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1. Fundamentalists like the Cardinal Newman Society place such a high priority on doctrinal conformity and obedience to doctrinaire spokespersons that they sacrifice values basic to all great religious traditions: love, compassion, forgiveness, tolerance and caring.
   
   In their overwhelming seriousness about religion fundamentalists as we see in the Cardinal Newman Society do not hesitate to intervene in political and social process to ensure that society is forced to conform to the values and behaviors their fundamentalist worldview requires. Fundamentalists are their own justification and a danger to all genuine people of Faith.
   

   Posted By: John Alonzo Dick

2. Pray for the good Father that he make his decision with the mind of Christ, loving and inviting all yet holding them accountable for the evils they do and calling them to repentance and the mercy of God.

   Posted By: Deacon Mark Wyant

3. Incredible that less than 60 years after Vatican II there are still fanatics at Notre Dame who have not grown up. Get used to it! Read your theologians! Ask Father O'Brien what he thinks! Who has uncaged such stalwarts who live to create reactionary fervor among the ignorant masses?

   Posted By: Professor Emeritus A.J. Carlos

4. So the way we Catholics treat those who disagree with us is to close them out, silence them, not allow them to speak so that we can make an intelligent and informed response to their opinions? Oh wait, I forgot, that is what we Catholics do.

   Posted By: Sylvia

5. I'm glad that someone was able to point out the hypocrisy of the Cardinal Newman group. We will be hearing alot about the pharisees in the next couple of weeks at Mass, but we can see them in action now. I am amazed with a whole New Testament filled with stories and exhortations on how to live in right relationship with God and one another, we don't have any teaching on abortion, yet that has become the central doctrine of our day! Go figure...I guess we don't have real respect for the scriptures!

   Posted By: Jim

6. Here's a funny thing. Notre Dame have Mary Ann Glendon on their home page but NOT President Obama although they will both be at the same commencement. Makes it seem that even Notre Dame are not too sure of themselves.

   Posted By: Joe Colman

7. I agree with Sylvia's post! Why is it that because a president is asked to speak at an institution, it's a given that he must also align with the school's theological backgrond. I mean, Obama's not even Catholic, but we're focusing on the idea of him being out of alignment with the church's teaching on abortion. That's the only focus. And it's sad.
   
   What about the way he has rallied people to do good for the greater community? What about how (OBVIOUSLY) more than half the popultion, including the all-important Catholic swing vote, elected him to office.
   
   It's a great thing these bishops wish to silence an alternative view. Otherwise, we might have a reformation in the Church...oh wait. That happened before. And we split Christendom up in to Protestants and Catholics, and we've been trying to bring people back together since. But the church feels no need to give. It shelters itself behind doctrine and tradition--neither of which are considered infallible!--hoping that one day everyone will just agree.
   
   It won't happen. We ALL have to work at understanding the variety of views. We don't reach agreement by putting our fingers in our ears at stuff we don't like and responding with "La la la, I can't hear you" and raspberries. We reach it through dialogue and exloring all sides thoroughly.

   Posted By: atypicalcatholic

8. Notre Dame University should not invite pro-abortion people no matter who, even Obama, and honor them in anyway, allowing them to speak there at anytime. Are they stupid!!

   Posted By: Juanita R. Hunt

9. It's a sad day for the Bride of Christ, the Catholic church, now that Notre Dame has accepted the temptation of the devil. Easter is fast approaching and I am sure that Jesus is hurt by the fact that Notre Dame has made Obama a graduation speaker. His views and postions run contray to Church teachings. It's like Notre Dame has asked the devil to come and speak at the graduation. To hell with Notre Dame.

   Posted By: John O'Reilly

10. It is unfathomable that Notre Dame University would invite the most anti-life, pro-death US President we have ever had to speak at its commencement. 50 million unborn humans killed and Obama will ensure that this barbaric American holocaust continues unrestricted and with impunity.
    
    Notre Dame's action shows it to be indirectly complicit in this grave moral evil. And don’t try and play the absurd “academic freedom” card here. It is a shameful and insulting action to those Catholics who honor what the Church teaches.
    
    How on earth could this remotely be considered proper? I can't imagine why parents would even consider sending their child to Notre Dame, when there are about 20+ genuinely outstanding, loyal Catholic Universities left in this country to choose from.
    
    I can understand Obama speaking at a NOW or NARAL convention. But at Notre Dame? Utterly disgraceful.

    Posted By: JIM CONNOLLY

11. It strikes me that those who are outraged by President Obama speaking at Notre Dame are more rabid than those who favor allowing him to do so, who by contrast seem pretty reasonable in their views. That does not bode well for the 'defenders of the defenseless'.
    I am no great fan of the President, and certainly unhappy with his most recent decisions regarding stem cell research and abortion funding. For this very reason then I think his appearing at the university is a wonderful opportunity for anyone to voice their disagreement and dissatisfaction with him and his policies, and make known to him how strongly they feel about these issues while hopefully also providing him with food for thought with respect to alternate approaches. Let's just pray this is done with rhetoric, and not rocks!

    Posted By: Evagrius

12. Unlike Notre Dame, the President is not expected to reflect the teachings of the Catholic Church,but as Mr Dick asserts important great basic traditions like love, compassion, forgiveness, tolerance and care should be our common bond. Is not dedication to HUMAN RIGHTS (that embodies all of the above) another important bond? President Obama advocates the greatest Human Rights violation of our time. Should he not be accountable for advocating the destruction of an innocent human being, nurtured in its mother's womb and denying it the same protection given to another innocent human being, nurtured at its mother's breast? Would he advocate other human rights violations such as slavery, Jim Crow discrimination, segregation,and denial of the right to vote to women and minorities, violations which were at one time compatible with the laws of the USA(and yes tolerated by the Church). Harvard Professor Mary Ann Glendon is an expert on Human Rights. Wouldn't this be a great time to confront President Obama with a professional analysis that proves that America cannot tolerate any longer the Human Rights violations that emerged from the culture of the ME generation. Isn't it time for a change?

    Posted By: raymond j rice

13. I understand that most Catholics and probably the great majority of Notre Dame students and faculty voted for Barack Obama. Mr. Obama was not reticent when it came to his views on abortion, embryonic stem cell research, and other world views that oppose Catholicism. Notre Dame has the right to invite whomever it wishes to speak on campus. However, Notre Dame should drop the pretense of being "Catholic" and change its name. Apparently Notre Dame wishes to appear hip and cool and "Notre Dame," Our Lady, was definitely neither hip nor cool. I would respect Notre Dame much more if it admitted to being an entirely secular university, which in reality it already is.

    Posted By: Joan Collins

14. As one who converted to Catholicism 20+ years ago, I had many questions about the Church's view on, among other things, birth control. Here was my question: If the Church says no to birth control and abortions... that is fine... I can understand the reasoning and belief in God's purpose for procreation. But there is one thing that bothers me... taking birth control and abortions are outward acts... what about the inward acts? The Bible says that if we think it then it is so... if, as a married man, I lust after a woman who is not my wife then I have committed adultery... you can say "yeah but" all you want, but the Bible IS VERY SPECIFIC on this point. So... the traditional method for Catholics has been the "rhythm method" which is... in fact the very act of defying God's Word... not only in thought by saying "we do not want anymore children" but by actions whereby you refrain from "sex" during a certain period of the month. " Judge not least Ye be Judged"

    Posted By: Joe Stephens

15. I understand that most Catholics and probably the great majority of Notre Dame students and faculty voted for Barack Obama. Mr. Obama was not reticent when it came to his views on abortion, embryonic stem cell research, and other world views that oppose Catholicism. Notre Dame has the right to invite whomever it wishes to speak on campus. However, Notre Dame should drop the pretense of being "Catholic" and change its name. Apparently Notre Dame wishes to appear hip and cool and "Notre Dame," Our Lady, was definitely neither hip nor cool. I would respect Notre Dame much more if it admitted to being an entirely secular university, which in reality it already is.

    Posted By: Joan Collins

16. If people really want to be outraged over anything in the Catholic Church, I suggest they focus their energy on what is going on in Brazil with abortion, children's rights and excommunication. It is outrageous.

    Posted By: Bridget Timoney

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