Video: Phil Donahue whines about criticism of Obama’s invite from Notre Dame
posted at 5:05 pm on March 24, 2009 by Allahpundit
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A tour de force of self-parody, culminating in a plea for the Church to restore its vitality and attract youth by dropping one of its core beliefs. Here’s the petition calling on Notre Dame’s president to disinvite The One from commencement; it had 74,000 signatures when I surfed over there an hour ago and now it’s at 81,000 and counting. The key paragraphs:
This honor is clearly a direct violation of the U.S. bishops’ 2004 mandate in “Catholics in Political Life”: “The Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.”
We prayerfully implore you to halt this travesty immediately. We do so with the hope that Catholics nationwide will likewise call on you to uphold the sacred mission of your Catholic university. May God grant you the courage and wisdom to do what is right.
As you’ll see, Father Jonathan Morris sensibly distinguishes between letting Obama speak and awarding him an honorary degree. A Catholic university is, after all, still a university; to refuse to even hear the man out suggests that he holds views so extreme and odious that he’s unfit for polite society, which may be how Catholics should react to pro-choicers but certainly doesn’t describe how they do. In fact, the Pope himself received Nancy Pelosi not long ago at the Vatican, as I recall. No one presumed an endorsement of her views in that circumstance. Why the presumption here vis-a-vis The One? Exit question: The president of the United States isn’t worth respectfully listening to? Seriously?
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Donahue is still alive?
lorien1973 on March 24, 2009 at 5:08 PM
Caller, are you there?
beatcanvas on March 24, 2009 at 5:09 PM
An apt summation of Donahue’s career.
spmat on March 24, 2009 at 5:09 PM
its dumb. he is the potus…okay, he is the totus. still, he should be respected.
The Wall on March 24, 2009 at 5:09 PM
ya, freaky huh!
upinak on March 24, 2009 at 5:09 PM
You mean the guy who goes on Leno and jokes about Special Olympics and then yuks it up about the tough economy on CBS? The One who lies out of both sides of his mouth all the time? That guy?
INC on March 24, 2009 at 5:10 PM
Phil Donahue is still around?
CaptainObvious on March 24, 2009 at 5:10 PM
spoken like a true… brick.
upinak on March 24, 2009 at 5:10 PM
This is not the same as the Pope meeting Nancy and giving her a piece of his mind. This is crazy and what a surprise that Donohue another lover of abortion feels the way he does/sarc
Jamson64 on March 24, 2009 at 5:10 PM
Simon Cowell thought so, so it must be the case.
WashJeff on March 24, 2009 at 5:10 PM
Ok, you know that we have hit absolute rock bottom when they drag out this dinosaur. Good God.
milwife88 on March 24, 2009 at 5:11 PM
But what does Sally Jessy Raphael think?
Mr. D on March 24, 2009 at 5:11 PM
I must have missed it when Pelosi gave the assembled, captive audience at the Vatican her formal address, AP.
/sarc
Apples & oranges.
cs89 on March 24, 2009 at 5:11 PM
Well, maybe this one isn’t….
NoFanofLibs on March 24, 2009 at 5:11 PM
A question for clarification: What has he done to deserve our respect?
AubieJon on March 24, 2009 at 5:12 PM
… The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing …
VTWaldrup on March 24, 2009 at 5:12 PM
I remember back in the day when they wouldn’t let Bush (or protest loudly) do commencement speeches. Remember that?
Wasn’t Bush president? Didn’t he deserve to be heard?
I guess its convenient….now.
lorien1973 on March 24, 2009 at 5:12 PM
Allah, explain why we don’t talk to Kim, or Ahmadinejad. Why doesn’t Obama invite Castro to dinner.
You obviously need to take a pass on this one, since you are not very well informed on Catholicism.
You are becoming the master of situational ethics.
eaglesdontflock on March 24, 2009 at 5:13 PM
Jimmy Carter’s retarded cousin.
fogw on March 24, 2009 at 5:13 PM
To straighten her out, in a private meeting…so no problem with Obama going to Notre Dame and having Father Morris take him in for a private meeting and “straighten” Obama out.
You have a hard time discerning between two totally different events, different venues, different purposes…not even a good attempt.
right2bright on March 24, 2009 at 5:14 PM
Too bad Phil Hartman is dead. He used to do a great SNL skit parodying Donahue.
BuckeyeSam on March 24, 2009 at 5:14 PM
Welcome to the Church of You.
Greg Toombs on March 24, 2009 at 5:14 PM
I saw that show. Donahue needs to walk away from the Catholic Church. He doesn’t believe in much of anything it stands for. He looked like a fool side-stepping Fr. Jonathan, who was much smarter and a better defender of Catholicism than him.
jcheney on March 24, 2009 at 5:14 PM
Hm, I respect the Office of the President. As for Obama, not much respect at all.
carbon_footprint on March 24, 2009 at 5:15 PM
Or, in Obama’s case, the Church of Me.
Greg Toombs on March 24, 2009 at 5:15 PM
Keep thinking I should get White Sox opening day tickets (on the assumption Bambi throws out the first pitch), and get a TOT-US TOT-US TOT-US chant going.
WashJeff on March 24, 2009 at 5:15 PM
I like that sentence, very descriptive of Allah.
right2bright on March 24, 2009 at 5:15 PM
OMG, Phil…you were annoying three decades ago.
Dr. ZhivBlago on March 24, 2009 at 5:15 PM
The Pope had her over and issued a correction to her. I’d hope the president of Notre Dame will do likewise.
AbaddonsReign on March 24, 2009 at 5:16 PM
OK, let him come under these conditions:
1. Tape his mouth shut.
2. Take away his teleprompter and Blackberry.
3. Sit him down and teach him all the scientific evidence that supports life as existing while still in the womb.
You have to understand, honesty and integrity and keeping your word only applies to Republicans. Democrats are not to be held to such a high standard because they represent the part of our society that has been dumbed down by the Left’s assault on morals and intelligence. Before you know it, all the people should be there if everything goes according to their plan. It’s kind of like a futuristic society in an apocalyptic Sci-Fi movie, or something.
DL13 on March 24, 2009 at 5:16 PM
Just think of it as listening to the teleprompter via TOTUS…….
…….. it’s less painful that way.
Seven Percent Solution on March 24, 2009 at 5:16 PM
I have great, great respect…for the teleprompter. They should scrap Obama and invite the teleprompter. It could probably give a better address anyway.
TheQuestion on March 24, 2009 at 5:17 PM
http://notredamescandal.com/
For those of you who feel compeled to this is the web site where you can sign the petition to stop this from happening. FYI 83,000 signatures so far.
milwife88 on March 24, 2009 at 5:17 PM
Bad situation for everyone. Going to hurt the ND coffers if they keep him and its reputation if they bounce him.
Repurblican on March 24, 2009 at 5:18 PM
Always envied him that gets to do “that girl”…but that’s it
winston on March 24, 2009 at 5:18 PM
Phil Donahue’s brain had an abortion. Dumb old fool.
chunderroad on March 24, 2009 at 5:18 PM
Donahue was on Hannity the other night. Had to turn it off. Does the president need to be respected? I think not as I have not seen any respect from him towards the citizens of his own country. He hates America. It is one of those mysteries of life that he was invited to speak at Notre Dame’s commencement. Very inappropriate.
BetseyRoss on March 24, 2009 at 5:18 PM
Donahue is to the Catholic church what Megan McCain is to the GOP. They are both irrelevant, yet they’re lecturing the those on the side of the angels in the same finger-waving, permissive manner.
In fact, I we sure that Donahue isn’t McCain dressed up as Donahue or, in the alternative, that McCain isn’t Dohanue in drag? You never see the two of them together in public. Hmmmmmmm.
BuckeyeSam on March 24, 2009 at 5:21 PM
Comparing San Fran Nan seeing the Pope [who was rather direct in his discussions with her] to Obama receiving an honorary ddegree from a Catholic University shows how debased so much of societal judgement has become.
Obama’s “opinion” on abortion is above his pay grade, if his own words can be trusted. Perhaps Notre Dame University can gently remind Obama that they are servants of someone who is vastly above Obama’s pay grade.
Having a serving President of the United States speak at the University? Why not? Make sure to program a good bit of unscripted Q&A in the program as well, to make sure it is a genuine teaching moment.
But to offer an honorary degree from one of the leading Catholic Universities to a person who advocates the killing of innocents? What is the honorary degree going to be in? Letters? Might as well give it to the Teleprompter. In Humanities? For advocating the inhumane? Maybe for creative economics? Or Neo-Marxist studies? Or maybe make it an affirmative action sort of thing.
As for Donahue? He’s a putz. Always has been, since his Dayton TV days, when he started sucking up to women’s issues to get ratings and a new job in Chicago.
coldwarrior on March 24, 2009 at 5:21 PM
I signed the petition…but Im not listening to Donahue. blah
becki51758 on March 24, 2009 at 5:22 PM
No,…or his teleprompter!
christene on March 24, 2009 at 5:22 PM
Yup. Phil Donahue is STILL a complete moron.
My collie says:
All I can say is that if he came to speak at MY church, I’d never again darken the doors of that building — EVER.
CyberCipher on March 24, 2009 at 5:23 PM
Related news: Bishop D’Arcy is doing the right thing.
Y-not on March 24, 2009 at 5:23 PM
Like the universities were so respectful to President Bush.
Gothguy on March 24, 2009 at 5:24 PM
Exactly my point. If you or I met Kim Jong-Il in the street, we’d spit in his face. He’s a monster. Pro-choicers aren’t — and if you think they are, why do you associate with any of them? Why do any Catholics associate with them?
Allahpundit on March 24, 2009 at 5:25 PM
Phil lies to protect his lib agenda just like ALLLLL the rest of them.
marklmail on March 24, 2009 at 5:25 PM
Doesn’t say anything about Obama says tons about Notre Dame.
rsl775 on March 24, 2009 at 5:26 PM
I’m sure Pelosi would have described it as an exchange of ideas, which in theory is what should happen at universities. My point is, if pro-choicers are so monstrous that they’re unfit to be heard, why is the Pope even gracing them with his presence?
Allahpundit on March 24, 2009 at 5:27 PM
Once again, Allahpundit shows how out of touch with reality he can be.
The Pope “received” Nancy Pelosi for the distinct purpose of demanding that she change her views on abortion. That’s a far cry from allowing her to give a public speech at a Catholic institution.
Also, Notre Dame is not a standard Catholic institution. It functions under Liberation Theology which the Jesuits started as a form of Christian Socialism.
They aren’t likely to withdraw the invitation as Obama’s views are actually closer to their own.
Gregor on March 24, 2009 at 5:28 PM
Did you forget that most people here aren’t exactly your brand of moderate AP? Nobody but the resident Soros puppets respect Ogabe here.
Darth Executor on March 24, 2009 at 5:30 PM
both went in with the expectation of changing the others opinion.
VTWaldrup on March 24, 2009 at 5:30 PM
And why did he immediately come out and clarify what their conversation has consisted of? Because he knew she would lie and make it sound much different than it really was.
AubieJon on March 24, 2009 at 5:31 PM
Receiving a title does not bestow respect upon the recipient and violating a core tenant of a church is sufficient cause to reject him as an orator. Let’s not get carried away with this positional “respect” hogwash.
rplat on March 24, 2009 at 5:31 PM
To make matters worse, the lovely Martha McCallum (sp?) introduced the segment by talking about Obama giving the commencement address at Notre Dame University “in his home state.” Did they move the border of Illinois fifty miles east and nobody told me?
radjah shelduck on March 24, 2009 at 5:31 PM
Question: Will the Pope receive Obama when he visits Italy? What if the White House specifies that it’s purely a courtesy call, and not meant to talk policy (abortion or otherwise)? Will he receive him then?
Allahpundit on March 24, 2009 at 5:31 PM
I don’t think that it is wrong to let his teleprompter speak to the graduating class but there should be no honorary degrees bestowed on his majesty. Even so it is a great opportunity for a large number of irate Catholics to stand and turn their backs on him once his TP is turned on.
inspectorudy on March 24, 2009 at 5:33 PM
Believe me, I never forget it. Although I didn’t realize it was “moderate” to be willing to listen to the president of the United States.
Allahpundit on March 24, 2009 at 5:33 PM
Conflating issues again.
Obama making a state visit to the Vatican as a head of state to meet with another head of state…perfectly within protocol.
coldwarrior on March 24, 2009 at 5:33 PM
is TOTUS a follower or rev. wright or is it just POTUS ?
VTWaldrup on March 24, 2009 at 5:33 PM
I’m not sure why you think ND’s reputation will suffer much if it revokes the honorary doctorate offer. That sort of thing happens at universities. Really, it’s not very different from taking the name off of a building when the donor/alumnus/honoree becomes involved in a scandal. Temporary kerfuffle externally, but the internal damage to Notre Dame if they continue to thumb their noses as the Catholic Church and a large proportion of their donor base is huge.
In this case, a good university decided to award an honorary doctor of law degree to a man who is not a respected legal scholar, or even a very accomplished lawmaker, for that matter. Frankly, it’s more of an embarrassment that they allowed his nomination be approved. The university should never have gone so far down this path without consulting their bishop.
Y-not on March 24, 2009 at 5:34 PM
Yes they are monsters. Bigger mosnters than Kim Jong-Il because at least Kim doesn’t target unborn children exclusively. One could make a case that people like Hitler, Lenin, Stalin, etc. had an abhorrent morality but at least had balls. I can’t make that argument for libtards who almost always target people who can’t or won’t fight back (and I don’t mean just abortion). And for the record, I wouldn’t spit in Kim’s face, so I guess this isn’t really applicable. I’d rather not draw atention to myself over a meaningless symbolic gesture. I associate with monsters on a regular basis because I don’t have much choice. I’m not God and I can’t deal with them from the perspective of judge, jury and executioner if I have no power.
Darth Executor on March 24, 2009 at 5:34 PM
TOTUS is a follower of “Reverand” Wright and a leader of POTUS.
coldwarrior on March 24, 2009 at 5:34 PM
This is not the issue. As a pastor the Pope will probably hear anybody who visits him. To invite someone who actively opposes very important teachings of the Catholic church to give a supposedly inspiring commencement speech at a Catholic university is a completely different matter.
neuquenguy on March 24, 2009 at 5:35 PM
Speaking of smelly socialist turds: Phil Donahue
Maxx on March 24, 2009 at 5:35 PM
Perfectly within protocol? We haven’t met with Iran formally for 30 years out of protest for their policies. What’s stopping the Pope from making his own protest against Obama?
Allahpundit on March 24, 2009 at 5:35 PM
failure in the vetting proccess i suspect
VTWaldrup on March 24, 2009 at 5:36 PM
Donahue is still alive?
lorien1973 on March 24, 2009 at 5:08 PM
S*#T happens.
Old Hippie Vet on March 24, 2009 at 5:37 PM
I think it’s like this, Allah: Imagine, if you will, BYU inviting Huckabee to speak. Or more accurately, someone of Huck’s more rabid Anti-Mormon following. It’s insane. The whole point of BYU is to provide a LDS education, and inviting the Huck follower would be rather contrary to the whole mission of the school.
Notre Dame, if anything, is supposed to represent Catholic values and promote them. One of those values is sanctity of life. Obama stands so totally against that that the case can be made it devalues the whole point of the university. I hope that makes sense.
Vanceone on March 24, 2009 at 5:37 PM
He’s not coming to talk about abortion. He’s going to give a commencement speech. If you’re unwilling to hear the guy talk about anything simply because you’re so repulsed by his position on one subject, then what you’re saying is that pro-choicers really are unfit for polite society. Except that practically no one feels that way, including Catholics.
Allahpundit on March 24, 2009 at 5:38 PM
I don’t think it’s a question about someone being “unfit to be heard.” There’s no doubt Obama should be heard. The question is whether Catholics believe he’s representative of the values that should be “imparted” on graduates on their way out of school, and whether that’s an appropriate forum for such a hearing. Fair or not, I haven’t really seen ND as a particularly Catholic school beyond its well-known heritage, so when I heard about the Obama invite I was disappointed, but not surprised. I have no particular stake in the institution.
But their choice is on them now. They’ve made their pick for commencement speaker, just as every University has the opportunity, and just like every University, now they have to deal with the consequences and benefits. Getting Obama was a calculated risk given his views on abortion. We’ll soon see if it paid off.
Repurblican on March 24, 2009 at 5:38 PM
As a Southern Baptist – who already respects the Pope – I’d respect him a lot more if he did.
AubieJon on March 24, 2009 at 5:38 PM
Phil Donahue is a damn idiot. I mean these people don’t know what principles are if it hit them in the face.
Dritanian on March 24, 2009 at 5:38 PM
Allah, Allah, Allah..I don’t spit in people’s faces, but I don’t support actions that are morally repulsive to me. Obama is an afront to me, but I won’t spit in his face. And for sure I won’t invite him for dinner. And the fact that my tax money will now go overseas to fund abortions? Makes me livid. So no, I don’t want him anywhere near a Catholic institution.
Some pro-choicers are monsters.
eaglesdontflock on March 24, 2009 at 5:38 PM
You know what? You don’t like the teachings of the Catholic faith, leave it. There is no law that makes it mandatory you be Catholic. If they are teaching stuff that goes against your own ideals, the simplest thing for all to do is hit the door running…
Sue on March 24, 2009 at 5:39 PM
Nothing.
That is the Pope’s choice.
I think you are acting childish with your argument. There is an obvious difference between Nancy or Obama meeting the Pope.
Jamson64 on March 24, 2009 at 5:39 PM
What does Iran have to do with the issue? Sounding more like Phil Donahue’s smoke and mirrors approach than anything else.
Benedict XVI will make that call when the time comes. But, as a head of state…which Benedict XVI is…there is a protocol for visiting heads of state to the Vatican. This would not be a pastoral meeting (which the Pelosi meeting was) but a diplomatic meeting, which the Vatican can accept or deny, for whatever reasons they wish, as an independent state.
coldwarrior on March 24, 2009 at 5:39 PM
how difficult is it to go thru life being lukewarm, and not taking a stand, or believing in anything?
VTWaldrup on March 24, 2009 at 5:40 PM
Yeah, that was Martha’s point re: a Jewish school inviting someone who’s anti-semitic to speak. It’s not really the same thing, though. Having an anti-semite address Brandeis or an anti-Mormon address BYU is nutty because in that case the speaker doesn’t believe in the legitimacy of the group he’s addressing. He’s an actual (political) enemy. Obama’s not anti-Catholic, he simply disagrees with Catholics on a very important subject.
Allahpundit on March 24, 2009 at 5:40 PM
Watch Philly get owned by Uncle Milton on youtube.
V15J on March 24, 2009 at 5:40 PM
Phil Donahue and those of his ilk want the church to bend to their liberal ideology and change 2,000 years of doctrine because it doesn’t fit in with their secular progressive minds. “We don’t like your rules, so change them for us!” Good luck with that, Phil.
tnmama on March 24, 2009 at 5:40 PM
The Pope will not meet with Obama “as a courtesy call.” He’ll meet with him to discuss his non-Christian views and actions in an attempt to convince him to change his path. This is what Jesus would do.
Gregor on March 24, 2009 at 5:41 PM
Allah,
The bishop’s objection — and as I read the petition, the petitioners’ formal objection — is to Obama being honored at Notre Dame, not to him being heard at Notre Dame. That is in direct contradiction to the statement by the USCB:
“I have in mind also the statement of the U.S. Catholic Bishops in 2004. “The Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.”
For example, if there was a town hall event or debate at Notre Dame, that would probably not violate the intent of the USCB’s policy.
Receiving an honorary doctorate is a huge honor; speaking at a commencement somewhat less so. All ND had to do is discuss this with Bishop D’Arcy to see what he thought — they willfully refused to do so. That’s not acceptable in any highly hierarchical organization, secular or religious.
Y-not on March 24, 2009 at 5:41 PM
It was my understanding he was also getting an honorary degree. And therein lies the problem. Honoring someone who is the antithesis of what you teach.
Sue on March 24, 2009 at 5:41 PM
The distinction here is not whether Catholics believe that differing opinions should be heard, but whether Catholics believe that pro-choicers should be honored with stuff like giving commencement speeches, particularly if the speaker’s position on abortion is so intimately bound up with their public image. Who is Notre Dame? If my understanding of commencement addresses is right, a University is symbolized in some way by its commencement speaker – what its values are, etc. Not definitive, not exclusive, but certainly informative and something Universities consider when they make these picks.
Repurblican on March 24, 2009 at 5:43 PM
Thanks for replying to my argument, Allah. I’d say that, even if you are correct about the whole office of the President thing, the granting of the honorary degree IS going beyond the line. Sure, I’d listen to Jimmy Carter, but that’s because he’s a ex-pres. But awarding him an an honorary degree? That’s saying I approve of the guy. No thanks.
Notre Dame, objectively speaking, can invite the president because he’s the president. But the honorary degree? I don’t know of many Obama values that good Catholics agree with, so why give him the honorary?
Vanceone on March 24, 2009 at 5:44 PM
Unfortunately, Obama is not really the antithesis of what the Jesuits teach. Again, they teach Liberation Theology, which is not your standard Catholic teaching.
Gregor on March 24, 2009 at 5:44 PM
Has Notre Dame ever invited a speaker who was divorced? They don’t want to impart that value either, but I bet they’re willing to look the other way. My point is, there are some values Obama represents that one *would* want to impart, although obviously the pro-choice value isn’t one of them. A better question to me is, is anyone at Notre Dame under the impression that the school condones abortion now just because it’s invited Obama to speak? Answer: Of course not. In which case, the calls to disinvite are really aimed at making a statement about how pro-choicers are unfit for Catholic company altogether, not even to be listened to and disagreed with.
Allahpundit on March 24, 2009 at 5:44 PM
Allah, the difference is that ND is giving Obama a platform.
The Pope admonished Pelosi as a Catholic in private.
Vatican Watcher on March 24, 2009 at 5:45 PM
I will personally make sure every Notre Dame graduate I meet for the rest of my life will be reminded that they let that slimy selfish murdering prick onto their campus.
I will be in their face, and I don’t give a shit how old they are.
No hate. Just a severe tonguelashing.
You want a ‘Catholic’ school, try Franciscan University or Struebenville. Notre Dame is the Devil’s bitch just like Georgetown.
Sapwolf on March 24, 2009 at 5:45 PM
I agree, the honorary degree is a much thornier issue than letting him speak.
Allahpundit on March 24, 2009 at 5:45 PM
Everyone: Obama is receiving an honorary doctorate. That is a huge honor. Frankly, it’s the highest honor a university can bestow.
Y-not on March 24, 2009 at 5:46 PM
Having read the story this morning on CNSnews.com and being a practicing Catholic, I’m very offended that Hussein had been invited under the guise of “engagement”. He does not want to engage in discussion of issues close to Catholics and Christians (I know we’re one in the same). No Catholic can argue that abortion is acceptable. No one can argue that children are a burden. Nancy Pelosi tried to argue the former and had been called on it by the Holy Father and Archbishop George H. Niederauer of San Francisco, among others.
I’m sick of the shroud called “engagement” – this is simply code speak to get people who have very extreme values or ideas to attend a venue.
There is no “engagement”. There is no “dialogue”. There is only degredation, anger, and scorn from sub-humans like Hussein with absolutely no chance of dialogue.
madmonkphotog on March 24, 2009 at 5:47 PM
There is no way I can post on this one sincerely due to the language filters. I’ll leave it at that.
Sapwolf on March 24, 2009 at 5:47 PM
I watched this segment and I freely admit that if Martha MacCallum were not conducting the interview I would have turned the channel. However, the inviolate laws of nature being what they are, I was utterly mesmerized and unable to hit the channel button. Nothing short of Helen Thomas doing a reprise of Gypsy Rose Lee (replete with feather malfunction) would have moved me.
Therefore, I am able to report to you that Mr. Donahue was incapable of holding a train of thought. When queried on Notre Dame, he wound up commenting upon Iraq. When queried on abortion, he commented upon the dearth of nuns.
I have never been a fan of Donahue, but this was a rather sad spectacle.
turfmann on March 24, 2009 at 5:47 PM
You used the word without even knowing you used the correct word…the word is “grace”.
The pope, with grace, met with Pelosi to show her the “right” way, notice she didn’t say he was wrong, and notice she has not danced on the abortion stage since.
With grace, the Pope will meet with most anyone, with the anticipation that Grace will save them.
So if Father Morris wants to meet with Obama, and have a private meeting, then that would be an act of mercy and grace.
The Pope (a point you purposely refuse to accept) does not give the “pulpit” over to someone who is not in concordance with Catholic teaching.
Meeting (and once again you purposely ignore this) and allowing a venue to “preach” are to totally different venues.
Please, Allah, you are embarrassing yourself to try to state that a private meeting, or even a meeting with the Pope, is the same as having him allow that person to speak, preach, at the Vatican.
right2bright on March 24, 2009 at 5:47 PM
86,258 signers
VTWaldrup on March 24, 2009 at 5:50 PM
lots of people with a belief in what is right, they just need to be heard.
VTWaldrup on March 24, 2009 at 5:51 PM
I believe the answer to your question is YES. People might not believe ND condones abortion but will likely have the impression that the weight of their opposition has lessened. Obama is not just someone who disagrees on the issue, he is someone who campaigned and supports legislature such as FOCA which directly attacks the church’s beliefs and threatens its freedom of conscience in a number of ways.
neuquenguy on March 24, 2009 at 5:52 PM
I know it would be painful, but if I were Notre Dame’s president I would call Obama up and apologize profusely (but privately) but say that after consulting with his bishop and the Church hierarchy, he realizes now that he cannot bestow this honor on Obama.
As an alternative, I think he should ask Obama to participate in a townhall or other forum to discuss an issue of Obama’s choosing. That would provide Obama with the political benefit he sought (let’s not kid ourselves, South Bend, Indiana is of strategic importance to Obama) and give whatever Board members and/or faculty who wanted Obama to get the degree a chance to still celebrate his presidency, but allow ND to save face by blaming it on their higher ups.
Honorary doctorates are very political things, even within the halls of academe. They are usually voted on by the faculty, but have to also be “blessed” by the president’s, generally at least some of his/her cabinet members, and voted on by the Board of Trustees. That’s why the process is usually handled in a very secretive and careful way.
Someone earlier on the thread had it right: ND’s vetting process failed.
Y-not on March 24, 2009 at 5:52 PM
Avoid the Jesuits at all costs.
Y-not on March 24, 2009 at 5:53 PM
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