Good for Glendon! Who wants sloppy seconds?

Not that my opinion matters, but since you’re reading this, maybe it does. I applaud Mary Anne Glendon, Harvard professor and former Vatican ambassador, for her decision to refuse acceptance of Notre Dame’s Laetare Medal.

The Laetare Medal is the University’s most highly esteemed award, granted to recognize outstanding work done by a layperson in service to the Catholic Church. Former recipients include heroes such as Dorothy Day, Clare Boothe Luce, and President John F. Kennedy.

In denying acceptance of the award, Mary Anne Glendon calmly, rationally, and wisely makes the statement that a Catholic University honoring President Obama – who is well-known as a champion of baby-slaughter which, in my opinion, is the greatest civil rights issue of our day – is a detestable act which goes against the USCCB's request (2004) to which she will not stand in any proximate association.

In her letter to Father Jenkins, she explains her disappointment that Notre Dame would go against the USCCB’s request, which is that Catholic institutions not honor or give awards to individuals in defiance of the Catholic Church’s fundamental moral principles, because doing so would suggest support for their actions.

Glendon is a noble defender of basic Christian morality, and it is my prayer that Father Jenkins learns a thing or two from her courageous example.

It is notable that Father Jenkins is “disappointed” by her decision, as he was hoping to add Glendon’s name to the list of deserving recipients. But at the same time, he seems to be moving on to finding a replacement recipient rather quickly. Which brings us to the real question – who’s the best candidate to receive Father Jenkins’ sloppy seconds?