It’s finally over.

President Obama gave his presentation with the President’s iconic aplomb to the graduating class at the University of Notre Dame this past Sunday.

I do have to say, as a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, that I was somewhat surprised at the amount of propaganda I received over the past several weeks requesting my support from the anti-Obama Catholic contingent. A man I respect very much, but who was clearly way too engaged in this particular subject, sent the email I’ve attached below for example.

St. Anthony’s in Atwater, California. St. Rose of Lima in Ephrata, Washington. St. Lawrence in Lindenwold, New Jersey. Camden Catholic High School in Cherry Hill, New Jersey…and then Notre Dame. 16 years of Catholic education under my belt.

But at the end of day, having studied religion, the Baltimore catechism until I can recite it verbatim, and Honors Theology at Notre Dame, I find it remarkable that groups, Catholic or not, who maintain strong positions on issues, are not prepared to listen to individuals and groups with opposing positions.

President Obama commented on the campaign trail that it is far more important for individuals and groups who have different opinions to maintain an open dialog than it is for individuals and groups who maintain the same position. Otherwise, what’s the purpose of discourse.

As indicated in a number of these articles reported in the Wall Street Journal and Orlando Sentinel, President Obama made a similar point on Sunday. The objective is not to ascertain where we differ but to establish how much the two groups hold as common ground and to work together on that common ground. Common ground binds; differences separate.

That doesn’t occur in a vacuum and that clearly doesn’t occur when individuals are not afforded a venue for that dialogue.

Being Roman Catholic is not being self-righteous, exclusionary or intolerant. At the end of day, it’s about decency, dignity and fair play. That holy trinity of human behavior does not check itself at the door when passionate opinions are involved. They live their own lives and manifest in a very specific and noticeable way, regardless of how you got there. Whether I be a passionate Roman Catholic, or a fervent Muslim, or a committed Jew, when it’s all said and done, respect, appreciation and recognition trump any doctrine…at any time.

My congratulations to the President for choosing a very appropriate venue to advance the spirit of dialogue in a place and at a time where he was not necessarily preaching to the choir.

Original writing date: May 20, 2009

I had literature sent to me from this website www.StopObamaNotreDame.com

email dated 4/27/09

As a long time ND supporter; although I was Jesuit educated; I have always believed that Notre Dame represented the highest level of image around the World for the quality of the Catholic Faith. ND was the Vatican in a sense here in the US. Values, pride, a remin der of devotion to Mary, Jesus, and our Lord.

ND is not just another University with a football team. ND is the Catholic University and our Prestige Value Proposition.

Inviting President Obama to be honored at any level, even an invitation to visit, has forever damaged the Prestige of Notre Dame. His extreme pro-choice (a disguise for the word ‘abortion’), his lack of understanding regarding stem cell embryo dignity, and his overall lack of respect for Catholic and Christian faith.

What happened at Georgetown University was outright disgusting. I fear that those who allowed our Sacred Icons and Symbols to be covered will not be known by God on Judgment Day.

So too, you risk that same fate: He will not know you when you try to come into his House.

Jesus once said that the only sin he could not forgive was “Blasphemy”! What you have created, the honor of someone who has proven his disgust for Catholic principles and values, easily meets the definition of the sin that you commit and will not be forgiven.

When I spoke to a close Catholic friend who was a graduate of Notre Dame, he said he would not even risk saying “May God have mercy on your Soul”, because he feared being associated with someone who we firmly believe has done something that is unforgiveable and should know better.

“Jesus will not remember you when you try to come into his House”. Mary the Mother of God that the name Notre Da me honors will have no reason to help someone who dishonored her Name.

P.S. Sadly, like many other I no longer wish to be associated with ND, so I have thrown out hats and shirts that I purchased at ND football games in South Bend. And, I’ll never attend another ND game, at campus or anywhere else.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 20th, 2009 at 11:07 am and is filed under Articles of Interest, Dynetech, Larry Pino, Life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.