ÿþ<html> <head> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1"> <title>OnlineColumnist&reg;.com: Duke's Damage Control</title> <meta name="generator" content="Adobe GoLive 4"> <style type="text/css"> .style1 { font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; } </style> </head> <body bgcolor="white" vlink="black"> <center> <table cool width="624" height="2719" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" gridx="16" showgridx gridy="16" showgridy> <tr height="79"> <td width="116" height="118" rowspan="2" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0"><a href="aboutdiscobolos.html"><img height="110" width="62" src="images/discobolos.logo.transp.gif" border="0"></a></td> <td width="24" height="118" rowspan="2"></td> <td width="465" height="79" colspan="2" valign="top" align="left" xpos="140"><img height="75" width="450" src="images/banner.GIF"></td> <td width="18" height="118" rowspan="2"></td> <td width="1" height="79"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="79"></td> </tr> <tr height="39"> <td width="182" height="39"></td> <td width="283" height="39" valign="top" align="left" xpos="322"><a href="aboutdiscobolos.html"><img height="14" width="267" src="images/divisionofNEW.GIF" border="0"></a></td> <td width="1" height="39"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="39"></td> </tr> <tr height="26"> <td width="624" height="26" colspan="6" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0"> <table border="0" width="100%" bgcolor="black" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td> <table border="0" width="100%" bgcolor="#99ffcc" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4"> <tr> <td align="center"> <div align="left"> <a href="index.html"><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong>HOME</strong></font></a><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> &#149; <a href="articlesindex.html">ARTICLES</a> &#149; <a href="books.html">BOOKS</a> &#149; <a href="teflon.html">THE </a><a href="teflon.html">TEFLON</a><a href="teflon.html"> REPORT</a> &#149; <a href="mailto:letters@onlinecolumnist.com">REACTIONS</a> &#149; <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html">ABOUT DISCOBOLOS</a></strong></font></div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr height="1"> <td width="116" height="2574" rowspan="2" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0"><img height="172" width="111" src="images/johninframe3.jpg"></td> <td width="489" height="1" colspan="3"></td> <td width="18" height="2574" rowspan="2"></td> <td width="1" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="1"></td> </tr> <tr height="2573"> <td width="489" height="2573" colspan="3" align="left" xpos="116" content valign="top" csheight="2573"> <font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="5"><b> <br /> Notre Dame&#39;s Church and State</b></font><p><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><b>by John M. Curtis<br> (310) 204-8700</b><br> </font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><i>Copyright May 15, 2009<br> All Rights Reserved.</i></font></p> <p><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="style1">S</span>till hung over from the Bush administration, Notre Dame students haven t woke up to a new reality of the old Establishment Clause, demanding a clear and unequivocal separation of church and state.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>When pro-choice President Barack Obama takes the stage May 17 at Notre Dame s 164th commencement, pro-life groups should take notice that religious dogma Catholic or otherwise is irrelevant and inappropriate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>No public or private institution taking federal grants or participating in the Student Loan Program can make its own rules.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Whether they like it or not, pro-life groups must accept Roe v. Wade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Notre Dame President Rev. John Jenkins got it right inviting a pro-choice president to speak over the objections of Catholic clerics, students and pro-life groups.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> Don t listen to the criticism, don t listen to the praise, just make the best decision you can, reflected Jenkins.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Seventy Catholic bishops blasted Jenkins for ignoring Church edicts on abortion and stem cell research.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> Harvard University Law Professor Mary Ann Glendon rejected Notre Dame s most prestigious award, the Laetare Medal, because Obama is slated to speak and receive an honorary doctorate of laws degree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Glendon, Bush s former Vatican ambassador, picked the wrong place in to voice her pro-life views, considering Harvard receives billions in federal grants, more than any U.S. university.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Considered an anti-abortion scholar, Glendon insisted she couldn t accept the award because giving Obama an honorary degree violated the 2004 U.S. Bishops statement that Catholic institutions shouldn t honor individuals that conflict with Church dogma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Glendon should be ashamed of her pro-life grandstanding, embarrassing Harvard and slapping Notre Dame in the face.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Chicago s Cardinal Francis George has every right to criticize Notre Dame for extending an invitation to Barack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>He represents the Catholic Church, not a private university receiving billions in taxpayer dollars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> It is clear that Notre Dame didn t understand what it means to be a Catholic when they issued the invitation [to Obama], said George, totally ignoring the separation of church and state.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> When President George W. Bush banned federal funding for new embryonic stem cell research March 26, 2005 and launched his faith-based initiative, he crossed the line between church and state.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> Professor Glendon has every right to express her anti-abortion views but she should resign from Harvard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Her employer receives billions in federal grants to study embryonic stem cells, family planning and other controversial research topics opposed by the Catholic Church.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Notre Dame President Jenkins has received flack for honoring America s first black president with an honorary degree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> He respects people who differ, but he s resolute in his decision because he did it based on conscience and what he really believes in, said Richard Notebaert, chairman of Notre Dame s Board of Trustees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>When Harvard alumnus John F. Kennedy ran for president in 1960, he faced an avalanche of criticism because of his Catholic faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>No Catholic had ever won the presidency.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Kennedy set the record straight Sept. 12, 1960, telling the Greater Houston Ministerial Association that the Vatican, or any other religious body, would not affect his decisions as president.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Jenkins now faces growing calls for his head, serving the fourth year of a five-year contract.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Notre Dame will need a scapegoat for this debacle, said Kansas City St. Joseph Bishop Robert W. Finn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Aniti-abortion groups need to get a grip, realizing that, contrary to popular opinion, Notre Dame receives federal grants and participates the federal Student Loan Program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Notre Dame admissions accept students, faculty and researchers of all denominations, not just Catholics or Christians opposed Roe v. Wade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Honoring Obama doesn t dishonor the morality of pro-life students and groups.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>It sends a loud message to the Vatican that American Catholic institutions, especially those of higher learning, swear their loyalty to the U.S. Constitution before the Church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> My approach is to think one year at a time, one week at a time, even one day at a time, said Jenkins, following his predecessor Rev. Edward Malloy who allowed the racy  Vagina Monologues to play on campus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Jenkins would be well-advised to remind his distinguished students, faculty and friends that Notre Dame follows the U.S. Constitution.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Pro-life groups have spun out of control, condemning Notre Dame President John Jenkins for honoring President Barack Obama at the school s 164th graduation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Pro-lifers may not like Roe v. Wade but it s the law of the land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>No university receiving federal funds or participating in the federal Student Loan Program can or should discriminate against a pro-life president.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Anti-abortion activists, like Harvard Law Professor Mary Ann Glendon, should pick a different venue in which to protest Roe v. Wade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>If she sees fit to reject Notre Dame s highest honor because pro-choice Barack supports federally funded abortions, stem cell research or gay marriage, she should immediately resign her post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>U.S. Catholic cardinals, bishops, priests and parishioners should remind themselves of their loyalty to the U.S. Constitution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Only then, will they realize that Jenkins made the right choice.</p> <p><u><b>About the Author</b></u></p> <p><b>John M. Curtis</b> writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.&nbsp; He&#39;s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of <a href="books.html">Dodging The Bullet </a>and <a href="books.html">Operation Charisma</a>.<u><br> </p> <p></p> </td> <td width="1" height="2573"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="2573"></td> </tr> <tr height="1" cntrlrow> <td width="116" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="116" height="1"></td> <td width="24" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="24" height="1"></td> <td width="182" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="182" height="1"></td> <td width="283" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="283" height="1"></td> <td width="18" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="18" height="1"></td> <td width="1" height="1"></td> </tr> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2" width="597"> <tr> <td><font size="1" face="Arial,Geneva,Helvetica"> <hr noshade size="1"> </font><a href="index.html"><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong>Home</strong></font></a><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> || <a href="articlesindex.html">Articles</a> || <a href="books.html">Books</a> || <a href="teflon.html">The Teflon Report</a> || <a href="mailto:letters@onlinecolumnist.com">Reactions</a> || <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html">About Discobolos</a></strong></font> <div align="left"> <p><font size="1" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular">This site designed, developed and hosted by the experts at</font><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"> <a href="http://www.cmeonline.net" target="_blank"><img height="30" width="138" src="images/cmelogoANIM.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"></a></font></p> </div> <p><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular">&copy;1999-2002 <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html">Discobolos Consulting Services, Inc.</a><br> (310) 204-8300<br> All Rights Reserved. </font></td> </tr> </table> </center> </body> </html>