Winona, Minn., May 5, 2009 / 13:32 pm
In an article titled "The Notre Dame Flap," Bishop of Winona, Minnesota Bernard Harrington, harshly criticized the decision of the University of Notre Dame to bestow an honorary degree upon President Obama, saying that it has created a "no win" situation for the Church in the U.S. and a losing one for the university.
In his final column for the diocesan newspaper, "The Courier," before officially retiring, Bishop Harrington revealed that he has joined more than 50 bishops in expressing "my disbelief and disappointment" for Notre Dame’s decision.
"President Obama has been blatantly pro-abortion in the first few weeks of his new administration with the lifting of the ban on federal funding of abortions and approving with federal funds embryonic stem cell research," the Bishop of Winona wrote.
"He is also 'on record' that he approves the 'Freedom of Choice Act' (FOCA) and he is seriously considering lifting the exemption of conscience clause from those in the medical field who oppose abortion."