I haven't posted anything on the controversy at the University of Notre Dame until now. It has been in my prayers. I couldn't understand why this University, which prides itself on being Catholic, would want to honour a President who was so anti-life that one of the first things he did after his inauguration was to allow state funding for embryonic stem cell research.
The authorities obviously just saw the conferring of an honorary degree as a media coup... the first University to honour the first black U.S. President... or something like that. I'm assuming that this is the first University to do so.
But the U.S. Bishops' Conference stated back in 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."
Seems pretty unambiguous.
The University of Notre Dame must have been pretty surprised by the backlash: apparently alumni have pledged to withhold donations to the tune of $ 8.2 million.
One of the "defences" offered by the University president was that Mary Ann Glendon would be there to provide "balance." "President Obama won't be doing all the talking," he said. "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."
Well, it seems that Harvard Law Professor Mary Ann Glendon doesn't much like the university's suggestion that her own speech at the commencement exercises might counterbalance the appearance of President Obama. She also expressed dismay that Notre Dame chose to honor the President despite his clear public stand against Catholic principles on key moral issues, and despite the clear position of the U.S. Bishops' Conference.
As a result, she has decided to decline both the invitation to attend and the Laetare Medal, which is the highest honour conferred by the University. A former U.S Ambassador to the Holy See, Mary Ann Glendon was to be awarded the Medal for her pro-life work.
Her letter to the president of Notre Dame University is superb.
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
What a contrast between the attitude of Professor Glendon and the reports that Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor is planning to accept a peerage and a position in Tony Blair's Faith Foundation...
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