Vatican Official Says Notre Dame Should Not Have Invited Obama

Archbishop Raymond Burke, the former Archbishop of St. Louis and currently head of the highest Vatican court in Rome, today criticized the University of Notre Dame for inviting President Barack Obama to deliver the commencement address at the school later this month. Burke, who came out against granting Communion to pro-abortion Catholics during the 2004 presidential campaign, said that Catholic institutions should not give a platform to, "those who teach and act publicly against the moral law."

The Archbishop also had strong words for the university's decision to confer an honorary doctorate of law on the president at the graduation ceremony.

"The proposed granting of an honorary doctorate at Notre Dame University to our president, who is so aggressively advancing an anti-life and anti-family agenda is rightly the source of the greatest scandal. [...]

What those who were so enthusiastic about the strong message of hope and change delivered during the last election are now discovering is a consistent implementation of policies and programs which confirm and advance the culture of death."

The White House said in response that President Obama is "looking forward" to addressing Notre Dame on May 17.

Several U.S. Bishops and Cardinals have been critical of Notre Dame for inviting the president to speak. But until today, the Vatican has stayed above the fray. Burke's comments are sure to increase pressure on the university to rescind the invitation, and on the Administration to let Notre Dame off the hook by graciously deciding to forgo the president's planned speech.