Notre Dame Commencement: What the secular media won't show you

Pictures courtesy of Jill Stanek. Please follow her blog.

Fr. Norman Weslin Arrested for Trespassing

What would Our Lady say? What do you say?

Obama Speech at Notre Dame University

Emphasis mine. Snarky comments mine.

Thank you, Father Jenkins for that generous introduction. ["If you need a job soon, come to the White House - I have a job for you."] You are doing an outstanding job as president of this fine institution, and your continued and courageous commitment to honest, thoughtful dialogue [what dialogue?] is an inspiration to us all.

Good afternoon Father Hesburgh, Notre Dame trustees, faculty, family, friends, and the class of 2009. I am honored to be here today, and grateful to all of you for allowing me to be part of your graduation.

I want to thank you for this honorary degree. I know it has not been without controversy. I don't know if you're aware of this, but these honorary degrees are apparently pretty hard to come by. So far I'm only 1 for 2 as President. [such staunchly pro-abortion people are also hard to come by, Mr. Obama.] Father Hesburgh is 150 for 150. I guess that's better. Father Ted, after the ceremony, maybe you can give me some pointers on how to boost my average.

I also want to congratulate the class of 2009 for all your accomplishments. And since this is Notre Dame, I mean both in the classroom and in the competitive arena. We all know about this university's proud and storied football team, but I also hear that Notre Dame holds the largest outdoor 5-on-5 basketball tournament in the world - Bookstore Basketball. ["You didn't think I'd mention abortion, did you?"]

Now this excites me. I want to congratulate the winners of this year's tournament, a team by the name of "Hallelujah Holla Back." Well done. Though I have to say, I am personally disappointed that the "Barack O'Ballers" didn't pull it out. Next year, if you need a 6'2" forward with a decent jumper, you know where I live. [Blah]

Every one of you should be proud of what you have achieved at this institution. One hundred and sixty three classes of Notre Dame graduates have sat where you are today. Some were here during years that simply rolled into the next without much notice or fanfare - periods of relative peace and prosperity that required little by way of sacrifice or struggle. [Blah]

You, however, are not getting off that easy. Your class has come of age at a moment of great consequence for our nation and the world - a rare inflection point in history where the size and scope of the challenges before us require that we remake our world to renew its promise; that we align our deepest values and commitments to the demands of a new age. It is a privilege and a responsibility afforded to few generations - and a task that you are now called to fulfill. [Blah]

This is the generation that must find a path back to prosperity and decide how we respond to a global economy that left millions behind even before this crisis hit - an economy where greed and short-term thinking were too often rewarded at the expense of fairness, and diligence, and an honest day's work. [Blah]

We must decide how to save God's creation [EXCEPT for the unborn] from a changing climate that threatens to destroy it. We must seek peace at a time when there are those who will stop at nothing to do us harm, and when weapons in the hands of a few can destroy the many. And we must find a way to reconcile our ever-shrinking world with its ever-growing diversity - diversity of thought, of culture, and of belief. ["let's all embrace every possible scenario and strike the word 'sin' from our vocabulary. It just hurts feelings."]

In short, we must find a way to live together as one human family. ["Except for the unborn who are often a 'punishment'"]

It is this last challenge that I'd like to talk about today. For the major threats we face in the 21st century - whether it's global recession or violent extremism; the spread of nuclear weapons or pandemic disease - do not discriminate. They do not recognize borders. They do not see color. They do not target specific ethnic groups.

Moreover, no one person, or religion, or nation can meet these challenges alone. Our very survival has never required greater cooperation and understanding among all people from all places than at this moment in history.

Unfortunately, finding that common ground - recognizing that our fates are tied up, as Dr. King said, in a "single garment of destiny" - is not easy. Part of the problem, of course, lies in the imperfections of man - our selfishness, our pride, our stubbornness, our acquisitiveness, our insecurities, our egos; all the cruelties large and small that those of us in the Christian tradition understand to be rooted in original sin. We too often seek advantage over others. We cling to outworn prejudice and fear those who are unfamiliar. ["Embrace my beliefs because I am the Messiah. See, I mentioned Christ - now bow down. Did I say sin? Who put that on the teleprompter?"] Too many of us view life only through the lens of immediate self-interest [like abortion out of convenience?] and crass materialism; in which the world is necessarily a zero-sum game. The strong too often dominate the weak, [abortion?] and too many of those with wealth and with power find all manner of justification for their own privilege in the face of poverty and injustice. And so, for all our technology and scientific advances, [stem-cell research?] we see around the globe violence [abortion, embryonic stem-cell research!] and want and strife that would seem sadly familiar to those in ancient times. [like when children were sacrificed in fire?]

We know these things; and hopefully one of the benefits of the wonderful education you have received is that you have had time to consider these wrongs in the world, and grown determined, each in your own way, to right them. And yet, one of the vexing things for those of us interested in promoting greater understanding and cooperation among people is the discovery that even bringing together persons of good will, men and women of principle and purpose, can be difficult. ["but I got here anyway!!! Bwah ha ha!"]

The soldier and the lawyer may both love this country with equal passion, and yet reach very different conclusions on the specific steps needed to protect us from harm. The gay activist and the evangelical pastor may both deplore the ravages of HIV/AIDS, but find themselves unable to bridge the cultural divide that might unite their efforts. Those who speak out against stem cell research may be rooted in admirable conviction about the sacredness of life, but so are the parents of a child with juvenile diabetes who are convinced that their son's or daughter's hardships can be relieved. ["of course the Catholic Church wants children with diabetes and other diseases to suffer - they only like the unborn"]

The question, then, is how do we work through these conflicts? [we don't award honorary Doctoral degrees - that is a start] Is it possible for us to join hands in common effort? As citizens of a vibrant and varied democracy, how do we engage in vigorous debate? How does each of us remain firm in our principles, and fight for what we consider right, without demonizing those with just as strongly held convictions on the other side? [well, if it involves murdering the unborn - it is certainly not a product of heaven - now is it Mr. Obama?]

Nowhere do these questions come up more powerfully than on the issue of abortion. ["Oops! Did I say that outloud?"]

As I considered the controversy surrounding my visit here, I was reminded of an encounter I had during my Senate campaign, one that I describe in a book I wrote called The Audacity of Hope. ["I major in audacity and provide little hope for millions"] A few days after I won the Democratic nomination, I received an email from a doctor who told me that while he voted for me in the primary, he had a serious concern that might prevent him from voting for me in the general election. He described himself as a Christian who was strongly pro-life, but that's not what was preventing him from voting for me.

What bothered the doctor was an entry that my campaign staff had posted on my website - an entry that said I would fight "right-wing ideologues who want to take away a woman's right to choose." The doctor said that he had assumed I was a reasonable person, but that if I truly believed that every pro-life individual was simply an ideologue who wanted to inflict suffering on women, then I was not very reasonable. He wrote, "I do not ask at this point that you oppose abortion, only that you speak about this issue in fair-minded words."

Fair-minded words.

After I read the doctor's letter, I wrote back to him and thanked him. I didn't change my position, but I did tell my staff to change the words on my website. And I said a prayer that night that I might extend the same presumption of good faith to others that the doctor had extended to me. Because when we do that - when we open our hearts and our minds to those who may not think like we do or believe what we do - that's when we discover at least the possibility of common ground. ["See, I'm really nice guy afterall. I refused to sign the Born Alive Act, but I really am nice."]

That's when we begin to say, "Maybe we won't agree on abortion, but we can still agree that this is a heart-wrenching decision for any woman to make, with both moral and spiritual dimensions."

So let's work together to reduce the number of women seeking abortions by reducing unintended pregnancies, [hand out condoms to our middle schoolers] and making adoption more available, [is it not available now?] and providing care and support for women who do carry their child to term. Let's honor the conscience of those who disagree with abortion, and draft a sensible conscience clause, [Red flag! Red flag!] and make sure that all of our health care policies are grounded in clear ethics and sound science, as well as respect for the equality of women. ["women can have their children murdered out of convenience - afterall, why be punished with a baby?"]

Understand - I do not suggest that the debate surrounding abortion can or should go away. ["But I do wish it would - it makes me feel so confused as it continues to be above my paygrade"] No matter how much we may want to fudge it - indeed, while we know that the views of most Americans on the subject are complex and even contradictory - the fact is that 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. [Yoo hoo! Mr. President! The majority of Americans are pro-life!]

Open hearts. Open minds. Fair-minded words.

It's a way of life that has always been the Notre Dame tradition. Father Hesburgh has long spoken of this institution as both a lighthouse and a crossroads. The lighthouse that stands apart, shining with the wisdom of the Catholic tradition, while the crossroads is where "...differences of culture and religion and conviction can co-exist with friendship, civility, hospitality, and especially love." And I want to join him and Father Jenkins in saying how inspired I am by the maturity and responsibility with which this class has approached the debate surrounding today's ceremony.

This tradition of cooperation and understanding is one that I learned in my own life many years ago - also with the help of the Catholic Church.

I was not raised in a particularly religious household, but my mother instilled in me a sense of service and empathy that eventually led me to become a community organizer after I graduated college. A group of Catholic churches in Chicago helped fund an organization known as the Developing Communities Project, and we worked to lift up South Side neighborhoods that had been devastated when the local steel plant closed.

It was quite an eclectic crew. Catholic and Protestant churches. Jewish and African-American organizers. Working-class black and white and Hispanic residents. All of us with different experiences. All of us with different beliefs. But all of us learned to work side by side because all of us saw in these neighborhoods other human beings who needed our help - to find jobs and improve schools. We were bound together in the service of others.

And something else happened during the time I spent in those neighborhoods. Perhaps because the church folks I worked with were so welcoming and understanding; perhaps because they invited me to their services and sang with me from their hymnals; perhaps because I witnessed all of the good works their faith inspired them to perform, I found myself drawn - not just to work with the church, but to be in the church. It was through this service that I was brought to Christ.

At the time, Cardinal Joseph Bernardin was the Archbishop of Chicago. For those of you too young to have known him, he was a kind and good and wise man. A saintly man. I can still remember him speaking at one of the first organizing meetings I attended on the South Side. He stood as both a lighthouse and a crossroads - unafraid to speak his mind on moral issues ranging from poverty, AIDS, and abortion to the death penalty and nuclear war. And yet, he was congenial and gentle in his persuasion, always trying to bring people together; always trying to find common ground. Just before he died, a reporter asked Cardinal Bernardin about this approach to his ministry. And he said, "You can't really get on with preaching the Gospel until you've touched minds and hearts."

My heart and mind were touched by the words and deeds of the men and women I worked alongside with in Chicago. [Rev. Wright, Mr. Obama? What about your terrorist friend William Ayers?] And I'd like to think that we touched the hearts and minds of the neighborhood families whose lives we helped change. For this, I believe, is our highest calling.

You are about to enter the next phase of your life at a time of great uncertainty. You will be called upon to help restore a free market that is also fair to all who are willing to work; to seek new sources of energy that can save our planet; to give future generations the same chance that you had to receive an extraordinary education. And whether as a person drawn to public service, or someone who simply insists on being an active citizen, you will be exposed to more opinions and ideas broadcast through more means of communications than have ever existed before. You will hear talking heads scream on cable, read blogs that claim definitive knowledge, and watch politicians pretend to know what they're talking about. Occasionally, you may also have the great fortune of seeing important issues debated by well-intentioned, brilliant minds. In fact, I suspect that many of you will be among those bright stars. ["By the way, anyone interested in being my new Ambassador to the Vatican? It seems I can't find one - funny, I can't imagine why..."]

In this world of competing claims about what is right and what is true, have confidence in the values with which you've been raised and educated. Be unafraid to speak your mind when those values are at stake. [Thanks, I appreciate your permission.] Hold firm to your faith and allow it to guide you on your journey. [That is exactly what I am doing now, Mr. President.] Stand as a lighthouse. [I'm praying that you see the light]

But remember too that the ultimate irony of faith is that it necessarily admits doubt [???]. It is the belief in things not seen. It is beyond our capacity as human beings to know with certainty what God has planned for us or what He asks of us, and those of us who believe must trust that His wisdom is greater than our own. [And He is the creator of ALL life. Babies, too!!!]

This doubt should not push us away from our faith. But it should humble us. It should temper our passions, and cause us to be wary of self-righteousness. It should compel us to remain open, and curious, and eager to continue the moral and spiritual debate that began for so many of you within the walls of Notre Dame. And within our vast democracy, this doubt should remind us to persuade through reason, through an appeal whenever we can to universal rather than parochial principles, and most of all through an abiding example of good works, charity, kindness, and service that moves hearts and minds. [What of the right to LIFE, LIBERTY and the PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS?]

For if there is one law that we can be most certain of, it is the law that binds people of all faiths and no faith together. It is no coincidence that it exists in Christianity and Judaism; in Islam and Hinduism; in Buddhism and humanism. It is, of course, the Golden Rule - the call to treat one another as we wish to be treated. The call to love. To serve. To do what we can to make a difference in the lives of those with whom we share the same brief moment on this Earth.

So many of you at Notre Dame - by the last count, upwards of 80% -- have lived this law of love through the service you've performed at schools and hospitals; international relief agencies and local charities. That is incredibly impressive, and a powerful testament to this institution. Now you must carry the tradition forward. Make it a way of life. Because when you serve, it doesn't just improve your community, it makes you a part of your community. It breaks down walls. It fosters cooperation. And when that happens - when people set aside their differences to work in common effort toward a common good; when they struggle together, and sacrifice together, and learn from one another - all things are possible.

After all, I stand here today, as President and as an African-American, on the 55th anniversary of the day that the Supreme Court handed down the decision in Brown v. the Board of Education. Brown was of course the first major step in dismantling the "separate but equal" doctrine, but it would take a number of years and a nationwide movement to fully realize the dream of civil rights for all of God's children [EXCEPT for the UNBORN.] There were freedom rides and lunch counters and Billy clubs, and there was also a Civil Rights Commission appointed by President Eisenhower. It was the twelve resolutions recommended by this commission that would ultimately become law in the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

There were six members of the commission. It included five whites and one African-American; Democrats and Republicans; two Southern governors, the dean of a Southern law school, a Midwestern university president, and your own Father Ted Hesburgh, President of Notre Dame. They worked for two years, and at times, President Eisenhower had to intervene personally since no hotel or restaurant in the South would serve the black and white members of the commission together. Finally, when they reached an impasse in Louisiana, Father Ted flew them all to Notre Dame's retreat in Land O'Lakes, Wisconsin, where they eventually overcame their differences and hammered out a final deal.

Years later, President Eisenhower asked Father Ted how on Earth he was able to broker an agreement between men of such different backgrounds and beliefs. And Father Ted simply said that during their first dinner in Wisconsin, they discovered that they were all fishermen. And so he quickly readied a boat for a twilight trip out on the lake. They fished, and they talked, and they changed the course of history.

I will not pretend that the challenges we face will be easy, or that the answers will come quickly, or that all our differences and divisions will fade happily away. Life is not that simple. ["'cause you can snuff it out if you REALLY want to - heck, this is America!"] It never has been.

But as you leave here today, remember the lessons of Cardinal Bernardin, of Father Hesburgh, of movements for change both large and small. Remember that each of us, endowed with the dignity possessed by all children of God, [EXCEPT for the UNBORN!] has the grace to recognize ourselves in one another; to understand that we all seek the same love of family and the same fulfillment of a life well-lived. [If you have a chance to be born, that is] Remember that in the end, we are all fishermen. [And Christ is hoping you'll join Him at some point, Mr. Obama.]

If nothing else, that knowledge should give us faith that through our collective labor, and God's providence, and our willingness to shoulder each other's burdens, America will continue on its precious journey towards that more perfect union. Congratulations on your graduation, may God Bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America. Indeed. [We need God now more than ever!]

Just who was 'Jane Roe'? Meet Miss Norma McCorvey

Facts about Miss McCorvey:

• She became Catholic in 1998
• She NEVER had an abortion
• She was a token in a legal game as part of Roe v. Wade
  
• She now speaks out against abortion
• She is the mother of three daughters and is now a grandparent
• She is in South Bend to speak out against abortion right now
  
• She seeks to help women who have had an abortion heal
  

In prayerful remembrance of our brothers and sisters who have been lost from abortion…We do not condemn those who felt they had to do this; rather, we weep with them now…and we pray for the day when the most frail and vulnerable lives will enjoy the same protections the rest of us do.

Fr. Jenkins: Feed Hungry, Educate, Provide Abortions and Push Condoms?

Lifesitenews broke the story and I did some digging of my own. It has come to my attention that Fr. Jenkins, President of Notre Dame University, is on the board of directors of Millennium Promise. The group has eight goals as listed on their website which anyone would/should be supportive of:

	GOAL 1 Eradicate Extreme Hunger and Poverty
	GOAL 2 Achieve Universal Primary Education
	GOAL 3 Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women
	GOAL 4 Reduce Child Mortality
	GOAL 5 Improve Maternal Health
	GOAL 6 Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases
	GOAL 7 Ensure Environmental Sustainability
	GOAL 8 Develop a Global Partnership for Development

That Goal #6 is a stickler for Fr. Jenkins, or at least his vocation. How do they fight HIV/AIDS? They distribute condoms, birth control pills and other types of artificial birth control as part of their 'core intervention'. I suppose Goals #3 and 5 are in direct conflict with Goal #4 - you see dear reader, they also pay for and provide abortions.

In a recent conference aboard the papal plane enroute to Africa, the Holy Father said this about AIDS and the distribution of condoms, emphasis mine:

“I would say that this problem of AIDS cannot be overcome with advertising slogans. If the soul is lacking, if Africans do not help one another, the scourge cannot be resolved by distributing condoms; quite the contrary, we risk worsening the problem. The solution can only come through a twofold commitment: firstly, the humanization of sexuality, in other words a spiritual and human renewal bringing a new way of behaving towards one another; and secondly, true friendship, above all with those who are suffering, a readiness - even through personal sacrifice - to be present with those who suffer. And these are the factors that help and bring visible progress.

“Therefore, I would say that our double effort is to renew the human person internally, to give spiritual and human strength to a way of behaving that is just towards our own body and the other person’s body; and this capacity of suffering with those who suffer, to remain present in trying situations.

“I believe that this is the first response [to AIDS] and that this is what the Church does, and thus, she offers a great and important contribution. And we are grateful to those that do this.”

Need I mention what the Church teaches about abortion?

Why is it that good actions by these radical heretics always contain the undergarments of evil? Yes, he wants to feed the hungry, care for the needs of the poor, provide education, improve living conditions - all things any Christian would agree must be done. But then to mingle love with the intrinsically evil is akin to someone using a swimming pool as a toilet but assuring everyone that the water is fine. Their message: if the child is able to survive an abortifacent birth control pill, condoms and abortion - they'll educate them and give them food. Wake up, people!

If there was ever a time for a Hail Mary, this is it!

Something is brewing in the U.S. Catholic Church this week and your prayers are requested. Every now and then, events converge which can shape Church history. Through the pilfering of Catholic Education, millions of Catholics have been left without direction in their faith and were filled full of secularist lies in the name of 'academic freedom'. Efforts are currently underway to right the wrongs beginning with Notre Dame University.

Pray a full 20 decade rosary each day this week, and if possible, before the Eucharist. Pray that Archbishop Raymond Burke and Pope Benedict XVI will be able to restore order to the Church and protect our Universities from further pilfering.


UPDATE: Read HERE for another take on the story.

Laetare Medal Shelved for 2009

More good news coming out of Indiana with this statement from Notre Dame University:

Judge John T. Noonan Jr., the 1984 recipient of the Laetare Medal, has accepted an invitation to deliver an address in the spirit of the award at Notre Dame’s 164th University Commencement Ceremony on May 17. His speech will be in lieu of awarding the medal this year.

“In thinking about who could bring a compelling voice, a passion for dialogue, great intellectual stature, and a deep commitment to Catholic values to the speaking role of the Laetare Medalist – especially in these unusual circumstances – it quickly became clear that an ideal choice is Judge Noonan,” said Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., president of Notre Dame. “This commencement ceremony, more than anything else, is a celebration of our students and their families. Judge Noonan will join with President Obama and other speakers in that celebration, sending them from our campus and into the world with sound advice and affirmation.

Read the rest of the statement and more about Judge Noonan HERE. Good call by the Board or whomever made this decision. My prayer was answered just the way I had hoped.

Jesus: Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity at Notre Dame University

Click HERE to see lovely pictures of the 5th annual Eucharistic procession at Notre Dame University. It brought tears to my eyes to see so many people on their knees in adoration of the Lord. Just HAD to share it with you. Thanks to you, the Kloska family, for your resounding love of Jesus and for sharing this story!

ReplaceJenkins.com Press Release: 8.2 million in Alum Donations to be Withheld

Press Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: David DiFranco

ddifranco1@gmail.com

NOTRE DAME ALUMNI CONFIRM $8.2 MILLION IN WITHHELD DONATIONS – IN ONE WEEK

Financial Penalty of Obama Invite Growing Rapidly

DEARBORN, MI - (April 27, 2009) – Organizers of ReplaceJenkins.com, an online effort urging alumni and donors to the University of Notre Dame to withhold donations, announced Monday that they have personally confirmed over $8.2 million in withheld donations as a part of their national outreach effort.

The website ReplaceJenkins.com has received over 900 pledges from alumni and donors promising to withhold future donations. Several of the largest gifts include estate bequests to the University that have been removed from donors’ wills. ReplaceJenkins.com organizers have personally confirmed a majority of the largest donations, and continue to verify the validity of millions of additional gifts.

ReplaceJenkins.com spokesperson David DiFranco (Class of ‘95) commented: “We knew many donors and alums were unhappy with the decision to honor a pro-abortion president, but we never expected this large of a response. We can hardly keep up, and this is only the beginning. We can only imagine what fundraisers at the University are experiencing, but understandably not reporting.”

“The process of verifying the largest donors has been carefully conducted,” DiFranco explained. “We dismissed the obvious bogus submissions, and are not counting a huge number of larger donations that we are still in the process of verifying. We are speaking directly with donors, and in several cases we have spoken with estate attorneys to confirm that Notre Dame has been stripped from a donor’s will. We are going about this process with a critical eye in order that that the numbers we report are accurate. For that reason, the $8.2 million we are reporting today is actually very conservative.”

Alumni and financial supporters of the University of Notre Dame launched the online effort just over one week ago in an effort to withhold donations from Notre Dame, until Rev. John Jenkins, CSC is replaced. The coalition website – www.replacejenkins.com - urges supporters to withhold all contributions to the Notre Dame General Fund until President Jenkins is replaced with someone who is committed to the authentic identity of Notre Dame, grounded in the teachings of the Catholic Church.

“As momentum continues to build, we are now certain that the financial penalty resulting from the decision to honor the most pro-abortion president in our nation’s history, will be enormous. The fact that this effort is necessary is unfortunate. However, alumni and supporters of Notre Dame have little other recourse than to protest with their pocketbooks. We will continue our efforts as long as it is necessary to bring about positive change at Notre Dame that will honor ‘Our Lady’s’ University,” said DiFranco.

###

ReplaceJenkins.com is a national effort consisting of Notre Dame Alumni and financial supporters who believe the University should not honor President Barack Obama given his public actions and commitment to the destruction of innocent human life, in violation of the express teachings of the Catholic Church.

Fr. Jenkins Responds

From Notre Dame Newswire:

The following statement from Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., president of the University of Notre Dame, is in response to the decision by Mary Ann Glendon to decline acceptance of the University’s Laetare Medal:

“We are, of course, disappointed that Professor Glendon has made this decision. It is our intention to award the Laetare Medal to another deserving recipient, and we will make that announcement as soon as possible.”

Questions which immediately come to mind:

1. What faithful Catholic in his/her right mind would accept the award after this?
2. What pro-choice 'Catholics' will make his short list?
3. Does Nancy Pelosi think she may now be in the running?
4. Are the Kennedys calling Fr. Jenkins' office right now?

I'll be following the story as it continues to develop. If you would care to guess how the issue will be resolved, leave a comment. My hope is that the award may sit on a shelf until a commencement in the future.

From wiki:

The Laetare Medal is an annual award given by the University of Notre Dame in recognition of outstanding service to the Roman Catholic church and society. The award is given to an American Catholic layperson "whose genius has ennobled the arts and sciences, illustrated the ideals of the church and enriched the heritage of humanity." First awarded in 1883, it is the oldest and most prestigious award for American Catholics. The medal is an external award which can be given to a person from outside the University of Notre Dame. It is named the Laetare Medal because the recipient of the award is announced in celebration of Laetare Sunday, the fourth Sunday in Lent.

Follow the Notre Dame scandal on +Ponderings+ HERE.


UPDATE: There will be no Laetare Medal awarded this year. Good call.

Well Done, Professor Glendon! Thanks Be to God!

From First Things:

April 27, 2009
The Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.
President
University of Notre Dame

Dear Father Jenkins,

When you informed me in December 2008 that I had been selected to receive Notre Dame’s Laetare Medal, I was profoundly moved. I treasure the memory of receiving an honorary degree from Notre Dame in 1996, and I have always felt honored that the commencement speech I gave that year was included in the anthology of Notre Dame’s most memorable commencement speeches. So I immediately began working on an acceptance speech that I hoped would be worthy of the occasion, of the honor of the medal, and of your students and faculty.

Last month, when you called to tell me that the commencement speech was to be given by President Obama, I mentioned to you that I would have to rewrite my speech. Over the ensuing weeks, the task that once seemed so delightful has been complicated by a number of factors.

First, as a longtime consultant to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, I could not help but be dismayed by the news that Notre Dame also planned to award the president an honorary degree. This, as you must know, was in disregard of the U.S. bishops’ express request of 2004 that Catholic institutions “should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles” and that such persons “should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.” That request, which in no way seeks to control or interfere with an institution’s freedom to invite and engage in serious debate with whomever it wishes, seems to me so reasonable that I am at a loss to understand why a Catholic university should disrespect it.

Then I learned that “talking points” issued by Notre Dame in response to widespread criticism of its decision included two statements implying that my acceptance speech would somehow balance the event:

• “President Obama won’t be doing all the talking. Mary Ann Glendon, the former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, will be speaking as the recipient of the Laetare Medal.”

• “We think having the president come to Notre Dame, see our graduates, meet our leaders, and hear a talk from Mary Ann Glendon is a good thing for the president and for the causes we care about.”

A commencement, however, is supposed to be a joyous day for the graduates and their families. It is not the right place, nor is a brief acceptance speech the right vehicle, for engagement with the very serious problems raised by Notre Dame’s decision — in disregard of the settled position of the U.S. bishops — to honor a prominent and uncompromising opponent of the Church’s position on issues involving fundamental principles of justice.

Finally, with recent news reports that other Catholic schools are similarly choosing to disregard the bishops’ guidelines, I am concerned that Notre Dame’s example could have an unfortunate ripple effect.
It is with great sadness, therefore, that I have concluded that I cannot accept the Laetare Medal or participate in the May 17 graduation ceremony.

In order to avoid the inevitable speculation about the reasons for my decision, I will release this letter to the press, but I do not plan to make any further comment on the matter at this time.

Yours Very Truly,
Mary Ann Glendon

Mary Ann Glendon is Learned Hand Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. A member of the editorial and advisory board of First Things, she served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican from 2007 to 2009.

This letter and the message it conveys has instilled within the depths of my soul a renewed sense of hope. Thank you, Professor Glendon. You put Christ first.

To Laugh or to Cry - You Decide

What happens when you cross elements of the Diocese of Rochester with what Catholic universities have become? A married man who was ordained a 'priest' by an excommunicated 'bishop' and refers to himself as a married priest, who announces the ordination of 'female bishops', who were graduates of Notre Dame and St. Mary's - both in Indiana. Got that? Let me explain it this way: Phony priest from Rochester, NY who happens to be a 'media liaison' for CORPUS (a group for dissidents who think they are still Catholic but really are not) is proud to announce the ordination of female 'bishops', one a Notre Dame graduate and the other a graduate of St. Mary's. Still messy and full of grammatical errors but not as erroneous as the canon laws which have been trounced. Note that their croziers are as phony as they are in the picture above. Read the news release:

CORPUS Congratulates Four Newly Ordained Women Bishops
By Ray Grosswirth, CORPUS Media Liaison
Dated: Apr 19, 2009

CORPUS, the national association for an inclusive priesthood, wishes to convey its joy over the ordination of four women bishops on April 19, 2009, in Santa Barbara, California.

CORPUS SUPPORTS AND CONGRATULATES FOUR NEWLY-ORDAINED CATHOLIC WOMEN-BISHOPS

CORPUS (www.corpus.org), the national association for an inclusive priesthood, is deeply proud to articulate its support of four ordinations that took place on April 19 in the state of California. It is withgreat joy that we congratulate the following four Catholic bishops: Joan Mary Clark Houk, Andrea MicheleJohnson, Bridget Mary Meehan and Maria Regina Nicolosi.

Bishops Houk, Johnson, Meehan and Nicolosi join their male counterparts in the Roman Catholic Episcopate as servant-leaders of their respective communities.

For over thirty-five years, CORPUS has been actively engaged in the effort to create a church that is all-inclusive. In its effort to expand its outreach efforts, CORPUS has moved beyond its original mission as a vehicle of support for married priests and their families. We now recognize that the Kingdom of God on earth cannot be realized until all of human creation is treated with dignity and respect. We also realize that
a call from God to ordained ministry is not limited to celibate males. We therefore embrace and encourage all who experience the call, minus any discrimination on the basis of gender, marital status or sexual orientation.

Women who prepare for ordination to the diaconate, priesthood and episcopate are highly trained and have the same educational qualifications as males in similar roles. CORPUS hopes and prays that those who are opposed to the ordination of women will search their hearts and come to realize that if the Catholic Church is to remain vital in the years ahead, we must be open to the will of the Holy Spirit.

The fact that many women are coming forward to respond to a call from God is a reason to celebrate, and CORPUS greets these women of faith with open arms and a feeling of joy and gratitude for their spiritual
and ministerial gifts. Bishops Houk, Johnson, Meehan and Nicolosi give hope to a divided church. CORPUS has every confidence that they will be true disciples of Christ, and we therefore rejoice in their ordination to the rank of the episcopate.

CORPUS has been in existence for over 35 years to promote and support inclusivity in the ranks of the Roman Catholic priesthood.

If you are game, go to youtube.com and search for: 'Rochester married priest' and feast your eyes on the the media laison from CORPUS. He dances with cleaning implements, has fake conversations with the Pope on the telephone and all sorts of nonsense. Then whether you cry or laugh, end with a prayer. Maranatha.

Thanks to fratres for sharing the story.

ReplaceJenkins.com

Hot off the 'press', the newest attempt to correct the path of Notre Dame University.

ReplaceJenkins.com

ReplaceJenkins.com is a national effort consisting of Notre Dame graduates and financial supporters. We feel strongly that the University should not honor President Barack Obama given his well known commitment to abortion in the broadest possible context. Father Jenkins’ decision to honor President Obama directly violates the 2004 US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ directive on Catholics in Political Life and is offensive to all Catholics. That decision, together with other poor decisions over the years, calls into question Father Jenkins’ judgment and leadership. Although we love Notre Dame, our conscience requires that we withhold all financial support from our University until such time as Father Jenkins is replaced as Notre Dame’s President with someone who will be more loyal to the teaching of the Catholic Church.

ReplaceJenkins.com fully supports academic freedom at the University of Notre Dame, but we believe that the truths revealed by Christ through His Church must be taught and defended by a faithful Catholic University.

ReplaceJenkins.com is a non-partisan group which is not opposed to President Obama or Father Jenkins based upon political motivation or party affiliation, but is opposed to their actions and pronouncements which run contrary to the fundamental moral principles of our Catholic faith. No part of our effort is intended to be an attack on President Obama or Father Jenkins personally; rather, our concern relates solely to the actions of both men and is intended to serve as a strong condemnation of Father Jenkins’ moral leadership and President Obama’s unequivocal support of abortion.

Bishop D'Arcy to Fr. Jenkins: "Withdraw the erroneous talking points"

In an April 21, 2009 statement to the faithful, Bishop D'Arcy of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend sets the record straight. Is this the beginning of changes to come or the voice of a shepherd being ignored by a wandering goat? Time will tell.

[Emphasis mine]

April 21, 2009

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Recently, Father John Jenkins, CSC, in a letter of response to Bishop Olmsted of the Diocese of Phoenix, who had written him, critical of the decision to invite President Obama to speak and receive an honorary degree of law at Notre Dame, indicated that it was his conviction that the statement “Catholics in Political Life” (USCCB) did not apply in this matter. Father Jenkins kindly sent me a copy of his letter, and also at a later meeting, asked for a response. In an April 15th letter to Father Jenkins, I responded to his letter.

Now the points made in his letter have been sent by Father Jenkins to the members of the Notre Dame Board of Trustees and have been publicized nationally, as well as locally in the South Bend Tribune. Since the matter is now public, it is my duty as the bishop of this diocese to respond and correct. I take up this responsibility with some sadness, but also with the conviction that if I did not do so, I would be remiss in my pastoral responsibility.

Rather than share my full letter, which I have shared with some in church leadership, I prefer to present some of the key points.

1. The meaning of the sentence in the USCCB document relative to Catholic institutions is clear. It places the responsibility on those institutions, and indeed, on the Catholic community itself.

“The Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.” — “Catholics in Political Life,” USCCB.

2. When there is a doubt concerning the meaning of a document of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, where does one find the authentic interpretation? A fundamental, canonical and theological principal states that it is found in the local bishop, who is the teacher and lawgiver in his diocese. — Canon 330, 375 §§ 1 & 2; 380; 381 § 1; 391 § 1; 392, & 394 §1.

3. I informed Father Jenkins that if there was any genuine questions or doubt about the meaning of the relevant sentence in the conference’s document, any competent canonist with knowledge of the tradition and love for Christ’s church had the responsibility to inform Father Jenkins of the fundamental principle that the diocesan bishop alone bears the responsibility to provide an authoritative interpretation.

4. I reminded Father Jenkins that he indicated that he consulted presidents of other Catholic universities, and at least indirectly, consulted other bishops, since he asked those presidents to share with him those judgments of their own bishops. However, he chose not to consult his own bishop who, as I made clear, is the teacher and lawgiver in his own diocese. I reminded Father Jenkins that I was not informed of the invitation until after it was accepted by the president. I mentioned again that it is at the heart of the diocesan bishop’s pastoral responsibility to teach as revealed in sacred Scripture and the tradition. (“Lumen Gentium,” 20; and “Christus Dominus,” 2.) I reminded him that it is also central to the university’s relationship to the church. (“Ex corde ecclesiae,” 27 & 28; Gen. Norm., Art. 5, §§ 1-3.)

5. Another key point. In his letter to Bishop Olmsted and in the widespread publicity, which has taken place as the points in the letter have been made public, Father Jenkins declared the invitation to President Obama does not “suggest support” for his actions, because he has expressed and continues to express disagreement with him on issues surrounding protection of life. I wrote that the outpouring of hundreds of thousands who are shocked by the invitation clearly demonstrates, that this invitation has, in fact, scandalized many Catholics and other people of goodwill. In my office alone, there have been over 3,300 messages of shock, dismay and outrage, and they are still coming in. It seems that the action in itself speaks so loudly that people have not been able to hear the words of Father Jenkins, and indeed, the action has suggested approval to many.

In the publicity surrounding the points Father Jenkins has made, he also says he is “following the document of the bishops” by “laying a basis for engagement with the president on this issue.” I indicated that I, like many others, will await to see what the follow up is on this issue between Notre Dame and President Obama.

6. As I have said in a recent interview and which I have said to Father Jenkins, it would be one thing to bring the president here for a discussion on healthcare or immigration, and no person of goodwill could rightly oppose this. We have here, however, the granting of an honorary degree of law to someone whose activities both as president and previously, have been altogether supportive of laws against the dignity of the human person yet to be born.

In my letter, I have also asked Father Jenkins to correct, and if possible, withdraw the erroneous talking points, which appeared in the South Bend Tribune and in other media outlets across the country. The statements which Father Jenkins has made are simply wrong and give a flawed justification for his actions.

I consider it now settled — that the USCCB document, “Catholics in Public Life,” does indeed apply in this matter. The failure to consult the local bishop who, whatever his unworthiness, is the teacher and lawgiver in the diocese, is a serious mistake. Proper consultation could have prevented an action, which has caused such painful division between Notre Dame and many bishops — and a large number of the faithful.

That division must be addressed through prayer and action, and I pledge to work with Father Jenkins and all at Notre Dame to heal the terrible breach, which has taken place between Notre Dame and the church. It cannot be allowed to continue.

I ask all to pray that this healing will take place in a way that is substantial and true, and not illusory. Notre Dame and Father Jenkins must do their part if this healing is to take place. I will do my part.

Sincerely yours in our Lord,
Most Reverend
John M. D’Arcy

Amen, Your Excellency. Amen.

U.S. Bishops Line Up to Denounce Fr. Jenkins' Decision

Lifesitenews.com has compiled a list of the U.S. Bishops who have shown disapproval of Mr. Obama's invitation to be principal commencement speaker and honorary law degree recipient at Notre Dame University:

1. Bishop John D'Arcy - Fort Wayne-South Bend, IN
2. Bishop Samuel Aquila - Fargo, ND
3. Bishop Gregory Aymond - Austin, TX
4. Bishop Gerald Barbarito - Palm Beach, FL
5. Bishop Leonard Blair - Toledo, OH
6. Archbishop Daniel Buechlein - Indianapolis, IN
7. Bishop Robert Baker - Birmingham, AL
8. Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz - Lincoln, NE
9. Archbishop Eusebius Beltran - Oklahoma City, OK
10. Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Cantú - San Antonio, TX
11. Bishop Paul Coakley - Salina, KS
12. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo - Houston, TX
13. Archbishop Timothy Dolan - New York, NY
14. Bishop Thomas Doran - Rockford, IL
15. Auxiliary Bishop John Dougherty - Scranton, PA
16. Bishop Robert Finn - Kansas City-St. Joseph, MO
17. Bishop Victor Galeone - St. Augustine, FL
18. Cardinal Francis George - Chicago, IL; President, USCCB
19. Bishop Gerald Gettelfinger - Evansville, IN
20. Archbishop José Gomez - San Antonio, TX
21. Bishop William Higi - Lafayette, IN
22. Archbishop Alfred Hughs - New Orleans, LA
23. Bishop Joseph Latino - Jackson, MS
24. Bishop Jerome Listecki - La Crosse, WI
25. Bishop William E. Lori - Bridgeport, CT
26. Bishop Paul Loverde - Arlington, VA
27. Bishop George Lucas - Springfield, IL
28. Bishop Robert Lynch - St. Petersburg, FL
29. Bishop Joseph Martino - Scranton, PA
30. Bishop Charles Morlino - Madison, WI
31. Bishop George Murry - Youngstown, OH
32. Archbishop John J. Myers - Newark, NJ
33. Bishop R. Walker Nickless - Sioux City, IA
34. Archbishop John C. Nienstedt - St. Paul-Minneapolis, MN
35. Archbishop Edwin O'Brien - Baltimore, MD
36. Bishop Thomas Olmsted - Phoenix, AZ
37. Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk - Cincinnati, OH
38. Bishop Kevin Rhoades - Harrisburg, PA
39. Bishop Alexander Sample - Marquette, MI
40. Bishop Edward J. Slattery - Tulsa, OK
41. Bishop Richard Stika - Knoxville, TN
42. Bishop Anthony Taylor - Little Rock, AR
43. Bishop Robert Vasa - Baker, OR
44. Bishop Thomas Wenski - Orlando, FL
45. Bishop David Zubick - Pittsburgh, PA

*List updated 4/23
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Click HERE to see all +Ponderings+ entries on the Notre Dame scandal

Ouch! Truth Hurts in the Notre Dame Scandal

Recent news brief from CatholicCulture.org:

“Whatever else is clear, it is clear that Notre Dame didn't understand what it means to be Catholic when they issued this invitation,” said Cardinal Francis George, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, commenting on the University of Notre Dame’s decision to award President Barack Obama an honorary degree at its May commencement. “Quite apart from the president's own positions, which are well known, the problem is in that you have a Catholic university-- the flagship Catholic university-- do something that brought extreme embarrassment to many, many people who are Catholic.” Cardinal George urged Catholics “to do what you are supposed to be doing: to call, to e-mail, to write letters, to express what's in your heart about this: the embarrassment, the difficulties.” “You have to sit back and get past the immediate moral outrage and say, ‘Now what's the best thing to do in these circumstances?’” he continued. “I can assure you the bishops are doing that.”

Maranatha!

Jack Higgins © 2009 Chicago Sun-Times

Some cartoons just are not funny - even when they are dead on.

A Letter from Bishop D'Arcy, Diocese of Fort Wayne - South Bend

"After much prayer, I have decided not to attend the graduation."

March 24, 2009

On Friday, March 21, Father John Jenkins, CSC, phoned to inform me that President Obama had accepted his invitation to speak to the graduating class at Notre Dame and receive an honorary degree. We spoke shortly before the announcement was made public at the White House press briefing. It was the first time that I had been informed that Notre Dame had issued this invitation.

President Obama has recently reaffirmed, and has now placed in public policy, his long-stated unwillingness to hold human life as sacred. While claiming to separate politics from science, he has in fact separated science from ethics and has brought the American government, for the first time in history, into supporting direct destruction of innocent human life.

This will be the 25th Notre Dame graduation during my time as bishop. After much prayer, I have decided not to attend the graduation. I wish no disrespect to our president, I pray for him and wish him well. I have always revered the Office of the Presidency. But a bishop must teach the Catholic faith “in season and out of season,” and he teaches not only by his words — but by his actions.

My decision is not an attack on anyone, but is in defense of the truth about human life.

I have in mind also the statement of the U.S. Catholic Bishops in 2004. “The Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.” Indeed, the measure of any Catholic institution is not only what it stands for, but also what it will not stand for.

I have spoken with Professor Mary Ann Glendon, who is to receive the Laetare Medal. I have known her for many years and hold her in high esteem. We are both teachers, but in different ways. I have encouraged her to accept this award and take the opportunity such an award gives her to teach.

Even as I continue to ponder in prayer these events, which many have found shocking, so must Notre Dame. Indeed, as a Catholic University, Notre Dame must ask itself, if by this decision it has chosen prestige over truth.

Tomorrow, we celebrate as Catholics the moment when our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, became a child in the womb of his most holy mother. Let us ask Our Lady to intercede for the university named in her honor, that it may recommit itself to the primacy of truth over prestige.

Too Far? Just Right?

View the videos below (also found HERE) and comment if you are so moved. Please participate in the poll found in the upper right corner of the blog. We have seen a lot of traffic from South Bend and Notre Dame here at +Ponderings+ and are interested in what YOU have to say.

University of Notre Dame: In Need of a Name Change?

How does 'Our Obama' sound? 'Our Lady' is truly a blasphemous attack upon the Blessed Virgin Mary and all that she means to us (considering Obama's push for the FOCA, refusal to sign the Born Alive Act, federal funding for embryonic stemcell research, Conscience Law revision considerations, etc.). Notre Dame has hit a double with Mr. Obama - he will soon receive an honorary doctor of law degree and give the principle commencement address on May 17th.

I've taken liberty with the Notre Dame 'Fight Song' - see what you think...

Rally sons of Notre Obama,
Sing his glory, and sound his fame
Raise his Gold and Blue,
And cheer with voices true,
Rah! Rah! For Notre Obama.

We will fight in every game
Strong of heart and true to his name.
We will ne'er forget him
And we'll cheer him ever,
Loyal to Notre Obama.

Chorus:
Cheer, cheer for Old Notre Obama
Wake up the echoes cheering his name,
Send the volley cheer on high,
Shake down the thunder from the sky,
What though the odds be great or small
Old Notre Obama will win over all,
While his loyal sons are marching
Onward to Victory

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Please check out the archived +Ponderings+ post from last May HERE about choosing a CATHOLIC Catholic College. There are still some.

Offended by this scandal? Click HERE and let your voice be heard.

_____________________

EDITED TO ADD: There are now Facebook groups speaking out for and against this subject matter.

Tell Notre Dame to Un-Invite President Obama
Protest Obama as 2009 Commencement Speaker
We Will be Honored to Have President Obama at Notre Dame

Also of interest:

Notre Dame's Newspaper: The Observer Online, "Obama selection a betrayal..."
Is Obama Worth a Mass by Ralph McInerny (professor at ND since 1955
Condi Rice Commencement Address at Boston University Received Fierce Protest
Latest from CNS News
Latest from Catholic News Agency
The Destruction of Notre Dame
ND Professors React to Stem Cell Decision