Notre Dame: Lies, Damn Lies, and "Catholic Democrats"

Because some are saying (erroneously) that the core of resistance to Obama's Notre Dame invitation is purely an exercise in partisan politics, an organization called Catholic Democrats is playing, well, a partisan game.

Look at how they present the situation:

On May 17, President Obama will speak at the University of Notre Dame's commencement, a Presidential tradition since the 1950s. In fact, every American President since Dwight D. Eisenhower has spoken at Notre Dame. It's a time to celebrate America's future in a non-partisan way.

But recently, political activists, operatives, and pundits from the far right have tried to turn this celebration into a political firestorm. Unfortunately, they have been joined to varying degrees by a vocal minority of Catholic bishops. They are calling on Notre Dame to "uninvite" President Obama, and failing that, they've pledged to turn a solemn and joyful commencement ceremony into a political and media circus.

Catholic Democrats respectfully disagrees. We believe that we can show America that a few vocal conservatives do not speak for all Catholics on this issue. And we particularly take exception to the angry and divisive tactics they have used to go after the Catholic identity of Notre Dame, President Obama, and all his Catholic supporters, without regard to the hidden costs to our Church and our country.

Now, rather than pointing out how absurd and lacking in evidence their claims are, just read what the organizers of the petition are saying and see what they are actually doing:

"ND Response, a coalition of 12 Notre Dame student groups, has received official permission to host a prayerful and constructive demonstration on the campus of the University of Notre Dame on the weekend of Commencement. As students of this University, we invite all those interested in respectfully and constructively standing alongside us as we give witness to Notre Dame’s Catholic identity and affirm the sanctity of life. Please see our website for more details related to ND Response's plans for commencement."

How are these students political activists, operatives and pundits? How are they trying to turn commencement into a "political and media circus"? How is this "angry and decisive" tactics?

To me, it seems they want to witness to Notre Dame's Catholic identity and affirm the sanctity of life. And you know what, I tend to believe them to be sincere. And I can't say the same of Catholic Democrats.

Of course, what Catholic Democrats is trying to do is paint all forms of objection with the same brush as Randall Terry and his ilk. Well thats completely unfair, but Catholic Democrats doesn't like being precise. It tends to undermine their argument, after all. They apparently prefer to deal in stereotypes.

"But wait!" you say, "This is all a cover - the actual demonstration will be deeply partisan!"

Well, that would require them jumping a long way from the text of the prayer card they are distributing:
If this is the kind of prayer you can say, and you can make it to Notre Dame for commencement, please consider attending in solidarity with these brave, non-partisan students. Defeat the lies with your prayerful presence.