Changes

The '''Laetare Medal''', established in 1883 <ref>[http://media.www.ndsmcobserver.com/media/storage/paper660/news/2005/03/18/News/Laetare.Winner.Named-897509.shtml Laetare winner named] The Observer Online, March 18, 2005</ref>, is a honorary award of the University of Notre Dame. The award is considered the most prestigious honor for American Catholics. Counselor to the University President, Father Peter Jarret said in 2005,  ''"The award is meant to recognize the contributions of men and women whose faith energizes their work,"'' and ''"A candidate for the Laetare Medal must be a practicing American Catholic who is said to have made a distinctively Catholic contribution to his or her intellectual or professional life. Ideally, the person's professional life would be one of service to others."''  

The '''Laetare Medal''', established in 1883 <ref>[http://media.www.ndsmcobserver.com/media/storage/paper660/news/2005/03/18/News/Laetare.Winner.Named-897509.shtml Laetare winner named] The Observer Online, March 18, 2005</ref>, is a honorary award of the [[University of Notre Dame]]. The award is considered the most prestigious honor for American [[Catholic]]s. Counselor to the University President, Father Peter Jarret said in 2005,  ''"The award is meant to recognize the contributions of men and women whose [[faith]] energizes their work,"'' and ''"A candidate for the Laetare Medal must be a practicing American Catholic who is said to have made a distinctively Catholic contribution to his or her intellectual or professional life. Ideally, the person's professional life would be one of service to others."''  

The inscription on the medal reads “Magna est Veritas et Praevalebit”, '''"Great is Truth and it Shall Prevail."'''

The inscription on the medal reads “Magna est Veritas et Praevalebit”, '''"Great is Truth and it Shall Prevail."'''

=== Barack Obama ===

=== Barack Obama ===

[[Barack Obama]] did not receive the prestigious Laetare Medal on the May 17th, 2009 commencement. He did wear the school’s traditional doctoral robe--which is emblazoned with a cross and a prayer to the [[Virgin Mary]]. Obama's commencement speech has stirred anger and resentment at the University for honoring a big supporter of [[abortion]], against [[Catholic]] doctrine. More Than 350,000 people have signed a petition protesting this decision, sponsored by The Cardinal Newman Society. <ref>[http://www.cnsnews.com/public/Content/Article.aspx?rsrcid=46274 More than 250,000 Sign Petition Protesting Notre Dame’s Invitation to Obama] CNSNews, April 08, 2009</ref>

[[Barack Obama]] did not receive the prestigious Laetare Medal on the May 17th, 2009 commencement. He did wear the school’s traditional doctoral robe--which is emblazoned with a cross and a prayer to the [[Virgin Mary]]. Obama's commencement speech stirred anger and resentment at the University for honoring a big supporter of [[abortion]], against [[Catholic]] doctrine. More Than 350,000 people have signed a petition protesting this decision, sponsored by The Cardinal Newman Society. <ref>[http://www.cnsnews.com/public/Content/Article.aspx?rsrcid=46274 More than 250,000 Sign Petition Protesting Notre Dame’s Invitation to Obama] CNSNews, April 08, 2009</ref>

=== Past recipients ===

=== Past recipients ===

1966 Mr. and Mrs. Patrick F. Crowley, founders of The Christian Family Movement

1966 Mr. and Mrs. Patrick F. Crowley, founders of The Christian Family Movement

1967 J. Peter Grace, industrialist

1967 J. Peter Grace, industrialist

1968 Sargent Shriver, diplomat

1968 [[Sargent Shriver]], diplomat

1969 William J. Brennan, Jr., jurist and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States

1969 William J. Brennan, Jr., jurist and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States

1979 Helen Hayes, actress

1979 Helen Hayes, actress

1980 Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill, Jr., Speaker of the House

1980 [[Tip O'Neill|Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill]], Jr., [[Speaker of the House]]

1981 Edmund S. Muskie, former United States Senator and Secretary of State

1981 [[Edmund S. Muskie]], former United States Senator and [[Secretary of State]]

1982 Cardinal John Francis Dearden, retired Archbishop of Detroit

1982 Cardinal John Francis Dearden, retired Archbishop of Detroit

1983 Edmund A. and Evelyn Stephan, chairman emeritus of the University of Notre Dame’s Board of Trustees and spouse

1983 Edmund A. and Evelyn Stephan, chairman emeritus of the University of Notre Dame’s Board of Trustees and spouse

1984 John Noonan, legal scholar

1984 John Noonan, legal scholar

1985 Guido Calabresi, dean of Yale University Law School

1985 Guido Calabresi, dean of [[Yale University]] Law School

1986 Thomas P. and Mary Elizabeth Carney, chairman of the University of Notre Dame’s Board of Trustees and spouse

1986 Thomas P. and Mary Elizabeth Carney, chairman of the University of Notre Dame’s Board of Trustees and spouse

1987 Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., educator

1987 Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., educator

1990 Sister Thea Bowman, Gospel singer and evangelist

1990 Sister Thea Bowman, Gospel singer and evangelist

1991 Corinne C. “Lindy” Boggs, former United States Congresswoman

1991 Corinne C. “Lindy” Boggs, former United States Congresswoman

1992 Daniel Patrick Moynihan, United States Senator

1992 D[[aniel Patrick Moynihan]], United States Senator

1993 Donald R. Keough, chairman emeritus of the University of Notre Dame’s Board of Trustees

1993 Donald R. Keough, chairman emeritus of the University of Notre Dame’s Board of Trustees

1994 Sidney Callahan, psychologist and author

1994 Sidney Callahan, psychologist and author

1995 Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, Archbishop of Chicago

1995 Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, Archbishop of [[Chicago]]

1996 Sister Helen Prejean, C.S.J., social activist

1996 Sister Helen Prejean, C.S.J., social activist

1997 Rev. Virgil Elizondo, theologian

1997 Rev. Virgil Elizondo, theologian

2001 Msgr. George G. Higgins, labor priest

2001 Msgr. George G. Higgins, labor priest

2002 Rev. John P. Smyth, executive director of Maryville Academy

2002 Rev. John P. Smyth, executive director of Maryville Academy

2003 Peter and Margaret O’Brien Steinfels, editors of Commonweal

2003 Peter and Margaret O’Brien Steinfels, editors of [[Commonweal]]

2004 Rev. J. Bryan Hehir , theologian

2004 Rev. J. Bryan Hehir , theologian

2005 Dr. Joseph E. Murray, surgeon

2005 Dr. Joseph E. Murray, surgeon

2006 Dave Brubeck, jazz musician

2006 [[Dave Brubeck]], [[jazz]] musician

2007 Patrick F. McCartan, chairman emeritus of the University of Notre Dame’s Board of Trustees

2007 Patrick F. McCartan, chairman emeritus of the University of Notre Dame’s Board of Trustees

2008 Martin Sheen, Human Rights Activist

2008 [[Martin Sheen]], actor and [[human rights]] activist

=== References ===

=== References ===