CHESTERTON | By the time President Barack Obama begins to speak to the University of Notre Dame's class of 2009, people will have been praying for him, and praying in protest of the Catholic university honoring him, for at least three hours.
Included in that group is a handful of parishioners from St. Patrick Catholic Church, 638 N. Calumet Road, who plan to leave early Sunday morning to spend the day in a prayerful and peaceful protest.
"It's our Catholic duty to stand up for our faith," said Clark Gloyeske, of Chesterton, who is a member of the church's Parishioners for Life members and one of the trip's organizers.
Gloyeske said Catholic teachings are at odds with President Obama's views on abortion and embryonic stem cell research because Catholics are taught that life begins with conception. Just because someone's not born doesn't mean they're not alive, he said.
He said when he first heard about the university honoring the president and presenting him with an honorary degree, he had a moment of disbelief before thinking that after seeing response from Catholics and protests, the decision would be reversed.
"Obviously, that's not happening," he said.
So, Catholics from across the Midwest are planning to travel to the university to participate in a benediction, Mass, rally and vigil organized by the Notre Dame Response Student Coalition. The event concludes with a meditation in the university's grotto that coincides with the official commencement ceremony for students who choose not to participate in the official ceremony.
"I have been praying for a miracle, that more students just won't show up (to the official ceremony)," said Kathleen Miller, a member of the Chesterton Parishioners for Life group who said she isn't able to travel to the university, but will still be praying. "As hard as that is, for them to just walk out."
Still, Gloyeske said he doesn't expect that to happen or for the prayerful, peaceful protest to necessarily change anything.
"I think when there are groups, numbers of people, people take notice," he said. "They recognize we do take our faith seriously."
