Head of Holy Cross Order "Doesn't know what to say" about Obama and Notre Dame scandal

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From LifeSiteNews.com;

Exclusive Interview: Head of Holy Cross Order on Sanctions against Notre Dame Pres., "That’s Rather Extreme"
When asked, “Should Obama have been invited?” Cleary responded, “I don’t know what to say about that.”

ROME, April 2, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The head of the religious order to which the president of the University of Notre Dame, Fr. John Jenkins, belongs told LifeSiteNews.com in an exclusive interview today that the order has no plans to impose any disciplinary measures over the recent scandal.

Fr. Hugh Cleary, the Superior General of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, spoke to LSN today in Rome. When asked if it were possible to levy any formal canonical sanctions against Fr. John Jenkins, Notre Dame’s president, or any of the five members of the university’s board that belong to the order, Fr. Cleary responded, “I really don’t know.”

“The life issues are the most important issues, but there is a certain etiquette to be followed.” On the question of whether Obama should have been invited to Notre Dame in the first place, he said, “I don’t know what to say about that.”
 
He doesn’t know what to say!!!

I am so tired of priests and bishops and those in leadership positions in our Church not having the courage to speak out. This is a highly controversial topic and given the position he is in he SHOULD have* something* to say - regardless of which side of the issue he falls on.

This whole situation is beyond ridiculous. I cannot even imagine how this whole mess makes the Catholic Church look to non-Catholics especially…what a messed up family we are, and once again, we can’t seem to take a united stand on something so core to our faith as the right to life, and to heed the Bishops 2004 mandate to not honor people who publicly take a stand against such issues.
 
Caveman said:
From LifeSiteNews.com;

Exclusive Interview: Head of Holy Cross Order on Sanctions against Notre Dame Pres., "That’s Rather Extreme"
When asked, “Should Obama have been invited?” Cleary responded, “I don’t know what to say about that.”

ROME, April 2, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The head of the religious order to which the president of the University of Notre Dame, Fr. John Jenkins, belongs told LifeSiteNews.com in an exclusive interview today that the order has no plans to impose any disciplinary measures over the recent scandal.

Fr. Hugh Cleary, the Superior General of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, spoke to LSN today in Rome. When asked if it were possible to levy any formal canonical sanctions against Fr. John Jenkins, Notre Dame’s president, or any of the five members of the university’s board that belong to the order, Fr. Cleary responded, “I really don’t know.”

“The life issues are the most important issues, but there is a certain etiquette to be followed.” On the question of whether Obama should have been invited to Notre Dame in the first place, he said, “I don’t know what to say about that.”
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Wow, how wishy-washy can you get?

And I’m going to leave it at that lest I become too uncharitable. Blessed Basil Moreau, pray for your Holy Cross priests, brothers, and sisters that they may have the courage to speak up for TRUTH.
 
I say that all Notre Dame alumni should immediately withohold any donations. Hit them where it’ll hurt…in their(ND) pocketbook.
 
maryj said:
I say that all Notre Dame alumni should immediately withohold any donations. Hit them where it’ll hurt…in their(ND) pocketbook.
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I would hope that many would deny donations and make sure to say why.
 
Elzee, you said it perfectly! How in the world can he not know what to say?!! How about, “This is disgraceful” for starters? Let us not forget that Father Jenkins is also the one who allowed “The V… Monologues” to be presented at ND during Holy Week in the last year or so. (I emailed then but of course recevied no response.) Perhaps it’s time to do something about this priest! And hitting them in their wallets may be the only way to get through to them - obviously reminding them of the Church’s teachings makes absolutely no difference.

I can tell you that to non-Catholics, the Church looks absurd, judging from the comments I am getting. They don’t do anything about this, they don’t do anything about Father Pfleger, they don’t do anything about pro-abortion politicans who claim their Catholicism as they march up to receive the Eucharist. This situation is shameful.
 
If he does not know what to say, perhaps he should say nothing. As Cardinal George stated, he cannot see Notre Dame uninviting the president.

So all this shouting is just cant. I think it would be more productive to try to convince the president on Catholic theory than decrying his presence at a Catholic university.
 
Cardinal George also encouraged us to call, email or write ND about this situation.
 
KateD said:
Cardinal George also encouraged us to call, email or write ND about this situation.
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What for? He said Notre Dame’s decision will stand. Why do I want to tell ND I think they are wrong? What good would it do?

I just don’t like symbolic gestures. The cardinal can come down to the south side and nail a message to the president’s door, if he likes.
 
KateD said:
Cardinal George also encouraged us to call, email or write ND about this situation.
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Especially alumni relations and the board…while Jenkins may have drank the Kool aid, not everyone did…
 
Beau_Ouiville said:
If he does not know what to say, perhaps he should say nothing. As Cardinal George stated, he cannot see Notre Dame uninviting the president.

So all this shouting is just cant. I think it would be more productive to try to convince the president on Catholic theory than decrying his presence at a Catholic university.
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Do you really think that the President is open to persuasion when the dean of he NT law school is not? The President is a devious man, but he has made clear his opinions about abortion law.
 
Beau_Ouiville said:
If he does not know what to say, perhaps he should say nothing. As Cardinal George stated, he cannot see Notre Dame uninviting the president.

So all this shouting is just cant. I think it would be more productive to try to convince the president on Catholic theory than decrying his presence at a Catholic university.
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Catholic theory? How about Catholic truth! Didn’t Jesus preach the Truth and beat the money changers from the temple on the same day? Both HIs actions were “teaching-moments” done out of charity.

Is it not possible and preferable for us to do both? We pray along with Bishop Robert J. Baker and our own bishop everyday for Obama’s conversion; and everyday we decry the executive actions taken by Obama against innocent human life. The message is consistent.

Peace,
O’Malley
 
Elzee

Father Cleary at best is being immodest and at worst is being disingenuous. Father Cleary was aware of the decision before the invite was communicated so he either acquiesced or approved and frankly it hardly matters. “Not to decide, is to decide.” Father Cleary spoke long before his annoying apologia.
 
If he explains whats going on to the pope, I bet he would find out real quick what to think and what to do.
 
Caveman said:
From LifeSiteNews.com;

Exclusive Interview: Head of Holy Cross Order on Sanctions against Notre Dame Pres., "That’s Rather Extreme"
When asked, “Should Obama have been invited?” Cleary responded, “I don’t know what to say about that.”

ROME, April 2, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The head of the religious order to which the president of the University of Notre Dame, Fr. John Jenkins, belongs told LifeSiteNews.com in an exclusive interview today that the order has no plans to impose any disciplinary measures over the recent scandal.

Fr. Hugh Cleary, the Superior General of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, spoke to LSN today in Rome. When asked if it were possible to levy any formal canonical sanctions against Fr. John Jenkins, Notre Dame’s president, or any of the five members of the university’s board that belong to the order, Fr. Cleary responded, “I really don’t know.”

“The life issues are the most important issues, but there is a certain etiquette to be followed.” On the question of whether Obama should have been invited to Notre Dame in the first place, he said, “I don’t know what to say about that.”
Click to expand...
If Fr. Cleary is representative of his congregation’s thinking, what man in his right mind and who has a religious vocation would want to join them?
 
Deacon_Ed_B said:
If he explains whats going on to the pope, I bet he would find out real quick what to think and what to do.
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The Holy Father has no authority over Notre Dame. That’s part of the problem. ND is not a university of the Catholic Church. It is a Catholic University. There is a difference. There are only two universities of the Catholic Church in the USA: The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC and the Josephenum College of Theology.

All other Catholic universities and colleges in the USA are independent of the Church. They are morally bound to the Church, because the profess the Catholic faith and use the Catholic name. But legally, they are not the property of the Church or under the legal jurisdiction of the Church.

It’s funny how our legal system works. When someone wants to sue the Church, suddenly the courts rule that the institution is part of the Catholic Church. But when the Church tries to reign them in, the courts rule that the institution is not part of the Catholic Church, because they are incorporated as private non-profit corporations and not as property of the order, diocese or the Vatican.

The Religious of the Holy Cross are a Pontifical Congregation. They are under the jurisdiciton of the Holy Father. The Holy Father cannot legally intervene in the affairs of ND. That can land in a court case where the Vatican would lose. But the Holy Father can demand that the Superior General remove the Holy Cross religious currently stationed at ND and replace them with a new group of Holy Cross Religious.

Then again, the Superior General of the congregation knows he can do that without having the Holy Father demand it of him. I have no idea what talks have taken place behind closed doors between the Superior General and the president of the university. But that is one trump card that he can play. Canon law allows him to play that card without making the laity privy to it. He has only to make the Holy See privy to it. As a congregation of Pontifical Right, no one, not even bishops, have a right to know what they do in the internal form.

This is why Cardinal George encouraged the e-mails and other forms of communication. Even though the Congregation of the Holy Cross may be saying one thing to the lay world, they can do much behind the scenes that they do not have to share, not even with the bishops. The Superior General outranks a bishop when it comes to his subjects. Not only are the religious at the university his subjects, but also the students on campus, because he is the Ordinary in charge.

Let’s hope that he is being coy with the public, but pro-active within the Religious of the Holy Cross.

Fraternally,

JR 🙂
 
JReducation said:
The Holy Father has no authority over Notre Dame. That’s part of the problem. ND is not a university of the Catholic Church. It is a Catholic University. There is a difference. There are only two universities of the Catholic Church in the USA: The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC and the Josephenum College of Theology.
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I am well aware that Notre Dame is not one of the pontifical colleges. My thinking was of the superior learning to think correctly under the guidance of the pope. Unfortunately, I am also aware that this will not come to pass.
 
Deacon_Ed_B said:
I am well aware that Notre Dame is not one of the pontifical colleges. My thinking was of the superior learning to think correctly under the guidance of the pope. Unfortunately, I am also aware that this will not come to pass.
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As I understand it, ND does not even belong to the congregation anymore. There are some religious of that congregation who sit on the different governing bodies. I would imagine this was part of the agreement when the university changed ownership.

In this case, the major superior can discipline the president of ND, because he’s under his jurisdiction. What can the major superior do with the boards and committees that govern the university is beyong me. This is where contract law gets very tricky.

As we all know, when you give an institution as large as ND to a board or a non-profit to run, your original group may hold the same high standards that the founding congregation had. But over the years, those members change and there is a sense of entitlement that fills the room. I seriously believe that this very likely at the home of The Fighting Irish.

This could be solved if the board would pull back or if Mr. Obama graciuosly remembered that he has to go out of town that day. 😉

Fraternally,

JR 🙂
 
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