Notre Dame: Tradition!

After a couple of days to mull over the Notre Dame fiasco, I am beginning to think too many people are sounding like Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof. Tradition! It is a tradition to invite the newly elected president to speak. It is a tradition to give him an honorary degree. It is a tradition to have the Archbishop present but not have him speak. Folks, we are talking about little “t” tradition here, not big “T” Tradition. These precedents are not carved in stone. So here is my solution:

1. President Obama speaks but no honorary degree or other award is given. He is given the attention and respect that is due the office of the President of the United States.

2. Bishop D’Arcy should also speak. Rather than delegating the teaching moment to Professor Mary Ann Glendon, he should step up and directly address the “primacy of truth” he feels Notre Dame has neglected. He should clearly and unequivocally affirm the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death and the immorality of embryonic stem cell research. He should advocate for the protection of and respect of the consciences of both health care workers and religious institutions. He should decry the use of United States foreign aid by groups promoting abortion. He must also firmly state that these are non-negotiable principles for faithful Catholics.

This way the University of Notre Dame can have the prestige of hosting the President without sacrificing its Catholic identity.

If Archbishop D’Arcy is not given the opportunity to clearly present Catholic teaching, then I agree he should not attend. And in such a case, can faithful Catholics in good conscience attend?