President Obama Draws Cheers From Notre Dame Crowd

By Tom Troy, The Blade, Toledo, Ohio

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Notre Dame University gave a thunderous welcome during Sunday's graduation ceremony to President Obama and cheered him throughout the program despite stark differences on abortion that prompted protests on the Catholic campus.

Mr. Obama was cheered for more than two minutes when he entered the university's Joyce Center arena to give the keynote address and receive an honorary doctorate of laws.

Several hecklers interrupted him during the first half of the speech. The audience shouted down one heckler with the chant heard at football games, "WE ARE N-D."

Mr. Obama cautioned, "We're not going to shy away from things that are uncomfortable sometimes."

Police said 37 people were arrested yesterday on trespassing charges and two others face both trespassing and resisting-arrest charges.

Conservative Catholics attacked the decision by the university president, the Rev. John Jenkins, to invite Mr. Obama. They cited his support for legalizing the practice known as partial-birth abortion and for federal funding for abortions.

But in the arena, Father Jenkins was twice given standing ovations.

In speaking of abortion, Mr. Obama said that, although the views of "most Americans on the subject are complex and even contradictory, the fact is that at some level the views of the two camps are irreconcilable."

To temper the debate, he advocated "open hearts, open minds, fair-minded words."

And he thanked the crowd by saying, "How inspired I am by the maturity and responsibility with which this place has approached the debate surrounding today's ceremony."

"Let's work together to reduce the number of women seeking abortions by reducing unintended pregnancies, and making adoption more available, and providing care and support for women who do carry their child to term," he said.

"Let's honor the conscience of those who disagree with abortion, and draft a sensible conscience clause, and make sure that all of our health-care policies are grounded in clear ethics and sound science, as well as respect for the equality of women," Mr. Obama said.

He quoted the Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, a retired Notre Dame president, who said the university should be both "lighthouse and crossroads."

He noted that Father Hesburgh was a member of the six-person civil rights commission appointed by President Eisenhower in 1957 that recommended the 12 measures that became the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

And the President credited "Father Ted" with arranging a fishing outing in Wisconsin that helped bring the divergent group together.

Father Hesburgh, 89, was in the audience.

Mr. Obama also paid tribute to Notre Dame's sports history and challenged students to hold fast to their faith but also to tolerate diversity.

In introducing Mr. Obama, Father Jenkins noted that most of the controversy had centered on Notre Dame's decision to honor Mr. Obama rather than on Mr. Obama's "decision to accept."

The crowd applauded its agreement when Father Jenkins said, "We are fully supportive of the church's teaching on the sanctity of human life."

It cheered louder in support of his declaration that "President Obama is not someone who stops talking to those who differ with him."

In explaining why Mr. Obama deserved an honorary degree, Father Jenkins cited his achievements despite being raised in a home without a father, his "great respect for the role of faith and religious institutions in public life," his accomplishment becoming the first black president, and his ambitions to expand health care, improve education, combat world poverty, and promote renewable energy.

Hecklers were quickly shown the door.

One man shouted, "Abortion is murder," as he was hustled out.

Another heckler was shouted down by some of his neighbors, one of whom told the man, "You are an idiot."

Mr. Obama appeared to anticipate the interruptions.

As one shouting protester was quieted and moved toward the exit, Mr. Obama smoothly continued with his prepared text, which was, "In short, we must find a way to live together as one human family."

For most of last week, protesters were present at the entrance to campus. A small aircraft circled with a banner showing an aborted fetus with the words "ten week abortion."

Yesterday, hundreds of students and others attended a "Notre Dame Response Rally" on the university's South Quad, where hundreds of protesters gathered to hear speeches and pray just before the start of the commencement exercises.

Bishop John D'Arcy of South Bend, who criticized the invitation to Mr. Obama and refused to attend the graduation, addressed the rally and called the students who were present heroes for following the admonition of the late Pope John Paul II to "stand up for life everywhere without exception."

After the ceremony, many students went to a "vigil for life" at the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes.

"I'm standing up for the Catholic identity of the university," said Megan Loyd, of Marietta, Ga.

The economics and Russian major was one of a handful of graduates whose caps were decorated with a picture of a cross and two baby-sized footprints.

Graduate John "Jack" Kiley of Muskegon, Mich., said he decided not to go to the ceremony because "I feel like I would be participating in something that would scandalize the church."

Officials said about 25 to 30 students in a graduating class of about 2,900 skipped the ceremony.

Inside the arena, virtually all the graduates' seats were filled.

Maureen Clark, 22, of Rocky River, Ohio, described herself as "a very strong Catholic" and an opponent of the proposed Freedom of Choice Act, but said most of the students were excited about the President's coming.

"Even though I don't agree with all his policies, it's a real honor to have the President of the United States," Ms. Clark said.

Chris Desimone, 22, of Bernardsville, N.J., said the political dispute should be set aside so the graduates could enjoy their day.

"I think there's been a tremendous amount of support for Father Jenkins, for [Mr. Obama] speaking," Mr. Desimone said.

He said it would have been a "slap in the face" to withhold the honorary doctorate, because that has been given to keynote speakers in the past.

Charles Shea of Santa Rosa, Calif., said he was honored to have the President at the commencement of his son William, a business major.

"If anything it'll help open up dialogue. It does conflict with the church's stance on abortion and the support of [embryonic] stem cell research, but at the same time he's the leader of the country and for him to come and give the students a message is quite an honor," Mr. Shea said.

He said the protesters were "easy to avoid" for those who wanted to.

Another parent said she disagreed strongly with Mr. Obama's abortion views but subscribed to the idea that it would be "an educational experience for him."

"This is good for him to know that, we love you but maybe we don't embrace all your ideas," said Delores Jones of Southfield, Mich.

Student Stephanie Peters, 22, of Homer Glen, Ill., said it was a rare privilege to have the President at her graduation.

"Being a Catholic university, [Notre Dame] needs to uphold the Catholic beliefs. But I do think it's an opportunity to be able to present your own beliefs to him as well," Ms. Peters said.

Contact Tom Troy at tomtroy@theblade.com or 419-724-6058.

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