It depends on what the meaning of "honorary" is.
I have seen these kinds of internal spin memos before. People would be surprised at some of the heretical clowns that prepare such things.
Nice scoop.
Posted on 04/07/2009 3:05:27 PM PDT by wagglebee
NOTRE DAME, Indiana, April 6, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - LifeSiteNews.com has obtained a copy of the talking points distributed by the University of Notre Dame to its Board of Trustees to respond to the rash of criticism the school faces from Catholic bishops, leaders, laypeople, and Notre Dame alumni concerning its invitation of President Obama to be this year's commencement speaker.
An outcry erupted immediately after the school announced, and the White House accepted, an invitation to President Obama to offer the commencement address and receive an honorary law degree May 17 (To sign a petition against the invitation, go to: http://www.notredamescandal.com).
The talking points are as follows:
-Presidents from both parties have come to Notre Dame for decades to speak to our graduates. Barack Obama will be the sixth President to speak at commencement, and the ninth to receive an honorary degree from the University.
-It's a rare thing to be able to offer your graduates a commencement address from one of the most influential figures in the world - especially as they're entering that world hoping to make it better.
-We think a visit from the President will help inspire our graduates to be active citizens - whether they agree with his politics or not.
-We knew there would be some controversy over this choice. Frankly, I was impressed that Fr. Jenkins invited him; he's facing some criticism for this. And I admire President Obama for accepting. It shows he respects his audience.
-But there shouldn't be any confusion about the honorary degree. We're honoring him as the sitting president of the United States...for his historic election, for fighting poverty, expanding health care, improving schools, seeking peace, breaking barriers of race.
-These issues are dear to the heart of Catholics and the president has elevated them, and we honor that.
-We are aware of the discussion surrounding the bishops' document, Catholics in Political Life. The University took this document into full consideration. We believe it allows those non-Catholics to be invited to give their views on important issues.
-We have said from the start, that this invitation does not mean we agree with all positions the President has taken. We do not condone the President's positions on abortion and embryonic stem cell research. We have crucial differences with him on issues of protecting human life. Fr. Jenkins made that clear.
-Butt that doesn't mean we shouldn't invite him to Notre Dame. We can never change the President's views unless he listens to us. And how can we expect him to listen to us if we won't listen to him?
-And 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.
See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Notre Dame's Bishop Will Not Attend Obama-Honoring Graduation, Criticizes University's Decision
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09032408.html
Notre Dame Faces Groundswell of Outrage after Announcing Plan to Honor Obama
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09032312.html
Notre Dame President: School "Honored" by Obama's Acceptance to Speak and Receive Honorary Degree
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09032306.html
Catholic Notre Dame University to Give Obama Honorary Degree on May 17, Against USCCB Policy
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09032005.html
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Steaming pile of BS!
Seriously, are ex-KGB propadandists writing this stuff?
If Rush Limbaugh was the guest, the talking points would be the opposite, and the Fellows the most vocal antagonists.
It depends on what the meaning of "honorary" is.
I have seen these kinds of internal spin memos before. People would be surprised at some of the heretical clowns that prepare such things.
Nice scoop.
By their actions ye shall know them...
Such a steaming, malodorous pile of PC BS, one is boggled at where to begin. For starters, one cannot equate all the “causes” that The One purports to advance in concert with Catholic teaching, with the sanctity of human life.
Obama is a murderer.
GMTA. See my #9.
Gutless
“We think a visit from the President will help inspire our graduates to be active citizens - whether they agree with his politics or not.”
This is what I never understand about the activist movement. Nevermind that ALL activism is abhorrent to me personally (mind your own business!). Why would we want people to be active if we disagreed with their ideology? Why, for instance, would we want to encourage active KKK members or active neo-Nazis?
I understand libs want to have as little risk as possible that more and more decisions will be made by a central authority and less and less made by private interests, and the best way to do that is to keep up the illusion that everyone is violently opposed to things as they are. But you’d think they’d at least dissuade their supposed enemies from joining in. Then again, maybe they do. You’ll find pro-life protestors are the big exception to the general seal of approval on activism.
No, it's "How can he expect us to listen to him if he won't listen to us?"
He's the 'leader.' He is supposed to listen first. And when does the captive audience (that just came to see their kid graduate) get to talk to obama? It's going to be a one way conversation.
If he MUST go, I think that instead of giving him an honorary law degree, Notre Dame should give him an ipod filled with the speeches of all visiting presidents before him.
Why doesn't ND's president just explain his peculiar personal reasons for liking Obama so much and not being bothered by his ferocious pro-abortionism?
What do most of those have to do with an honorary law degree for him? What laws has HE passed? He gets a law degree for getting elected while half black?
please, please, give us a hurl alert with the post.
Aside from getting elected, he hasn't accomplished any of that yet. Why not wait until he is finished ruining the country and then you can give him an honorary degree for that.
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