This falls under the category of “What Were They Thinking?”

From South Bend:

President Barack Obama will deliver the commencement address May 17 at the University of Notre Dame.

Obama will be the principal speaker and the recipient of an honorary doctor of laws degree at the university’s 164th commencement ceremony, which will be in the Joyce Center, Notre Dame officials announced Friday.

Obama will be the ninth U.S. president to be awarded a Notre Dame honorary degree and the sixth to be the commencement speaker.

President George W. Bush spoke about faith-based and community initiatives when he was the commencement speaker in 2001. His father, President George H.W. Bush, gave the commencement address in 1992.

Notre Dame’s first presidential commencement speech was delivered by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1960.

President Jimmy Carter spoke at commencement in 1977, and President Ronald Reagan spoke in 1981, in his first public appearance after surviving an assassination attempt.

President John F. Kennedy received the Laetare Medal, Notre Dame’s highest honor, in a White House ceremony in 1961. Years earlier — as a U.S. senator in 1950 — he delivered the winter commencement address and received an honorary degree.

Notre Dame also awarded honorary degrees to Presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Gerald Ford at special academic convocations.

Obama also will deliver commencement addresses at Arizona State University on May 13 and the U.S. Naval Academy on May 22, according to the Associated Press.

Meantime, there is this to remember:

In 2004, the United States of Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) approved a policy statement called “Catholics in Political Life,” which says, with reference to pro-abortion politicians, “They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.”

President Obama has been called the “abortion president” by pro-life activists, and his appearance at the university would appear to violate the USCCB’s policy against honoring pro-abortion politicians.

One alumnus from the university has already expressed his displeasure in an open letter sent today to the president of Notre Dame, Rev. John Jenkins.

William Newton, a D.C. area attorney, wrote, “As an alumnus of Notre Dame Law School, I am deeply offended that you would invite President Barack Obama to speak at Commencement this year.”

Newton then lists the numerous pro-abortion decisions that Obama has made since assuming the office of the presidency. “This is the person that you feel is worthy to address the students and faculty of Notre Dame, in the shadow of Our Lady atop the Golden Dome, with the spires of the Basilica in the background?” writes Newton.

“Father Sorin must be wringing his hands in heaven, that his successor would approve this disgrace. Shame on Notre Dame for choosing to scandalize the faithful who continue to support the Catholic identity and mission of the University.”

Three cheers for old Notre Dame. Indeed.

UPDATE: A commenter wondered if the USCCB directive on “Catholics in Political Life” was aimed primarily at Catholic politicians. You can read the document for yourself right here. It seems to me the paragraph in question applies to all elected officials.

As a side note, you might also want to read the section it includes on communion:

The question has been raised as to whether the denial of Holy Communion to some Catholics in political life is necessary because of their public support for abortion on demand. Given the wide range of circumstances involved in arriving at a prudential judgment on a matter of this seriousness, we recognize that such decisions rest with the individual bishop in accord with the established canonical and pastoral principles. Bishops can legitimately make different judgments on the most prudent course of pastoral action. Nevertheless, we all share an unequivocal commitment to protect human life and dignity and to preach the Gospel in difficult times.