Seriously?

Fr. Jenkins responded today to mounting criticism over his decision to award President Obama an honorary doctorate at Notre Dame's commencement ceremony on May 17. Lifesite posted this update. Here is an excerpt.

Responding to outrage that the nation's premier Catholic institution of higher learning invited Obama, who has been called the most pro-abortion president in history, Jenkins said the invitation "should in no way be taken as condoning or endorsing his positions" on life issues.

"We are not ignoring the critical issue of the protection of life. On the contrary, we invited him because we care so much about those issues, and we hope for this to be the basis of an engagement with him," Jenkins said. "You cannot change the world if you shun the people you want to persuade, and if you cannot persuade them show respect for them and listen to them."

Jenkins said that the school wants to recognize Obama's "very real and significant accomplishments and his leadership," while at the same time wanting to initiate "a positive engagement on the issues we care about." "I think if he is going to reconsider his views, I think Notre Dame is the best possible place to begin that process," he said.

Jenkins also addressed the USCCB's 2004 directive that Catholic schools "should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions," arguing that the honorary degree for Obama "is not intended to condone or endorse his position on specific issues regarding life." "That's not what we're honoring," Jenkins said.

The term "suggest" is a key insertion by the USCCB and it presents an embarrassing predicament for Notre Dame. Despite Jenkins' contorted exegesis, the bestowal of a prestigious award to such a high-profile figure as Obama certainly seems to suggest, in the very least, tacit consent for his policies.

With all due respect to Fr. Jenkins, does he seriously except us to swallow this? "Now wait a minute here, we're just honoring the hope and change, nice guy Obama, not the pro-abortion Obama. We're keen on the inspirational fella, not the pro-embryonic stem-cell research guy; maybe that one won't show up... And who knows, maybe Nice Guy Obama will even listen to our pro-life pitch after we revive from our swoon."