Archbishop Dolan on Notre Dame: 'They Made a Big Mistake'

NEW YORK (LifeSiteNews.com) - The bishop recently appointed to head up the archdiocese of New York - one of the most influential positions in the U.S. Catholic Church - said in an interview yesterday that Notre Dame "made a big mistake" by inviting President Obama to receive an honorary degree and give the commencement address at the school on May 17.

"They made a big mistake ... in an issue that is very close to the heart of Catholic world view, namely, the protection of innocent life in the womb, [Obama] has unfortunately taken a position very much at odds with the Church," Archbishop Timothy Dolan told host Charlie Sykes on the "Sunday Insight" program of Milwaukee station TMJ4.

Dolan is the fifth bishop to condemn the university's decision since the March 20 announcement that Obama had accepted the invitation, and announcement sparked a wave of protest from the American Catholic community.

Last Friday, the Texas Catholic Herald published Houston Cardinal Nicholas DiNardo's "Shepherd's Message" in which the Cardinal said the "very disappointing" invite "requires charitable but vigorous critique."

"Though I can understand the desire by a university to have the prestige of a commencement address by the President of the United States, the fundamental moral issue of the inestimable worth of the human person from conception to natural death is a principle that soaks all our lives as Catholics, and all our efforts at formation, especially education at Catholic places of higher learning," wrote DiNardo.

Notre Dame's own Bishop John D'Arcy responded soon after the scandal broke with a statement condemning the invitation and announcing his decision to boycott the graduation ceremony.

Let's hear from those lives 'in the womb'.... I was one of them in the Archdiocese of NY 1951. I can speak now. For two hundred years and since 1975 the Archdiocese of NY has had its very own SAINT ELIZABETH SETON and her legacy of Sisters and Daughters of Charity dealing with the "unwanted"....protecting the "INUTERO" Hats off to Bishops such as Spellman, Cooke, O'Keefe who were strong enough in their malehood to let the Saint and her living legacy of Sisters of Charity do their work. They know what they're doing and catholic women know that. I highly recommend respectfully His Eminence either acquaint himself with the work of this Saint (a charter American citizen opposed to the marriage of church and state) or suffer the consequences which will be many more unnecessary abortions. Had this dialogue been ongoing in 1951 my mother, who I met, would definitely have chosen abortion and I definitely would have applauded her decision. My deepest thanks and gratitude to the Sisters and Daughters of Charity of New York for my safe delivery and happy life.....it made ALL the difference!!!!!!!

Penelope Finnegan | 5/14/2009

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