Catholic Teachings

I have really been careful to keep politics out of this Lenten blog. I want the energy coming from it to be positive and full of joy. Still, I have to comment on the recent invitation by the president of Notre Dame University to President Obama to speak at the commencement ceremonies and to bestow upon him an honorary degree.

The institution of the Catholic Church, like a parent, sets high standards for its “children” – the Catholics around the world. As such, for example, they prohibit birth control, encouraging people instead to embrace the act of intercourse as part of the love within a marriage and to accept children as an outcome of the love. I don’t know the percentage, but my guess is that a huge majority of young Catholics ignore this teaching and use birth control. I don’t particularly have a problem with this, and I used artificial birth control. I also don’t have a problem with people being troubled by the fact that priests can’t marry or that women can’t become priests. I am comfortable with the way things are, but I think there is a possibility that sometime, many of these teachings will change.

Still, the one deal breaker, the one thing that will never, ever change in the teachings of the church (and remember, this is all my own opinion) is that of the sanctity of life, from conception to natural death. I believe that the church will never change in its teachings about life.

It’s one teaching that I think troubles many Catholics more than anything else, and probably has caused many Catholics to leave the church. I don’t begrudge them their concern. They believe what they believe. But I think they are right to leave the church and choose to worship as a protestant or something else.

However, to have what is probably the most recognized Catholic university in the world completely disregard the church’s teachings and invite President Obama, an outspoken advocate of abortion (both in words and actions) to speak is, in my opinion, shameful. It flies in the seat of the one of the most basic Catholic Church teachings. President Obama can obviously have his own opinions on life. But to be asked to speak at the commencement ceremonies at a Catholic university? Just wrong.

There, I’ve said it.