Is it Appropriate?

From where I sit, here in Canada where we enjoy a Charter of Rights and Freedoms second to None, it would appear that Pres. Obama is the best thing that has happened to our Southern Neighbour (spelled correctly) for a Long Long Time. I can't help thinking, that in the not too distant future, those Institutions who (for their own selfish reasons) did not give the President every honour (spelled correctly) will wake up some morning with Egg on their Faces.

I think that the president has always taken a middle road on abortion. He is like me in saying that the best way to end abortions is to prevent unwanted pregnancy. That said....

He met with religious leaders before becoming president and stated the above and said that should be what religious leaders reach for.

If the Catholic church is open to that goal then it isn't hypocritical... but I highly doubt that they are. I think it was the Universities move not the Church's.

Well, I don't think that being pro-choice is against any of the Christian teachings. Man didn't give us free will, God did. Being pro-choice is merely supporting free will - NOT abortion. I would rather abortion be legal and safe for the mothers than have an unsafe black market underground. Most pro-choice people have the same belief. Obama isn't fighting abortion with laws, which wouldn't work anyway, he is instead giving hope of a better future to those who might otherwise might not think they'd be able to support a child. I think abortion needs to be fought with ideology that gets to the heart, not party politics.

Well, abortion has been legal for a long time now and the current President did not make it so. The Catholic Church also opposes birth control so I guess they would never be able to honor anyone who uses birth control.

I thought it was very inappropriate for them to give him and honoray stature!
Talk about being political in correct!

A recent gallup poll shows that for the first time in 15 years more Americans consider themselves pro life rather than pro choice. I don't agree with Notre Dame giving 0bama any sort of award or degree when he is the most radical pro abortion president this country has ever had.

Hello, let mein. I think University as academic institution must be neutral, means it should free from contra or pro ideologicaal but keep its institution hold scientific matters although it will not suitable or oppose their church and religion's regulation and believe. Yes it can be considered as hypocrite attitude but the first the academic institution commit to knowledge and science.Perhaps thie honor award to Obama or the other peoples is their commitment to academics teaching and has nothing to do with believe, faith and religions which is of course dont need much to prove not likely academics pattern that everything has to be proved through research and study and test. It was not politics neither ideology nor faith activities (sorry I did not intend to debate but just make a post because as more than 3 years myLot member I post only less than 400, where I collected only $6 for three years and I dont want wait for the other 3 years for my next $4 and get my myLot payment at my 60 years of age, I am afraid that the will pay me while am already burried hahaha.. thanks for your interesting topic)

i am not a pro obama in any way, but how could you not honor a president visiting your institution. it is just part of it whether you like or not. by not honoring him, it is like dishonoring as a recognized president of USA and that will bring shame to the US cause even the president is not honored in some occasion like this one ins't it?

When I first read your blog I thought very strongly that yes it was wrong.. after reading some of the comments that were made, I can see both sides... It looks very bad for Catholic University to honor anyone with a degree that was pro choice.. Then the comment was made about the University looking negatively for not doing it.. Is someone's image so important that they are willing to put all of their beliefs on the line just to look good for the president? Granted the president is not a common visitor but why bend something that they feel so strongly about? Followers of the Catholic Church have already many reasons to sit there and question the ways of the church, why add more.... I think that the Church made a mistake in doing that, the president is only one person, but that desicon is going to affect millions...

As a pro-life Catholic, I did find Notre Dame's bestowing of an honorary degree to President Obama to be "inappropriate." Yes, we can honor him as the President, and he can speak at commencement, but there was no need to give the honorary degree. In fact, it is in essence saying that Notre Dame honors the intellectual side of President Obama - precisely where his pro-choice beliefs come from. Honoring him as President and commencement speaker does not do that.

Aside from this particular case, I do not really understand why honorary degrees are given anyway - they have earned their own degrees already! If you want another degree from a certain institution, enroll in a program and earn a degree there! (Not that people who receive these "want" them or even really care about them, I just think that a degree from Notre Dame or any other institution should be reserved for those who have completed the requirements of a degree program there.)