Notre Dame Loses Mary Ann Glendon
Mary Ann Glendon
Mary Ann Glendon, U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican from 2007 to 2009, has just declined Notre Dame University’s prestigious Laetare Medal. Her letter:
April 27, 2009
The Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.
President
University of Notre DameDear 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 treasure the memory of receiving an honorary degree from Notre Dame in 1996, and I have always felt honored that the commencement speech I gave that year was included in the anthology of Notre Dame’s most memorable commencement speeches. So I immediately began working on an acceptance speech that I hoped would be worthy of the occasion, of the honor of the medal, and of your students and faculty.
Last month, when you called to tell me that the commencement speech was to be given by President Obama, I mentioned to you that I would have to rewrite my speech. Over the ensuing weeks, the task that once seemed so delightful has been complicated by a number of factors.
First, as a longtime consultant to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, 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 two 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.”
• “We think having the president come to Notre Dame, see our graduates, meet our leaders, and hear a talk from Mary Ann Glendon is a good thing for the president and for the causes we care about.”
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.
In order to avoid the inevitable speculation about the reasons for my decision, I will release this letter to the press, but I do not plan to make any further comment on the matter at this time.
Yours Very Truly,
Mary Ann Glendon
Sherry Tyree, 66, a graduate of John Burroughs School and Washington University, is a founding member (1984) and Vice President of Women for Faith & Family, a national Catholic women's organization that supports and defends traditional church teachings. Sherry is married to Dr. Donald A. Tyree, professor emeritus, School of Business, St. Louis University. 
We need more people like Mary Glendon. It’s refreshing to see someone with that much conviction and principle.
I understand Notre Dame still wishes to give the award. Let’s hope no one is willing to humiliate themselves by accepting what is now little more than a consolation prize.
Kuros to you Ms. Glendon. If only our dear Sen. McCaskill would be a true brave Catholic and have your character.
Funny how the PD and Mr. Townsend have not yet reported that Caroline Kennedy got turned down by the Vatican for Amb. because she is not pro-life. In fact, the Obama Admin. can’t find a Democrat pro-lifer to be Vatican Ambassador. But PD, whatever you do, don’t report that.
Sorry, centrist, to burst your bubble, but the reason the PD has not covered this story is, ahem, ITS NOT TRUE. The rumor was floated from “unnamed sources in the Vatican” to Italian newspapers, but was definitively denied by the Vatican:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jSOK6tfcJnAR8qnB6kD71lNteOaA
However, to look at the bigger picture, why should the Vatican turn her down? Does Saudi Arabia deny any ambassadors that are not Muslim? Is our Ambassador to Israel Jewish? And frankly, while several of you would like to deny it, Caroline Kennedy, is, as far as I know, Catholic.
Also, apparently Ms Glendon served as ambassador to the Vatican during the Bush administration. So, the Vatican and Notre Dame has no trouble embracing torture, war, death penalty etc. I just wish a bishop or priest, someday, would stand up and say “As Catholics of good consceince, you can not vote for either Republicans or Democrats.” At least that is a position that can be respected.
Spyguy - this is from one of your favorite sources
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/11/vatican-blocks-caroline-k_n_185897.html
You decide.
This ND story is getting worse.
Warning to pro-lifers.
http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2009/04/sick-white-house-expects-obama-to-wear.html
Thank God for Catholics who are willing to stand up for their beliefs. Notre Dame’s actions are a disgrace. Sadly,while ND may be the most visible “Catholic” university in America, they are just one of many who have turned their back on the faith.
So, spyguy, your solution is for Catholics to give up our right to vote? You’d better be careful that you don’t catch your white sheet on fire when you light that cross in my front yard.
Of course not. If you got that from my post, I sincerely apologize. Michael, I want everyone to vote for the candidate that they see as the best. What I am against is the hypocracy of conservative political Catholics that proclaim a “pro-life” stance, like Ms. Glendon, but then give their stamp of approval to torture, war, death penalty, and such. I just wish the bishops would call them out on it.
Sorry, I misread your handle, Mike.
Spyguy,
Comparing abortion to the death penalty, torture, and war is like comparing apples to oranges. Abortion is the deliberate killing of innocent human life while war and the death penalty are the killing of guilty life. Now, war and the death penalty can be justified but are not always. Abortion cannot be justified. Torture is not respecting a human being and does not result in the death of a human (for all intents and purposes) and is therefore not on the same grounds as abortion.
So you really cannot say the Catholic Church is being hypocritical. Just some issues are more grave than others.
Also, if you could provide me evidence of bishops giving their stamp of approval to torture and the death penalty, I would appreciate it.
The death penalty is actually something that you can disagree with Church teaching on and still be Catholic. So there is room for debate there however there is no debate with abortion. Again, abortion overshadows torture as many…many, many more millions die of abortion than torture today in America.