With all the hubbub over Mary Ann Glendon saying “no thanks” to the University of Notre Dame’s Laetare Medal, Jim Martin up at America magazine has a modest proposal: give the honor to him.

Among his many qualifications (according to him):

— I would accept it. I mean, if someone’s going to give me an award the very least I can do is accept it, whether or not I agree with what they’re doing or not doing. It’s just common courtesy.

— I’m Catholic. I mean, really Catholic. For example, I believe one God, the Father Almighty, and all that…like a lot of people you might be considering, but I also, unlike many of them, know all the words to the Salve Regina. In Latin.

— I’ve never been to South Bend! Ever! Can you believe it? Never seen Touchdown Jesus or The Dome or that famous Lourdes Grotto you have. (Did I mention that I’ve been to the real one four times?)

Meanwhile, over at PoliticsDaily, Glendon’s daughter, Liz, is defending her mother’s decision to turn down the medal. (h/t: David Gibson)