UPDATE, 2:20p: CBNNews.com's David Brody has posted the White House's response to the news fellow award recipient Mary Ann Glendon will be a no-show at Notre Dame's commencement because of Obama:
President Obama is disappointed by former Ambassador Mary Glendon's decision, but he looks forward to delivering an inclusive and respectful speech at the Notre Dame graduation, a school with a rich history of fostering the exchange of ideas. While he is honored to have the support of millions of people of all faiths, he does not govern with the expectation that everyone sees eye to eye with him on every position, and the spirit of debate and healthy disagreement on important issues is part of what he loves about this country.
[HT: American Papist]
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UPDATE, 9:57a: From David Brody at CBNNews.com:
You know the famous saying, "Houston. We have a problem." Well, how about a new slogan: "Notre Dame. We have a problem." The speech by pro-choice President Obama at the Catholic Notre Dame has caused all sorts of trouble.
It now turns out that Mary Ann Glendon, the former U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican [pictured right with Pope Benedict in February 2008], will NOT speak at the Notre dame Graduation because of the controversy.The pro-life, Harvard professor was set to receive the Laetare Medal which is the annual award given in recognition of outstanding service to the Roman Catholic church and society. She was to speak to the students on the same day as President Obama. But President Obama's appearance was just too much. She just posted the following letter to the university here.
[HT: Arina and Kristina; photo courtesy of Vatican's L'Osservatore Romano newspaper ]
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Email from Joe Carter at First Things:
Mary Ann Glendon has declined the Laetare Medal, the annual award from Notre Dame, which she was to receive this spring at the university's graduation ceremonies.At 9:30 this morning, April 27, 2009, Mary Ann Glendon faxed to the university's president, the Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., and published online at First Things a letter explaining her decision to refuse the medal.
Mary Ann Glendon is Learned Hand Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. A member of the editorial and advisory board of First Things, she served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican from 2007 to 2009.
Comments:
Excellent. Been waiting for this announcement!
Posted by: John Francis Borra at April 27, 2009 9:52 AMHow wonderful! God raises up saints in troubled times like these; those who will stand up for truth regardless of the consequences.
Posted by: Bobby Bambino at April 27, 2009 9:55 AMGood to hear!!
Posted by: Carla at April 27, 2009 9:57 AMGood for her. So much more effective than driving those trucks around town.
(I love a good protest)
Posted by: Hal at April 27, 2009 10:00 AMIn case you couldn't find her letter, here's another link:
Posted by: Ed at April 27, 2009 10:22 AMWay to go, Mary Ann!
Posted by: Kel at April 27, 2009 10:22 AMNotre Dame will have to decide if they support abortion or not. Then they will have to decide by selection of speakers who fits what they believe.
Time for people to take a stand.
Kudos to Mary Ann.
Will Notre Dame ever wake up ?
Her letter was EXCELLENT. God bless her!
Posted by: Fed Up at April 27, 2009 11:08 AMWOW. Awesome.
Now, I'm wondering who will replace her. (For those who haven't seen it yet: ND has stated "It is our intention to award the Laetare Medal to another deserving recipient, and we will make that announcement as soon as possible.")
Would any self-respecting Catholic accept such an award after the example Glendon has just set? Perhaps, if...
Or maybe they'll just have to invite Kmeic. *shudder*
Posted by: Marc at April 27, 2009 12:17 PMJill, Thank you for keeping us abreast of this story.
What a gracious letter from a lovely lady, God bless you, Mary Ann Glendon.
Posted by: Janet at April 27, 2009 12:21 PMThe White House response is so typical. "Can't we all just agree to disagree about the killing of 50 million americans?"
Posted by: Lauren at April 27, 2009 2:56 PMGod bless Mary Ann Glendon! What an heroic lady!
Posted by: Eileen #2 at April 27, 2009 3:07 PM"...the spirit of debate and healthy disagreement on important issues is part of what he loves about this country."
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I wouldn't call killing 50 million babies and scarring (emotionally, psychologically and physically) another 50 million mothers a "healthy" disagreement...
..and a "debate" is between two opposing sides of an issue who are given a chance to speak freely about their side...
Posted by: RSD at April 27, 2009 3:16 PMI've heard of "healthy debate" before, but never "healthy disagreement".
Would an "UNhealthy disagreement" consist of protests, perhaps?
Posted by: Janet at April 27, 2009 5:28 PM"Now, I'm wondering who will replace her."
Hmmm. Eduardo?
Posted by: Janet at April 27, 2009 5:36 PMEduardo might decline as well!! :)
Posted by: Carla at April 27, 2009 6:56 PMCarla,
OK, maybe next year.
:)
Carla,
I almost forgot to tell you. Bobby is my second choice if Eduardo can't make it! But, then, he'd probably decline too....
I wonder who will accept?
Posted by: Carla at April 27, 2009 8:35 PMThe following statement from John I. Jenkins, president of the University of Notre Dame, is in response to the decision by Mary Ann Glendon to decline acceptance of the University’s Laetare Medal.
“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.”
who is charge of this Jenkins character and why can't he be fired.
Posted by: Jasper at April 27, 2009 11:17 PMwho is charge of this Jenkins character and why can't he be fired.
Posted by: Jasper at April 27, 2009 11:17 PM
God. But he doesn't "fire" a person until the next life.
Posted by: angel at April 28, 2009 6:11 AMI'm so glad she declined but really, if the president speaks, who would ever accept the award again? It's so apparent that ND disregards the orders of the bishops and the Church teachings so it makes any award from them worthless.
Posted by: Kristen at April 28, 2009 7:39 AM“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.”
who is charge of this Jenkins character and why can't he be fired.
Posted by: Jasper at April 27, 2009 11:17 PM
It'll probably be Kmiec. LOL! That's the only one I can see accepting. For sure no one who is Orthodox Catholic possibly could.
Kristen: yes, wouldn't that be something if several others refused the award.
This would really place more pressure on ND.
Posted by: angel at April 28, 2009 7:46 AM
Yes, but they'll make SURE whomever they ask will accept. That's why it'll be a weasel like Kmiec and not a REAL Catholic like Glendon.
Posted by: Kristen at April 28, 2009 8:12 AMKristen: absolutely!
And there are lots of cafeteria catholics out there.
Kmiec is not a weasel, he's a Judas goat. And if you know what a Judas goat is you will know the term fits him perfectly.
I do not know what a Judas goat is, angel.
As you are also aware, I am quite lazy and unwilling to type it into google. Apparently I find typing all this rather than simply "www.google.com "judas goat"" to be easier... hmmm...
Posted by: Bobby Bambino
at April 28, 2009 9:22 AMKudos to Glendon for her stand.
Bronx cheers to Hal, who dumps on people like CBR for showing the humanity of the unborn, the inhumanity of their destruction, and the wickedness of those who promote that destruction, because bullying cowards like him don't want to face these inconvenient truths.
Posted by: jtm at April 28, 2009 9:59 AMHow am I a "bullying coward?"
Who is CBR?
Posted by: Hal at April 28, 2009 11:29 AMWhy don't they give it to Biden, Pelosi or Kerry?
They'd be very happy to accept a "tainted" award...plus the fact that they get to share the stage with their saviour.
As the shirt sign says: "Jesus is my Saviour..too bad yours is Obama"
Posted by: RSD at April 28, 2009 12:55 PMAs the shirt sign says: "Jesus is my Saviour..too bad yours is Obama"
Posted by: RSD at April 28, 2009 12:55 PM
Love it!
4-28-09
How courageous.
More of us need to stand up for what is right,
"come what may".
a Protestant