With so many Roman Catholic bishops speaking out against Notre Dame University’s decision to honor President Barack Obama at this year’s commencement, we’ve seen quite a few stories in the mainstream press. When Mary Ann Glendon declined to receive the Laetare Medal in protest, we saw even more. But it’s been hard to put the story in perspective or context since there have been few stories looking at the overall scenario.
So I was happy to see Eric Gorski’s piece for the Associated Press that discusses the general situation. He begins with the news that Orlando Bishop Thomas Wenski will celebrate a Mass of Reparation to make amends for sins against God in response to what Wenski calls Notre Dame’s “clueless” decision to bestow on Obama an honorary doctorate:
The nation’s flagship Catholic university’s honoring of a politician whose abortion rights record clashes with a fundamental church teaching has triggered a reaction among the nation’s Catholic bishops that is remarkable in scope and tone, church observers say.
At least 55 bishops have publicly denounced or questioned Notre Dame in recent weeks, employing an arsenal of terms ranging from “travesty” and “debacle” to “extreme embarrassment.”
The bishops’ response is part of a decades-long march to make abortion the paramount issue for their activism, a marker of the kind of bishops Rome has sent to the U.S. and the latest front in a struggle over Catholic identity that has exposed rifts between hierarchy and flock.
Triggers, arsenals and marches, oh my! Apart from the metaphors, perhaps, it’s nice to have what’s happening explained in context of the Catholic hierarchy and its role in the public square. Gorski explains that those who have spoken out represent “20%” of the bishops and describes them as a minority but more than double the number who publicly said then-Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry, a Catholic, should be refused Communion or refrain from it because of his abortion stance. It might be nice to be told how many Catholic bishops have supported Notre Dame’s decision. I believe that the total number is zero, too small to even be a minority.
Gorski includes a helpful quote that explains the perspective of Catholics who support the church’s teachings and why they don’t support honoring Obama. He also explains that Wenski is not among the nation’s more confrontational bishops and decided to encourage Catholics to pray.
Wenski said he will not “preach a tirade against Notre Dame” during the Monday night Mass at Orlando’s Cathedral of St. James. What must be atoned for, Wenski said, is complacency among U.S. Catholics about the legal killing of unborn children, which contributed to the climate that allowed Notre Dame to think it was all right to honor Obama.
You know, the paragraph above is a good example of great reporting and it is shocking how rarely we see it. This is how many bishops speak. This is how many clergy speak. It’s not political so we rarely see it included in stories. This Christian perspective about sin and complacency and the need for repentance among the flock is common — but it doesn’t fit the typical narrative about Christians hypocritically taking pitchforks to others, and so we don’t see it enough. I’m always struck by the variance between what I hear in Christian circles and how Christianity is presented in the mainstream media. I bet most of the bishops, clergy and laypeople who are upset about honoring Obama have discussed this complacency problem and yet this is the first time I’ve seen it presented in the mainstream media.
Unfortunately, the story has some weaknesses, too. It claims Mary Ann Glendon turned down the medal “because she was to have shared the stage with Obama.” Um, not exactly. Otherwise she would have turned it down the moment he was announced. And if it was about sharing the stage with Obama, why would she have given four reasons for declining the medal, none of which have to do with sharing a stage with him?
Or what about this section which begins by saying bishops have long fought abortion “but it’s never been their sole focus.” It’s not now, either, of course:
Many Catholic bishops, however, worried that abortion was getting shortchanged. Those who argue abortion trumps everything say that other issues are irrelevant without the beginning of life and that things like capital punishment and war are sometimes justified.
Bishops hammered that home in November 2007 with a statement on faithful citizenship that said: “The direct and intentional destruction of innocent human life is always wrong and is not just one issue among many.”
The second paragraph is clear but I find the first a bit confusing. Anyway, there have been quite a few reporters wondering — on their blogs or otherwise — why people are so much more upset about Obama’s abortion stance than other politicians’ stance on other issues. That quote from the bishops — which has been around for some time, of course, helps clarify.
The story goes on to suggest a major rift between the Catholic bishops and Catholics in general:
So far, the Notre Dame saga doesn’t seem to be resonating. Only about half of Catholics surveyed by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life from April 23 to 27 had heard about the controversy.
About half of U.S. Catholics supported Notre Dame, 28% said the school was wrong and 22% had no opinion, the poll found. People who attend Mass frequently were more likely to oppose the university’s stance, and also gave Obama lower job performance marks.
I just find this a bit weak. I mean, I don’t even know if the percentage of Catholics who have heard about the controversy is more or less than the American average. And when Pew sent its press release about the poll to me, they pitched it as something completely different. People who don’t attend Mass weekly and are otherwise less observant were fine with Notre Dame’s invite. Those who do attend Mass weekly said it was wrong for Notre Dame to invite Obama. Catholics are such a huge percentage of the population that most reporting on them is served by breaking down observance levels. Particularly since there is a somewhat unique practice among Catholics of retaining the identity apart from any subscription to the church’s teachings, practices or devotional schedule. There’s also the issue that many Catholics supported Obama for President.
And since we’re talking about resonance and the abortion debate, it might be good to include another, even more recent Pew poll that shows a dramatic slip in American support for legalized abortion. I have yet to read any mainstream coverage of this poll. The proportion saying that abortion should be legal in all or most cases has declined to 46 percent from 54 percent just last August. The poll doesn’t ask people why they are changing their positions but certainly it’s worth considering whether the public voice of the Catholic bishops has any influence.
The piece ends nicely, though, with more discussion of Wenski, who explains that the bishops are not angry at Obama but the university leadership. Still, they are frustrated with the Obama administration’s decision to fund overseas groups that perform abortions, expansions of research that destroys human embryos and proposed revisions to conscience clauses that protect health workers. Gorski notes that Wenski speaks out about torture and immigration as well and quotes Wenski explaining that bishops are not looking for a fight but standing on principle. It’s nice to get some more perspective from these bishops who are speaking out so much against Notre Dame University.
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Comments (20) |
May 4, 2009, at 3:44 pm
I don’t have time right now to wade through so many google hits to find out if any Bishops are in favor of Notre Dame’s action, but I did find this interesting story because it is not a black/white characterization but a nuanced view from a Catholic perspective: Jesuit educators back Obama Notre Dame invitation http://ncronline.org/news/politics/jesuit-educators-back-obama-notre-dame-invitation
May 4, 2009, at 4:17 pm
This Gallup poll is also interesting — it does break Catholics down into categories depending on church attendance, but even then, 65% of Catholics who attend church weekly approve of the job Obama is doing. Many of these Catholics might still, of course, disapprove of him receiving an honorary degree from Notre Dame, but with an approval rating of 65% I find it a bit unlikely.
May 4, 2009, at 4:23 pm
As for the discrepancy between the Gallup poll and the Pew polls Mollie linked to, it should be noted that the Pew poll on Notre Dame only included white non-Hispanic Catholics — a choice that makes it kind of unrepresentative of Catholics as a whole. This should probably be noted in the above post.
May 4, 2009, at 4:28 pm
Oh, it turns out Dan Gilgoff has written about the grossly overlooked Latino Catholic population himself — Link
May 4, 2009, at 4:56 pm
This link comes courtesy of the Curt Jester, and yes I know it’s an online site so very probably is one man’s foaming-at-the-mouth version of Reds Under The Beds, but I wonder - do any of you think this kind of hysteria might make its way into the proper media?
http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_4653.shtml
“According to sources with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Army, and the White House, a number of members of violent pro-life groups are streaming into South Bend in anticipation of protests during the commencement address of President Barack Obama at Notre Dame. Obama is scheduled to give his address at Notre Dame on May 17.
In anticipation of Obama’s address and his being awarded an honorary degree from Notre Dame, a number of right-wing groups, including Catholic anti-abortion and anti-stem cell research groups, are ratcheting up tensions in South Bend, according to our sources.
WMR has learned from FEMA sources that the city of South Bend has indicated that due to its severe financial situation, it is unable to provide the necessary police security for Obama’s speech. Notre Dame campus security has apparently accepted responsibility for Obama’s security during his visit to the campus, although primary presidential security will be in the hands of the Secret Service.
What is worrying to some federal law enforcement and emergency preparedness officials is the violent groups that will be present both within South Bend and on the campus of Notre Dame during the president’s address to graduating students. And these groups are being egged on by well-financed conservative groups, including the Cardinal Newman Society and Brent Bozell’s Media Research Center. However, the real fear of federal security agencies is the rhetoric being voiced by professional troublemaker Randall Terry and perennial political candidate Alan Keyes. Terry and Keyes are both right-wing Catholics.”
Oh, yeah: the Cardinal Newman Society. Famous for their deep pockets and access to rocket launchers. Honestly, what can you say?
Ordinarily, I’d laugh this off, but with the Head of the Department of Homeland Security defending her inclusion of “groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion” as examples of Potential Terrorists by claiming that there is a history of such acts by extremist anti-abortion groups, I’m afraid that somebody might take this raving seriously.
May 4, 2009, at 6:04 pm
Since this is a journalism blog….there was a sort of major error in the story (since news is supposed to be about who what when and where…)
The Mass was last night - Sunday - not Monday:
http://blog.beliefnet.com/viamedia/2009/05/mass-of-reparation-1.html
Unless they’re so sorry, they’re having two…
May 4, 2009, at 6:08 pm
The media loves scandal. And that is what ND is providing
plenty of.
But it would be nice to see more coverage of small Catholic universities popping up across the country which are determined to keep a strong Catholic identity. These small vibrant Catholic institutions of higher learning are not chasing prestige by giving honors to politicians who are totally dishonorable regarding the basic Christian moral of the sacredness of human life—especially innocent human life such as the child in the womb and newborns.
May 4, 2009, at 10:42 pm
So how many bishops back Notre Dame now?…
With so many Roman Catholic bishops speaking out against Notre Dame University’s decision to honor President Barack Obama at this year’s commencement, we’ve seen quite a few stories in the mainstream press….
May 4, 2009, at 11:05 pm
I thought the story was not too bad. I thought that the interview w/Bp. Wenski was very good and made key points that the “typical” Catholic rolodex respondents did not.
Also, I noted the same thing you (Mollie) did re: quantifying the bishops’ disapproval and yes, NONE have offered any approval. Further, it would be nice to note that some larger dioceses and probably all archdioceses have multiple men with the status of bishop, known as “auxiliary bishops,” but only one is the primary bishop of that diocese. I don’t mean to suggest that auxiliary bishops are unimportant, yet I don’t expect any bishop who’s not the ordinary of his diocese to speak out like this…I guess one could, I just note that it’s probably not likely. Also, mathematically, I think while there may be over 250 active (and 164 retired) bishops in the US, there are only 195 dioceses and archdioceses in the US. [See http://www.usccb.org/comm/catholic-church-statistics.shtml
May 4, 2009, at 11:08 pm
The American Papist has a map and everything!
http://www.americanpapist.com/blog.html
“By my updating count, 65 bishops have commented in public (and critically) about Notre Dame’s decision to invite Barack Obama for commencement and also give him an honorary degree.
There are 195 dioceses in the United States. That means that among US bishops who are the head of a diocese, about 1/3 of them are against this decision.
Plus, I can’t find one bishop who has gone on record supporting the decision. Just something to ponder in the 13 days ahead. Ponder seriously.”
One-third of diocesan bishops is a minority, but it’s not just a couple of ultra-strict traditionalists, either.
May 4, 2009, at 11:28 pm
I don’t have time right now to wade through so many google hits to find out if any Bishops are in favor of Notre Dame’s action, but I did find this interesting story because it is not a black/white characterization but a nuanced view from a Catholic perspective: Jesuit educators back Obama Notre Dame invitation http://ncronline.org/news/politics/jesuit-educators-back-obama-notre-dame-invitation
Catholic perspective?!? That’s debatable. In most circles of faithful Catholics, the National Catholic Reporter (NCR) is nicknamed National Catholic Distorter, and its columnists feature many well-known Catholic dissenters who will ‘nuance’ Catholic teaching to fit their agenda. If NCR cannot find any bishops to public announce support for ND, then it’s a good guess there aren’t any.
May 4, 2009, at 11:35 pm
Martha: Thanks for the link to AP and his map. Cool!
May 4, 2009, at 11:51 pm
This leapt out at me:
Here we get a context for the Bishops and their activism. This helps me better understand what is going on. Very helpful. It appears the context of the situation is that the Bishops have lost moral authority which has resulted in a more independent laity.
BTW, it would be really useful to have some sort of guide to the various kinds of Catholics. Varieties seem to be multiplying with every post. What are ‘faithful Catholics’?
May 5, 2009, at 1:05 am
This also was helpful:
The press is pointing out that there exists some sort of divide between what the Bishops want and what the Catholic people are generally willing to go along with.
May 5, 2009, at 1:47 am
dalea, on the “types of Catholics” question, here is where you’ll find the “typology” that is generally used to classify American Catholics at GetReligion.
May 5, 2009, at 8:47 am
Once again, “litmus test” seems to apply only when speaking of the pro-life position.
As to statements: I know my own bishop to be actively pro-life (as a priest in a more Catholic region, he suggested that he would bar a pro-choice politician from Communion), but he hasn’t made a public statement on the subject. I suspect that a few bishops are ok with Pres. Obama getting the honors at ND, but most just don’t feel a need to speak out.
May 5, 2009, at 8:48 am
dalea, a cyncial guide to Catholics would be to note that, whenever you see someone either describing him/herself or being described as a “devout Catholic”, you can guess the next sentence will be about something unorthodox, e.g.
“I’m a devout Catholic”, Jane Doe explains, “and that’s why I decided to go ahead with the women-priests’ ordination in this synagogue.”
“Devout Catholic John Brown says he has a right to receive the Eucharist, and just because he’s on his sixth marriage, the bishop has no business telling him what to do.”
“Devout Catholic Fr. Charles Curran, currently Professor of Human Values at Southern Methodist University, explains why he has been silenced because of his brave determination to reveal how “Humanae Vitae” was actually written by the Illuminati at the behest of the Greys when the Reptiloids had taken over the Vatican.” Er, well, that last is probably too uncharitable
May 5, 2009, at 8:57 am
The not so perifical argument as to why Obama accepted the invitatiion to speak at ND is not described and may be significant. Don’t tell me, when he does speak, he will tell us all how he -personally - condenms abortion but is politicall impotent. Or will he chastize catholics always and everywhere that they are ignorant in order to be devisive as he usually is with believers of which he says he is one…of some queer sort. One day that question will be answered, when it should have begun by being stated.
May 5, 2009, at 9:50 am
There’s a category not mentioned that covers Get Religion’s ex-Catholics and Cultural Catholics - the “raised-Catholic”. Especially the ones who “used to be altar boys”. Although not actively practicing the faith and often very opposed to the Church’s teachings, these folks like to opine on Catholic Church matters because they think they know the territory. You will find a lot of them in comboxes and I’m guessing they enjoy responding to surveys and polls on Church issues. Often they mis-remember what they learned about Catholic teaching way back in grade school.
May 23, 2009, at 4:06 pm
Well its sad that people would say 65% attend church and approve of O’Bama. I hope they don’t call themselves Christians. You see being a former Roman Catholic, Catholic School married in the church, etc. I know first hand how this can be true. First most Catholics don’t read or never have read the Bible. How can you know what Christ said or teaches without doing that ? The answer is you can’t. I hear Catholics saying well I think Christ would have. How can they know how God thinks ? Oh and the more than one way to God - as a Christian you believe he suffered died on the Cross and arose. If there is more than one way to God why did his Only son have to go through all that ? Notre Dame is a serious matter. It is about the praise of men or the Love of God and being Rightous ! Rev Jenkins chose the Praise of men. I’m not talking to Athiests, agnostics, etc on this one. I’m commenting on people that claim to be Christians. the only phrase most Catholics do know from the Bible is Matthew 24 About judging and they even get that wrong ! Satan was testing the waters at Georgetown and Notre Dame and unlike with Job he won on this one ! You dedicated Catholics that still want to worship at least become a Charismatic Catholic and read the Bible !!!