Obama speaks at Notre Dame

Notre Dame’s president, the Rev. John Jenkins, left, walks into Joyce Center with President Obama. The Catholic university’s invitation to the president -- a prominent supporter of abortion rights and embryonic stem cell research -- has been met with national furor.  (Nancy Stone / Chicago Tribune)

Obama, with Jenkins, left, was greeted with applause when he entered the arena. He also passed dozens of protesters before the ceremony.  (Nancy Stone / Chicago Tribune)

Obama sought to quell a divisive controversy in his speech.

“I do not suggest that the debate surrounding abortion can or should go away,” he said. “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.”  (Mandel Ngan / AFP/Getty Images)

During Obama’s speech, a couple of protesters who were shouting were escorted out of the arena.  (Mandel Ngan / AFP / Getty Images)

Authorities go to take a protester away during Obama’s commencement speech.  (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press)

Notre Dame graduates John Callahan, left, and Jack Kiley attend an antiabortion rally instead of their commencement ceremony. Activists from across the country have gathered in South Bend, Ind., to protest the university’s decision to invite President Obama to speak.  (Scott Olson / Getty Images)

A Notre Dame graduate passes an antiabortion activist on his way to the commencement ceremony.  (Scott Olson / Getty Images)

An antiabortion activist is arrested on the Notre Dame campus. About two dozen protesters were arrested on charges of trespassing and resisting law enforcement, according to the Associated Press.  (Scott Olson / Getty Images)