According to the Notre Dame web site:
The following statement from Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., president of the University of Notre Dame, is in response to the decision by Mary Ann Glendon to decline acceptance of the University’s Laetare Medal:“We are, of course, disappointed that Professor Glendon has made this decision. It is our intention to award the Laetare Medal to another deserving recipient, and we will make that announcement as soon as possible.”
I am no expert in public relations, but regifting a prestigious medal should not even have been on the table. It runs the risk of adding injury to insult. For whoever is the runner-up recipient of the 2009 Laetare Medal will now undergo a level of scrutiny that would have not occurred if he or she were the first choice under different circumstances. Very, very strange.
(cross-posted on Southern Appeal)
Comments (9)
Yes, but who? That's the game.
Taking 10-1 odds on Douglas Kmiec....
Posted by Jonathan | April 27, 2009 1:51 PM
Perhaps they will offer it to you, Dr. Beckwith. :)
Posted by Eric Sammons | April 27, 2009 2:32 PM
Hmmm? If that happens, the Apocalypse is upon us. :-)
Posted by Francis Beckwith | April 27, 2009 2:42 PM
Sorry, Dr. Beckwith. N.D. is probably mortally afraid that the next person to whom they offer it will also refuse. They need someone with a smaller backbone.
Posted by Jonathan | April 27, 2009 3:02 PM
I'm sure they had a Plan B, based on their conversations with Glendon. They might try someone like Ray Flynn, but he'd probable reject the invitation to play window-dressing. A prominent layman like Tim Rooney would be a crafty choice by a university that has lost its sense of purpose and needs to conceal that fact from the rest of us.
This marks a turning piont for the Church in America and 46 Bishops coming out against ND's compromise is cause for hope.
Posted by Kevin | April 27, 2009 3:37 PM
There is still time for (you know who) to staunch the wound and save himself; to accept a helping hand out of his hole. Offering the medal to someone else is resolutely digging deeper.
God forgive him for everything.
Posted by Martin | April 27, 2009 3:55 PM
Man, Notre Dame must be getting REALLY desperate:
http://southbend.craigslist.org/evg/1143896969.html
Posted by South Bender | April 28, 2009 9:50 AM
Kmiec has got to the be the only guy who would accept it. I can't imagine coming in and accepting that award under these circumstances.
Posted by Hunter Baker | April 28, 2009 10:55 AM
The real apocalypse would be the bestowal of the award on E. Michael Jones, crackpot editor of Culture Wars magazine. (It could happen! Kmiec once asked me if he and I were related and told me they were both friends!)
Posted by Kevin J Jones | April 28, 2009 1:53 PM