BERGEN COUNTY RIGHT TO LIFE

Glendon Turns Down Award Offered by Notre Dame

LETTER:

April 27, 2009

The Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.

President

University of Notre Dame

Dear Father Jenkins,

When you informed me in December 2008 that I had been selected to receive

Notre Dame`s Laetare Medal, I was profoundly moved. I treasure the memory

of receiving an honorary degree from Notre Dame in 1996, and I have always

felt honored that the commencement speech I gave that year was included in

the anthology of Notre Dame`s most memorable commencement speeches. So

I immediately began working on an acceptance speech that I hoped would be

worthy of the occasion, of the honor of the medal, and of your students and faculty.

Last month, when you called to tell me that the commencement speech was to

be given by President Obama, I mentioned to you that I would have to

rewrite my speech. Over the ensuing weeks, the task that once seemed so

delightful has been complicated by a number of factors.

First, as a longtime consultant to the U.S. Conference of Catholic

Bishops, I could not help but be dismayed by the news that Notre Dame also

planned to award the president an honorary degree. This, as you must know,

was in disregard of the U.S. bishops` express request of 2004 that

Catholic institutions "should not honor those who act in defiance of our

fundamental moral principles" and that such persons "should not be

given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their

actions." That request, which in no way seeks to control or interfere

with an institution`s freedom to invite and engage in serious debate with

whomever it wishes, seems to me so reasonable that I am at a loss to

understand why a Catholic university should disrespect it.

Then I learned that "talking points" issued by Notre Dame in response

to widespread criticism of its decision included two statements implying

that my acceptance speech would somehow balance the event:

. "President Obama won`t be doing all the talking. Mary Ann Glendon,

the former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, will be speaking as the

recipient of the Laetare Medal."

. "We think having the president come to Notre Dame, see our

graduates, meet our leaders, and hear a talk from Mary Ann Glendon is a

good thing for the president and for the causes we care about."

A commencement, however, is supposed to be a joyous day for the graduates

and their families. It is not the right place, nor is a brief acceptance

speech the right vehicle, for engagement with the very serious problems

raised by Notre Dame`s decision-in disregard of the settled position of

the U.S. bishops-to honor a prominent and uncompromising opponent of the

Church`s position on issues involving fundamental principles of justice.

Finally, with recent news reports that other Catholic schools are

similarly choosing to disregard the bishops` guidelines, I am concerned

that Notre Dame`s example could have an unfortunate ripple effect.

It is with great sadness, therefore, that I have concluded that I cannot

accept the Laetare Medal or participate in the May 17 graduation ceremony.

In order to avoid the inevitable speculation about the reasons for my

decision, I will release this letter to the press, but I do not plan to

make any further comment on the matter at this time.

Yours Very Truly,

Mary Ann Glendon

Mary Ann Glendon is Learned Hand Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. She served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican from 2007 to 2009.