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

[OriginalJS]

I don’t know that treating this matter as “the irresistible force meeting the immovable object” is the way to proceed. Archbishop John Niensted of the Minneapolis St Paul Archdiocese has written a searing letter to President Jenkins that is getting some unfavorable reviews in readers’ letters published in the Star Tribune today. Like it or not, President Obama is currently enjoying high ratings, and will likely continue to do so for the next year or so. He has exhibited an apparent willingness to enter into dialog with people of different persuasions that those opposing his appearance have not. I don’t know how you disinvite the president of the United States without risking adverse public reaction. I realize for some public perception is not important, and they may be right. But at the same time, I can understand why the head of the Holy Cross Order didn’t know what to say.

 

[JReducation]

I don’t know that treating this matter as “the irresistible force meeting the immovable object” is the way to proceed. Archbishop John Niensted of the Minneapolis St Paul Archdiocese has written a searing letter to President Jenkins that is getting some unfavorable reviews in readers’ letters published in the Star Tribune today. Like it or not, President Obama is currently enjoying high ratings, and will likely continue to do so for the next year or so. He has exhibited an apparent willingness to enter into dialog with people of different persuasions that those opposing his appearance have not. I don’t know how you disinvite the president of the United States without risking adverse public reaction. I realize for some public perception is not important, and they may be right. But at the same time, I can understand why the head of the Holy Cross Order didn’t know what to say.

The Superior General of the Holy Cross Congregation does not have the authority to rescind the invitation. It’s not his university. There is part of the problem, along with the other observations that you have made. At this point, even the president of ND may not have the authority to rescind the invitation, because his vote is only one on the Board that governs the university.

I’m wondering if a good strategy may be for Catholics to contact the White House and ask the Presidents PR people to suggest that the President step down as a sign of respect for his Catholic constituents. The President always says that he wants to work with all sides. Here is a chance to prove it. There is a very large faction of American Catholics who are very uncomfortable with this situation. Graciously declining may be a way of working with all sides. Later the Holy Cross Congregation can take care of any measures that they may want to take against the current president of ND.

Just some thoughts.

JR

 

[Jennifer123]

“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.”

"And he said to them, “You justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts; for what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God.” Lk 16 15

Seems Father is playing with fire here.

 

[JReducation]

"And he said to them, “You justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts; for what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God.” Lk 16 15

Seems Father is playing with fire here.

I don’t believe so. What I know of religious life and major religious superiors, they have to be very careful not to place the Holy See in a difficullt situation. This is one of those. If the guest was someone other than a head of statee, the Holy See would be out of the picture. But this is a situation in which diplomtic relations can be seriously affected. The tension between the Holy See and the State Department is already high, because the Holy See has rejected three ambassadors that the US has presented to the Vatican since November.

I just wish this invitation had never been issued. It was an imprudent choice on the university’s part.

Fraternally,

JR

 

[OriginalJS]

I’m wondering if a good strategy may be for Catholics to contact the White House and ask the Presidents PR people to suggest that the President step down as a sign of respect for his Catholic constituents. The President always says that he wants to work with all sides. Here is a chance to prove it. There is a very large faction of American Catholics who are very uncomfortable with this situation. Graciously declining may be a way of working with all sides. Later the Holy Cross Congregation can take care of any measures that they may want to take against the current president of ND.

Just some thoughts.

JR

This seems like an excellent idea. A few years ago Ted Turner was scheduled to speak at Macalester College in St. Paul, MN. After some hotheads started agitating threatening demonstrations and hinting at civil disobedience, Turner simply withdrew a few days before he was scheduled to speak saying that he didn’t want his presence to prompt disturbances that would interfere with some proceedings to honor Kofi Annan scheduled for the same day. That ended the hoopla and the proceedings returned to being a nonevent for the general public. I realize that Ted Turner was not the president, and Catholics opposed to Obama’s appearance are unlikely to engage in acts of civil disobedience, but there seems to be a lot of political wisdom in avoiding a forum where you are held in contempt by many. I am sure there are many colleges and universities that would appreciate having the president speak at commencement.