Absurd Hysteria Over Obama's Upcoming Commencement Address

I find the rudeness and hysteria shown by some Catholics, over the invitation by Notre Dame University to have President Obama speak at the commencent, to be hypocritical and bizarre.

According to a story today by the AP, the anger arises specifically because of a couple of Obama's policies:

his decisions to provide federal funding for embryonic stem cell research and international family planning groups that provide abortions or educate about the procedure.

It should be noted that, in both cases, those who allegedly support a 'culture of life,' are quite clear that that support only applies through conception.

How else to explain why Catholics would be angry that embryonic stem cells, harvested from fetuses from fertility clinics, which would otherwise by destroyed, might be used to ease the suffering of the living.

What other explanation can there be about being opposed to aiding family planning in over-populated countries where disease, hunger and poverty run rampant and babies can expect much shorter lifespans filled with hunger and suffering.

But then again, we are talking about a church that excommunicates the doctors and mother of a 9-year-old girl who was raped by her stepfather. In that case, if the girl was forced to give birth to the twins she was impregnated with, she would most likely not have survived....never mind the emotional destruction that would have occurred had she survived it. In that case, the rapist stepfather suffered no church sanctions, but those trying to save the girl were penalized.

We are also talking about a church whose Pope told a deliberate lie about condoms allegedly contributing to the spread of AIDS, which will result in countless new infections and death.

This is a relevant church?

I should add that not all Catholics share the views of some of their outspoken clergy and leaders. Additionally, some of those positions are shared by those of other faiths. But, lately, it seems that many in the Catholic heirarchy are seeking adherence to extremist positions to remain in good standing with the church.

Interesting that there was no furor over the selection of George W. Bush as a commencement speaker. While we did not know then what we do now, I am willing to bet that the church does not seem to have an issue with the following GOP policies:
-- pre-emptive war, and the resultant killing of innocent people
-- policies that aid the rich and increase the suffering of the poor
-- a refusal to make sure that everyone has adequate health care, insuring that many will die before their time
-- the tacit approval of torture

President Obama's policies are more likely to involve diplomacy over invasion, health care for all, a concern for the poor, and the elimination of torture.

That is just for starters.

Those that oppose Obama's upcoming commencement speech are narrow-minded and intolerant. They also only believe in life up until conception.

At that point, the baby be damned.