Message from KJA: Earlier today I published a post about Catholics organizing a petition to bar Obama from delivering a speech at Notre Dame's commencement. A diligent Root reader discovered a few inaccuracies in my post and felt my post was misleading. The reader was right. I stated that the Catholic church was behind the petition. I was wrong. The Newman Society, a group of Notre Dame alum and supporters, is behind the petition. I have re-published the post. And I apologize for any confusion.
The Updated Post:
Supporters and alum of Notre Dame are working hard to keep President Obama from giving their spring commencement speech. The Newman Society, a Catholic advocacy group, is outraged at Obama for lifting the ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. And in an effort to show Obama who's boss the group has drafted a petition to keep Obama away from Notre Dame. And they're taking the petition to Notre Dame's president. Have these folks lost their minds?! It's one thing to have issue with Obama's position on abortion or the war in Iraq, but to make an aggressive effort to shut down Obama because of federal funding, and get this, that comes out of all of our pockets, seems … delusional. I'm certain there are hundreds of Notre Dame students who support Obama's position on stem cell research, among other things. I think the Newman Society needs some opposition. Like "Alums Who Think the Newman Folks Are Ridiculous."
Keith Josef Adkins is an award-winning playwright, screenwriter and social commentator.