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Fargo's bishop among critics of Obama's Notre Dame speech
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Fargo's Roman Catholic bishop is going on national television tonight to denounce President Obama's prominent role in the University of Notre Dame's commencement this weekend.
Bishop Samuel J. Aquila will appear at about 9:30 p.m. Thursday on Fox News' "On the Record with Greta Van Susteren." Aquila is in Chicago for a conference on spirituality, said Fargo Diocese spokeswoman Tanya Watterud.
Aquila is among at least 55 American bishops who have publicly denounced or questioned Notre Dame's invitation to Obama in recent weeks. Others include John Nienstedt of the St. Paul and Minneapolis archdiocese and the Rev. Bernard Harrington of Winona. The bishops argue that Obama's support for abortion rights conflicts with the church's fervent opposition to abortion.
Obama will speak at Sunday's commencement and receive an honorary degree.
Notre Dame officials have said Obama's appearance is intended to honor him as an inspiring leader who broke a racial barrier -- not for his positions on abortion or stem-cell research.
A poll conducted late last month by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life found that Catholics nationwide were slightly more in favor of the invitation to Obama than the public at large, with 54 percent agreeing with the invitation.
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