"Fruitful dialogue between the Gospel and culture"

The 164th commencement exercises at the University of Notre Dame were today.  I watched the ceremony until just after President Obama's commencement address.  For those of you who are unfamiliar, there has been quite a controversy over the University conferring an honorary degree on President Obama and inviting him to give the commencement address.  Basically, many catholics believe it isn't right for the premier Catholic university to honor someone who supports embryonic stem cell research or who does not oppose abortion.  A number of pro-life protesters converged on Notre Dame, Indiana this weekend to show their disapproval of the President's visit to campus, utilizing graphic images of aborted phetuses.  Amongst all of this controversy, I was a little wary of how the commencement ceremony would proceed, specifically if there would be any demonstration inside the Joyce Center (where the ceremony is held), either by guests or by graduates themselves.  I was also a little bit concerned that any of the speakers, including President Obama, might use the event as a platform to speak on personal ideals on one side or the other of the debate.

Father Jenkins, the President of the University, spoke to introduce President Obama after the conferring of honorary degrees.  He is a very intelligent man who has spent much of his life in academia.  In my time at Notre Dame I have heard him speak a number of times and it is easy to tell he is very articulate, although kind of long winded in his delivery.  On this occasion, however, his speech was incredible.  He very eloquently addressed the obvious controversy of his invitation to President Obama and acknowledged that his belief system stands in opposition to President Obama's, but, perhaps more importantly, also recognized the need for dialogue between the two opposing sides.  He also highlighted President Obama's career achievements and introduced him.

President Obama followed with what started out to be funny, entertaining, but otherwise insubstantial remarks.  The first few minutes made me concerned that, after such a powerful introduction, President Obama would dance around the issue and fail to say anything meaningful at all.  Just after feeling this, President Obama delivered.  He followed the best speech I had ever heard from Father Jenkins with the best speech I had ever heard from him.  President Obama offered his own experiences and powerful words to emphasize the importance of finding common ground in all things in order to come together as people of goodwill to make progress.  Again focusing on change, President Obama fought through more than one unfortunate, hostile outburst from the crowd to deliever his message.

I am very proud to be a graduate of the University of Notre Dame.  After seeing these two speak, as well as seeing the faculty give the graduating class a standing ovation after President Obama commented on the maturity with which they debated his visit, I am even more proud to be a part of the Notre Dame family.  Sometimes I have been disappointed by decisions made by the administration or the student body.  These commencement exercises inspired me and reaffirmed to me that the University is, indeed, a great place and is being led by a great man.  These commencement exercises inspired me and reaffirmed to me that this country is, indeed, a great place and is being led by a great man.