When it comes to hypocrisy it is hard to top Mary Ann Glendon.

Glendon is the Harvard professor who turned down the Laetare Medal at Notre Dame this year because she objected to Barack Obama receiving an honorary degree there on May 17.

Glendon is a conservative and former US Ambassador to the Vatican. The Laetare medal is presented to those who have exemplified the best in their Christian faith.

'Moral principles'

Whether or not Glendon actually wants the medal, she doesn't deserve it unless hypocrisy has suddenly became a tenet of the Catholic faith.

Glendon said  she was “dismayed” that Notre Dame disregarded the church advice on not honoring those who violate the moral principals of the church.

“I am at a loss to understand why a Catholic university would disrespect," that advice ” she said.

Maybe she should take a look in the mirror.

Anti-Obama zealots

I have learned that she was specifically told Barack Obama was the commencement speaker when she was first asked to accept the Laetare Medal.

Back then she had no problem whatsoever with  the invitation to the president and gladly accepted the Laetare medal, knowing full well that Obama would be there.

Her moral scruples must have happened later, a sudden attack perhaps, brought on by pressure from anti-Obama zealots who want to embarrass Notre Dame president John Jenkins who has been a true hero in all of this in standing up for free speech.

Hypocrisy

Glendon’s refusal to acknowledge that she accepted the award knowing Obama would be there and then accusing Jenkins of bad faith smacks of the worst kind of hypocrisy.

It is precisely the kind of double standards that is giving the Catholic church a bad name. As we revealed last week two of the bishops, Francis George of Chicago and John D’Arcy of Forth Wayne  most prominent in accusing Jenkins have child sex abuse cover up scandals in their immediate past.

Jesus said it best – Let him without sin…