Monday, March 23, 2009

Thomas More, Call Your Office   [Jack Fowler]

Obama is also receiving a Doctor of Laws degree from Notre Dame. “Laws” — as in the things he tried to prevent in the Illinois legislature on the matter of protecting infants who survived abortion? The Notre Dame Observer today posts its Sunday interview with Fr. John Jenkins, the school’s president. It is titled “Jenkins: Obama 'honored' University by accepting.” I’m sure that’s just how Mary (a.k.a. Notre Dame) is feeling right now. Anyway, here are the initial paragraphs from the Observer — it’s worth reading the entire thing.

University President Fr. John Jenkins responded to criticism regarding the announcement of President Barack Obama as the 2009 Commencement speaker by clearly making a distinction between honoring the president and supporting his political views.

Jenkins made it clear in an interview with The Observer Sunday the University does not "foresee circumstances" that would cause Notre Dame to rescind the president's invitation.

"We have invited the president and he's honored us by accepting," he said. . . .

"Presidents from both parties have come to Notre Dame for decades to speak to graduates about our nation and our world. They've given important addresses on international affairs, human rights, service, and we're delighted that President Obama is continuing that tradition," Jenkins said.

Some members of the Notre Dame community, and the larger national Catholic community have negatively responded to the announcement, launching campaigns to stop the president from visiting the University because of his stances on issues regarding the protection of life.

Jenkins made clear the University is not honoring the president for his stances on these issues, but for his leadership.

"The invitation of President Obama to be our Commencement speaker should in no way be taken as condoning or endorsing his positions on specific issues regarding the protection of life, such as abortion and embryonic stem cell research," Jenkins said.

These "crucial differences" in positions on the protection of life are not being ignored in extending the invitation to the president, Jenkins said, but rather can be used as a catalyst for dialogue.

"We are not ignoring the critical issue of the protection of life. On the contrary, we invited him because we care so much about those issues, and we hope . . . for this to be the basis of an engagement with him," Jenkins said.

"You cannot change the world if you shun the people you want to persuade, and if you cannot persuade them . . . show respect for them and listen to them," he said.

President Obama is "an inspiring leader who has taken leadership of the country facing many challenges: two wars, a really troubled economy, he has issues with health care, immigration, education reform, and he has addressed those with intelligence, courage and honesty," Jenkins said.

Obama's historic election as the first black president in American history adds to the honor of his acceptance of Notre Dame's invitation, he said.

"I would say that it's a special feature for us that we will hear from the first African American president here at Notre Dame, a person who has spoken eloquently and powerfully about race," he said. "Racial prejudice is a deep wound in America and President Obama has been a healer, so we honor him for those reasons."

The president will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University when he visits in May. Jenkins said The Office of the President issues honorary degrees, and he "consulted with many people" about the decision.

03/23 11:42 AMShare