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Henry H. Lewis, the man who founded a construction company that erected more buildings in the Archdiocese of Baltimore than any other in recent decades, died April 16.

In his column, “Obama’s invitation to talk,” (CR, April 16) Father Eugene Hemrick fails to come to grips with what is truly at issue concerning President Obama’s speaking at Notre Dame University.

ALBANY, N.Y. – Reaffirming an earlier statement outlining their reasons for opposing any change in the legal definition of marriage, the Catholic bishops of New York state called for the defeat of legislation proposed by New York Gov. David A. Paterson to permit same-sex marriages.

VATICAN CITY – The Vatican has deplored a Belgian parliamentary resolution that criticized Pope Benedict XVI for his remarks about condoms and AIDS prevention.

There has been much coverage concerning the decision of the University of Notre Dame to not only invite President Obama to speak at its 2009 commencement ceremony but also bestow on him an honorary doctor of laws degree from the university. I fail to understand how this so-called Catholic university can justify its decision to honor someone who not only supports abortion but also seeks to expand federal funding of embryonic stem-cell research. I was pleased to read (CR, April 2) that Bishop John M. D’Arcy of Fort Wayne-South Bend has decided not to attend the 2009 commencement ceremony and trust that more and more Catholics will support his decision.

Concerning the flap about inviting and honoring President Barack Obama at Notre Dame, I was disappointed with Father Reese’s comparison to Cardinal Egan. Father Reese neglected to mention that the Al Smith Dinner was not an occasion to bestow an honor, and that Notre Dame is bestowing an honorary doctorate degree on the president. The comparison is not well-crafted. The Al Smith Dinner invited both Republican and Democratic candidates to state their case; but Notre Dame is singling our President Obama for an honor, not merely to talk. Good for the position by the local bishop, who appreciates when not to reward support for an intrinsic moral evil.

While the church does oppose the death penalty except in the gravest of circumstances, I disagree with Patrick Weadon’s assertions in his letter (CR, April 2) regarding President Barack Obama speaking at Notre Dame. He is implying that President (then Governor) Bush’s presiding over lawful executions is the immoral equivalent of President Obama’s blatant support of abortion.