Gingrich criticizes Notre Dame over Obama

WASHINGTON, May 10 (UPI) -- Notre Dame compromised its Catholic values by inviting U.S. President Barack Obama to deliver its commencement address, said former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

The Georgia Republican, who converted to Catholicism this year, said Sunday the school should not have invited an abortion rights supporter to speak to graduates.

"To the degree that Notre Dame still thinks of itself as a Catholic institution, it raises real questions," Gingrich said in an appearance on "FOX News Sunday." "I think the president's position has been the most radical, pro-abortion of any American president, so I think there is a legitimate question there."

Last week, Archbishop Raymond Burke, the prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, the Vatican's highest court, said granting an honorary doctorate to Obama was out of line.

"The proposed granting of an honorary doctorate at Notre Dame University to our president, who is so aggressively advancing an anti-life and anti-family agenda, is rightly the source of the greatest scandal," Burke was quoted by Fox as saying.

For his part, Notre Dame University President Rev. John Jenkins has called Obama an "inspiring leader," Fox reported.