MAYBE THIS IS WORTH A TRY

The war of words rages on about Notre Dame's graduation plans. The war is getting a lot of attention from the secular media because it features Catholics shouting at each other. Now we get a refreshing "new" idea, let actually talk to the president about the issue!

CNS reports that "the head of the Holy Cross religious order that founded the University of Notre Dame has written to U.S. President Barack Obama and asked him to rethink his positions on abortion and other life issues.

U.S. Father Hugh W. Cleary, Holy Cross superior general in Rome, said that when Obama receives an honorary degree from the Indiana university and delivers the commencement address in May, he should take to heart the objections of Catholics who have been scandalized by the invitation.

Father Cleary asked the president to use the occasion to "give your conscience a fresh opportunity to be formed anew in a holy awe and reverence before human life in every form at every stage -- from conception to natural death."

Read the whole story on Catholic News Service

Sadly we pro life citizens seem to be willing to yell at each yet put little or no effort into addressing the opponent. I was always taught that it was one of the most common tactic of the evil one, get good folks to fight each other and evil wins by default.

There are some life issues on which the President does agrees with the Catholic position. His opposition to torture ,unjust wars and slavery are consistent with the Catechism. In any case he has often exhibited a willingness to talk with his opponents. Perhaps Fr. Cleary's letter will represent a challenge that will be taken seriously.

Some humor or irony can be found in the buzz. One commenter on the CNS story actually classified Pope Benedict as a "marginalized Catholic figure". The Church exists in over two hundred countries around the world and interacts with presidents, premiers, kings and dictators of all kinds. I would guess that the Pope finds our President more open to Catholic input than the majority of leaders around the world.

Notre Dame Protests

Much blogging and editorializing has ensued following the decision of Notre Dame University to invite President Obama to speak at and receive an honorary degree at its graduation ceremony later this Spring. It is puzzling that an institution whose graduates have championed human rights around the world would take this decision in light of the mixed human rights decisions the President has made to date.

One measured response was from Bishop D'Arcy in whose diocese Notre Dame is located.

"This will be the 25th Notre Dame graduation during my time as bishop. After much prayer, I have decided not to attend the graduation. I wish no disrespect to our president, I pray for him and wish him well. I have always revered the Office of the Presidency. But a bishop must teach the Catholic faith “in season and out of season,” and he teaches not only by his words — but by his actions. My decision is not an attack on anyone, but is in defense of the truth about human life. "


View the Bishop's entire statement here.