Fox 28: South Bend, Elkhart IN News, Weather, SportsAnti-Obama rally fights against commencement address invitation

Anti-Obama rally fights against commencement address invitation

But the gloomy, rainy weather didn't keep close to 400 protesters from praying against President Barack Obama's commencement visit to Notre Dame.  Students and anti-Obama supporters gathered to speak out against Obama's pro-choice stance.

"From moment of conception to natural death," said Kelly Gasior who's against Obama's visit.

That's Notre Dame senior Kelly Gasior's pro-life stance.  She's just one of 400 people who stood in Palm Sunday's gloomy weather to speak out and pray against this year's commencement speaker and pro-choice advocate President Barack Obama.

"Today is a prayerful demonstration to stand-up for our Catholic beliefs," said Gasior.

Gasior says the white carnations symbolize the right to life.  And protesters like Notre Dame senior Emily Toates say that the president's pro-choice stance compromises Catholic beliefs.

"We do not believe that it's right to celebrate a man that's gone so far against Catholic principles," said Emily Toates who's against Obama's visit.

But senior Mary DeAgostino says that Catholicism isn't on the line just because pro-choice President Obama will give the university's commencement address.

"Many of President Obama's beliefs and his voting record is very in-line with Catholic social teaching.  I think it's important we look at the whole picture and not just one particular issue," said Mary DeAgostino who supports Obama's visit.

And DeAgostino says protesters are missing the historical significance of the president's visit.

"I think it's a great honor and something we should be proud of that the president has chosen to come speak with us," said DeAgostino.

But the men, women, and children who stood alongside students holding anti-abortion signs, reciting rosaries and listening to pro-life speakers at Sunday's rally were not proud of N-D choice.

"There's been overwhelming community response to this. People see Notre Dame as so much more than just a school, it's a symbol of Catholicism in America," said Toates.

And the 400 protesters say they will continue to pray and voice their pro-life beliefs in hopes of changing Obama's stance on abortion or getting ND's administration to rescind the presidential initiation.

Protesters have started a 40 Day Rosary Campaign.  The goal is to have one million rosaries said to change President Obama's pro-life stance by Commencement.

Reporter: Nadia Crow