Prof. Glendon Withdraws From Notre Dame Commencement Activities
Part One of Two

By Dave Andrusko

Editor's note. Part Two examines the many sources of pro-life strength. Please send comments on either or both parts to daveandrusko@gmail.com.

"Then I learned that 'talking points' issued by Notre Dame in response to widespread criticism of its decision included two statements implying that my acceptance speech would somehow balance the event."
     Part of a letter sent by Prof. Mary Ann Glendon to the president of the University of Notre Dame, explaining why she could not accept the Laetare Medal or participate in the May 17 graduation ceremony. Pro-abortion President Barack Obama is scheduled to give the commencement address and receive an honorary doctor of law degree.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For those who think the tidal wave of opposition to pro-abortion President Barack Obama giving the commencement address at the University of Notre Dame has crested, I would cite today's decision by Mary Ann Glendon to withdraw as reason to think again.

Glendon is the Learned Hand Professor of Law at Harvard Law School and served as United States ambassador to the Holy See from 2007 to 2009. She was to receive the Laetare Medal--described as Notre Dame's highest honor--in recognition of her outstanding service to the Roman Catholic Church and society.

Prof. Mary Ann Glendon

Prof. Glendon was to share the dais with President Obama, who is scheduled not only to give the commencement address, but also to receive an honorary doctor of laws degree at Notre Dame's commencement. People whose opinion I respect but who thought it was appropriate for Notre Dame to invite President Obama not infrequently cited Prof. Glendon's presence as proof positive everybody would benefit.

But Glendon's letter to The Rev. John I. Jenkins, President of the University of Notre Dame, carefully pointed out why and how things had changed since she first accepted the invitation. (The full letter is reproduced at the end.)

"First, as a longtime consultant to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, I could not help but be dismayed by the news that Notre Dame also planned to award the president an honorary degree," she wrote. "This, as you must know, was in disregard of the U.S. bishops' express request of 2004 that Catholic institutions 'should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles' and that such persons 'should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.'"

That's for starters. Then Glendon learned that in response to criticism the "talking points" Notre Dame was distributing "included two statements implying that my acceptance speech would somehow balance the event."

But a commencement, she wrote, "is not the right place, nor is a brief acceptance speech the right vehicle, for engagement with the very serious problems raised by Notre Dame's decision--in disregard of the settled position of the U.S. bishops--to honor a prominent and uncompromising opponent of the Church's position on issues involving fundamental principles of justice."

And then there was the inevitable domino effect--"other Catholic schools are similarly choosing to disregard the bishops' guidelines." Putting it altogether, Glendon concluded, "with great sadness" that she could neither accept the award nor participate in the graduation ceremony.

If you have not yet communicated your own opposition to the invitation to President Obama, please do so today!

You can call Fr. Jenkins at 574.631.3903 or 574.631.5000.
You can email Fr. Jenkins at President@nd.edu

You can write him at:

Reverend John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.
Office of the President
400 Main Building
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN 46556

Or, better yet, you can do all three.

NOTE: Just as we were about to post this, Fr. Jenkins issued the following non-response response;

"We are, of course, disappointed that Professor Glendon has made this decision. It is our intention to award the Laetare Medal to another deserving recipient, and we will make that announcement as soon as possible."

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Prof. Glendon's letter is reprinted in full below.

April 27, 2009
The Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.
President
University of Notre Dame

Dear Father Jenkins,

When you informed me in December 2008 that I had been selected to receive Notre Dame's Laetare Medal, I was profoundly moved. I treasure the memory of receiving an honorary degree from Notre Dame in 1996, and I have always felt honored that the commencement speech I gave that year was included in the anthology of Notre Dame's most memorable commencement speeches. So I immediately began working on an acceptance speech that I hoped would be worthy of the occasion, of the honor of the medal, and of your students and faculty.

Last month, when you called to tell me that the commencement speech was to be given by President Obama, I mentioned to you that I would have to rewrite my speech. Over the ensuing weeks, the task that once seemed so delightful has been complicated by a number of factors.

First, as a longtime consultant to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, I could not help but be dismayed by the news that Notre Dame also planned to award the president an honorary degree.

This, as you must know, was in disregard of the U.S. bishops' express request of 2004 that Catholic institutions "should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles" and that such persons "should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions." That request, which in no way seeks to control or interfere with an institution's freedom to invite and engage in serious debate with whomever it wishes, seems to me so reasonable that I am at a loss to understand why a Catholic university should disrespect it.

Then I learned that "talking points" issued by Notre Dame in response to widespread criticism of its decision included two statements implying that my acceptance speech would somehow balance the event:

"President Obama won't be doing all the talking. Mary Ann Glendon, the former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, will be speaking as the recipient of the Laetare Medal."

"We think having the president come to Notre Dame, see our graduates, meet our leaders, and hear a talk from Mary Ann Glendon is a good thing for the president and for the causes we care about."

A commencement, however, is supposed to be a joyous day for the graduates and their families. It is not the right place, nor is a brief acceptance speech the right vehicle, for engagement with the very serious problems raised by Notre Dame's decision--in disregard of the settled position of the U.S. bishops--to honor a prominent and uncompromising opponent of the Church's position on issues involving fundamental principles of justice.

Finally, with recent news reports that other Catholic schools are similarly choosing to disregard the bishops' guidelines, I am concerned that Notre Dame's example could have an unfortunate ripple effect.

It is with great sadness, therefore, that I have concluded that I cannot accept the Laetare Medal or participate in the May 17 graduation ceremony.

In order to avoid the inevitable speculation about the reasons for my decision, I will release this letter to the press, but I do not plan to make any further comment on the matter at this time.

Yours Very Truly,
Mary Ann Glendon

Part Two