US / Notre Dame Holy Cross Priests Rip Obama Notre Dame Invitation Order charges Notre Dame 'risks its soul' by letting prez speak By Newser Editors and Wire Services Posted Apr 9, 2009 3:24 AM CDT Copied President Barack Obama returns a salute as he steps off Air Force One on arrival at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., early yesterday. (Charles Dharapak) Ten priests from the Holy Cross order that founded the University of Notre Dame say the school risks its "true soul" and could alienate itself from the Catholic Church by inviting President Obama to campus next month. They urged the Holy Cross priest who heads Notre Dame to reconsider the invitation to Obama because he supports abortion rights. Notre Dame's announcement last month that Obama would deliver the university's commencement address and receive an honorary degree angered many Catholics who said the university should not honor someone whose policies on abortion and stem-cell research clash with church teachings. Notre Dame officials have no plans to rescind the invitation. (More Notre Dame stories.) Report an error