Comments on: Obama Notre Dame Controversy

By: Nancy Ciarleglio

Nancy Ciarleglio — Tue, 26 May 2009 16:53:48 +0000

What bothers me as a Catholic, is the selective value of life: an aborted fetus is a life lost; yet capital punishment is rampant in this country (Texas being the worst offender; did Notre Dame give George W, his father George H.W. & Lyndon Johnson honorary degrees?)- wars – how many since the War to end all Wars – killlings by gun-toting youths in our cities & towns – where is the Catholic Church & other denominations when it comes to organizing an effort that gets media attention, and more importantly, speaks out and stops the carnage? Abortion is a seriously considered decision by a woman, and it seems to many of us, the more prudent approach would be to focus in on preventing abortions, and abondoning abstinence only programs which don’t work; refer: Gov.Palin’s daughter

By: Leanora Marie Regan

Leanora Marie Regan — Tue, 26 May 2009 07:28:10 +0000

If God wanted abortion to be upheld He would have made it clear and one of the ten commandments would be,”You can have abortion!”

By: flomen

flomen — Mon, 25 May 2009 20:35:36 +0000

It really annoys me that Fr. Reese used his name and title to pan Notre Dame as frightened of debate. This is not what is in error here. This was a graduation and our president was to speak AND be honored with an honorary degree from N.B.I am glad the latter did not take place. Yet, I do think that a Catholic university should invite exemplary models that personify its morals and principles for such an event. ( AND yes, do invite those with contrary views to discussions on hot topics.)

By: Evelyn Ronell

Evelyn Ronell — Mon, 25 May 2009 14:08:43 +0000

It is the lesser evil to abort an unborn than to bring it into life and torture/mistreat it.

By: Dolores Grier

Dolores Grier — Mon, 25 May 2009 13:51:31 +0000

It is one issue to invite someone to speak at your
University that does not agree with your policy
and principles, but to give him an award ia a stamp of approval of his policies and beliefs.

By: Terry

Terry — Sun, 24 May 2009 17:21:03 +0000

why dont you ever see a conservative religious leader speak at a liberal college?you wont.for the same reason obama should not speak at Notre Dame.he is pro gay pro obortion pro gov.

By: Eutychus

Eutychus — Fri, 22 May 2009 11:29:12 +0000

It is my understanding that when a university has someone give a commencement address at their graduation ceremony it is a reelection of their core values to essentially send them off in the right direction. Although all universities are a place for debate and a diversity of opinion. The core values of this university should be the RC faith. (I am not a RC, by the way.) Having President Obama says to the student body (as well as the nation) that it is okay to compromise your core values to be popular. It is being reasonable to blow with the prevailing wind, and it is not reasonable to stick to your deep, historic, biblical, religious convictions. I think Notre Dame needs to learn what it is to be a RC university.

By: Gerry

Gerry — Mon, 18 May 2009 17:54:03 +0000

Mr. Obama’s idea of exchange and debate is substantially incorrect. His Notre Dame speech was a crafty piece of divide and conquer that went over old ground. This was a single lane manifesto. You cannot “reduce” the number of abortions when you’re funding them at home and offshore. As for the unborn being a “clump of cells” why are scientists so eager to work with this supposed non-entity in another area called stem cell research?

By: Marshall Zaharas

Marshall Zaharas — Sun, 17 May 2009 07:49:12 +0000

Agree w/ Fr. Reese that Catholic universities must be places where issues are debated. But he is dodging the point that a graduation ceremony is not a forum for debate.

By: Tim Mulherin

Tim Mulherin — Sun, 17 May 2009 02:43:16 +0000

I suppose what we forget is that Christ was drawn to the sinners; the New Testament documents this time and again. If President Obama is deemed a sinner for his upholding of Roe vs. Wade, then in visiting the University of Notre Dame, he has come to the right place. If you are truly Christian, let alone Catholic, surely you understand that Christ is capable of transforming the human heart in ways, and in His timing, that we cannot fathom. But my how we do tend to politicize faith. How sad. And this intrudes upon the mystery of God in ways that are so simple minded. Give God credit for His ability to work beyond human comprehension. Please. And let the president speak at a higher learning institution for the sake of respect for the pursuit of intellectual freedom. Remember, according to the Bible, Christ even spent time in conversation with Satan. So why are we so ridiculously sectarian when it comes to the exchange of ideas in a university setting? When we hold hostage freedom of thought in this great republic, we risk losing the very greatness that upholds who we are supposed to be as a people and as a nation.