Catholic Groups Oppose Obama Speech

[Nonno]

"After eight years of only occasional disagreements with a Republican president, conservative Catholic activists have moved into the trenches to oppose Obama. They cite his repeal of the Mexico City rule, or “global gag rule” that banned providing federal money to international groups that promote or provide abortions, his stem cell compromise, and his cabinet nominees like Kathleen Sebelius, the pro-choice governor of Kansas, to argue that he is the most pro-abortion rights politician ever to ascend to the job.

They are bolstered by new media outlets and organizations that did not exist at their current strength in 2000, the last time Catholics had to contend with a pro-choice president. At the same time, they’re encouraged by a series of high-profile statements from church leaders on political morality–including the 2004 declarations by bishops that they would deny communion to then-presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), and Pope Benedict XIV’s 2005 speech attacking the “dictatorship of relativism.”

A small number of conservative groups, and a more newsworthy group of conservative bishops — 42 so far — are turning the Notre Dame speech into a watershed moment, while obscuring the fact that the president enjoys majority support from Catholics."

More at: The Washington Independent » Conservative Catholic Groups Fueling Obama Notre Dame Scandal


I'll bet this is not going to prevent Obama from speaking at ND. Here's why;

"The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) - a national group of professors who work to advance academic freedom - also released a statement Thursday supporting Jenkins' decision.

"Perhaps no attempt to ban a speaker has drawn more attention than the effort by off-campus groups to prevent President Barack Obama from delivering this year's commencement address at the University of Notre Dame," the statement said.

The statement applauded Jenkins' firm stance on his invitation and said rescinding invitations due to outside pressure is an "infringement" of academic freedom.

"The opportunity to be confronted with diverse opinions is at the core of academic freedom, which is vital to a free society and a quality education," the statement said. "The AAUP will continue to work to ensure such academic freedom."

The group said Jenkins' decision is consistent with a statement by University President Emeritus Fr. Theodore Hesburgh: "The Catholic university must have true autonomy and academic freedom in the face of authority of whatever kind, lay or clerical, external to the academic community itself."

More at: Faculty Senate supports Jenkins - News

[This_person]

Originally Posted by Nonno

"After eight years of only occasional disagreements with a Republican president, conservative Catholic activists have moved into the trenches to oppose Obama.

Imagine that.... After the policies are grossly changed, people who oppose the policy changes are discussing their disagreement with the policy changes.

This is news....why?