[May 13, 2009]
Catholic groups and abortion-rights opponents have started daily protests at the University of Notre Dame in opposition to the university's invitation to President Obama to receive an honorary degree and deliver a speech at the university's commencement ceremony next week, the Washington Post reports. The protests include tactics such as flying an airplane with an antiabortion banner over the campus, posting billboards in areas around the campus and running radio advertisements encouraging advocates to engage in acts of civil disobedience with the aim of getting arrested. According to the Post, the protests come at a time when the antiabortion-rights movement is increasingly divided over goals and tactics, and the groups see Obama's speech as an opportunity "to challenge the president on turf hospitable to their cause."
Various Catholic leaders and antiabortion-rights groups for months have criticized Notre Dame's president, the Rev. John Jenkins, for inviting Obama, saying that the Catholic university should not honor a president who supports abortion rights. At least 74 Catholic bishops openly opposed the invitation, and more than 360,000 people signed a petition calling for Jenkins to retract the invitation because of the president's support for abortion rights and embryonic stem cell research.
When asked about a small number of Notre Dame students who might boycott the commencement ceremony, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs on Tuesday said that "it's important to understand it appears as if the vast majority of students and the majority of Catholics are supportive of the invitation the president accepted, and I know he's greatly looking forward to it." Students on the campus say the majority of students favor Obama's appearance (Slevin/Salmon, Washington Post, 5/13).
The information contained in this publication reflects media coverage of women’s health issues and does not necessarily reflect the views of the National Partnership for Women & Families.
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The Editors
Debra Ness, publisher & president, National Partnership
Marilyn Keefe, managing editor & director of reproductive health programs, National Partnership
Laura Hessburg, associate editor & senior health policy advisor, National Partnership
Christine Monahan, assistant editor & health program assistant, National Partnership
Justyn Ware, editor
Kimberley Lufkin, senior editor
Amanda Wolfe, editor-in-chief
Paula Fortner, Brittany Hackett, Ryan Holeywell, Julia Moss, Santosh Rao, Zach Swiss, Matt Wayt, staff writers
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