I am dissapointed in your decision, Bishop D’Arcy. What would Jesus do? Heck, what would Pope Benedict do?

Why stoop to this level? Rise above this, be there for the students, their families, for the Catholic University, for Professor Mary Ann Glendon as she receives the Laetare Medal. Be there for the unborn! Take the opportunity to speak to those gathered, including President Obama, about LIFE. Instead of turning away, carpe diem!

We are all one family, one world… Help minister to those who oppose pro-life by standing beside them. Rise above the conflict and be the bigger man.

Murder: ~75,000
Flu and Complications of Flu: ~100,000
Automobile accidents: ~210,000
Iraqi War: ~ 4,200
Abortion: over 6,000,000

These statistics indicate that for every 1 automobile death, we kill 30 children, for every murder, we kill 80 children, for every soldier killed in Iraq, we kill 1,500 children. To that extent, for one to conclude that this president has done more than any other recent president to benefit the lives of the living would indicate that he has taken a significant stance on reducing or eliminating the taking of innocent children through the act of abortion. However, Mr. Obama’s actions since taking the office of President demonstrate just the opposite. Within the first few days of taking office, Obama overturned the “Mexico City Policy,” a U.S. government policy that denies federal funding to international agencies that promote or perform abortion as a means of birth control. While overturning this policy, President Obama also indicated his willingness to provide financial support to the United Nations Population Fund, an organization that lost U.S. government funding after it collaborated with the Chinese government’s coercive “one child” population policy. Obama has also built a Cabinet and administration full of abortion proponents.

Clearly, abortion is not the only human rights issue at stake here, but until we as a society can understand the destruction of human life and morality at stake through this atrocity, all other issues pale in comparison. The Catholic Church stands for all human values, and none more important than those of our unprotected children.

You further state that ‘Jesus always welcomed ALL, into his presence with the intent to convince and convert, not crucify’. Certainly true, he did welcome all, but acceptance of that invitation required one to repent and have a change of heart. The issue here is not Mr. Obama’s attendance, but rather the choice of a Catholic institution to lay honors through ceremonially providing an honorary degree on an individual who has taken actions to further ignore protection of life of innocent children who have no say in the issue. At least those that die in war in service or our country were allowed to make a choice of free will to enlist in the service or not. If not the Church, who will protect the right to live of the unborn children?

God bless Bishop D’Arcy! If only we had more bishops like this one. I hope the Catholics living in the Southbend Fort Wayne Diocese know how truly blessed they are to have such a courageous bishop.

I’m ignorant of how Catholic Universities hire or fire their presidents but it would seem to me if Notre Dame was still a truly Catholic institution Fr. Jenkins would be replaced by a faithful Catholic. First there was the National Coming Out Day, then the V-Monologues, and now this. I think this is probably the worst by far. How much lower can this Catholic school sink? How many of our Catholic brothers and sisters who will be scandalized by this event remains to be seen.

I think it’s best that the bishop not attend, because the spirit of his presence would certainly not be welcome to the occasion, certainly not for the President, nor the students graduating.

To think, that one would welcome the President that has caused thousands to perish in an unwarranted, and really illegal war, and to villify President Obama, who is doing more than any other recent President to benefit the lives of those who are living, is totally unconscionable.

The debate should continue, but the Bishop is so far off base with his stance, that it begs to wonder if he truly believes the faith he professes. Jesus always welcomed ALL, into his presence with the intent to convince and convert, not crucify.

This is just yet another reason why the Catholic Church is being exposed for all of the hypocrasy it represents.

I continue to keep the prayer vigil going, because it seems the true minds of men are really becoming visible for all to see. And not just in the Catholic Church.

And speaking of Fathers, what does Father Hesburgh, as a Catholic priest, have to say about this?

One commenter said the Church should change with the times. The Church is steadfast. The times are fleeting, and we are mortal. Eternity is where the trophy rests. Mother Mary was given a choice, and she was the first “Right-to-Lifer” (see Luke 1:38). That should tell you something. Her likeness is on the Dome, and Jesus’ birth is a worldwide celebration.

As a Catholic, I play the game as best as I can. The opponents score their points here and there, and I stumble. But when the final horn sounds, I hope to be able to say I gave it everything I had. I hope to say that I helped my team when I was needed. We may not win every game, but I hope to be in the only Hall of Fame that matters. Leaving the playing field for the sideline when the opponent is advancing shouldn’t be an option for any true Catholic. Seriously, it’s a good time to put skin in the game.

Notre Dame’s upcoming Commencement appears to be another game on the Catholic schedule. One of the opponent’s star mascots will be on the stage. I ask all Catholics reading to gather your teammates, make your voices heard in a respectful Christian manner. Wouldn’t it be something to stage a Commencement Day Rally for Life on the outskirts of campus? In fact, it should be so. Organize your parish. Like Knute Rockne himself said, “When the breaks are beating the boys, go out and win one for the Gipper”. Let’s win one for the Savior, for (Saint) Pete’s sake.