( CNN ) -- University of Notre Dame senior Emily Toates , like many in the Catholic faith , is angry over her school 's decision to give President Obama an honorary degree at this weekend 's commencement . Notre Dame senior Emily Toates says she will not attend her school 's main graduation ceremony . She 's doing something about it : skipping the event . `` I do not feel comfortable going and celebrating him as the university hands him an honorary degree -- in a sense honoring his policies , '' Toates said . On Sunday , Obama will become one of many sitting U.S. presidents to deliver the commencement address at the Catholic institution . The honor comes much to the chagrin of anti-abortion groups and Catholics protesting the president 's pro-choice , pro-stem cell research views . ND Response , an anti-abortion student group that Toates is working with , will boycott the graduation ceremony in protest . Other anti-abortion groups have started petitions against Obama 's appearance and have plans to protest his visit to the South Bend , Indiana , campus . `` It 's not a political issue ; this is an issue of human dignity , and it 's a Catholic issue , '' Greer Hannan , a Notre Dame graduating senior , said in a statement . `` As a Catholic university , we need to stand up for it . '' The group said it has received official permission to hold a `` prayerful and constructive demonstration '' on the university 's south quad on graduation day , according to a statement . Notre Dame has said all views are welcome , no matter the speaker 's party affiliation . In a statement in March , Notre Dame President John I. Jenkins said that does not mean the university agrees with all of Obama 's positions . The White House has said the president is honored to be speaking at the university and welcomes the exchange of ideas on hot-button topics . On Friday , White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters that Obama will `` obviously make mention of the debate that 's been had . '' `` This is a commencement ceremony , a special occasion for families to celebrate ... the president will understand that 's the most important aspect of the day , '' Gibbs said . Toates , who will instead walk across the stage at her department 's ceremony on Saturday , said the appearance has created a division on campus over whether the Democratic president should be allowed to speak and receive an honor . Watch Toates discuss her decision » . She said that if Obama had been asked to speak in a different context , the uproar would not be there . `` If he was invited to a town hall meeting , a panel discussion , something where we were discussing these issues ... then I would n't have a problem with it . I would go and hear what he has to say , '' she said . `` The problem is , a commencement is n't the context for a dialogue . He 's going to be standing up on the stage speaking to us in our seats . There is n't that opportunity for dialogue . '' It 's a point with which one top Catholic agrees . `` I have no problem with Obama speaking on the campus . ... I have no problem with him addressing the law school , being involved in this symposium . ... I do have a problem giving him the honor , '' said Bill Donohue , president of the Catholic League . Watch more of Donohue 's take » . But history and peace studies major Michael Angullo said most students stand behind Notre Dame 's invitation even if they do n't agree with all of Obama 's policies . `` Do n't think less of the University of Notre Dame , '' Angullo said . `` Do n't let this mission be corrupted by a president whose thoughts on this issue are different than Catholic thoughts . Be willing to engage in that . '' A poll out Thursday suggested that most U.S. Catholics want Notre Dame to allow Obama to speak . Sixty percent of Catholic voters sampled in the Quinnipiac University survey said Notre Dame should not rescind its invitation to the president . Observant Catholic voters who attend religious services about once a week say by a 49 percent to 43 percent margin that Notre Dame should keep Obama on the program . Catholics who attend services less frequently say by a 70 percent to 26 percent margin that Obama should speak , according to the poll . `` Neither Americans overall , nor Roman Catholic voters in particular , think Notre Dame should rescind its invitation to President Obama , '' said Peter Brown , assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute . `` The strongest opposition to the president 's appearance comes from observant Catholics , but more of them than not say he should be allowed to speak . '' The poll , taken April 21-27 , surveyed 2,041 registered voters nationwide . The margin of error is plus or minus 2.2 percentage points . `` Catholics are not a monolithic group . If you divide between practicing Catholics and nonpracticing Catholics , you 'll find that the practicing Catholics for some reason are opposed to Obama getting an honor . They 're not opposed to him speaking at Notre Dame ; they 're opposed to him being honored , '' Donohue said .
Notre Dame student says `` I do not feel comfortable going and celebrating '' Obama . Obama to deliver graduation speech at University of Notre Dame on Sunday . Catholic groups have protested the choice in speaker , noting his views . New poll shows most Catholic voters want president to speak at Notre Dame .