Kathryn: The Laetare Medal has been the subject of controversy in the past, as when it was awarded to the late Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-N.Y.). But I am not aware of anyone previously refusing it since it was first given in 1883 bearing the Latin inscription, “Mighty is the Truth, and it shall prevail.”

Glendon’s announcement also comes in the same week that Notre Dame’s Board of Trustees is meeting.

From her letter, it appears that the last straw for Glendon was when she got the impression that she was being used, based on the “talking points” that the university has been using to defend the Obama invitation. She writes that they “included two statements implying that my acceptance speech would somehow balance the event.” The talking points in question were:

• “President Obama won’t be doing all the talking. Mary Ann Glendon, the former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, will be speaking as the recipient of the Laetare Medal.”
• “We think having the president come to Notre Dame, see our graduates, meet our leaders, and hear a talk from Mary Ann Glendon is a good thing for the president and for the causes we care about.”