Bishop Kevin Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend has called on Notre Dame to rescind its appointment of professor Susan Ostermann to lead the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies because of her public advocacy for abortion rights. He said her advocacy “clearly should disqualify her from holding a position of leadership within the Keough School.” The public statement Rhoades issued on Tuesday marks a significant intensification of the pushback against Ostermann’s appointment.
“Professor Ostermann’s extensive public advocacy of abortion rights and her disparaging and inflammatory remarks about those who uphold the dignity of human life from the moment of conception to natural death go against a core principle of justice that is central to Notre Dame’s Catholic identity and mission,” Rhoades said in the statement.
Rhoades also argued that Ostermann’s appointment should not be protected by appeals to academic freedom.
“Academic freedom concerns the liberty of faculty to conduct research according to their own professional judgment and interests. This appointment, by contrast, concerns the official administrative appointment to lead an academic unit. Such appointments have profound impact on the integrity of Notre Dame’s public witness as a Catholic university,” he wrote.
“I call upon the leadership of Notre Dame to rectify this situation. The appointment of Professor Ostermann is not scheduled to go into effect until July 1, 2026. There is still time to make things right,” Rhoades concluded.
Notre Dame has not publicly changed course on the appointment. A University spokesperson wrote in a statement to The Observer on Wednesday that Ostermann “is well prepared to expand the Institute’s global partnerships and create impactful research opportunities that advance our dedication to serving as the preeminent global Catholic research institution.”
While the University of Notre Dame is located within the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Rhoades does not have the ability to make decisions regarding University policy or personnel; though he could issue a formal warning, request an intervention by the Vatican or forbid the University from identifying itself as Catholic.
This is not the first time Rhoades has criticized a decision made by Notre Dame. In 2016, he criticized the University’s decision to award then-vice president Joe Biden the Laetare Medal, billed by the University as the “most prestigious award given to American Catholics.” In 2018, he publicly disagreed with the University for providing contraceptive coverage in its health insurance plans. Notre Dame moved forward with awarding Biden the Laetare Medal and providing contraceptive access despite Rhoades’ objections.
Several other bishops voiced their support for Rhoades’ statement, including Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco, Bishop Robert Barron of Winona-Rochester, Bishop Samuel Aquila of Denver, Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay, Bishop Donald Hying of Madison, Bishop James Conley of Lincoln, Bishop James Wall of Gallup, and Bishop Michael Olson of Fort Worth.
“Like Bishop Rhoades, I speak as someone with strong connections to and deep affection for the University of Notre Dame,” Barron said on X. “I believe that going ahead with this appointment is repugnant to the identity and mission of that great center of Catholic learning.”
