OBAMA AT NOTRE DAME

OBAMA AT NOTRE DAME

By: Federico Hoyos Salazar

15-IV-09

Known for its famous football team: the Fighting Irish, beautiful campus and high academic standards, the University of Notre Dame is ranked among the best universities in the United States and also recognized as a traditional American Catholic bastion since it’s early beginnings. Founded in 1842 by French missionary father Edward Sorin from the Congregation of the Holy Cross, the University of Notre Dame has been a centre of catholic thought ever since. Now, here’s a story you don’t listen to every day. Notre Dame’s current president, Rev. John Jenkins has invited president Barack Obama to deliver the commencement address –this is to talk at the graduation ceremony- on May 17 and also to receive a an honorary degree on law. Is it appropriate for a Catholic University to hand out recognitions to a man who has opposed some of this faith’s most basic principles as the sacredness of life during most of his political life?

As most of you may know, since senator for Illinois, Barack Obama has openly supported abortion and currently stem cell research as well, two sensitive topics on which the Catholic Church has always shown a firm opposition. Since elected president, Mr. Obama has taken a series of controversial measures that have given American internal and foreign policy a turn in many ways. The prohibition of torture in American prisons abroad, such as Guantanamo, the recent lifting travel ban to Cuba and his approximations to leaders of the Muslim world are some of his most flashy measures during his first 100 days in Office. Yet, there are other less known decisions that Obama has taken recently. Take the authorization to finance international family planning clinics that promote abortion for instance or his authorization for tax money to fund embryonic stem cell research. As said before two issues on which Catholic doctrine is absolutely against. As you can see, Obama’s invitation to speak at Notre Dame is not a simple matter.

Enough of political history, let’s go on to the real questions about this issue. First of all, should president Obama speak at Notre Dame? Sure, universities around the world are ideal spaces for dialogue and debate. Barack Obama is the president of the United States after all, and even if he wasn’t, all persons have the right to speak freely anywhere as long as it is done with respect for others opinions. It is healthy for debate to listen to different opinions, the thing is that there will not be any debate at Obama’s address at Notre Dame; anyways he and anyone from any belief should be accepted to speak at a Catholic university or anywhere else.

Second. Should president Obama be awarded with a honorary doctorate of law at Notre Dame.? No for two main reasons. First of all, it is nonsense to award a politician that has openly opposed Catholic vital principles such as respect for life since his early years at the Senate. With Obama’s measures in favor of abortion and embryonic stem cell research he has affected millions of Catholics not only in the United States but abroad as well with his decisions, since they have transcended America’s national borders. Second, Obama has not yet fulfilled his first 100 days as president, isn’t it a bit too early to be giving him awards before we can see the real impact of his political decisions?

As a Notre Dame student, I oppose the honorary doctorate which will be given to Mr. Obama, nonetheless I support and defend his visit to campus. Notre Dame Students should seek respect for the president of the United States and avoid any violent protests, but we should also seek respect for our Catholic conscience and the university’s identity.

Post Scriptum: If I could give any advice to America’s First Family (The Obama’s) on the election of their dog, I would have recommended adopting a homeless puppy from any of Washington’s dog pounds. Too late, too bad.