Notre Dame de Namur University will honor former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi as its commencement speaker this year.
The Silicon Valley Catholic university said it is “deeply honored” to host Pelosi.
“Her lifelong commitment to public service, leadership, and advocacy for justice reflects the very values that define an NDNU education and the enduring legacy of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur,” President Beth Martin stated in a news release. “During this 175th anniversary year of the Sisters in California, her presence powerfully affirms the impact of faith-inspired education on the world.”
Still, the decision is likely to draw concerns, given Pelosi’s history of supporting abortion and the LGBT agenda, issues at odds with the Catholic Church’s teachings. She still is not allowed to receive Communion in the Archdiocese of San Francisco due to her unrelenting support for the killing of preborn babies.
After attempts to get her to change her ways, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone publicly instructed Pelosi not to present herself for Communion. The Catholic Church teaches that abortion is a grave sin, as is publicly advocating for it.
“I am hereby notifying you that you are not to present yourself for Holy Communion and, should you do so, you are not to be admitted to Holy Communion, until such time as you [publicly] repudiate your advocacy for the legitimacy of abortion and confess and receive absolution of this grave sin in the sacrament of Penance,” the archbishop wrote in 2022.
She has defied this directive when in other dioceses.
In 2025, the president of Planned Parenthood praised Pelosi’s record, saying “[f]ew have done more to expand the ability of all people to get sexual and reproductive health care.”
She also came under criticism for falsely claiming the Catholic Church has held a variety of views on abortion.
Pelosi also has a history of supporting so-called same-sex “marriage,” along with the surgical and chemical mutilation of gender-confused kids, also known as “gender-affirming care.”
One quote from the “LGBTQ+” section of her website (which includes a photos of her with drag performers) highlights numerous problems:
[E]xtremist Republicans continue to wage an all-out assault on the safety and well-being of the LGBTQ community – from targeting trans children in Texas to bullying LGBTQ students in Florida. And on our nation’s highest court, with its decision overturning Roe v. Wade, a Republican-appointed majority erased nearly 50 years of legal precedent and privacy rights – putting many of our fundamental freedoms on the chopping block. This decision undermines judicial victories that secured marriage equality and anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ Americans.
The graduation is scheduled for May 2.
From The College Fix
It’s only a Catholic University in name only. Pelosi is not fit to be a commencement speaker at a university that claims to be Catholic. End Abortion Now! Adoption is the option.
The first Catholic school I ever attended was graduate school at Notre Dame in Belmont. (All my previous education, from kindergarten through a bachelor’s degree at San Jose State University, was at public schools.) The first class I took was a moral theology class. The professor, a Franciscan priest in full habit, justified abortion and pre-marital sex. Even though I was a “public kid,” I knew that was wrong. I completed my graduate theological studies at a university on the other side of the country! (I was often asked, “Why don’t you go to a Catholic university here in the Bay Area?”) It was worth travel to a rust-belt town in Appalachia to receive a truly Catholic education from the Franciscans, diocesan priests and faithful lay professors at Franciscan University of Steubenville, in Ohio. Shouldn’t there be “truth in advertising,” as I was taught in the School of Mass Communications and Journalism at SJSU? Please pray for the renewal of Catholic education. And, consider not supporting or subsidizing fraudulent institutions.
A group of worldly, Modernist “Catholic” liberal, “airhead” intellectual, heretical clerical idiots, zealous for Modernist ideas and goals of Vatican II — many from prominent religious orders– has sadly been busy killing the Catholic Church and all its institutions since the Godless 1960s. A group of misguided Catholic college presidents and professors of various religious orders, led by wayward Modernist Notre Dame president, Holy Cross Fr. Ted Hesburgh, held a retreat in Land O’ Lakes, Wisconsin, in the summer of 1967, where they crafted a famous manifesto, the “Land O’ Lakes Statement”– basically removing Catholic higher education from Church control, desiring “intellectual freedoms” for research and teaching, as well as worldly prestige and money, to compete with secular universities. Many other Catholic colleges and universities followed the same ideas after Vatican II. I do not think any of these heretical, brainless intellectual clerics– very worldly and heavily secularized– were ever honestly Catholic, they were worldly men in clerical garb, with worldly interests and goals– fundamentally unfaithful to Christ and His teachings, and His true Church. Hypocrites! If you are unfamiliar with this abysmally stupid, famous anti-Catholic education manifesto– the famous “Land O’ Lakes Statement”— here is a link to an article about it, from the Cardinal Newman Society: https://share.google/xb0nSaZVYK3uPRJNZ
If you talk to Abp. Cordileone, and ask him why he does not intervene in this evil and heretical situation– with strict Church punishments for this so-called “Catholic” college– which is in his Archdiocese— you will get your answer– “because the Church doesn’t do that anymore, in Vatican II.” Every Catholic cleric and layman is now, “in Vatican II,” supposed to be “free” to make his own individual decisions according to his own “conscience”— including, how to properly run a Catholic school or university. Nancy Pelosi will tell you the exact, same thing. The Archbishop’s hands – and the Pope’s hands, too– are all tied for good, by that stupid Council.
That is not in the teachings of the Second Vatican Council. I’ve studied the documents. I’m open to being corrected, if you can tell me where in Council documents they state what you claim. Of course, many bad, even tragic, things happened after the Second Vatican Council. Beware of the logical fallacy post hoc ergo propter hoc; after this, therefore because of this.
Deacon Anderson– -go have a serious discussion with a Catholic priest or prelate about this. I have had tons of them, since the 1960s. They will tell you exactly what I said. Don’t take your copy of the Vatican II documents with you– they will tell you exactly how “their” Catholic Church now operates– “according to Vatican II.” Go ahead and try it– get it straight from the horse’s mouth. “This is “their” Vatican II Church– exactly as they say.” Nancy Pelosi and Dick Durbin can both get Communion– and honors for their work– in the Archdiocese of Chicago– “because the Cardinal says so”— that is decided by his “freedom of conscience”— that is how “their” “Vatican II Church” works— and the Pope will back up the Cardinal’s personal decision. The Church belongs to “them”– in their view. Don’t try to quote the Bible, the Catechism, or Canon Law to them– or the Vatican II documents. It’s useless.
What a Church Council teaches is more important than any clergyman’s opinion (including my own) of what they think the Church taught at that Council; whether Vatican II, Trent, Nicaea or any other Council. Our Church does not depend on the opinions of clerics. It is built on the foundation of Christ and the Apostles, Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition and the Magisterium. The Second Vatican Council is not “stupid,” as you claim, if you’re the same anonymous poster as “hands tied.” The documents of any Church Council actually do matter, not some vague “spirit of the Council,” which can be twisted and spun any which way. Some don’t refer to the teachings of the Council itself because they want to go “beyond” it and even contradict it. Others, critical of the Council, don’t want to reference the actual documents because it seems they want to simply blame the Council for things it never taught. You wrote of a serious discussion. One cannot have a serious discussion about Vatican II without having read the documents and referencing them. What a Church Council teaches really is important, vastly more important that a personal opinion or interpretation of one person, cleric or layman, you or me.
The teachings of a Church Council is decided by the Pope and Vatican leaders– regardless of printed documents. And all of their clergy has to follow their demands. If a prelate decides to disregard an important Catholic teaching, and the Canon Law that upholds it– it may sound ridiculous– but that is the way they do things. For example– why on earth did Cardinal Cupich decide that Sen. Dick Durbin– a bad Catholic who promotes abortion– should receive Communion at Mass — and receive that famous lifetime award? This is totally against Catholic teaching and Canon Law! Plus, Cdl. Cupich and many other USCCB and Vatican prelates criticized Abp. Cordileone for banning Nancy Pelosi from Communion. And Nancy simply ignored Abp. Cordileone. She has since been given Communion by any priest or prelate who does not agree with Abp. Cordileone– even Jesuits in Abp. Cordileone’s own Archdiocese– and at churches anywhere, including St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican– even at Papal Masses. They don’t agree with Abp. Cordileone. Before Vatican II– Catholic teaching and Canon Law were strictly enforced worldwide. The “Vatican II Church” is not the same– more freedoms for individual decisions are now desired– and are now the norm. Not orthodox teaching and Canon Law– they can be disregarded– and often are disregarded– when so desired, in the “Pastoral” “Vatican iI Church.” The Synod on Synodality is cited as the “ultimate” in the “mutual participation and listening” Vatican II reformed Church.
Deacon Anderson, if Nancy Pelosi attended Mass (Divine Liturgy) at your Eastern Catholic church– and if your Pastor said he believes Nancy may receive Holy Communion– despite Abp. Cordileone’s banning her from Communion– your Pastor would never get in trouble with the Vatican. He just may have some disagreements with fellow Eastern Catholic Byzantine Rite clergy about his decision. This situation only exists in the post-Conciliar Church.
Many post-Conciliar Church documents and Papal writings may be excellent– but are optional– such as Pope St. John Paul II’s “Ex Corde Ecclesiae” (1990). This outstanding document is not required or enforced, by the Pope and Vatican, in the “Vatican II Church.” If “Ex Corde Ecclesiae” had been strictly required of all Catholic educational institutions– we would not have the evils of Notre Dame de Namur University, and many others– and Deacon Anderson could have easily completed his graduate theological degree at Notre Dame de Namur, if he wished. Isn’t that just horrifying? A very ridiculous “Vatican II Church” decision.
My point is about Church Councils, any of them, what they actually teach, not what happens after necessarily. The Council of Nicaea taught the truth about Chirst, among other things. But, that didn’t stop controversies in the Church. The Church was still a mess after that Council. That’s why the Church needed a second Council in the fourth century (at Constantinople), which is why the Creed recited at Mass is the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed. You’re free to talk about apostate politicians and Catholic institutions that have abandoned the Faith. But, that’s not an honest discussion about a Church Council, any Church Council, unless it’s about what a Church Council actually teaches. The Arian heretics were still an issue after the Council of Nicaea. But, that’s not the fault of that Council. Church Councils are one of the major ways the Lord guides His Church, starting with the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15) and the fourth century Councils that claried truths about Who God is; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. What Councils teach matters. If anyone wants to post what they think is “stupid” about the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, the Decree On the Apostolate of the Laity, or the Decree On the Catholic Churches of the Eastern Rite, I’m open to hearing that. But, those documents are worthy of serious consideration and even acceptance by Catholics. They’re not “stupid.”
Deacon Anderson– the leadership in the “Vatican II Church” which the clerical leaders themselvees created in the 1960s– is indeed “poor”– you could describe it simply as “poor leadership.” The result is what we see at Notre Dame de Namur University. And when you see that– you might get exasperated– and just call it “insane,” “mortally sinful,” “unworkable,” “a disaster,” “anti-Catholic;” “anti-Christian,”— or– just plain “STUPID.” Your Church could not give you– and many others, too! — a decent, normal Catholic graduate theological program at any of its local colleges and universities, so that you could fulfill requirements for your vocation to serve the Church. Now that’s downright— ridiculous! And so very wrong! Same problem with all of us.
Hands Tied, I agree. I never had hemorrhoids until after the Second Vatican Council. Stupid Council!
From the school’s mission statement: “As an inclusive learning community, NDNU invites people from all walks of life to come together to honor the dignity, sacredness, and diversity of every person. ” In addition: ” NDNU broadens the perspective and outlook of its students by exposing them to peers with diverse backgrounds, cultures and world views…” Under the banner of diversity, they have: 1. We welcome to our community people of diverse cultures, ethnicities, races, socio-economic circumstances, genders, ages, sexual orientations, and faith traditions. 2. We develop inclusive educational programs that expand our knowledge and understanding as we honor and celebrate the diversity in our world. Their honoring of Nancy Pelosi follows from these perspectives. It stands to reason that they would not accord Bishop Strickland the same honor.
Try attending– the last 50-60 years– lots of social events and fundraisers, and events where “Catholics” are honored for their “contributions” to the Church– at either the SF or L.A. cathedrals (or similar). Listen to the Archbishop (or Cardinal) calmly explain to someone, how the :dissident” Catholics simply “disagree” with Church teachings. But the prelates won’t say a word about that to the “dissidents”– won’t try to argue with or evangelize the wayward “Catholics”– most are political leaders with great, big names– and they do as they please, in the Church. It was very unusual– but it took many long years, before Abp. Cordileone was finally the SF Archbishop– and after a few years– he decided on disciplining Nancy Pelosi… by that time, her career was near the end. And she had done tremendous damage.
Church authority and discipline is not much wanted among religious leaders in the Vatican II Church. They favor more “religious freedom” for each cleric and layman to decide on things for themselves. However, good clerical leaders do not agree with this idea– but their hands are tied in how far they may go, with Church authority and discipline– a prelate can get investigated and formally removed from his job, by the Vatican, if it is decided that he has gone too far. Abp. Cordileone’s banning of Nancy Pelosi from reception of Communion, was not agreed with, by many prelates of the USCCB and Vatican. And Nancy has been given Communion when attending Mass in other dioceses– as well as at St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, and other churches, in Rome.
In the pre-Conciliar era, the bishop of a diocese was the supreme authority in his diocese, and would prohibit a case like this one, at wayward Notre Dame de Namur University. He would see to it that Catholic teaching — and Canon Law– was correctly followed. Rebellious Catholic university leaders would get in huge trouble with the Catholic Church– possibly excommunicated. To obtain an abortion automatically incurred excommunication– latae sententiae– and the person had to go to the bishop to confess this grave sin, and obtain forgiveness, and lift the excommunication. Any Catholic political leader like Nancy Pelosi would long ago have been excommunicated for promoting abortions. The post-Conciliar Church is very foolish about serious mortal sins.
Isn’t this school closing down? Poetic for Nance to be the last commencement speaker
Fake Catholic university, just like there are fake Catholic secondary and primary schools and fake Catholic parishes and fake Catholic people like Pelosi herself. So many fakes in the Church. I want to be a hermit and just get away from everything.
The bishop could tell the school to stop calling itself Catholic. He cannot stop Nancy from speaking there, however.
I’d be in favor of a decree stating that Notre Dame de Namur may not present itself as a Catholic institution and prohibiting the sacraments from being celebrated there. Nobody at the school would care, including the religious sisters.
Soon-to-be Bl. Abp. Fulton J. Sheen lifelong supported orthodoxy in Catholic teaching. However, he eagerly embraced the “aggiornanento” (modernist updating) ideas of Vatican II, and the liturgical reforms– he was a moderate, though, not a liberal leftist. He served as Bishop of Rochester NY for three years— 1966-69– and was very unpopular with Catholics there, for his Vatican II and related Modernist implementations. I thought he had shockingly poor judgment, poor leadership, as Bishop of Rochester. He described this in his autobiography, “Treasure in Clay.” He finally resigned early, and returned to New York City, to retire. He continued to preach and teach Catholic orthodoxy, in retirement– and was hugely popular and successful in this, to life’s end.
Yep, Fulton Sheen was a modernist all right! For sure, since you say so. Just like Saint John Paul, Pope Benedict, Cardinal Burke, Cardinal Sarah, Archbishop Chaput, Cardinal Pell, Bishop Strickland and pretty much everyone else. Maybe the question should be: who, besides you and I, are not modernists?
Modernism is a corrupt, worldly concept, that has affected all fields– especially since the late 19th century. In our religion, Modernism was condemned by Pope Pius X. Modernism seeks to break with well-established religious teachings and traditions, emphasizing subjective experience over religious doctrines, relativising and adapting religious teachings and truths to try to suit modern society, experimenting with new and radical, subjective, unsound ideas. Modernist scholars began to adopt secular critical methods of viewing the Bible, rejecting it as the absolute Word of God, Divinely revealed, viewing it more as a historical record of man’s religious experience, containing many potential erorrs and man’s follies—- not God’s Truth. Catholics who truly believe in God’s revealed religious truths and teachings, straight from God, through His Son, Jesus Christ, exactly as stated in the Nicene Creed— are honest Catholics, rejecting secular, corrupt Modernism. Today, these Catholics are few– even among top Church clerics.
Pope Pius X used the term “Modernism” in a very specific way, in his 1907 encyclical, “Pascendi Dominici Gregis.” I use this term in a looser way, to generally include many types of worldly, secular corruptions in the field of religion and other fields, which have been corrupted in a similar manner.
Billy Graham was once challenged by Modernism, which had infected the Protestants as well as the Catholic Church. He had a good Canadian evangelist friend, Charles Templeton, who entered Princeton Theological Seminary, to intellectually deepen his Biblical understanding— but the seminay’s Modernist Biblical scholarship and teachings caused him to leave the ministry and become an atheist. During that time, Billy Graham was also having a similar crisis of faith. One night, in 1949, at a Protestant center in Calif., Graham went into the forest and placed his Bible on a tree stump and knelt down. He prayed, “Father, I am going to accept this as Thy Word– by faith!” Faith triumphed for Graham, over man’s intellectual Modernist academic follies. Then, he began his famous ministry, with his Los Angeles Crusade. 2 Cor. 5:7 “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” That is my belief.
Many people, worldwide, are outraged, because although abortion-promoter Susan Ostermann of the Univ. of Notre Dame in Indiana ended up declining a promotion as head of a big academic program– she is still employed at Notre Dame, as an Assistant Professor of global affairs and political science, in the Keough School of Global Affairs, at Notre Dame. Shame on Notre Dame!
I just signed a TFP Student Action Petition protesting Notre Dame de Namur Univ. honoring Nancy Pelosi as commencement speaker. Haven’t yet seen anything from the Archbishop, though, criticizing this wrongful event.