Protests Precede Obama At Notre Dame

President's Invitation To Speak At Catholic University Draws Demonstrators Opposed To Abortion Rights, Stem Cell Research

(CBS/AP)  Protests continued through the night at the United States' foremost Roman Catholic university, as demonstrators object to the school's decision to invite President Obama to give the commencement address this afternoon, given his stands on abortion and embryonic stem-cell research.

Anti-abortion activists promise to disrupt the president's appearance on Sunday at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., where he also will receive an honorary degree.

Mr. Obama is scheduled to speak at 2:00 p.m. ET.

South Bend police expect thousands of demonstrators opposed to abortion rights on Sunday, reports CBS affiliate WSBT.

But some anti-abortion right activists are concerned the protesters will go too far and wind up hurting their cause.

WSBT correspondent Kirk Mason reports that there are three semi-trucks traveling around town displaying large images of aborted fetuses, as well as of an African-American man who appears to have been beaten.

The trucks are paid for by the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform, a Calif.-based group. A spokesman told WSBT that the pictures are designed to point out the inconsistencies of President Obama, that the country has overcome the evil of slavery but not abortion.

The organization's head, Gregg Cunningham, posted on his Web site part of his response to a parent's complaint who objected to the group "ruining" her son's law school graduation. Cunningham wrote that "if Mr. Obama is such a noble person and abortion is such a trivial matter, why would you be so troubled that we are showing the Class of 2009 the babies Mr. Obama is killing?"

“I understand the passion of those like myself who want to protect innocent babies from being killed,” Rep. Mark Souder, R-Ind., told WSBT. “But the key thing here is to persuade those in the middle who don't agree with us.” Souder is both an abortion opponent and a Notre Dame graduate.

Bishop John D'Arcy, who plans to skip Sunday's commencement because of Mr. Obama's presence, led a late-night candlelight prayer vigil Saturday night.

WSBT correspondent John Paul reports that students attending the vigil reflected on their last days on campus, with some saying the protests have led to healthy discussions and debates, and that the attention hasn't taken away from their achievements.

"It hasn't overshadowed it too much anyway," said student Brian Desplinter, who attended the vigil. "I think our student body on campus has handled the controversy particularly well, in contrast to some of the outside parties.

"I'm thankful to be on campus with these people and the opportunity to learn in a peaceful environment," Desplinter told WSBT.

But one didn’t have to travel far to see signs of the storm that initially broke out when the school extended (and Mr. Obama accepted) an invitation to address the graduating class.

On Saturday at the school's front gate at the intersection of Angela and Notre Dame Avenue, more than 100 people gathered to protest the invitation to Mr. Obama.

Shortly after noon, 23 protesters marched onto campus. Nineteen were arrested on trespassing charges and four also faced a charge of resisting law enforcement, said Sgt. Bill Redman, St. Joseph County Police Department spokesman. They were being held on $250 bond.

Among those arrested was the Rev. Norman Weslin, a Catholic priest and founder of the Lambs of Christ abortion protest group. He also was among 21 people arrested during a similar protest Friday.

None of those arrested Saturday was a student, Brown said.

Also protesting Saturday was Norma McCorvey, the plaintiff identified as "Roe" in the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. She now opposes abortion.

She said she had planned to be arrested on Saturday, but changed her mind when a security officer ushered her to the side and gave her a chance to walk away.

"I didn't know why he just kind of gently moved me away. So I'm like, maybe this isn't the right time," McCorvey said.

Some driving past the protesters on Saturday waved in support. Others yelled at them. One man honked his horn in protest and held up a handful of hangers, a symbol of the gruesome procedures some pregnant women resorted to before Roe v. Wade.

Later, about 10 pro-Obama demonstrators assembled across the street holding up placards with slogans such as "Honk if you support Obama" and "Pro-Jenkins/Notre Dame."

The Rev. John Jenkins, the university president, has been criticized by many (including dozens of bishops) for the school's decision to invite President Obama.

When asked by WSBT about the controversy surrounding this year's graduation, student Chris Falin said, "I don't think it's the right venue for this sort of thing. It's a little frustrating that it has been turned into a circus or a discussion about the abortion issue."

As the weekend graduation festivities got underway yesterday, there seemed little sign at the ceremonies themselves of the furor. Students with their gowns on walked along happily Saturday afternoon with their parents apparently oblivious to the protest just a few hundred feet away.

University spokesman Dennis Brown said there were no reports of protests at any of the university's various schools, centers and institutes. For the most part, the only difference on campus was the heightened security for Mr. Obama's visit, he said.

Students generally favored Mr. Obama giving the graduation speech. The graduating class voted to name Jenkins their Senior Class Fellow.

About 12,000 people attended commencement Mass at the Joyce Center on Saturday evening. Neither the Rev. Jenkins nor Bishop D'Arcy mentioned the controversy during the 85-minute service.

A full page advertisement in the South Bend Tribune on Saturday had the headline: "Catholic Leaders and Theologians Welcome President Obama to Notre Dame." The ad, signed by university professors around the country, many of them at Catholic schools, said that as Catholics committed to civil dialogue, they were proud Mr. Obama was giving the commencement address.

There were some students, though, who opposed Mr. Obama giving the speech. ND Response, a coalition of university groups, has received permission from Notre Dame to hold a protest on the west end of the South Quad on Sunday. Spokesman John Daly said he expected 20 to 30 graduating seniors to skip commencement and attend the prayer vigil.

Some students who planned to attend the commencement said they would show their displeasure at the Obama invitation by putting a yellow cross with yellow baby's feet atop their mortarboards.

In his commencement speech, Mr. Obama "obviously would make mention of the debate that's been had" over abortion, while emphasizing that "this is exactly the kind of give-and-take that is had on college campus all over the country," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.

[ReallyMeanIt]

It's so nice to be able to listen to leaders with eloquence.

It's pretty sad when the most eloquent speaker in your party is Rush Limbaugh.
Posted by ianlou
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barrack's BS's are way more superior.........

[lost_america]

If all of these so called "religious" people stand by their principles and beliefs so firmly, then why aren't they commenting on the story about Rumsfeld putting bible verses on the covers of Iraq war briefings?
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What Rumsfeld put on his report covers, or how well religious people adhere to the tenants of their faith in no way justifies killing unborn babies.

[lost_america]

i wonder which is the more wrong?

killing adults to steal oil or innocent unborn babies?

hmmm?
*********************************************
They are both wrong.

I don't know the figures for adults killed for oil.
However, the abortion holocaust now stands at 40 million.

[egresor]

i wonder which is the more wrong?

killing adults to steal oil or innocent unborn babies?

hmmm?

[lost_america]

I have no hope that our government will stop abortion. I wish that reason would prevail and that they would, but, evil has never been reasonable.

We are a society that will jail you for breaking an eagle?s egg and at the same time sanctions the killing of unborn babies.

It?s insane, but evil is.

Evil clouds the central issue. It bangs the women?s rights drum, when the real issue is one of human rights.

When pressed those who embrace this evil again will shift the focus to some other evil as if finding something worse than abortion somehow justifies it (Like Bush, or the war, or the death penalty)

If it matters, I do not like Bush s policies, or the war, or the death penalty

Personally I believe the evidence supports the position that life begins at conception. But discounting that the abortionists claim no one knows when life starts. Even if that was true, the consequence of that position is that you only might be killing a baby. You just do not know for sure. (what kind of human being would do that?)

I have never lost an honest debate on abortion, but, I have never changed an abortionist mind. It is not about the facts. It is about evil and the lock it gets on the soul of people.

Therefore, my energy is devoted to breaking that lock one heart at a time. This is the only way it will ever change.

As for our president, we voted for him. His beliefs about this were clear. As to his appearance at ND, he was invited. If you wish to protest do so with the folks who invited him. Obama?s policies, character and opinions were public record before this event. The real shame is on the heads of those at ND.

[lambor59]

Obama is just another Bush, good luck people..

[Congressofowls]

These folks who oppose abortion ignored GHW Bush's war that killed 1000s for oil, Clinton's adultery and GWBush's oil war that killed 1000s, advocated torture, refused healthcare & education for poor kids. All 3 of these men were given honorary degrees by Notre Dame. Perhaps it's the same confusion that protected pedophiles and ignored inappropiate touching of female parishioners by priests for years. Christ said " let him who is without sin cast the first stone" but the Roman Catholics I know haven't read the Bible. Most issues can be resolved when all parties address them rationally and with civility....it's time for that new approach.

[egresor]

people seem to have this warped view of things regarding abortion. i am personally against abortion, but to put things in perspective.... if you are a christian, or with christian beliefs, which would you rather see die? an innocent un-born baby who ahs no sin and if they have a soul already they go to the comfort of God forever. which is worse? that innocent comforted forever baby or any adult with sine that is being sent into eternity to be condemned forever?

a long time ago a child in my family accidently took a pill and was in dangfer of dying. i asked them which is better? to die an innocent child or for that child to grow up to be lost forever? they jumped right in and said for the child to live.

their prioities of caring are just as warped as those who are militant over abortion, while thousands upon thousands are killed and die in their sins (not talking muslims now) to steal people's oil?

where are the religious protests about that?

talk about swallowing an elephant!
:(

[ianlou]

It's so nice to be able to listen to leaders with eloquence.

It's pretty sad when the most eloquent speaker in your party is Rush Limbaugh.

[egresor]

rotfl but true!

[nextgenman09]

"if Mr. Obama is such a noble person and abortion is such a trivial matter, why would you be so troubled that we are showing the Class of 2009 the babies Mr. Obama is killing?"
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This is a classic example of how the anti-choice exaggerate.

Obama is "killing babies".

If he were, he'd face murder charges.
Posted by formrusmcsgt at 2:09 AM : May 18, 2009
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Exactly. Irrelevant, ridiculous screeching.

[formrusmcsgt]

"if Mr. Obama is such a noble person and abortion is such a trivial matter, why would you be so troubled that we are showing the Class of 2009 the babies Mr. Obama is killing?"
---------
This is a classic example of how the anti-choice exaggerate.

Obama is "killing babies".

If he were, he'd face murder charges.