There's a student protest at Notre Dame.
A number of seniors won't attend the commencement that Notre Dame's big kahuna has made into a platform for President Obama.
And Notre Dame isn't getting in their way. Which is a pleasant surprise.
Excerpts from a press release by NDResponse.com, a student organization:
"11 May 2009
"...Pro-Life Notre Dame Students Refuse to Attend Graduation in Protest of Obama Visit, Opt for Prayer in University's Grotto
"Notre Dame University seniors who have decided not to attend their commencement ceremony in protest of the university's decision to grant President Barack Obama an honorary law degree will instead hold a meditation in the university's grotto at 2 p.m. on May 17, to coincide with the official commencement. ND Response, the student-led coalition that is planning the meditation, says Notre Dame should not be honoring a political figure who supports abortion and stem cell research...."
The entire press release is available in pdf format from NDResponse.com.
I doubt that this will influence Notre Dame university's decision to flush its Catholic values for an opportunity to fit in with the 'better sort' in America. There's too much status and prestige at stake.
That reference to stem cell research may be obscure. The Catholic Church isn't against medical research. The Church is, however, against chopping up babies 'for science.' I've written about 'stem cell research' before. And the ersatz compassion that makes it acceptable. (More about that in "Related posts," below.)
As someone who went through the sixties and seventies, it's good to see that college students still have standards. I wish the same could be said for the professional academics.
Related posts:
- "'Hand of Hope' Spinal Bifida Case - Eugenics, Ersatz Compassion, and Life"
(May 6, 2009) - "Notre Dame: Lots of Prestige, Lots of History, About as Catholic as Harry Blackmun"
(May 3, 2009) - "Obama's 'No Reproductive Cloning' Promise Doesn't Reassure Me"
(March 9, 2009) - "Stem Cell Research: Change Some of Us Won't Live With"
(March 9, 2009) - "Human Clones Possible: Don't Worry, They're Just for Parts and Research"
(February 2, 2009) - "Life: It's a Single Issue, and an Important One"
(November 2, 2008)
- "Some Notre Dame Students to Forego Commencement in Protest of Obama Visit"
FOXNews (May 12, 2009)
- NDResponse.com"
- "Update: Pro-life graduates have alternative to Notre Dame commencement"
Chicago Roman Catholic Examiner (May 11, 2009)
2 comments:
Yes, I think a distinction should be made between stem cell research and *embryonic* stem cell research. You can't research all you want on stem cells extracted from adults, even children, as the process won't kill them. "Embryos," on the other hand, are generally killed.
Brigid,
I think that "You can't research all you want on stem cells extracted from adults, even children, as the process won't kill them."
was supposed to read
"You can research all you want on stem cells extracted from adults, even children, as the process won't kill them."
The latter, I'll agree with.
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