Notre Dame-Obama controversy continues
Mary Ann Glendon, a former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican and respected bioethicist has told the University of Notre Dame that she will not accept the prestigious Laetare Medal because of President Obama’s scheduled commencement address, the Religion News Service reported today.
Glendon (pictured at right) said she had been “profoundly moved” when she was first told of the honor last December, but said Notre Dame’s decision to invite Obama and give him an honorary degree caused her to change her mind.
The university has come under withering criticism from conservatives, including nearly 50 U.S. bishops such as the bishop of the Tulsa Diocese and the archbishop of the Oklahoma City archdiocese, who say the school is ignoring the bishops’ guidelines that Catholic universities should not honor politicians who support abortion rights.
Glendon, who teaches at Harvard Law School, said she had tried to revise her planned remarks after Obama’s invitation became public, but decided she didn’t want to engage in a war of words on the commencement platform, according to the RNS.
“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 … to honor a prominent and uncompromising opponent of the Church’s position on issues involving fundamental principles of justice,” Glendon wrote to Notre Dame President John I. Jenkins.
The RNS said Glendon’s letter was posted online by the conservative journal First Things, where she is a member of the editorial and advisory board.
Jenkins, in a statement, said the school was “disappointed” by Glendon’s decision but said “it is our intention to award the Laetare Medal to another deserving recipient, and we will make that announcement as soon as possible.”
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
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