It is certainly true that Scripture instructs us to honor the emperor (1Pe 2:17) — which is to say, all those who derive their authority from God, being entrusted with power to serve the common good. But honor is to be granted for the good that is done, not the evil. So if a ruler should promote manifestly unjust laws, causing great harm, then that ruler should not be honored for that support.

The issue causing such thought is, of course, the honorary degree given to Obama by Notre Dame. That honorary degree is in law, which is exactly the area which he should not be honored in. Perhaps a case might be made for a honorary degree in humane letters (Obama did write a popular book). But not in law. To honor the President in law is, paradoxically, to dishonor him, by highlighting what he should not be doing. (Father Jenkins — the president of Notre Dame — recent letter avoids such reasoning.

We are also called to honor the bishops. So when they called for Catholics to avoid giving such honors, their request has not been honored. So the secular President has overtly been honored, but not our spiritual fathers. But both must be honored.