Many concerned Catholics were troubled by news that theUniversity of Notre Dame invited US President Barack Obama to deliver the commencement address for the Catholic university's 164th University Commencement Ceremony. Despite his overwhelming popularity, and the genuine hope that President Obama represents, the current occupant of the White House is strongly opposed to the Catholic Church's position on issues such as abortion, gay and lesbian marriages, and stem-cell research.
Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston offers a thoughtful summary of his opposition to the esteemed university's invitation of President Obama to their commencement rights:
I find the invitation very disappointing. Though I can understand the desire by a university to have the prestige of a commencement address by the President of the United States, the fundamental moral issue of the inestimable worth of the human person from conception to natural death is a principle that soaks all our lives as Catholics, and all our efforts at formation, especially education at Catholic places of higher learning. The President has made clear by word and deed that he will promote abortion and will remove even those limited sanctions that control this act of violence against the human person. The Bishops of the United States published a document a few years ago asking all Catholic universities to avoid giving a platform or an award to those politicians or public figures who promote the taking of unborn human life. Even given the dignity of Office of the President, this offer is still providing a platform and an award for a public figure who has been candid on his pro-abortion views. Particularly troubling is the Honorary Law Degree since it recognizes that the person is a “Teacher,” in this case of the Law. I think that this decision requires charitable but vigorous critique.
As I have written previously, I respect the office of the President of the United States, and profess my admiration for President Obama's accomplishments as a statesman:
While there is much to admire in the newly-minted US president, there is also much which invites concern. It's not enough to mollify conservative Christian elements in the US by choosing a Catholic vice-president, especially a Catholic who invites attention by asserting that "The next Republican that tells me I'm not religious I'm going to shove my rosary beads down their throat."
It's more important to, remarks regarding the use of rosaries for martial purposes notwithstanding, address the valid concerns that these elements raise.
What is President Obama's stand on reproductive health? What is his stand on abortions? Will he encourage a culture that promotes and nurtures life?
However, I cannot condone the anti-life policies that President Obama seeks to promote. It's not a political issue. It's a moral one.
Kudos to Damian Thompson, whose blog steered me to Fr. Z's entry.
3 comments:
Bishop Thomas J. Tobin of Rhode Island wrote: "...the fact that the President is using their tax dollars to destroy unborn children. (And now to engage in the destruction of human embryos in stem cell research.) But it still seems to me that if the President’s anti-life actions don’t stir up moral outrage in you, nothing will; if they don’t offend your conscience, you need a conscience transplant, my friend."
Jesus wasn't always nice
Thanks WillyJ! I clicked on the link, and was pleasantly surprised by Bishop Tobin's insights. I especially liked:
"Sometimes as Catholics we’re hesitant to challenge the immoral behavior of others, including public officials, because we don’t want to appear judgmental or uncharitable. Our society urges us to be “tolerant” of other people and their behavior, even if it’s objectively wrong. But it’s precisely because we love others that we should never tolerate immoral behavior. As Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Denver has written so well, “Tolerance is not an end in itself, and tolerating or excusing grave evil in a society is itself a grave evil . . . And it is not a Christian virtue.”
I like the comments of Bishop Thomas Doran of a Diocese in Illinois. Witty, but clear enough.
http://moss-place.stblogs.org/archives/2009/04/gosh-darn-how-i.html
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