Scandal in South Bend

This weekend is commencement at Notre Dame University. The debate over the appropriateness of a Catholic institution honoring a pro-abortion politician started minutes after it was announced that President Obama would be delivering the commencement address and receiving an honorary law degree. The debate has brought to light many things, like how non-Catholics are suddenly experts in Catholic moral teaching, and how Catholics know very little about their faith.

Now that the applause from the speeches has died down, it's a good time to reflect on the President's words, and see exactly how his presence at Notre Dame, and his receiving an honorary law degree, have caused great scandal, just as predicted.

Some 50 Notre Dame students chose to skip their commencement exercises as a show of disapproval, but that was overshadowed by the overwhelming show of approval for President Obama by those in attendance inside the Joyce Center. This might give the impression that the President and his policies stand in harmony with Church teaching. After all, so many seem to approve of the President, even those at such a prestigious Catholic institution. But we must remember that our faith is not a popularity contest. We can't presume that just because a majority of American Catholics approve of the President's policies that somehow he is on the side of truth. The more likely explanation is that those American Catholics are simply not well formed in the knowledge and understanding of their faith.

The President delivered an eloquent speech. But when you stop to analyze the words he spoke, it quickly becomes apparent that his words ring hollow. The President, for example, talked about "greed and short-term thinking were too often rewarded". Although he was speaking about the economy, certainly he can see that the same sort of thinking is what often drives one to have an abortion. Greed, because having a baby right now would inconvenience me and get in the way of my plans. Short-term thinking, because I need a quick "out" because I don't want to face the consequences of my decision to have unprotected sex. If greed and short-term thinking are bad when applied to the economy, than certainly that are bad when applied to human life.

The president then went on to criticize the "strong, (who) too often dominate the weak." As he spoke those words, my jaw nearly hit the floor. Certainly a man of his intellect can see that the weakest amongst are the unborn, some 4000 of whom are killed each day by the strong, before they can even take their first breath. The weak deserve our protection at all stages of life, from conception to natural death.

I can see why the President's book is titled "The Audacity of Hope", because the President clearly knows about audacity. Because he had the audacity to stand in front of the thousands in attendance, and the millions watching on television, and tell them that he wants to work to reduce unintended pregnancies, make adoptions more available, and honor the conscience of those who oppose abortion. Those words sound wonderful, but they stand in stark opposition to the actions Mr. Obama has taken both in his short tenure as President, as well as his previous duties as U.S. and state senator. Actions speak louder than words, Mr. President, and your past actions drown out your words of today.

Notre Dame, by conferring this honor upon a President who is openly hostile to the teachings of the Catholic Church, has brought shame upon itself.

Scandal, indeed.