![]() ![]() President Obama will not want Sunday's speech at Notre Dame to change that.Īmerica's only ever Catholic President, John F Kennedy, gave a famous speech while running for election in 1960 urging people not to vote for or against him because of his faith. It fell way behind the economy, jobs, healthcare, energy and war in Iraq. Sixty-six per cent of Hispanics voted for Mr Obama compared to only 32% for John McCain.Ībortion is still a divisive issue in America, but not to the same extent that it was when George W Bush was elected in 2000.įigures from the Pew Forum indicate that abortion was not even in the top 10 most important issues for voters in 2008. About a third of all Catholics in America are now Hispanic, an ethnic group that voted overwhelmingly in favour of Mr Obama in the 2008 presidential elections. Half of Catholics nationally think it was right to invite Mr Obama to give the Notre Dame speech, while only 28% think it was wrong.Īnd the make-up of the Catholic Church is changing. Other Christian denominations are far more opposed to abortion 70% of white evangelical Protestants, for example, think abortion should be illegal in most or all cases. The figures for the population as a whole are almost identical. There are over 60 million Catholics in the US, but polling from the Pew Research Forum suggests 49% of them think abortion should be legal in most or all cases, compared to 42% who think it should be illegal in most or all cases. Mr Gingrich, who recently converted to Catholicism (despite being thrice married and twice divorced), has called for people to organise "Nationwide Prayer Meetings to Protect the Unborn" at the exact time the president is giving his speech.īut such opinions are by no means uniform, among Catholics at Notre Dame or nationally. Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich is one of them. Some have called for him to be sacked.Īnd conservative Republicans are trying to use the Notre Dame event to get the right to rally around a cause. One placard read: "Would you invite Pilate after he condemned Christ?"Ĭatholic bishops across the country have strongly criticised the university's President - Reverend John Jenkins - for inviting Mr Obama. In the town of Notre Dame, where the University is based, demonstrators carrying placards have been protesting all week. "It's clear that Notre Dame didn't understand what it means to be Catholic when they issued this invitation" the online advert says. #Bbc news notre dame tvAnti-abortion campaigners have been running TV and online adverts backed by dramatic music and Hollywood thriller-style scripting, urging people around the country to protest at Mr Obama's speech.ĥ0% think it was right to invite Mr Obama to give the Notre Dame speech 28% think it was wrong When he steps up to give his address, at the university's Indiana campus, he will be greeted by the pomp and ceremony of Hail to the Chief, the traditional song that is usually played whenever the president arrives at an event.īut in the run-up to this speech, the mood music has had a more sinister tone. Not all Notre Dame students are Catholic by any means, but a good proportion of them are.Īnd the president's views in support of abortion rights have upset some of them. ![]() Indeed, Mr Obama has already given several at other universities around the country this week, sticking to the safer ground of joking about the relevant college sports teams and trying to inspire America's brightest and best as they step out into the jobs market during one of the bleakest economic periods in US history.īut on Sunday, he might have to touch on more sensitive issues. ![]() Such speeches are usually not controversial. The president will address thousands of Notre Dame students at their graduation ceremony. The president is due to give what is known in America as a "commencement speech", but in terms of his popularity he will want it to be a question of more of the same rather than any kind of new beginning. ![]() When President Obama gives a speech there on Sunday, the man who was elected promising to bring an end to the so called "culture wars" will be hoping his views on abortion do not re-ignite hostilities. Mr Obama's visit to Notre Dame could spark protests ![]()
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