More Kmiec on Obama

On Monday I posted a link to Doug Kmiec first article commenting on President Obama's Notre Dame Commencement address, entitled "Obama at Notre Dame: Incomplete Eloquence."

Professor Kmiec has just published a very thoughtful follow-up article: "Why was Obama Notre Dame visit 'Eloquence Incomplete'?"  I highly recommend reading both articles, but especially the second. 

Vatican Opinion Piece on Obama in English

I finally found an (unofficial) English translation of the commentary on President Obama's first 100 days, which L'Osservatore Romano published back on April 29.  Click here.

The same blogsite, which I ran across by accident, also has a passionate and thought-provoking piece by the President of Trinity Washington University, "Catholic Higher Education under Siege?"  There is also a wonderful piece about Father Ted Hesburgh, "The Voice of Reason."

I havew not yet found an English translation of the full text of the L'Osservatore Romano's article on President Obamna's Notre Dame Commencement address.

The Vatican, Obama and Notre Dame

Severe critics of President Obama and Notre Dame may (or may not) be interested in what the Vatican's officical newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, has to say about the President's Commencement address.  

I don't know if there will be an English translation, but here's the report from Catholic News Service.

Two weeks ago, L'Osservatore Romano also printed a fairly positive evaluation of the President's first 100 days.  Again, I'm not aware of a full English translation of the article (you can read it in Italian here), but Catholic News Service again carried a summary.  (You can, however, struggle though Google's automatic translation here.)

Kmiec and Noonan

After Presidet Obama's talk yesterday, I was very interested to find out what Doug Kmiec would say.  I didn't have to wait long.  Here it is.

I was also interested in what Judge John Noonan said in his talk at the Notre Dame Commencement.  You may recall that Mary Ann Glendon was originally scheduled to receive the University's Laetare Medal, but declined almost at the last minute (here's her statement).  Noonan, who was awared the medal in 1984, was recruited by the University to give the talk in her place.  I think he speaks well for himself, for the University, and for the Church as well.

On the Notre Dame website, you can view and listen to (as well as read) the addresses given by both Judge Noonan and President Obama.

President Obama's Speech

After all the shrill shouting and hateful demonization that has led up to this event, the President's speech at Notre Dame today was remarkable.  Simply remarkable.  He speaks well for himself, and Catholics would do well to engage seriously and persistently in genuine dialogue, rather than diatribes, surrounding the wide range of human life and human living issues.

I enourage you to read the whole text of the speech yourself, and not be content with media snippets or one-sided opinions.

Or, if you don't want to read it, it's already on YouTube.  Check Deacon Greg Kandra's "Deacon's Bench" blogsite for the video.  (He's pretty on top of things.)

Fun and Frolic at Mayo Clinic

I dare you to watch this and not smile!

A Real Choice for Life

Hidden in today's LA Times Health Section is a brief article describing a young couple making a difficult and sacrificial yet, quite obviously, infinitely rewarding choice in favor of life.  It's worth reading and pondering, in addition to celebrating and passing on.  In the paper the headline was: The choice: Her life or her unborn child's. (Much better than the insipid headline of the online version.)

This unnamed woman recalls the story of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla, a very modern woman who also lived to the full her vocation as wife, mother, physician ... and who also chose rightly.