News Flash: Mary Ann Glendon declines Laetare Medal from Notre Dame

UPDATE:  by Fr. Raymond De Souza Glendon Declines ND Honor: National Catholic Register

From First Things. Hit the link below to read Glendon's letter, but it will take time to open; the First Things server is jammed up:

Mary Ann Glendon has declined the Laetare Medal, the annual award from Notre Dame, which she was to receive this spring at the university's graduation ceremonies. 

At 9:30 this morning, April 27, 2009, Mary Ann Glendon faxed to the university's president, the Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., and published online at First Things (http://www.firstthings.com/blog/2009/04/27/declining-notre-dame-a-letter-from-mary-ann-glendon/) a letter explaining her decision to refuse the medal.

Mary Ann Glendon is Learned Hand Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. A member of the editorial and advisory board of <em>First Things</em>, she served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican from 2007 to 2009.

--
Joe Carter
Web Editor
First Things
firstthings.com

UPDATE #2 First Things server is down, here's the text of the letter:

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

Fr. Jenkins has issued a response It's really a non-response to her points. Just says they'll get a new awardee. Who will accept in this situation?

 

Comments

[tb]

good for her!
a sane voice in an insane world!

[tomfaranda]

I love it.

When you read her letter to ND, you realize that the University was trying to manipulate her as a balance to the Obama decision. Did they expect her to present the prolife position at a commencement?

Crazy. Jenkins needs to step down.

[Judith Anderson]

Mary Ann Glendon - salt of the earth.

[Joy Dechiario]

Thank God there are still
those who are not afraid to
stand by their convictions.
Those voices are being
muffled by the din of insanity. Joy

[Jean Anthony]

Let's pray that more Catholics in academia have the courage to follow her lead.

[Patty Richards]

I trully respect the sacrifice Mary Ann Glendon made. May her wise words of truth and justice echo far beyond the walls of Notre Dame.

[Eileen Peterson]

How wonderful Mary Ann Glendon sees right through manipulation and deceit.
She will not be used to silence the evil of honoring a man who is responsible for the bloodshed of innocent babies~ President Barrack Obama. Yes, we still have people who will not look the other way when evil is taking place. God Bless Mary Ann Glendon and God Bless the United States of America!