The Notre Dame Speech

[FOTD]

The Notre Dame Speech: "President Barack Obama strode head-on Sunday into the stormy abortion debate and told graduates at America's leading Roman Catholic university that both sides must stop demonizing one another."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_obama_notre_dame/print
Obama calls for understanding in Notre Dame speech

By JULIE PACE, Associated Press Writer
2 hrs 9 mins ago
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – President Barack Obama strode head-on Sunday into the stormy abortion debate and told graduates at America's leading Roman Catholic university that both sides must stop demonizing one another.
Obama acknowledged that "no matter how much we want to fudge it ... the fact is that at some level, the views of the two camps are irreconcilable." But he still implored the University of Notre Dame's graduating class and all in the U.S. to stop "reducing those with differing views to caricature. Open hearts. Open minds. Fair-minded words. It's a way of life that always has been the Notre Dame tradition."
One of the noisiest controversies of his young presidency flared after Obama, who supports abortion rights but says the procedure should be rare, was invited to speak at the school and receive an honorary degree. "I do not suggest that the debate surrounding abortion can or should go away," the president said.
The Rev. John Jenkins, Notre Dame's president, introduced Obama and praised the president for not being "someone who stops talking to those who disagree with him." Jenkins said too little attention has been paid to Obama's decision to speak at an institution that opposes his abortion policy.
Ahead of Obama's address, at least 27 people were arrested on trespassing charges. They included Norma McCorvey, the plaintiff identified as "Roe" in the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. She now opposes abortion and joined more than 300 anti-abortion demonstrators at the school's front gate.
More than half held signs, some declaring "Shame on Notre Dame" and "Stop Abortion Now" to express their anger over Notre Dame's invitation to Obama.
Obama entered the arena to thunderous applause and a standing ovation from many in the crowd of 12,000. But as the president began his commencement address, at least three protesters interrupted it. One yelled, "Stop killing our children."
The graduates responded by chanting "Yes we can," the slogan that became synonymous with Obama's presidential campaign, as well as "We are ND." Obama seem unfazed, saying Americans must be able to deal with things that make them "uncomfortable."
The president ceded no ground. But he said those on each side of the debate "can still agree that this is a heart-wrenching decision for any woman to make, with both moral and spiritual dimensions.
"So let's work together to reduce the number of women seeking abortions by reducing unintended pregnancies, and making adoption more available, and providing care and support for women who do carry their child to term."
He said he favored "a sensible conscience clause" that would give anti-abortion health care providers the right to refuse to perform the procedure.
Before taking on the abortion issue, Obama told graduates they were part of a "generation that must find a path back to prosperity and decide how we respond to a global economy that left millions behind even before this crisis hit an economy where greed and short-term thinking were too often rewarded at the expense of fairness, and diligence, and an honest day's work."
Obama's appearance appeared additionally complicated by fresh polls that show Americans' attitudes on the issue have shifted toward the anti-abortion position.
A Gallup survey released Friday found that 51 percent of those questioned call themselves "pro-life" on the issue of abortion and 42 percent "pro-choice." This is the first time a majority of U.S. adults have identified themselves as "pro-life" since Gallup began asking this question in 1995.
Just a year ago, Gallup found that 50 percent termed themselves "pro-choice" while 44 percent described their beliefs as "pro-life."
A Pew Research Center survey found public opinion about abortion more closely divided than it has been in several years.
Pew said its latest polling found that 28 percent said abortion should be legal in most cases while 18 percent said all cases. Forty-four percent of those surveyed were opposed to abortion in most or all cases.
Gallup said shifting opinions lay almost entirely with Republicans or independents who lean Republican, with opposition among those groups rising over the past year from 60 percent to 70 percent.
The abortion issue also is front and center as Obama considers potential nominees to fill the vacancy left by the retirement this summer of Justice David Souter. Abortion opponents are determined to see Roe v. Wade overturned, but only four court justices out of nine have backed that position. Souter has opposed arguments for overturning the ruling.
The Catholic Church and many other Christian denominations hold that abortion and the use of embryos for stem cell research amount to the destruction of human life, are morally wrong and should be banned by law.
The contrary argument holds that women have the right to terminate a pregnancy and that unused embryos created outside the womb for couples who cannot otherwise conceive should be available for stem cell research. Such research holds the promise of finding treatments for debilitating ailments.
Within weeks of taking office in January, Obama eased an executive order by President George W. Bush that limited research to a small number of stem-cell strains.
On the Notre Dame campus, members of an abortion rights group also protested while a plane pulling an anti-abortion banner circled above. Tara Makowski of Seattle, who received a master's degree Saturday from the school, said she was dismayed by the way Notre Dame was being characterized.
"Seeing us being portrayed nationally as radical conservative has been really tough," she said. "People need to realize that the majority of students and faculty" favored Obama's visit.
But Bishop John D'Arcy, whose diocese includes Notre Dame, skipped commencement. He attended an open-air Mass and rally. He said he wanted to support the students protesting Obama's speech.
"All of you are heroes, and I'm proud to stand with you," he said.
Obama was the ninth president to receive an honorary degree from Notre Dame and sixth sitting president to address graduates. Other commencement speakers have included Dwight Eisenhower, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush.
Before returning to Washington, Obama stopped in Indianapolis for two fundraisers. About 40 people attended a $15,000-per-couple Democratic National Committee event, which raised between $300,000 and $400,000.
About 650 people attended a second fundraiser for four Indiana Democratic congressmen. That dinner cost $250-$5,000 per person.
Indiana is a traditionally conservative state that Obama carried in the presidential election.

[Conan71]

Why on earth would a President discuss abortion at a college commencement?  College commencements are about the transition to the "real world" and "atta-boy" speeches, not political agendas.

""So let's work together to reduce the number of women seeking abortions by reducing unintended pregnancies, and making adoption more available, and providing care and support for women who do carry their child to term."
He said he favored "a sensible conscience clause" that would give anti-abortion health care providers the right to refuse to perform the procedure."

[Hoss]

Why on earth would a President discuss abortion at a college commencement?  College commencements are about the transition to the "real world" and "atta-boy" speeches, not political agendas.

""So let's work together to reduce the number of women seeking abortions by reducing unintended pregnancies, and making adoption more available, and providing care and support for women who do carry their child to term."
He said he favored "a sensible conscience clause" that would give anti-abortion health care providers the right to refuse to perform the procedure."

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.  He'd have been lambasted if he HADN'T spoken about it, given that the controversy around his visit centered around that very thing.

I'm a little flabbergasted Conan that you would ask why he'd talk about it after all the hoop-lah surrounding it.  I for one would rather see him go at it head on then to try and evade it.  I doubt many others would have (note I avoided saying the name of our former executive lest I get lambasted by the Bush spooners).

[tim huntzinger]

He was dishonest.  He wants absolute unrestricted for abortion, that is an extreme view that most pedestrian 'pro-choice' people do not adhere to.  He should have told the grads that he wants to punish Catholic hospitals for refusing to perform abortions, to force private pharmacies to distribute abortificants, then he would have told the whole truth.  Otherwise he was just doing the typical lawyerise dance-around.

[Conan71]

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.  He'd have been lambasted if he HADN'T spoken about it, given that the controversy around his visit centered around that very thing.

I'm a little flabbergasted Conan that you would ask why he'd talk about it after all the hoop-lah surrounding it.  I for one would rather see him go at it head on then to try and evade it.  I doubt many others would have (note I avoided saying the name of our former executive lest I get lambasted by the Bush spooners).

Hoss, it goes without saying you don't try to hide the issue, but I don't think it was appropriate to delve into it at length at a college commencement ceremony.  Something more along the lines of:

"Obviously there has been some controversy over my speaking here today.  I think it wise for all Americans to see that we can have divergent views...etc. ad nauseum".

Calliing differing opinions irreconcileable?  Does that mean he's not flexible?

[brianh]

He was dishonest.  He wants absolute unrestricted for abortion, that is an extreme view that most pedestrian 'pro-choice' people do not adhere to.  He should have told the grads that he wants to punish Catholic hospitals for refusing to perform abortions, to force private pharmacies to distribute abortificants, then he would have told the whole truth.  Otherwise he was just doing the typical lawyerise dance-around.

Anyone have a credible news source for the "he wants to punish Catholic hospitals for refusing to perform abortion" reference?

[Hoss]

Anyone have a credible news source for the "he wants to punish Catholic hospitals for refusing to perform abortion" reference?

Most people here doing this cite places like Drudge and Freeper.  That's all they need to know; it makes it the gospel troof for some here if they get it from those two sites.  Some of us are a little more broad than that.

[tim huntzinger]

Anyone have a credible news source for the "he wants to punish Catholic hospitals for refusing to perform abortion" reference?

http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=40075


'Bishop Paul Loverde of the Roman Catholic diocese of Arlington, Va., said last week that if the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) should become law and a Catholic hospital in his diocese is forced to provide abortions, he would refuse to let the hospital comply, but he would also not close the institution.

'Though there are no Catholic hospitals in his diocese, the bishop nevertheless was defiant: "I would say, 'Yeah, I'm not going to close the hospital, you're going to arrest me, go right ahead. You'll have to drag me out, go right ahead. I'm not closing this hospital, we will not perform abortions, and you can go take a flying leap.' "

According to the catechism – or official teachings -- of the Catholic Church, Catholics are "obliged in conscience not to follow the directives of civil authorities when they are contrary to the demands of the moral order, to the fundamental rights of persons or the teachings of the Gospel."

Catholics may refuse to obey civil authorities, "when their demands are contrary to those of an upright conscience."

Loverde addressed the crowd of mostly young adults at a diocesan event last Monday about the proposed Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA).

In 2007, President-elect Obama publicly promised a Planned Parenthood convention that signing FOCA into law would be one of the first things he would do upon taking office.

The bill has not been approved by Congress, but seems poised to do so when the new Congress convenes in January. It would prohibit government from "interfering" with a woman's right to bear a child or terminate a pregnancy before fetal viability -- or after fetal viability if a mother's health is at risk.

The government also may not "discriminate" against or deny the exercise of women's rights to choice "in the regulation or provision of benefits, facilities, services, or information."

'The legislation has been interpreted by many, including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), to mean that all hospitals and healthcare institutions would be mandated to perform abortions – or face the loss of federal funding and likely closure if they refuse to do so.'

[Hoss]

http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=40075


'Bishop Paul Loverde of the Roman Catholic diocese of Arlington, Va., said last week that if the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) should become law and a Catholic hospital in his diocese is forced to provide abortions, he would refuse to let the hospital comply, but he would also not close the institution.

'Though there are no Catholic hospitals in his diocese, the bishop nevertheless was defiant: "I would say, 'Yeah, I'm not going to close the hospital, you're going to arrest me, go right ahead. You'll have to drag me out, go right ahead. I'm not closing this hospital, we will not perform abortions, and you can go take a flying leap.' "

According to the catechism – or official teachings -- of the Catholic Church, Catholics are "obliged in conscience not to follow the directives of civil authorities when they are contrary to the demands of the moral order, to the fundamental rights of persons or the teachings of the Gospel."

Catholics may refuse to obey civil authorities, "when their demands are contrary to those of an upright conscience."

Loverde addressed the crowd of mostly young adults at a diocesan event last Monday about the proposed Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA).

In 2007, President-elect Obama publicly promised a Planned Parenthood convention that signing FOCA into law would be one of the first things he would do upon taking office.

The bill has not been approved by Congress, but seems poised to do so when the new Congress convenes in January. It would prohibit government from "interfering" with a woman's right to bear a child or terminate a pregnancy before fetal viability -- or after fetal viability if a mother's health is at risk.

The government also may not "discriminate" against or deny the exercise of women's rights to choice "in the regulation or provision of benefits, facilities, services, or information."

'The legislation has been interpreted by many, including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), to mean that all hospitals and healthcare institutions would be mandated to perform abortions – or face the loss of federal funding and likely closure if they refuse to do so.'

OK, so whom else has interpreted it this way?  They say many, but only cite specifically a Catholic institution.  Something smells.  Not saying it's untrue, but when the people speaking out against the legislation are essentially the only ones reading into it, then I have to question it unless other groups are cited.

Plus, I have to dispute a news service who now calls themselves 'Cybercast News Service' when they used to be called 'Conservative News Service'.

[Conan71]

Could be a big to-do about nothing.

This was as of mid-February 2009:

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1880451,00.html

[tim huntzinger]

You guys are such kool-aid drinkers.  What is going to take for you to WAKE UP?  The hard-core 'pro-choice' groups are way out of the mainstream.

Oh, and here: anhttp://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=13879

[Hoss]

You guys are such kool-aid drinkers.  What is going to take for you to WAKE UP?  The hard-core 'pro-choice' groups are way out of the mainstream.

Oh, and here: anhttp://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=13879

Once again you're citing a biased news agency.  Come on!  Catholic News Agency?!  Where's the mainstream media on this?

[Hoss]

And and excerpt from the Time article Conan cites (you know, Time, an MSM outlet) is particularly telling.

In response, Catholic News Service — the official news agency affiliated with the USCCB — ran an article that began, "Internet rumors to the contrary, no Catholic hospital in the United States is in danger of closing because of the Freedom of Choice Act." Sister Carol Keehan, president and CEO of the Catholic Health Association, told the news agency that the legislation "has never contained anything that would force Catholic hospitals or Catholic personnel to do abortions or to participate in them." She added, "I don't believe that FOCA will pass."

[guido911]

Now I understand why Know Nothing attacked me on my Alan Keyes' "media whore" position. Just so you know, Know Nothing, I may not have been arrested at a protest, but I give thousands of dollars to pro-life organizations. In fact, the money that would have gone to folks I believe supported Obama now goes there. Sort of a double jab. I'm with Conman as to the issue in this thread.

[tim huntzinger]

Once again you're citing a biased news agency.  Come on!  Catholic News Agency?!  Where's the mainstream media on this?

So first the citation is BS bc you thought Drudge or Freepers had mentioned this.  Then you were dismissive because it was another conservative site.  Then a 'mainstream' Catholic press service is no good.  WAKE UP!