Grace Under Fire at Notre Dame

I have to say that I'm pretty impressed by how President Obama handled the controversy surrounding his reception of an honorary degree at Notre Dame. As someone who is largely at odds with his stance on abortion, I appreciated the calls for Notre Dame to rescind his honor and invitation to speak to the graduates, but also felt that something largely redemptive could occur as mutual grace was extended. That is, the grace of a university to honor a man for the many excellent things has represents - while not at all hiding from the fact that it disagrees strongly with his view of abortion; but also grace on behalf of President Obama, to accept the invitation knowing full well that he would be jeered and demonstrated against and that his views would very much under scrutiny.

I'd like to think that in many ways, we saw some of those glimpses of redemption. I will hold out hope that President Obama is a praying man (as he says he is), a praying man who is open to the work of the Holy Spirit to change his views to those which are consistent with God's own. I will hold out hope that through constant engagement with those earnest "common ground" opponents to abortion - maybe even some people with whom he dialogued with over the weekend - he'll favor principle over political expediency and work diligently do partner with people across the spectrum to do what he says is the sweet spot: "work(ing) together to reduce the number of women seeking abortions by reducing unintended pregnancies, and making adoption more available, and providing care and support for women who do carry their child to term." Fine - let's see some results around this, but the actions that have been taken so far in the Obama administration have been less than promising. 

I hold out hope that he means what he says when he rants against the phenomena of "reducing those with differing views to caricature." and calls out those on the left-wing of his own party who marginalize people of faith as backward, evil and hateful. I hold out hope that his story about how he came to both the church and Christ interacting with Catholic mercy ministries in the south side of Chicago serves as a reminder to people of faith that our work which demonstrates our faith really does matter.

I hold out hope that my good feelings are justified, and not simply the fruit of remarkable political savvy from President Obama and his speechwriters.