Notre Dame, Obama and The Gipper
Back at the end of March, we had a little post about some trouble brewing at Notre Dame and its invitation to the President of the United States to be its commencement speaker. You see among the conservative Catholics — the 21 percenters — they cry that this invitation flies in the face of a statement by the United State Conference of Bishops entitled Catholics in Political Life (2004).
The money shot reads:
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.
One would think that if the US Bishops were serious they would come down hard on the University of Notre Dame, but they haven’t. A search of news releases at their website reveal no protests, no condemnations, no nothing. Let’s be clear here, it is the President of the United States who is honoring Notre Dame with his presence, not the other way around.
So where’s this outrage coming from? Approximately 55 US bishops have spoken out against the Obama commencement address. What’s interesting about the number 55? It turns out that 55 bishops is 21% of all active US bishops. Where have I seen that percentage before? Though a minority of Catholic bishops are upset, approximatley 67% of Catholic Americans approve of the job President Obama is doing while 22% do not. Hey, there’s that percentage again.
Enough of bishops and percentages, why not hear from a common Catholic man, someone like Newt Gingrich — yes, that’s right, the moral compass that is Newt Gingrich has recently converted to Catholicism. Not dwelling on Gingrich-Catholic oddity, Newt, the floor is yours:
To the degree that Notre Dame still thinks of itself as a Catholic institution, it raises real questions. I think the president’s position has been the most radical, pro-abortion of any American president, so I think there is a legitimate question there. But look — I’m a new convert. I’ll let the Vatican speak for the church. I’m just speaking for Newt Gingrich.
And The Vatican has been silent. This could be, and I’m just spit-balling here, that the Pope is in the Middle East trying to mend fences with Israel. Apparently, the Catholic Church as a long antagonistic history with the Jews.
What will the end result of all this faux rage be? President Obama will be speaking at the Notre Dame commencement this year regardless of what the 21 percenters do. As Jason330 would say, “You can bank on it”.
But what can the losers of the 2008 election do with all their artifical acrimony? Tea party? Become citizens of the Republic of Texas?
We at Delaware Liberal love to give out unsolicited advice to our adversaries, so here is our suggestion — channel your rage to get Charlie Weis fired. The man is ruining Notre Dame football. In his four years at The Fighting Irish, he has amassed a dismal record of 29 wins and 21 losses. For Christ’s sake, Notre Dame lost to Navy in ’07 for the first time in 43 games games (a NCAA record).
I know Notre Dame football has not been what it once was. Their last championship was in 1988 and, besides a few select games, they really don’t play anyone of meaning. But as a fan of The Fighting Irish, I believe in my heart they can return to the top of the NCAA and, I also believe that Charlie Weis is not that man to do that.
This is your fight 21 percenters, work to fire Charlie Weis and save Notre Dame football.
Rally sons of Notre Dame,
Sing her glory, and sound her fame
Raise her Gold and Blue,
And cheer with voices true,
Rah! Rah! For Notre Dame.
Tags: Catholicism, Football, President Obama
One would think that if the US Bishops were serious they would come down hard on the University of Notre Dame, but they haven’t.
The US bishops, like reality, have a liberal bias. Unfortunately when it comes to pro-choice politicians, they are between a rock and a hard place. The rule that pro-choice politicians should not speak at Catholic institutions comes from the Vatican, not from the USCCB.
And the Church is a top-down institution, the Pope being one of the 21%; in fact as Cardinal Ratzinger he was a founding member of the 21-percenters and a Bush enabler.
So the USCCB was bound by Church rules to put that language in their statement. However, they gave themselves some wiggle room by allowing individual bishops to police the rule as they see fit. In the context of the Church, this wiggle room represents a significant rebellion.
And this wiggle room is also what permits the 21% to strap on their fake outrage.
The Irish also lost to Appalachian State under Weis. Case closed.
Aren’t you thinking of Michigan?
D’oh!
Nice weather we are having today.
Speaking of sports…this just in.
That’s okay Jason330. Hatred of Michigan is something I share with Penn State fans.
That whole digression about Notre Dame football felt a little out of place. A college coach should be judged when they have their own recruits playing for them. Last season was not as bad as the seasons before and at least they won their first bowl game in forever. But I digress.
I am a Catholic and I fully support the President speaking at Notre Dame, as does my also Catholic but very conservative Grandfather. He, though, has an issue with them giving him an honorary law degree. I think all honorary degrees are pretty worthless but my grandfather was insisting that it would be as if he’d graduated from there to anyone who looked at his background. My reply was “Exactly how much resume padding do you think the President of the United States of America needs to do?”
so true:
Let’s be clear here, it is the President of the United States who is honoring Notre Dame with his presence, not the other way around.
excellent, obvious point
it’s all most so obvious that it is common sense
Rudy Giuliani, noted pro-choice Catholic Republican, received an honorary degree from Loyola University in Baltimore in 2005. Not a peep from the bishops. Also, the trauma center at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Manhattan is named after Rudolph W. Giuliani. Not a word from Cardinal Egan or Brooklyn’s Bishop DiMarzio (the Diocese of Brooklyn is a partner with the Sisters of Charity in the running of the St. Vincent Catholic Medical Centers) or anyone else from the USCCB.