Notre Dame Students: 'We are not okay with this'

ND Response chairman Chris Labadie called the decision honor Obama a "dark day" for the university.

SOTH BEND (The Deacons Bench) - With all the other things happening on Palm Sunday, it didn't get much attention, but there was a sizable protest last weekend at Notre Dame. (If you have to ask what it was about, you haven't been paying attention.)

From the Chicago Sun Times:

"Hundreds of anti-abortion advocates protested Sunday on the University of Notre Dame campus against the school's decision to award an honorary degree to President Barack Obama.

"Speakers at the rally outside the school's Main Building called for the honorary degree to be withdrawn because Obama's actions on abortion regulations and stem cell research do not agree with Roman Catholic teachings.

"Following the stance of some Catholic bishops, student organizers said they were no longer calling for university President the Rev. John Jenkins to withdraw the invitation for Obama to speak at the May 17 graduation ceremony.

"Our big goal is to bring awareness that we are not OK with this," said Emily Toates, a senior who is vice president of Notre Dame Right to Life. "Our big goal is for Father Jenkins to rescind the honorary doctorate of laws degree because (Obama) goes so counter to the principles of the Catholic church."

"The crowd was a mix of students and others. Tim and Jennifer Mathew, who is executive director of the Right to Life group in northwestern Indiana's Porter County, brought their three sons, ages 9, 4 and nine months.

"We think it's important that our children see that there are other like-minded people who will stand up for the doctrines of the church, and what this university can and should stand up for," Tim Mathew said after the rally.

"Jenkins has said the university does not condone all of Obama's policies but that it's important to engage in conversation. University officials have said the school does not plan to rescind the invitation to Obama despite the objections it has received.

"The campus protest was organized by ND Response, a coalition of student groups formed in response to the Obama invitation. Organizers distributed white carnations, pamphlets and urged people to write letters to Jenkins.

"ND Response chairman Chris Labadie called the decision honor Obama a "dark day" for the university.

"Since 1973, a plague has ravished our country," Labadie said. "It's not AIDS, Ebola, or the Black Death it's something far worse. It kills bodies and unborn souls. Now this plague has reached the gates of Notre Dame. It's been invited inside by those who shouldn't have let it."

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The ever insightful, enjoyable and inspiring place for news about deacons, the Catholic Church, and various thoughts on the art of preaching by Deacon Greg Kandra. Used with permission.