South Bend, Ind., May 13, 2009 / 02:19 am
The president of the Association of Catholic Colleges & Universities (ACCU) has said there is a "degree of ambiguity" in bishops’ guidelines which say Catholic institutions shouldn’t honor individuals who act in defiance of fundamental Catholic moral principles.
The University of Notre Dame’s invitation to President Barack Obama to deliver a commencement speech and to receive an honorary degree has prompted significant protests from Catholics, in part because of the president’s extreme position on abortion policy.
Critics of the invitation have cited the document "Catholics in Public Life," issued by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in 2004, which says Catholic institutions should not honor individuals who defy fundamental Catholic moral principles, nor should they be given platforms that suggest support for their actions.
Speaking to the South Bend Tribune, ACCU President Richard Yanikoski said "It is clear to me that there is a degree of ambiguity in the bishop’s guidelines issued in 2004."