Recently, the president of the University of Notre Dame was on the receiving end of criticism from conservative students and alumni for inviting President Barack Obama to speak on commencement day this year. Specifically, these students and alumni were upset that the president, being pro-choice, would be honored at a campus whose religious doctrine opposes abortion rights.
As a religious school, Notre Dame has every right to adhere to its doctrines. However, it should be noted that, in the past, the school has invited presidents who were pro-choice without much flak (Notre Dame has, in fact, invited every president since Eisenhower to speak at at least one commencement day ceremony during their term).
It would seem that there is a bit of hypocrisy here, and I would imagine it is stemming from the conservative backlash we have seen in recent weeks. It would do these conservatives some good to consider their true motivations when opposing Obama's speaking there -- are they opposed due to his stance on abortion, or rather his being a liberal president during a time when conservative activists are speaking out loudly against him? Is hit his politics relating to Roe v. Wade that bother them, or is it just his politics in general?
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