<p>myoneandonly–our student has NOT had an intellectually stifling education. Quite the contrary. And, by the way, student is also not Catholic-raised Protestant w/one parent being Catholic. Have you ever attended classes at ND? And, I am sure that you will find that NO college is perfect!</p>
<p>I have read this thread with great interest. The controversy, it would seem, is certainly alive and well. My D was accepted to ND EA, but has declined the offer due to finances. I am glad she is attending elsewhere due to our family’s finances. However, I am extremely sad that she will not attain the joy of a ND education. It was the opportunity of a lifetime, just not one we could afford.</p>
<p>Certainly, we all have our own thoughts, motivations, and insights into various colleges. But, I am insulted, and frankly I think it is counterproductive, to speak negatively of anyone’s religous choices. (referring to “mumbo jumbo”) ND, after all, is an institution of higher learning. That’s what all universities are designed for. All the rest is just an additional gift. I for one am not particulary thrilled that ND has invited this particular president to speak. But perhaps it is time to understand —that which divides us may need to be met head on in order to unite us.</p>
<p>After all, isn’t graduation about the graduates?</p>
<p>Thank you very much for your comments^; it seems that many have lost sight of the fact that graduation is one of the most important days of these students’ lives. It will be in our household when the day finally arrives-I’ve said it before as mentioned by a previous poster–it is time to agree to disagree!</p>
<p>myoneandonly: The unilateral approach that is apparently your ideal can hardly be called intellectually productive. Fruitful discourse consists almost entirely of argument (have you ever heard of Socrates?). And did you really mean “the intellectual cache (hiding place) of the Ivy League,” or was “cachet” your intention? People who make such condescending comments about other people’s intelligence (not to mention such offensive ones about their beliefs) should at least try to be more careful with their insults.</p>
<p>And the graduates WILL have a proud and happy day. Congratulations, notre dame AL.</p>
<p>Claremarie:<br>
I have stated before that I don’t believe Obama should get the honorary degree. THAT would be more bestowing an honor to him.</p>
<p>I think asking him to speak was done in the spirit of tradition and respect for the office of the president. I think the Pope’s and Cardinal’s congratulatory letter is in that same spirit.</p>
<p>PS- I have heard that ND is not giving him the honorary degree.</p>
<p>aristophanes-we have one more year to go! When the day FINALLY arrives, hopefully in one more year! But, my congrats go out to those that will be graduating in a month. I hope it will hold pleasant memories.</p>
<p>Myoneandonly - I am sure your son will get a great education for his brain, which will take him far in this world.</p>
<p>A Catholic education is supposed to take one far in the next.</p>
<p>Didn’t GW Bush speak at the ND commencement and receive an honorary degree in 2001? He is so pro-death penalty. Isn’t THAT against the Catholic church’s teachings? Did anyone care about that?</p>
<p>Maybe there was a debate about it then-I am just curious…</p>
<p>bbkitty - Yes, GWBush is “pro-death penalty.” So is Barack Obama for that matter.</p>
<p>The Catholic Church teaches that abortion is an intrinsically evil act in which an innocent human life is put to death, which can never, under any circumstance, be tolerated.</p>
<p>The Catholic Church teaches that the death penalty may, in very rare circumstances, be tolerated, only if there is no alternative to ensure the safety of the community. The gist is that the death penalty should be very rarely, if ever, utilized. I think it’s safe to say that most faithful Catholics oppose the death penalty; I do as that’s my Savior dying from the death penalty up on that cross. That said, they’re very different issues in terms of morality and permissability in the eyes of the Catholic Church.</p>
<p>There was protest about GWBush coming to Notre Dame.</p>
<p>Seriously, AlDomerDad??? A “Catholic education will take one farther into the next world”?? God help me – how you can say with all certainty that there is a next world is completely baffling to me – how do you KNOW there is a next world. It is a rather presumptuous statement if you ask me.</p>
<p>And yes, I’m certain my son’s upcoming college education at a wonderfully non-secular university will take him far in this world. Which, after all, is the only world any of us know with any degree of certainty. And I’d never pay $200k for an education to be advantageous for some “other” place that may or may not be there – that wouldn’t be a sound investment.</p>
<p>Good Luck to all of you Domers – have been there many, many times and it certainly is a breathtakingly beautiful campus offering a wonderful education. Just be careful to tread lightly on those of us, including President Obama, who may see things differently and who are willing to render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s.</p>
<p>OMG, if you are questioning whether there is a next world, then Notre Dame ought definitely not be the place for you, or your kid. My statement about the “next world” is a statement of faith, not knowledge. And that is precisely the sort of thing one ought to come away from Notre Dame with…Faith AND knowledge.</p>
<p>Regarding the last statement, I’d suggest you start rendering to God the things that are God’s</p>
<p>And Good Luck to you myoneandonly–Attending ND is a choice and obviously one that your student chose not to make. Some of us do feel that it is worth the $200,000 price tag!</p>
<p>Mary Ann Glendon Turns Down Notre Dame Honor</p>
<p>Dear Father Jenkins,</p>
<p>When you informed me in December 2008 that I had been selected to
receive Notre Dames 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 Dames 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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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 institutions 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.</p>
<p>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:</p>
<p>● President Obama wont 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.</p>
<p>● 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.</p>
<p>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 Dames decision-in disregard of the
settled position of the U.S. bishops-to honor a prominent and
uncompromising opponent of the Churchs position on issues involving
fundamental principles of justice.</p>
<p>Finally, with recent news reports that other Catholic schools are
similarly choosing to disregard the bishops guidelines, I am
concerned that Notre Dames example could have an unfortunate ripple
effect.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Yours Very Truly,</p>
<p>Mary Ann Glendon</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Faith – the opiate for the masses.</p>
<p>I used to have faith in alot of things; Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny . . . oh, but then I became an adult.</p>
<p>Good Luck to all of you – you should be happy the President of the United States is speaking at your graduation. It is an honor.</p>
<p>Thank you Karl Marx.</p>
<p>Citric: But myoneandonly is clearly more enlightened than Ms. Glendon, and SO much more rational and articulate.</p>
<p>Why thank you, Aristophanes – glad you’re finally seeing the light.</p>
<p>BTW, I think Harvard actually looks worse than Notre Dame right now because they actually employ Ms. Glendon.</p>
<p>Enough said on this subject for me. Let’s hope the graduation goes off without incident and that the graduates and their families are able to enjoy a celebratory day without the political posturing of fringe groups.</p>
<p>From the Observer today: New Speaker announced-</p>
<p>Judge John T. Noonan Jr., recipient of the Laetare Medal in 1984, will deliver an address “in the spirit of the award” at the Commencement ceremony May 17, the University announced Thursday. </p>
<p>The University will not award the medal this year, according to a press release. </p>
<p>Mary Ann Glendon, former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, was selected to receive the award March 22, but she declined the medal in a letter to University President Fr. John Jenkins Monday, marking the first time the award has been accepted and then declined, according to an April 28 Observer report. </p>
<p>Jenkins said that since Noonan has already received the Laetare Medal, the University decided “upon reflection” not to give the award this year. </p>
<p>Dennis Brown, University spokesperson, told The Observer that the University decided against making a “hurried decision.”</p>
<p>“The Laetare Medal is our highest honor, and we annually take great care in selecting a recipient. While we have a list of individuals who are more than worthy of the award, upon reflection we decided against making a hurried decision,” Brown said.</p>
<p>He said Jenkins reflected on various options and decided to ask a former Medal recipient to speak to graduates. </p>
<p>Jenkins called Noonan the “ideal choice” in the press release.</p>
<p>“In thinking about who could bring a compelling voice, a passion for dialogue, great intellectual stature and a deep commitment to Catholic values to the speaking role of the Laetare Medalist - especially in these unusual circumstances - it quickly became clear that an ideal choice is Judge Noonan,” Jenkins said in the press release. “This Commencement ceremony, more than anything else, is a celebration of our students and their families. Judge Noonan will join with President Obama and other speakers in that celebration, sending them from our campus and into the world with sound advice and affirmation.” </p>
<p>Noonan serves as a Senior Circuit Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He was appointed to the Court in 1985 by President Ronald Reagan. </p>
<p>Noonan joined the Notre Dame faculty in 1961 as a professor of Law, and taught at the Law School until 1966. He has also taught at the University of California Law School at Berkeley. </p>
<p>Working as a consultant for agencies in the Catholic Church, Noonan has consulted for Pope Paul VI’s Commission on Problems of the Family and the U.S. Catholic Conference’s committees on moral values, law and public policy, law and life issues and social development and world peace. </p>
<p>Noonan was also a governor of the Canon Law Society of America and director of the National Right to Life Committee. </p>
<p>Noonan graduated from Harvard University in 1946 and received a J.D. degree from Harvard Law School in 1954.</p>