Notre Dame University is one of the proudest of American institutions. Its identity as a centre of Catholic education may sometimes be overshadowed by its reputation as a football powerhouse, but no one should under-estimate how the former informs the latter. In recent years, both students and faculty have tried to encourage ND to re-discover not only its Catholic roots, but a loyalty to the teachings of the Magisterium as should be expected of a Catholic institution, but which, to many, had seemed lacking during the preceding decades.
We have deeply-engrained memories of our single visit there, happily one undertaken on a football weekend. One strain of all that is best and most admirable in the American ideal revealed itself in manifold ways as we took our seats in the hallowed stadium on a freezing cold November afternoon. The band, perhaps four-score strong, played the Fight Song; the crowds cheered; and the team took the field fresh from the special Mass it attends before every game. This was Fall in its American essence: clear, patriotic, determined under the bright blue sky of God's Providence. Warm-hearted is another adjective we could add - though we had bedecked ourselves in turtlenecks and tuques purchased at the University shop, our jeans and cotton shells were no match for the mid-West wind chasing around the stadium. A kindly couple turned around in their seats and, seeing our discomfiture, insisted we borrow one of their blankets - a spontaneous gesture of generosity we gratefully accepted !
But an even more unforgettable memory stems from our campus tour the day previous. The young sophomore taking seven or eight of us around a place obviously very special to him passed by its celebrated grotto without any comment beyond mentioning it is a replica of that at Lourdes, Our Lady's most venerated Shrine in the southwest of France. I mentioned to him that I was surprised to see so many students - easily 15 or 20 - kneeling and apparently praying at the low stone wall outlining this central focus of the campus. His natural and most artless response moved me to tears: "Oh, a lot of the guys like to stop and visit Our Lady - you'll always see plenty of students there - especially on football weekends !"
Which leads us to reflect on the current controversy about the University Administration's having invited President Obama to speak and accept an honorary degree at the Commencement ceremonies this Spring. South Bend's own Bishop will not attend, and has indicated, along with other prelates, a host of alumnae and students, his displeasure. It is true that ND has invited most US Presidents to speak - but the special nature of Commencement, the peculiar honour of an honorary degree and the definite pro-choice stance of the President make the choice particularly galling to many of the vast ND family, and especially to many Catholics who respect the Office of President deeply, who otherwise admire Mr Obama and who wish him nothing but success as he confronts the daunting challenges facing him at home and abroad.
We have give kudos to a group of students representing several different campus organizations which have now banded together to lead opposition to the Presidential invitation. One senses that an especial part of their motivation is to overcome the perception that the furor over the visit stems mainly from crusty alums and "extreme" Catholic right-wingers rather than from current students for whom the Commencement ceremonies are theoretically designed. They have mounted a vigorous campaign, and a web site at http://www.ndresponse.com/
Consider their cause, and keep them and the wonderful institution they love so dear in your prayers, that a dignified way out of this unhappy situation may be found which allows all parties to live together in charity, and which maintains Notre Dame's fidelity to Holy Church and its teachings.
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