President Obama called for more "open hearts, open minds, fair-minded words" when it comes to considering abortion. "Maybe we won't agree on abortion," he said, "but we can still agree that this heart-wrenching decision for any woman is not made casually. It has both moral and spiritual dimension. So let us work together to reduce the number of women seeking abortions. Let's reduce unintended pregnancies. Let's make adoption more available. Let's provide care and support for women who do carry their children to term."

The Vatican did not criticize Obama after the Notre Dame remarks. Its official newspaper even commented that the president seemed to seek common ground on the "delicate question of abortion." It should be noted that President Obama has appeared to soften his pro-choice stances. While he vowed during the presidential campaign last year to sign the Freedom of Choice Act, which essentially would codify Roe v. Wade and eliminate all restrictions on abortion, he announced last month that the FOCA "is not the highest legislative priority." However, Obama also has repealed several Bush-era restrictions on abortion including a ban on federal funds for international family planning groups (the so-called Mexico City policy) and embryonic stem cell research.

Closer to home in Northeast Pennsylvania last weekend, albeit on a much smaller scale, a somewhat similar Graduation-Day drama played out. Pennsylvania Democratic U.S. Senator Robert P. Casey Jr., a Roman Catholic, gave the commencement address at King's College, a small Catholic school in Wilkes-Barre. Scranton Bishop Joseph F. Martino had urged the college not to proceed with Casey's appearance because, in the bishop's view, he had supported too many pro-choice public policies and politicians.

On May 1, the bishop issued a statement that read in part, "Sen. Casey's appearance at King's graduation ceremony is sad and disappointing in view of his recent alignment with anti-life forces in the Senate and the highest offices of our government. I do not believe he has the moral stature to stand before the graduates of a Catholic college to address them about their futures and the challenges they will face when on the most important issue of the day - the sanctity of human life - he cannot muster the courage to oppose the pro-abortion agenda which is currently being promoted in Washington."

The bishop takes issue with Casey's vote to confirm Kathleen Sebelius as U.S. secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services because she had vetoed pro-life legislation as governor of Kansas. After the Sebelius confirmation vote, a statement from the Diocese of Scranton announced, "If necessary, future determinations will be made regarding whether Sen. Casey is worthy to receive Holy Communion." Last fall, Bishop Martino told fellow conferees at the U.S. Conference of Bishops that they should use such "canonical measures" to make clear their displeasure with Catholic public officials who do not adhere to Catholic doctrine.

On Sunday, Senator Casey did not address the abortion debate or the controversy swirling around his appearance but instead urged the King's College graduates to build upon their faith. " ... my hope is that you will take the time, take the time to not only have a successful career, full of achievement, full of success but also take the time to build a family and personal relationships based on trust, mutual respect and unconditional love," Casey said.

Bishop Martino has refused all media interview requests, including one from Smart Talk. However, Father John Trigilio, pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Marysville, graciously has agreed to appear on the program Friday night at 8:30 to discuss abortion, Catholic theology and public policy. Carol Petraitis, Director of the Clara Bell Duvall Reproductive Freedom Project, ACLU of Pennsylvania, also will join us.

With one or more Supreme Court vacancies opening up during President Obama's term, the abortion issue promises to remain highly visible. A new Gallup poll for the first time shows a majority of Americans identifying themselves as "pro-life" (51%) compared to those who describe themselves as "pro-choice" (42%). Still, a recent CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll also showed that 68% of Americans surveyed do not want to see Roe v. Wade - the landmark 1973 Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion in the U.S. - overturned.

Perhaps the president realized the potential futility of his call for civility when he told the Notre Dame graduates, "... no matter how much we may want to fudge it -- indeed, while we know that the views of most Americans on the subject are complex and even contradictory -- the fact is that at some level, the views of the two camps are irreconcilable. Each side will continue to make its case to the public with passion and conviction. But surely we can do so without reducing those with differing views to caricature." Join us for a spirited conversation on abortion on Smart Talk Friday night at 8:30 on WITF-TV and let us know what you think by emailing us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .