While much attention was being paid to the University of Notre Dame’s invitation to have President Obama deliver the commencement address and receive an honorary degree, with alumni, students, and others voicing everything from displeasure to outrage, a similar drama was flying under the radar at Georgetown University.

At Obama’s Georgetown speech on April 15, the once Catholic University saw fit to honor “the White House staff’s request to cover all of the Georgetown University signage and symbols behind Gaston Hall stage,” said associate vice president Julie Green Bataille.

Gaston Hall where the speech was held just happens to be filled with religious imagery and artwork. In particular there is an “IHS” monogram, a 3rd century abbreviation for the name of Jesus from Greek quite commonly used. It was this symbol at the top of a pediment surmounted by a simple cross, and behind any speaker on stage that was shrouded — by a piece of plywood painted black.

Bataille continued: “The White House wanted a simple backdrop of flags and pipe and drape for the speech, consistent with what they’ve done for other policy speeches. Frankly, the pipe and drape wasn’t high enough by itself to fully cover the IHS and cross above the GU seal, and it seemed most respectful to have them covered so as not to be seen out of context.”

Ahhhh, so the cross needed to be covered as well. And by Ms. Bataille’s own words, the IHS and the cross in context with Obama is something of a no-no.

So, to whom then is the covering/eliminating of Christian symbols “respectful?”

Funny it is that Obama frequently referenced Christianity while on the campaign trail and didn’t order religious symbols removed from speaking venues. He had no trouble bowing before a Saudi King, or taking off his shoes to walk into a mosque either. Furthermore, the religious symbols were not covered for ex-secretary of state Condoleezza Rice when she spoke at Georgetown, or for Senator Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) either.

Many are outraged, disheartened, saddened, and openly frustrated with the Georgetown administration’s easy acquiescent attitude. The administration would be expected to uphold and defend the faith of the university, including the symbols thereof, and certainly never deny or fail to confess the name of Christ publicly.

University officials say this is not an attack on Christianity, and the White House denies any anti-Christian intent; they just felt the symbols needed to be covered as a matter of consistency.

Obama made reference in that speech to a parable at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, quoting, “‘the rain descended and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house...it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.’ We cannot rebuild this economy on the same pile of sand. We must build our house upon a rock.”

While not knowing which rock the president was referring to, I hope the he also noted previous versus in the Sermon on the Mount that suggests evil trees bring only evil fruit, good trees, good fruit, and it is by their fruits that we shall know them.

Georgetown University should be shamed by students and alumni and by the Christians generally for hosting Obama in the first place, and for pandering to a pro-abortion president who won’t be upstaged by simple symbols of the Son of God.

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banjerman said:

	Mr. Gary Whitson this article proves once and for all that bo is a muslim. or maybe the devils advocate,he doesn't like religious symbols either. i never capitalize his name or use other than his first and last initials in lower case as my sign of disrespect for him. he's not my president.
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April 23, 2009
Votes: +8

Anna Belle said:

OZobserver Yes, obamas bias is showing..I never for one moment believed he was a Christian, Christians would NEVER see fit to cover the Cross...I think its very insulting of obama to speak at a religious institution,and ask for their core beliefs to be diminished in any way! he would never have DARED do this before he was president..I fear his agenda is the same as his kenyan cousin Odingas,who signed a deal with his muslim voters to promote Islam while at the same time remove Christianity from the schools,media,and broadcasting...the apple doesn't fall far from the tree! ..obama covered the cross so as not to insult the muslims who HATE the symbol with a passion

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April 23, 2009
Votes: +6

Thomas F. Heringer said:

Rev. Obama made reference in that speech to a parable at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, quoting, “‘the rain descended and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house...it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.’ We cannot rebuild this economy on the same pile of sand. We must build our house upon a rock. What rock would Obama be refering to, the ones in his head? The rock here refers to Christ and I am sure Obama is not making that relationship. The only thing I see here is a clear and consistent attack on the Christian faith, by the Obama administration.

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April 23, 2009 | url
Votes: +6

cynthia harris said:

	... yeah he is not christian i mean look at his name hello but we best be carefull they are taking notes I for one am glad i belive in my maker and savior the Lord Jesus Christian March on Christian march on
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April 24, 2009
Votes: +2

Falkenroth said:

Don't know what to think on this. It's a little more compilicated then you would think. They covered the seal of the Jesiuts. Now they themselves have being responsible for some tyrannical acts in the past. I'm not defending Obama but just confused on what to think about this. The Society of Jesus (Latin: Societas Iesu, S.J. and S.I. or SJ, SI) is a Roman Catholic religious order of clerks regular whose members are called Jesuits, Soldiers of Christ, and Foot soldiers of the Pope, because the founder, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, was a knight before becoming a priest. They basically carry out whatever the Pope wants done or at least vow to. Now if it was a picture of jesus or a cross by itself that was covered, I would think it was a anti faith move on Obamas part. Just another angle on this subject to think about.

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April 26, 2009 | url
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Illuminos_9 said:

	AIPAC puppetmasters... Need I say more?
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April 27, 2009
Votes: +2