In 2009 the group applauded efforts by the Obama Administration to reach out to Catholics, particularly in a major policy address President Obama made at Georgetown University on April 14, 2009, and in his commencement address on May 17, 2009 at the University of Notre Dame. Catholic conservatives had attacked Notre Dame for inviting President Obama, going as far as to organize an alternate commencement rally that featured a speech by Fr. Bill Miscamble—a Notre Dame historian who later wrote a highly critical biography of Fr. Theodore Hesburgh. In response, Catholic Democrats wrote a national Letter of Support for President Obama, Notre Dame, and Catholic higher education that was signed by thousands of Catholics across the country. The group also launched the website, Catholics for Notre Dame, which housed the statement of support, a music video called Catholic in America, and a tool for individuals to send letters to the editor. They helped organize a reunion for the Catholic priests and community organizers who hired President Obama to work in a Catholic church rectory on the South Side of Chicago in 1985. The Catholic Democrats president, Dr. Patrick Whelan, defended the university's invitation to President Obama in an appearance on MSNBC's "Countdown" with Keith Olbermann, and he wrote an opinion piece that appeared the Friday before the Notre Dame Commencement in the Chicago Tribune. Catholic Democrats also worked with local Democratic officials in South Bend, Indiana the weekend of the commencement to organize a welcome rally for President Obama and a food drive, in the spirit of national service struck at the Inauguration.