dispatches from TJICistan

Harvard Law professor Mary Ann Glendon wrote an outstanding letter in response to an intolerable afront.

First, the background:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massach…

Harvard Law professor Mary Ann Glendon, one of the most prominent Catholic conservative intellectuals in the United States, announced yesterday that she would refuse a prestigious award from the University of Notre Dame rather than appear on the same platform on which President Obama is being awarded an honorary degree.

Glendon’s unexpected announcement, just 20 days before Notre Dame’s commencement, stoked a raging controversy over the decision by the Catholic university to honor a president who supports abortion rights and has taken several steps during his first 100 days to widen access to abortion services and to ease restrictions on embryonic stem cell research.

In December, Glendon, who served as US ambassador to the Vatican during the final year of the George W. Bush administration, was offered the Laetare Medal, which honors a Catholic layperson who exemplifies the ideals of the church.

…she [declined ] in a letter yesterday…

The letter:

http://www.moralaccountability.com/catho…

Dear Father Jenkins,

When you informed me in December 2008 that I had been selected to receive Notre Dame’s Laetare Medal, I was profoundly moved…

I could not help but be dismayed by the news that Notre Dame also planned to award the president an honorary degree. This, as you must know, was in disregard of the U.S. bishops’ express request of 2004 that Catholic institutions “should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles” and that such persons “should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.” That request, which in no way seeks to control or interfere with an institution’s freedom to invite and engage in serious debate with whomever it wishes, seems to me so reasonable that I am at a loss to understand why a Catholic university should disrespect it.

Then I learned that “talking points” issued by Notre Dame in response to widespread criticism of its decision included … statements implying that my acceptance speech would somehow balance the event:

“President Obama won’t be doing all the talking. Mary Ann Glendon, the former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, will be speaking as the recipient of the Laetare Medal.”

A commencement, however, is supposed to be a joyous day for the graduates and their families. It is not the right place, nor is a brief acceptance speech the right vehicle, for engagement with the very serious problems raised by Notre Dame’s decision-in disregard of the settled position of the U.S. bishops-to honor a prominent and uncompromising opponent of the Church’s position on issues involving fundamental principles of justice.

Finally, with recent news reports that other Catholic schools are similarly choosing to disregard the bishops’ guidelines, I am concerned that Notre Dame’s example could have an unfortunate ripple effect.

It is with great sadness, therefore, that I have concluded that I cannot accept the Laetare Medal or participate in the May 17 graduation ceremony.

Wow! Perfect!

The Left responds in the comments at the Globe:

The dinosaurs were not all killed off, they are alive and well in the catholic church. In this same paper we have an article about catholics leaving their faith for not believing in the BS story anymore. Should we care about what some blonde bitch Bush sidekick takes this or not. The world is evolving to bad the church isn’t. Obama 2012!!!!!!!!!!!

and

“Catholic conservative intellectual” —- isn’t that an oxymoron?

etc.

Classy!

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 28th, 2009 at 6:33 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.