Editorial: Obama deftly calms culture war passions (Dallas Morning News).

Editorial: Obama deftly calms culture war passions

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/editorials/stories/DN-obama_0519edi.State.Edition1.2c6b7a6.html

When Notre Dame, the nation's best-known Catholic university, asked resolutely pro-choice President Barack Obama to receive an honorary degree and deliver the commencement address this year, it caused intense controversy in Catholic circles. About 50 U.S. bishops publicly opposed the president's planned appearance, which violated their 2004 directive that Catholic universities "should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles."

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Once again, this president displayed his gift for making his most strident opponents marginalize themselves. He comes across as the kind of politician who genuinely sees those who disagree with him as opponents, not enemies. When a strong abortion-rights supporter like Obama is not only honored at the nation's most important Catholic university (in terms of cultural symbolism), but enthusiastically embraced, times are changing.

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These are positive developments. As a newspaper that supports a woman's right to choose, we are pleased that America has a president committed to preserving that right. We also are pleased that America has a president who sees abortion opponents as fellow citizens worth approaching with "open hearts, open minds fair-minded words."

No matter which side of the issue you're on, that's change we can all believe in.