Having read Kevin Welsh’s previous column regarding President Barack Obama’s upcoming address at the University of Notre Dame, I could not help but feel another perspective might help clarify such a touchy subject.
I would like to start by challenging some of Welsh’s arguments. While it is true that Obama is not the first president to speak at Notre Dame’s commencement, it would be hard to claim that — at least at the time of the other presidents’ addresses — any of the others were as divisive to the Roman Catholic church as Obama.
At a time when abortion is one of the biggest issues in elections, Obama stands about as radically opposite the Catholic church as possible.
It should come as no surprise that many Catholics would become angry when such a figure is not only invited to speak at a Catholic university, but is offered an honorary law degree — something that may be considered ironic by some.
I feel confident that the fire is only further fueled by the fact that it is Notre Dame — one of the largest, most prestigious and most famous Catholic universities in America.
Inviting and honoring Obama as they have does seem to be sending a mixed message from the prominent Catholic institution.
I can only imagine that many of the alumni who chose Notre Dame for its Catholic identity are confused by this whole ordeal.
To reply to Welsh’s questions about the lack of fuss over previous presidents, I think it’s important to point out that the Catholic church does not hold abortion and capital punishment as equal.
While the Catholic church has come out against both, capital punishment has been treated with less severity than abortion. Capital punishment, while an assault on the dignity and value of human life, does not take the lives of the weakest and most defenseless as abortion does.
The Catholic church takes the defense of the weak and innocent very seriously, meaning abortion is seen as the greater evil.
Make no mistake, however: the Catholic church is not Republican.
Loyola can demonstrate that very easily. I consider myself Catholic, not Republican or Democrat. Many of my friends would say the same.
The Catholic church has a deep, rich and multi-faceted teaching on the dignity and value of human life — one that has much to say on abortion, torture, war, capital punishment, social injustice, globalization and much more.
To try to reduce that to a party platform will likely forfeit both faith and the Gospel along the way.
In that respect, then, I agree with Welsh: while Obama is arguably one of the figures most at odds with aspects of the Catholic church’s teaching, most political figures in this country stand opposite the Church on several of these issues.
While some of the issues are taken more seriously than others, it seems that a double standard is very dangerous.
If Obama should not be welcome at Notre Dame, I can see no sound argument for Senator John McCain and many Republicans.
Nicholas Courtney is a philosophy junior. He can be reached at [email protected].
