As a Catholic I am the first to admit that I do not agree with everything the Catholic Church states. After all, I have used birth control before, I do think it is a woman’s right to choose, and I’m for homosexual marriages just to name a few. Some how the Church still lets me come and make my donation every week, I guess where money is concerned they turn the other way. With that being said I am sad to hear about members of the Catholic community, and possible others putting up a stink about Obama coming to speak at Notre Dame for their commencement ceremonies. Just because of his belief systems and those programs that he supports are not directly in line with the views of the Catholic Church. Personally I would be terribly excited to hear Obama speak at my school during graduation from college. I’m sure that not every student who attends any of the hundreds of Catholic supported schools throughout the country are all Catholic. And God forbid if any of them have beliefs other than what the Church spouts to be the “truth.” I would think that more many of the students and family members who will attend the ceremonies this will be a once in a lifetime experience to hear the President give an address in person. What do these nay sayers hope to accomplish with their petition, to have the school uninvited the President of the United States from speaking? I for one feel that college is a time in your life to explore different ways of thinking and hear open discussion of political thoughts and ideology, not a place to close the doors and hinder free thought. Just because Obama is coming to speak to a Catholic school does not mean they support all his positions. I would think that the majority of the students would be happy to hear Obama speak and these protestors should just let it go and deal with the choice the school and the country has made.
In other news, the Republican Party seems to be quietly restructuring its members to create a “perfect party.” The most recent member to leave is Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania. Apparently if you are a moderate Republican, that’s not enough, you need to be a full blow conservative republican beating down the doors to over zealous. Which since we live at a time where we currently have only two major parties, things are going to have to change. After all I really do think a two party system is out of date, and once the populace realizes this the members of our governing bodies can make changes to better accommodate those who roll in the middle. I’m not a big fan of putting people into certain categories but I guess some things cannot be avoided. I wonder what the citizens who voted for him think about his defecting to the Democrat party. Do you think he’ll win reelection the next time around under a new party? Who else will his defection draw away from a party that is slowly losing the edge on developing new interest in an old system?
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Freedom of Opinions
Posted by Allison and Ben at 9:58 AM
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Well said! I'm so pleased that you are a bright, open-minded individual, that you just don't accept everything your Church says with blind faith. I have no problem with any church or belief system unless those people who belong are spouting off about how they are the only "true" Church and everyone else is going to Hell if they don't join and believe as they do. What's good for the goose isn't neccessarily good for the gander. I wish more people were like you - free to believe what they want without pushing their beliefs onto everyone else. I'm with you, I have my own beliefs, but it's not my place to tell others how to life their lives or make the choices I would make. To each his own.
Wish I had time to weigh in, but not this week. :o) I will say, though, that in conversations I've heard around here (another Catholic university) people are making a distinction between inviting him to speak and in giving him an honorary degree (which seems to be the plan). One opens conversation, they say, but the other is more of an endorsement. I'm still contemplating that one...what do you think?
Well said, Allison. I am a Republican and - not "therefore" but "also" - did not vote for Obama... HOWEVER, I would be thrilled as a graduating member of the class of '09 from Notre Dame (or any college for that matter) to have the President of the United States deliver my commencement address. What an opportunity of a lifetime and an honor. The problem with religious-affiliated schools is this very issue, though, and I doubt that will change although one can always hope, right? On the subject of honorary degrees, I don't agree with them, doesn't matter what party you support or are a member of.
Post a Comment