University of Notre Dame Facing Criticism for Inviting President Barack Obama to Deliver Commencement Address

The University of Notre Dame is facing growing criticism for its decision to invite President Barack Obama to deliver the commencement address at the school’s scheduled graduation ceremonies on May 17.

According to an online petition which now has more than 81,000 signatures Notre Dame’s invitation “is an outrage and a scandal that 'Our Lady's University,' one of the premier Catholic universities in the United States, would bestow such an honor on President Obama given his clear support for policies and laws that directly contradict fundamental Catholic teachings on life and marriage.’

The petition, started by The Cardinal Newman Society, pointed to Obama’s views on abortion as well as his support for research on stem cells from embryos as clear indicators that he did not share the Church’s beliefs on the sanctity of life.

Instead of respecting the Catholic beliefs the Cardinal Newman Society says Notre Dame opted to choose “prestige over principles, popularity over morality,” reason enough for the advocacy group to start notredamescandal.com.

The petition, addressed to Father John Jenkins, President of Notre Dame, takes calls the invitation a “direct violation of the U.S. bishops’ 2004 mandate in “Catholics in Political Life”: “The Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.”

The mission statement of The Cardinal Newman Society states the advocacy group “is dedicated to renewing and strengthening Catholic identity at America's 224 Catholic colleges and universities. The Society focuses its work on assisting students, alumni and school officials; urging fidelity to the magisterium of the Catholic Church; and researching activities both on campus and in the classroom.”

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