Catholics Revolt

“Notre Dame has chosen prestige over principles, popularity over morality," reads a petition, 65,000 names long so far, protesting the choice of President Obama as the school’s commencement speaker. Obama accepted Notre Dame’s invitation—part of a long-standing tradition of inviting sitting presidents—just before lifting the ban on funding for stem cell research. Obama has also lifted restrictions on federal funding of international family planning groups that perform abortions. In addition to members of the student body and faculty, the bishop whose diocese includes the university has announced he will be boycotting the commencement.