Chicago, Ill., Mar 24, 2009 / 16:07 pm
In response to the announcement that the pro-abortion “rights” President Barack Obama will deliver the commencement address at Notre Dame, CatholicVote.org has partnered with the Cardinal Newman Society to establish a web petition for Catholics and others who wish to protest the university’s invitation of the president.
Brian Burch, President of CatholicVote.org, characterized the president as “a champion of the abortion cause,” citing his support for embryo-destructive research and taxpayer-funded abortion.
“Given President Obama’s utterly shameful record on life, how could a Catholic university honor him?” Burch asked.
“The University could have politely and quietly told the White House that their standing invitation to the President of the United States was not available this year. Better yet, they could have said that while they would welcome his contributions to the public debate over how to solve our economic crisis, his regrettable policies in favor of a culture of death make it impossible for them to welcome him.”
Saying that CatholicVote.org has spoken with professors, students and leaders at Notre Dame in recent days, he said they together concluded that a massive protest will be “practically difficult and even counterproductive” and could “create exactly the wrong impression.”
Burch explained that the university could act to prevent protestors from entering campus and might legally arrest those who do.
He then announced CatholicVote.org’s partnership with the Cardinal Newman Society to establish a petition at www.NotreDameScandal.com.
“Together our aim is to collect thousands of signatures and present them to University officials. Sign the petition now,” he exhorted, also asking those who are concerned to contact Notre Dame President Fr. John Jenkins.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the petition had more than 87,500 signatures.
He also encouraged local groups to organize for a May 17 afternoon prayer of reparation, adding that there would be a “peaceful and prayerful” gathering at the Grotto on the campus of Notre Dame.