As a Notre Dame grad, I don’t know what to think of this. I’m not really against Obama speaking. It’s a 20-minute speech, and I doubt too many critically thinking people will be confused about where the university stands on abortion regardless of what Obama thinks or says. Having a sitting President speak at commencement is an honor, and I doubt any school (much less a Catholic one) could find a single President in history who did not hold at least one position or take at least one political action that it could not endorse. Yes, including Bush. So Glendon comes off as a bit petty with her protest.
On the other hand, I have to admire her class and the wording of her letter. I probably wouldn’t have made the choice she did, but I can’t fault her for not having convictions.
As a Notre Dame grad, I don’t know what to think of this. I’m not really against Obama speaking. It’s a 20-minute speech, and I doubt too many critically thinking people will be confused about where the university stands on abortion regardless of what Obama thinks or says. Having a sitting President speak at commencement is an honor, and I doubt any school (much less a Catholic one) could find a single President in history who did not hold at least one position or take at least one political action that it could not endorse. Yes, including Bush. So Glendon comes off as a bit petty with her protest.
On the other hand, I have to admire her class and the wording of her letter. I probably wouldn’t have made the choice she did, but I can’t fault her for not having convictions.