Will Mr. Obama Wear the Notre Dame Robe?

Will President Obama wear the doctoral robe at Notre Dame?

This will be an interesting test of whether Mr. Obama has issues with Christian symbols. From the Christian News Service online:

Notre Dame expects President Obama to wear the school’s traditional doctoral robe--which is emblazoned with a cross and a prayer to the Virgin Mary--when the president receives an honorary law degree from the university at its May 17 commencement ceremony.

“Yes,” replied Notre Dame Spokesman Dennis Brown, when CNSNews.com asked him if Obama would wear the robe that has been worn by previous graduation speakers at Notre Dame.

Another Notre Dame official confirmed that “everybody” wears Notre Dame's traditional doctoral robe when they receive an honorary law degree from Notre Dame.

In 2001, when President Bush received an honorary law degree from Notre Dame, he wore the school’s traditional doctoral robe inscribed with the prayer to the Virgin Mary. In 2008, when actor Martin Sheen received the Laetare Award from Notre Dame at its commencement ceremony, he wore the same traditional Notre Dame robe.

The official explanation from the White House for this past week's atrocious cover-up of the name of Jesus at the president's Georgetown University speaking engagement was that they didn't want any imagery other than the American flag; no mixed messages, they said.

I don't think a lot of us buy that explanation, but if Mr. Obama wears the Notre Dame robe, I'll be willing to shut up about it. (I still think Georgetown should have refused, but that's my beef with them.)

If, on the other hand, it's a problem for him ...