SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The University of Notre Dame has responded to comments made by former football coach Lou Holtz in a speech at the Republican National Convention.
“The Biden-Harris ticket is the most radical, pro-abortion campaign in history. They and other politicians are Catholic in name only and abandon innocent lives,” said Holtz in a speech to the convention Wednesday night.
Democratic Presidential Candidate Joe Biden and his wife are Roman Catholics. His Vice Presidential running mate, Kamala Harris, said she grew up in a home that accommodated both Christian and Hindu religious practices.
Holtz did mention his time at Notre Dame.
“There’s a statue of me at Notre Dame. I guess they needed a place for the pigeons to land. If you look closely, you’ll see these three words there: trust, commitment, and love,” said Holtz.
Notre Dame President Father John Jenkins released the following statement Thursday:
While Coach Lou Holtz is a former coach at Notre Dame, his use of the University’s name at the Republican National Convention must not be taken to imply that the University endorses his views, any candidate or any political party. Moreover, we Catholics should remind ourselves that while we may judge the objective moral quality of another’s actions, we must never question the sincerity of another’s faith, which is due to the mysterious working of grace in that person’s heart. In this fractious time, let us remember that our highest calling is to love.
Holtz coached at the University of Notre Dame from 1986-1996. Holtz’s 1988 Notre Dame team went 12–0 with a victory in the Fiesta Bowl and was the consensus national champion. On May 1, 2008, Holtz was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.
