Alzheimer 's disease and Parkinson 's disease , while some abortion opponents believe destroying embryos in the research amounts to ending a human life . Watch Obama called `` premier promoter of baby-killing '' '' In January , Obama lifted a Bush administration restriction on funding for organizations that provide or promote abortion overseas . D'Arcy 's announcement comes as anti-abortion groups have launched campaigns attempting to persuade the Catholic university to rescind Obama 's invitation . In a letter to Notre Dame , Anthony J. Lauinger , National Right to Life Committee vice president , called Obama `` the abortion president '' and said his invitation `` is a betrayal of the university 's mission and an affront to all who believe in the sanctity and dignity of human life . '' The conservative Cardinal Newman Society has launched a Web site -- notredamescandal.com -- that , according to the site , has drawn 50,000 signatures to a petition opposing Obama 's appearance at the May 17 ceremony , at which Obama also is to receive an honorary degree . A White House statement released Tuesday said Obama is honored to be speaking at the university and welcomes the
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The Catholic bishop of South Bend , Indiana , will not attend graduation ceremonies at the University of Notre Dame because he disagrees with the stem-cell research and abortion views of the commencement speaker -- President Obama . The University of Notre Dame says its invitation does n't mean the university agrees with all of Obama 's positions . Bishop John D'Arcy , whose diocese includes Fort Wayne , Indiana , as well as the university town , said Tuesday in a written statement that `` after much prayer '' he has decided not to attend the ceremony . `` President Obama has recently reaffirmed , and has now placed in public policy , his long-stated unwillingness to hold human life as sacred , '' D'Arcy said . `` While claiming to separate politics from science , he has in fact separated science from ethics and has brought the American government , for the first time in history , into supporting direct destruction of innocent human life . '' Earlier this month , Obama reversed a federal ban on embryonic stem-cell research . Many scientists say the research could lead to advances in treating conditions like