Monday, April 27, 2009

Moving "Laetare"

Declined this morning by its 2009 recipient -- whose name was, per tradition, revealed on the Fourth Sunday of Lent -- American Catholicism's most prestigious honor is taking a mulligan.

Within the hour, Notre Dame president Fr John Jenkins CSC announced that South Bend will choose "another deserving recipient" of the Laetare Medal to replace Ambassador Mary Ann Glendon, who renounced the 126 year-old prize earlier today amid continuing heat over the university's selection of President Obama as its commencement speaker and the recipient of an honorary degree.

In all likelihood, the new Laetare laureate will follow in the footsteps of past honorees, receiving the medal and citation and offering an acceptance speech at the university's 17 May commencement.

And now, we've officially entered the Twilight Zone.

-30-