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Student protesters to boycott Obama over his abortion stance
Paul Thompson15 May 2009
Barack Obama faces a backlash this weekend against his pro-choice views on abortion.
For the first time since taking office, the US President may face demonstrators when he arrives to give the opening address at Notre Dame university in Indiana, where he is due to receive an honorary degree.
His visit to the Catholic university on Sunday has led to a storm of criticism, with threats of a boycott from students and religious figures. The subject of abortion is one of the most contentious in the US, where pro-life supporters are among the most vocal of any pressure group. Mr Obama has been openly criticised by Catholics for his stance on abortion and stem cell research.
His position runs counter to the Catholic Church and his invitation to Notre Dame in South Bend has come under fire from many senior Catholics. The Catholic bishop of South Bend has said he will boycott the ceremony while many students due to graduate will stay away.
Bishop John D'Arcy said in a written statement: “President Obama has recently reaffirmed, and has now placed in public policy, his long-stated unwillingness to hold human life as sacred.”
Mr Obama is the ninth President to deliver the commencement address to Notre Dame's graduating students but this is the first time there has been such controversy.
White House officials said the President was unlikely to make reference to the conflict when he appears before students and college staff. But aides said it could trigger a future debate and focus attention on Mr Obama's choice to replace retiring Judge David Souter in the Supreme Court.
It is thought Mr Obama wants a candidate who will uphold the landmark 1973 “Roe v Wade” judgment, which established a constitutional right to abortion. Pro-life groups have urged supporters to voice their disapproval at Notre Dame.
Security will be tight for the ceremony and Mr Obama is unlikely to see or hear any of those opposed to his visit. Andrew Chronister, a theology student, is among those who will boycott Sunday's graduation ceremony and will instead attend a prayer service for unborn babies.
“This president stands for many proabortion or pro-choice policies that are in direct conflict with my Catholic faith,” Mr Chronister said. “Notre Dame has prepared me to live out my life as a Catholic, and this is one of the ways that I am doing that.”
Notre Dame's commencement address is one of three the President is scheduled to give this year. He spoke at Arizona State University on Wednesday and is due to speak at the US Naval Academy in Maryland next week.
Reader views (4)
Maz - I hope you realise the irony of your comment. Presumably you would've said the same of Martin Luther King and his supporters in the 1960s?
- Dave, London UK, 16/05/2009 22:44
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What is it the pro-choice people find so frightening about people who disagree with them? Why, even after 40 years and seven million dead babies (in the UK alone) do they always react to anyone who says abortion is murder?
Don't the numbers prove they've won the argument? Aren't they proud of what they've achieved? Isn't the high take-up of abortion a sign of it's ringing success? Why do they never boast about the number of abortions?
Why is it always the anti-abortion people who are left to use the numbers of this massacre that grows at a rate of 4,000 a week? Why is that? Exactly?
What are they afraid of? Paying for the things they did in this life after they die? Surly not. They don't believe in anything after they die. So what is it?
Apparently, I'm just a "marginal element". So why am I so scary?
- Sean, London, 16/05/2009 00:58
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Now that the Religious Right wackos have realised that they are politically dead and buried, I guess all they have left now is to abuse and insult. Sad.
- Maz, London, 15/05/2009 21:38
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anyone who opposes self determination and freedom of choice, in virtually any sphere, is a crackpot wonk who doesn't deserve to be listened to anyway.
I'm sure Obama won't miss this marginal element.
- Scotty, london, 15/05/2009 14:05
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