Abortion rights: booed at Notre Dame varsity,Obama urges protesters to ‘open hearts & minds’

The invitation from one of America’s best-known Catholic universities ignited a firestorm of discussion over whether an institution that adheres to the Roman Catholic Church’s condemnation of abortion should award an honorary law degree to a president who is committed to safeguarding abortion rights.

Obama pleaded for courtesy in the dialogue even as he acknowledged that “at some level,the views of the two camps are irreconcilable”.

“Is it possible for us to join hands in common effort?” he said. “As citizens of a vibrant and varied democracy,how do we engage in vigorous debate? How does each of us remain firm in our principles,and fight for what we consider right,without demonising those with just as strongly held convictions on the other side?”

The vast majority of the 12,000 in attendance at the Joyce Center basketball arena gave the president several loud,sustained ovations,and the crowd rallied to his defense when people attempted to interrupt him at the start. One protester yelled “Abortion is murder!” “Baby killer!” and “You have blood on your hands.” Another shouted,“Stop killing our children.” The crowd responded with boos.

Meanwhile,hundreds of antiabortion protesters gathered outside the front gate of the university. Police arrested more than three dozen for trespassing.