The Cardinal Newman Society (CNS) thanked and applauded His Excellency John M. D’Arcy, Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend, for his decision to boycott the University of Notre Dame’s May 17 commencement exercises, where pro-abortion U.S. President Barack Obama will be an honoree and speaker. The CNS petition (www.NotreDameScandal.com) opposing the Notre Dame commencement has surpassed 80,000 signers a short time after Bishop D’Arcy’s statement was released.

“Catholic families everywhere will be grateful for Bishop D’Arcy’s boycott and statement, which bring new hope that the honor will be canceled,” said Patrick J. Reilly, President of The Cardinal Newman Society. “Bishop D’Arcy has called on Notre Dame to ‘recommit itself to the primacy of truth over prestige’ and reaffirms the U.S. bishops’ policy against honors to pro-abortion politicians. Now it is time for university president Father Jenkins to respect the judgment of his pastor.”

The news that President Obama would be Notre Dame’s 2009 commencement speaker spread like wildfire around the internet after the White House and Notre Dame released timed announcements on Friday afternoon. By the end of last weekend the CNS petition reached 30,000 signers. Tuesday afternoon it hit 80,000 supporters and was adding more than 2,000 per hour.

In his statement, Bishop D’Arcy said that President Obama has “brought the American government, for the first time in history, into supporting direct destruction of innocent human life.”

The bishop quoted the 2004 USCCB statement “Catholics in Political Life,” which the CNS petition also appeals to in urging President Jenkins to rescind Notre Dame’s offer to Obama. The statement reads: “The Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their action.”

Bishop D’Arcy said, “After much prayer, I have decided not to attend the graduation.”

He continued, “Indeed, as a Catholic University, Notre Dame must ask itself, if by this decision it has chosen prestige over truth… Let us ask Our Lady to intercede for the university named in her honor, that it may recommit itself to the primacy of truth over prestige.”

The Cardinal Newman Society continues to urge all concerned Catholics and other individuals to sign the petition at www.NotreDameScandal.com and call the University of Notre Dame in protest.