Three Years Later, Notre Dame finally gets it

If you remember the controversy in the spring of 2009 involving Barack Obama being invited to give the Notre Dame commencement speech, you might remember the ND88. It was a group of pro-life supporters, which included a priest, who were arrested on the orders of the University's president, John Jenkins for peacefully praying in protest on school property over Obama's invite.

In a classic "oops" moment, prominent members of the Notre Dame faculty are now speaking out against the contraceptive mandate, essentially vindicating the ND88. The signature of the man whose name should be at the very top of the signatory list - Jenkins - is conspicuously absent, however.

Via CNS News:

Twenty-five Notre Dame faculty members--led by the university’s top ethics expert, and including some of the school’s most eminent scholars--have signed a statement declaring that President Barack Obama’s latest version of his administration’s mandate that all health insurance plans in the United States must cover sterilizations and all FDA-approved contraceptives, including those that cause abortions, is “a grave violation of religious freedom and cannot stand."

The statement—put out on the letterhead of the University of Notre Dame Law School--is also signed by leading scholars from other major American colleges and universities, including Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, Georgetown, Brigham Young, Yeshiva and Wheaton College.

Prof. Carter Snead, a professor of law at Notre Dame, was one of the lead organizers of the statement, which was published on his official law school letterhead. Notre Dame's top ethics expert, Snead serves as director of the university's Center for Ethics and Culture, a position to which he was appointed by Father John Jenkins, the president of Notre Dame.

Ironically, Jenkins also awarded Obama an honorary law degree. Now, Obama is essentially going around Congress to tell universities like Notre Dame they must violate their consciences, which means he has no respect for the law, the first amendment in particular.

When Obama received his honorary degree at Notre Dame's May 17, 2009, commencement, he vowed to respect the conscience rights of those who believe abortion is wrong. 

“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 not only in sound science, but also in clear ethics, as well as respect for the equality of women,” said Obama. “Those are things we can do.”

Once again, another provable lie.

HERE is a copy of the statement.