives.
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Mary
9:12PM 9:12PM Mar 25th 2009
As a Catholic, I am outraged that President Obama is going to a Catholic university for any reason. Shame on Notre Dame. Does the CATHOLIC CBURCH WANT ME AND THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of traditional Catholics to leave the curch? Good luck with that! Who will be at Mass? I am disgusted!!!
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alice
7:50AM 7:50AM Mar 26th 2009
Catholics have always believed in life, Obama clearly does not. Why should someone thats not anything, Catholic nor Christian , that dont stand for nothing, be allowed? I think not...
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wilson
2:51PM 2:51PM Mar 27th 2009
the good bishop should start boycotting little boys
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tytrbid
12:53PM 12:53PM Mar 27th 2009
When someone asked Jesus why he was going to the house
of a tax collector and a sinner, He replied that He
had not come to seek the righteous, but to redeem the sinner.
Bishop D'Arcy would do well to follow the lead of Jesus in this regard. I, too, find it atrocious that the President is so pro-choice and seems to be doing everything he can to threaten the life of the unborn.
However, being in a position of responsibility as the Bishop is and running away from an opportunity to allow
God to work through him and perhaps soften the heart
of the President towards the sanctity of life is,
in my humble opinion, simply wrong.
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deniseatt
11:43PM 11:43PM Mar 29th 2009
Good for you Greg. The Catholic Church hardly has a leg to stand on when it comes to moral high ground.
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Marie
8:48PM 8:48PM Mar 27th 2009
Hey Greg, as a "life-long Catholic"?? That's pretty amusing. Sounds like you're siding with everyone else but the Catholics. Why don't you just shut up and pray for the priests who have committed these sins instead of your bad comments? After all, isn't that what a true Catholic should do?
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Susan
12:59AM 12:59AM Mar 28th 2009
As a lifelong Catholic, and a very active one, I think the Bishop is correct in his statement that he must stand by the teachings of the church all the time. I think he probably should have showed up pre-speech and given King Obama an earful about the Freedom of Choice Act - which really infringes on a lot of people who don't believe in it - but I respect his decision to take a stand. Someone needs to. As for the whole molestation and holocaust situation, it was abhorrable, but the Pope has apologized and asked for forgiveness. Nothing can be done to take it all back, but asking for forgiveness and moving forward with programs to protect God's children, are a step in the right direction.
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Chris
8:13AM 8:13AM Apr 2nd 2009
I believe the Bishop should have used this as an opportunity to meet with President Obama. I think the Church should absolutely embrace the elected commander-in- chief, who was the candidate determined to end an unjust war and cease the wholesale destruction of life. I'm always deeply trouble that many people identify themselves as "Pro-Life" but have remained "Pro-War" and called that patriotism. Defense of the powerless is a call to faith and action that must not approve of destruction of the living. Surely babies, children and innocent men and women who are "collateral damage" cry out for justice. The Bishop should step up to this larger issue and show leadership. I'd like the respect his decision but maybe he ought to spend some time on the Beatitudes, you know, those phrases that start with "blessed are..." Chris
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dupreclc
11:27AM 11:27AM Apr 23rd 2009
I couldn't agree with you more whole heartly
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Hank
5:26AM 5:26AM Mar 25th 2009
President Obama is kind enough to give the commencement speech at Notre Dame and this bishop lacks the common decency to be a part of the graduation. The speech has nothing to do with abortion, nor stem cell research but rather the begining of these grads lives in the real world. The only ones who will remember that the bishop boycotted the graduation will be the graduates of Notre Dame.
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alice
8:16AM 8:16AM Mar 26th 2009
What life do these children have? He has burdened them with one they will never be able to pay. He stands for nothing, and has set this country back 70 years. He should not be allowed to speak. He is not Catholinc nor Christian!
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George
11:24AM 11:24AM Apr 4th 2009
Amen ! Amen!
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Marie
8:47PM 8:47PM Mar 27th 2009
Hank, sorry, but the Bishop has the right to do whatever he wants. Please respect that. Why the heck should Obama visit a Catholic school anyway?
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Ken
6:24AM 6:24AM Mar 25th 2009
It's bad for Iranian mullah's to shape government policy, but it's right and good for catholicism? If the chuch want's to openly challenge government policies, it's time to forego the tax exempt status of the entire catholic church. They're doing it everywhere, and it's time for the free lunch to end.
They've overstepped their bounds, as they are no different than any other unregulated entities. As another poster pointed out, they were quite willing to be silent about their internal problem - Yet feel compelled to admonish others for their views and actions.
Forgive and forget the actions of criminals in their midst, who've broken one of the greatest bonds - trust - But must lash out against what virtually half the population see as legal and moral.
Just another example of why people are being open in their rejection of organized religion - Just another hand out, proclaiming goodwill while drowning in gold.
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reidgator
1:28PM 1:28PM Mar 25th 2009
Ken, you're an idiot!
Being tax exempt does not mean you forfeit your 1st Amendment rights. NARAL is tax exempt and they can speak up on behalf of pro-choice. Any 501c organization CAN and SHOULD speak up on the issues. The restriction they have is supporting a particular candidate for an election!
Get your facts straight and do some thinking before you mouth off.
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Willet
11:08AM 11:08AM Mar 25th 2009
"""He added: "My decision is not an attack on anyone, but is in defense of the truth about human life."""
And you're not impressed with his leadership?
One thing, did Bishop John M. D'Arcy use the word "boycott" or is it you putting words in his mouth?
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IMA GROUCH
11:08AM 11:08AM Mar 25th 2009
I am not catholic nor a pro-lifer nor have any axe to grind, and I am neither pro nor con on Obama, but I do admire the Bishop for having the courage to stand up for his convictions, whether others agree with him or not.
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William J Quinn
11:11AM 11:11AM Mar 25th 2009
The lady atop the chapel in South Bend is weeping, and has been since the reign of Hesburgh and the stain of Cuomo, in the cesspool called Land O Lakes.
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