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Pro-Life Leaders Dismayed by Obama's Abortion Remarks at Notre Dame

By Kathleen Gilbert

SOUTH BEND, Indiana, May 18, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Pro-life leaders have responded to Obama's remarks on abortion at the University of Notre Dame commencement - where Obama urged Notre Dame graduates to keep an open mind on the issue and shun "demonizing" the opposition - condemning the president's remarks as clever rhetoric designed to disguise his extreme pro-abortion views and political record. 

As thousands of pro-life protesters lined the streets and gathered in the South Quad to pray, the president used the opportunity to issue his most extensive public remarks on the abortion issue since he began running for president.  Obama also received an honorary law degree from the Catholic university, a move roundly criticized by numerous U.S. bishops and over 360,000 petitioning Catholics.

"Obama attempts to deceive the people into thinking that we should, for the sake of unity, turn a blind eye to greater evil of abortion to focus on social programs that do not solve the root problem of decriminalized child-killing in our nation," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman.
 
John Daly, the president of ND Response, the student coalition leading the on-campus protest of Obama's appearance at Notre Dame, said he considered it "shocking" that Obama used the Notre Dame platform to speak at length on abortion.  Many who supported Obama's invitation, he pointed out, had emphasized to pro-life protesters that the president was not invited to promote his position on abortion.

"I think it was shocking to a lot of people," Daly told LifeSiteNews.com.  "He obviously used his platform to promote his own agenda.  He tried to say there's common ground, but according to Catholic teaching, the common ground is not what he's suggesting it to be."

In his speech, Obama suggested that seeking common ground would simply lead to an agreement that aborting an unborn child "has moral and spiritual dimensions," although he  did not indicate whether abortion should be considered morally acceptable or repugnant.  

"Everyone knew that he would somehow say something about the controversy, but for him to make the comments that he did, and to dwell on them as long as he did, I think was a surprise," Daly said. 

"The university gave him a podium, they can't do anything about it. This is not dialogue, this is simply a monologue, and no one was there to refute his statement."

Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser pointed out that despite his talk about "common ground" Obama continues to promote an active pro-abortion agenda.  "At Notre Dame, President Obama spoke of respecting the consciences of those Americans who are morally opposed to the tragedy of abortion. Yet his most recent budget proposal to Congress fails to respect the consciences of taxpayers who are morally opposed to funding the destruction of human life.

"Further, in working and advocating to fully fund abortions, the President undermines his own purported goal of reducing the 'need' for abortion.
 
"America deserves authentic leadership on the abortion issue - someone who will help find common ground through civil discourse," said Dannenfelser.  "Yet there is no evidence of an open mind in President Obama's recommendation that Congress fund abortion on-demand with taxpayer dollars. 

"No true leader on a 'heart-wrenching,' 'complex issue' would seek to set it aside publicly while advancing quietly to achieve his own goals, all the while positing that the two sides are irreconcilable.

"True common ground exists. He is just not standing on it," she added.
 
Dannenfelser warned that Obama and liberal Capitol Hill lawmakers "are on a collision course with public opinion on abortion policy."  "As Congress drafts the next budget, it would do well to respect the consciences of taxpayers and stop the agenda that amounts to an abortion industry bailout," she added.

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