Word: catholicized
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In her decision to turn down the Laetare Medal, Mary Ann Glendon raised objections to the university’s willingness to honor someone whose “fundamental moral principles” differ from those of the Catholic Church.
Obama has in the past taken a pro-choice position on the issue of abortion, and Glendon, a former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican and a prominent Catholic intellectual, is known for her staunch pro-life stance in accordance with Church doctrine.
In recent weeks, controversy has swelled over Obama’s invitation to speak at Notre Dame, but school officials have downplayed the criticism the university has recently faced from the Catholic community.
The Laetare Medal, which recognizes a Catholic whose “genius has ennobled the arts and sciences,” has been awarded annually since 1883. Notable recipients include former President John F. Kennedy ’40 and former U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan.
Tona M. Boyd, a third-year Harvard Law School student, said she was disconcerted by the backlash from the Catholic community against Obama’s invitation to speak at Notre Dame, even while acknowledging Glendon’s predicament.