More than 230,000 people have signed the online petition at NotreDameScandal.com calling on the South Bend, Ind., Catholic university to rescind its commencement invitation to NARAL Pro-Choice America-endorsed, Freedom of Choice Act-supporting President Barack Obama.
But that fact is left out of yesterday's "Faith & Reason" blog at USAToday.com.
Instead, religion reporter Cathy Lynn Grossman goes out of her way to skew the controversy in Obama's favor, quoting Catholic clerics Bishop Robert Lynch and retired San Francisco archbishop John A. Quinn, who are chagrined with what they consider the angry tone of the Notre Dame protest.
Yet before going there, Grossman started off by tacitly comparing abortion and the death penalty as bearing equal moral weight in Catholic teaching:
They [pro-life activists] want Notre Dame to make an exception to its tradition of inviting the newly-elected president to be the commencement speaker. George W. Bush spoke in 2001 although his stance in favor of the death penalty conflicted with Catholic Church teachings.
Of course, the Catholic Church consideres abortion to be an "intrinsic evil" and biblical and extrabiblical resources such as the first century Didache point to that. While capital punishment is frowned upon, it is not considered evil of the state to execute duly-convicted murderers. From the online Catholic Encyclopedia:
The infliction of capital punishment is not contrary to the teaching of the Catholic Church, and the power of the State to visit upon culprits the penalty of death derives much authority from revelation and from the writings of theologians. The advisability of exercising that power is, of course, an affair to be determined upon other and various considerations.
Grossman closed her April 1 blog post with this rhetorical question:
Do you think Catholic voters, who gave Obama in 2008 more votes than they gave George W. Bush in 2004, knew exactly what they were getting in Obama's views on life, which were spelled out in his campaign?
—Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters




















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The critters that voted for
April 2, 2009 - 14:16 ET by bigtimerThe critters that voted for O, Catholic or not have no one to blame but themselves.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
bt - it wouldn't be so bad, but WE are paying the price!
April 2, 2009 - 18:49 ET by Cape ConservativeIt is no dishonor to be in a minority in the cause of liberty and virtue. ~ Sam Adams
Gee the protestors are
April 2, 2009 - 14:16 ET by eaglewingz08Gee the protestors are 'angry' and dag nabit, that's just plain wrong, sinful and unchristian says the former archbishop of San Francisco, who I bet dollars to donuts never said an unkind word about the depravity going on in his city under his watch.
Also, Jesus Christ, got ANGRY, with good reason. His 'tone' was sometimes very 'sharp' and 'abrasive'. He even REBUKED, which is a higher form of anger, many people for their acts and intent. The righteous people of Notre Dame are correct in not desiring to hand out an honorary degree to the most militant infanticidalist abortion monger ever elected President of this Country. The fact that he is African American has nothing to do with this. The fact that he is in your face on extreme abortion rights has everything to do with it. Moreover, if the invite were just as a commencement speaker, that would be ok, because speakers come from wide background (socialist to liberal-i am familiar with college campus speakers bureaus), but awarding honorary degree to someone who's Attorney General just politicized the Justice Department and has failed to uphold the Constitution, and to someone whose beliefs are antithetical to traditional and modern Catholic teachings, is insane.
eaglewing - AMEN!
April 2, 2009 - 18:51 ET by Cape ConservativeIt is no dishonor to be in a minority in the cause of liberty and virtue. ~ Sam Adams
Abortion same as death penalty - NFW
April 2, 2009 - 14:40 ET by SickofLibsShow me a fetus who has been convicted of a capital crime, and then I'll listen.
This is the same sh*t I hear in my Franciscan-run RC church; you can't talk about abortion AT ALL without simultaneously addressing the death penalty or 'end-of-life' issues. It's all or nothing.
I'm really beyond being disgusted by the hypocrisy of it all.
That is why I am against the
April 2, 2009 - 14:46 ET by general companydeath penelty. I dont mind keeping the murderers alive, if they will just quit killing children.
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
"All or nothing" is a lie
April 2, 2009 - 15:18 ET by moderncommentaries83The Catechism of the Catholic Church, which should be the go-to reference for Catholics, pro-life non-Catholics, and journalists who actually do good journalistic work, is the only resource about Catholic teaching that is to be trusted.
I say that with a hint of sadness because our bishops and priests have an obligation to know and reinforce the teachings of the Catechism. Many do so faithfully; too many are hostile and refuse to acknowledge that which they are morally bound to defend and uphold. Which is why the media always vilifies bishops and priests who do their job (and that includes the Pope, who is ultimately a bishop) and lavishes quotes and praise on bishops and priests who don't.
With regards to life issues, the Catechism is clear.
On abortion:
On euthanasia:
On the death penalty:
On war:
The fifth commandment forbids the intentional destruction of human life. Because of the evils and injustices that accompany all war, the Church insistently urges everyone to prayer and to action so that the divine Goodness may free us from the ancient bondage of war.105
2308 All citizens and all governments are obliged to work for the avoidance of war.
However, "as long as the danger of war persists and there is no international authority with the necessary competence and power, governments cannot be denied the right of lawful self-defense, once all peace efforts have failed."106
On self-defense:
Love toward oneself remains a fundamental principle of morality. Therefore it is legitimate to insist on respect for one's own right to life. Someone who defends his life is not guilty of murder even if he is forced to deal his aggressor a lethal blow:
So, while there are NO legitimate or moral circumstances for abortion or direct euthanasia (note there's a difference between ordinary treatment and extraordinary treatment, and the intentional use of medical technology to end a life), there are legitimate circumstances for war, the death penalty (because "rare" doesn't mean never), and self-defense causing the death of an unjust aggressor.
Anyone who tries to play the "you can't be against abortion if you aren't a total pacifist" card is disingenuous at best.
Aut viam inveniam aut faciam
Thank you for a very informative post
April 2, 2009 - 18:57 ET by Cape Conservativefrom a Methodist who has actively protested this slap in the face to all Catholics and pro-life believers of all faiths!
It is no dishonor to be in a minority in the cause of liberty and virtue. ~ Sam Adams
Do you think Catholic
April 2, 2009 - 15:09 ET by motherbeltDo you think Catholic voters, who gave Obama in 2008 more votes than
they gave George W. Bush in 2004, knew exactly what they were getting
in Obama's views on life, which were spelled out in his campaign?
Yeah, I think they knew, and I think they didn't care. To some people, something that probably will never affect them or their family is irrelevant. They think, well I'm not going to get an abortion, so who cares! They liked his changeful hopeyness, and they liked the fact that they might profit from his policies.
Also, as was pointed out the other day in a posting, the question, if some Catholics voted for Obama, was, for the media, "Who is out of step here?"
Catholics voted for Obama, Obama is pro-limitless "choice," so the Catholic Church and pro-life Catholics are "out of step."
You gotta love that reasoning.
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
great reasoning
April 2, 2009 - 15:19 ET by Cool ArrowAnd "Notre Dame" is French for "Our Lady"
If there really was any respect for the mother of Jesus, whether to invite Postpartum Hannibal Obama would be a no-brainer.
May as well bestow an Honorary Doctorate on Dr. Tiller.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
Correction
April 2, 2009 - 15:59 ET by motherbeltIt should have read:
If some Catholics voted for Obama, the question was, for the media: "Who is out of step?"
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
HMMMMM
April 2, 2009 - 18:17 ET by rick007Isn't "O" Dumbo an acessory to murder?????
After all he does condone letting babies born alive to be left to die If the trashy mothe doesn't want to care for it.
He voted to let it happen.
All Christians believe God
April 2, 2009 - 21:58 ET by The Smokin FrogAll Christians believe God is life itself. Jesus said "I am the resurrection and the life..." We believe all life comes from God. To be for any kind of murder is to desire to kill God Himself. Obama is so far past that, being in favor of infanticide. Regardless of the history Notre Dame has of inviting presidents, this one was beyond the pale. Unless of course, they are just a secular school now.
The Death Penalty is a different matter. It is a death but not murder. God has given the state the right to bear the sword, execute and punish wrong doers, for the protection of society. This also is God's Word. A baby, civilly speaking, has committed no crime. They are generally executed out of extreme selfishness on the part of the mother and whoever else is involved.
The President advocates killing babies at all stages. He also claims to be a Christian. He also tells us "words have meaning". His words of faith on many issues of Christendom do not match up. Regardless, the fault lies with Notre Dame, they know better, but sought to deny the Word of God. It was just a small test but they could not be faithful to Christ. The glory of Obama was just too strong for them.
TSF Protests!
I always ask
April 3, 2009 - 07:06 ET by JIMMY1660if it were your daughter what would you do? as far as comparing abortion to capital punishment. how about that daughter had her young husband killed as a robbery victim.
The indignation would be loud and clear-hopefully.
BHO- POTUS, is a Liar and Socialist