For some time, many people have been wondering just what Harvard Law Professor Mary Ann Glendon would say when she received the Laetare Medal at Notre Dame just after hearing President Obama give the commencement address. Now we know.

Nothing.

She has declined the award. Via CatholicCulture.org, her explanation in full here.

Read the entirety of her letter. Here’s a sample to whet the appetite:

First, as a longtime consultant to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, I could not help but be dismayed by the news that Notre Dame also planned to award the president an honorary degree. This, as you must know, was in disregard of the U.S. bishops’ express request of 2004 that Catholic institutions “should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles” and that such persons “should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.” That request, which in no way seeks to control or interfere with an institution’s freedom to invite and engage in serious debate with whomever it wishes, seems to me so reasonable that I am at a loss to understand why a Catholic university should disrespect it. [emphasis mine]

….Finally, with recent news reports that other Catholic schools are similarly choosing to disregard the bishops’ guidelines, I am concerned that Notre Dame’s example could have an unfortunate ripple effect.