The address that Obama will deliver at Notre Dame's commencement is perhaps the most anticipated speech of his presidency.
Without question, it's the most controversial.
Pro-life leaders have been arrested in protest, Catholic bishops nationwide have objected and some students have promised a boycott, but for President Obama, speaking at and accepting an honorary degree from the University of Notre Dame on Sunday is just one of what will be a long line of commencement speeches he'll deliver during his time in the White House.
"This is a special occasion for families to celebrate the conferring of degrees in this ceremony and that the president will understand that's the most important aspect of the day," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Friday, tamping down expectations for Mr. Obama's appearance at one of the country's flagship Catholic universities.
At the center of the controversy is Mr. Obama's pro-choice position on abortion, which stands in opposition to the Catholic Church's teaching, and which some bishops and other Catholic leaders said should have disqualified Mr. Obama from being invited to address graduating students and receive an honorary degree.
Mr. Obama will be introduced by the university's president, the Rev. John I. Jenkins, who extended the invitation to Mr. Obama and has suffered harsh criticism including some calls to resign. The president is expected to speak for 20 minutes.
Mr. Obama will touch on abortion in his address, but will not dwell on it, the White House said.
...Though Mr. Obama defends his pro-choice stance, he has tried to play down the abortion rights side of the equation in favor of his stated commitment to reduce the number of abortions.
...Graduates of the university have staged campaigns to cut off donations to the school, and pro-life leaders have been staging protests and getting arrested throughout May. On Friday, former Republican presidential hopeful Alan Keyes, a priest who leads a pro-life group and 19 others were arrested after marching onto Notre Dame's campus, the Associated Press reported.
Jenkins' invitation to Obama to speak at commencement and awarding this most radical anti-life president in our nation's history with an honorary degree has resulted in some unintended consequences.
Although Jenkins didn't intend to energize the pro-life movement and raise awareness about Obama's extremist culture of death agenda, he did.
Although Jenkins didn't intend to highlight the failure of Notre Dame to remain true to its Catholic foundation, he did.
Although Jenkins didn't intend to remind Catholics of their responsibility to respect life at all its stages and conditions, he did.
In short, Jenkins did a good thing by inviting Obama to Notre Dame's commencement. The honorary degree made it all even better, an exclamation point.
Jenkins has helped spread the word about Obama's assault on life. He made it a topic of national discussion. Jenkins clarified that Obama does not defend the weak, the vulnerable, and the unborn.
Obama won't protect them. In fact, via the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), he seeks to remove barriers presently in place to defend their right to live.
Yes, Jenkins did a very good thing.
When Obama addresses the graduates, and the nation, what will he say regarding Catholic values and the sanctity of human life? Probably very, very little.
He will not say anything remotely like the following, unless he chooses to misrepresent his beliefs:
You believe, as I do, that every human life has value, that the strong have a duty to protect the weak, and that the self-evident truths of the Declaration of Independence apply to everyone, not just to those considered healthy or wanted or convenient. These principles call us to defend the sick and the dying, persons with disabilities and birth defects, all who are weak and vulnerable, especially unborn children.
...We're vigorously promoting parental notification laws, adoption, teen abstinence, crisis pregnancy programs, and the vital work of our faith-based groups. We're sending a clear message to any woman facing a crisis pregnancy: We love you; we love your child, and we're here to help you.
...We, of course, seek common ground where possible; we're working to persuade more of our fellow Americans of the rightness of our cause. And this is a cause that appeals to the conscience of our citizens, and is rooted in America's deepest principles -- and history tells us that with such a cause, we will prevail.
--President George W. Bush
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UPDATE: At commencement, graduates make statements protesting and supporting Obama -- PHOTOS.
2 comments:
Well said, excellent.
I was impressed by Obama's willingness to find common ground on the issue of abortion.
Working to create conditions that would make abortions unnecessary would have broad support by both sides of the issue.
Better to find area where we can all agree on and work together, rather than shout at each other through megaphones and call each other "baby killers" and "Taliban freaks"
When no one listens it' a waste of time to discuss.
For example, if you only allow comments that support your views, chances are you are someone who has decided only to allow your voice to be heard
On the other hand, if you are willing to allow other views to be presented, even though you disagree, then there is hope that you can be part of the solution
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