Comment: Notre Dame's Doctoral Dilemma

After May 17, 2009, President Obama will be an alumnus of Notre Dame University.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Catholic Online) - Notre Dame is going where Arizona State University refused to go - conferring an honorary degree on their commencement speaker - President Barack Obama.

On May 13, 2008 President Barack Obama delivered the commencement address at Arizona State University (ASU). Normally, an honorary degree is conferred upon the speaker, but not this time.

A spokesperson for the university stated that honorary degrees from ASU are conferred on individuals with a body of work, and President Obama did not yet have a body of work because his presidency has just begun.

On May 17, 2008 the President is scheduled to deliver a commencement address, this time at Notre Dame. His invitation from President Jenkins and the Board of Trustees unleashed a nationwide response of anger and astonishment by Catholic bishops, priests, deacons, and lay people.

After only 100 days, the president is viewed as the most aggressive pro-abortion chief executive in United States history. To have him speak at commencement was a stretch for many, but the conferring of a degree just threw gasoline on the fire.

The ASU decision to refrain from conferring a degree has brought the Notre Dame decision into an even more critical light. While a state university sees a lack of contribution, a private university confirms there is a body of work, their Catholic ethos and social teaching notwithstanding.

As Bishop Yanta wrote to the President of Notre Dame in an open letter:

"This is a teachable moment for Notre Dame and all of us. It's time to review the basics of Christianity and Catholicism, i.e., the Word of God about faithfulness and obedience of Faith, documents on Catholic Education, incredulity (Catechism #2089), your Profession of faith (Canon 833, Paragraph 7) , your relation to your local Bishop and the United States Conference of Catholic bishops."

Randall Terry, who has been in South Bend actively opposing the Obama appearance sent the media a "leaked copy" of the words that are on the degree certificate.

Here are the words, exactly as given.

"At the 164th Commencement

The May Exercises

The University of Notre Dame Confers the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, on the 44th president of the United States, whose historic election opened a new era of hope in a country long divided by its history of slavery and racism. A community organizer who honed his advocacy for the poor, the marginalized and the worker in the streets of Chicago, he now organizes a larger community, bringing to the world stage a renewed American dedication to diplomacy and dialogue with all nations and religions committed to human rights and the global common good. Through his willingness to engage with those who disagree with him and encourage people of faith to bring their beliefs to the public debate, he is inspiring this nation to heal its divisions of religion, culture, race and politics in the audacious hope for a brighter tomorrow.

On Barack H. Obama, Washington, District of Columbia"

The conferring of an honorary doctorate is not a substitute for a bigger honorarium. Nor is it a formality that just says, "We like you." A doctorate - even "honoris causa" - puts the university on record as indicating that the person has fulfilled, through his or her body of work, the quality of scholarship and contribution necessary for that level of acknowledgement within the ethos of the institution.

After May 17, 2009, President Obama will be an alumnus of Notre Dame University.

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Randy Sly is the Associate Editor of Catholic Online. He is a former Archbishop of the Charismatic Episcopal church who laid aside that ministry to enter into the full communion of the Catholic Church.

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