Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
I have been noticing over the past several weeks that the media has been conflating the criticism from a small number of very vocal anti-choice conservative Catholics, who are opposed to President Obama delivering the commencement address at the University of Notre Dame, as representing the opinion of the broader Catholic community. The media is seriously overstating the opposition from this small but vocal conservative minority.
[Full disclosure: I am a "lapsed" Catholic. I want to be clear that I did not leave the church, the church left me. It left when it abandoned its commitment to "social justice" in the post-Vatican II era in favor of the conservative single-issue politics of abortion.]
(The Word of Life Mural covers the southern face of the Hesburgh Library at the University of Notre Dame overlooking the football stadium, and is often referred to as "Touchdown Jesus.")
Joe Sudbay at AMERICAblog.com asks the question:
[H]ave we in the media blown the conservative criticism over Obama’s upcoming address at Notre Dame out of proportion? Consider this Pew poll from last week: By nearly a 2-to-1 margin (50%-28%), American Catholics agree with Notre Dame inviting Obama to speak there. Also, by 47%-33%, white Catholics agree with Notre Dame inviting the president. The only subgroup who disagrees: white Catholics who attend church weekly. By a 45%-37% margin, those folks disagree with the school’s invitation. So, according to this poll, the criticism is coming from a minority — albeit a very vocal one. A very vocal minority once again garners the attention of the traditional media.
The Pew poll confirms, once again, that most Catholics really don't care what their bishops think. Seriously.
I know I don't care. Seriously.
I am certain "Touchdown Jesus" doesn't care, either.