Obama to Give Commencement Speech at Notre Dame

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In case it hasn’t already been posted on this thread, all concerned about this topic should visit the website of the official student coalition opposing the Obama invite: ND Response.

This past Sunday, we held our first public action–a prayer rally on campus, in front of the Golden Dome. There is plenty of coverage on the ND Response homepage if you’d like to read about it or to see what was said and done.

I especially recommend the full text of Professor Freddoso’s speech from the rally–especially for those of you wishing to write off ND once and for all, and assume that all faculty there are compromised or worthy of suspicion in some way.
Make no mistake. This protest has to do with President Obama’s actions and with his intentions regarding future actions, and not merely with his beliefs.
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Now, of course, the administrators of the university do not “condone or endorse his
positions”—or, presumably, his actions—“on specific issues regarding the protection of
human life.” And, to be sure, it is permissible to honor someone despite the bad
things he’s done, as long as those bad things are “not all THAT bad.” So let’s look at
a few of the actions that the administrators of the university consider to be “not all
THAT bad.”
…
When it comes to issues that bear upon the protection of innocent human live at its earliest stages, issues which, as one administrator put it, “we care so much about,” there just is no bad action on the part of President Obama that was going to count as “all THAT bad.” No wonder Cardinal George was driven to say, “Whatever else is clear, it is clear that Notre Dame didn’t understand what it means to be Catholic when they issued this invitation.”
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And, in fairness to President Obama, it is not as if he had not made it perfectly clear before the election what he intended to do. So no one can pretend that the administrators of Our Lady’s university, who undoubtedly issued their invitation to the President long before Inauguration Day, were ignorant of his intentions. (In fact, I hear that there was a pre-election New York Times bestseller, written by a Notre Dame graduate, that spelled out those intentions in great detail and with impeccable documentation.) Yes, the administrators knew all this full well, and they nonetheless chose “prestige over truth,” to use Bishop D’Arcy’s apt words. In fact, choosing prestige over truth seems to have become something of a way of life around here.
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And despite their protestations to the contrary, the administrators of the university have made themselves complicit in the culture of comfort and convenience over against the culture of sacrifice and self-giving; they have made themselves complicit in the culture of fearfulness and quiet despair over against the culture of gratitude to and hope in the Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ; they have made themselves complicit in the culture of individual autonomy and individual self-creation over against the culture of faithful and enduring commitment and of shared dependency within a rich communal life—and, sad to say, they have done it under the mantle of the Catholic Faith which they profess with their lips.
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Finally, and most importantly, ND Response is beginning a Million Rosaries campaign for the conversion of President Obama TOMORROW, Wednesday April 8th, which will last for the next 40 days, until Commencement Day on May 17th. Pray a rosary each day and record on the ND Response homepage the number of rosaries you have prayed for President Obama–and we will present him with a spiritual bouquet for his conversion when he comes to campus. What would be a more Catholic way to address this awful circumstance? Please participate!!
 
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Rach620 said:
In case it hasn’t already been posted on this thread, all concerned about this topic should visit the website of the official student coalition opposing the Obama invite: ND Response.

This past Sunday, we held our first public action–a prayer rally on campus, in front of the Golden Dome. There is plenty of coverage on the ND Response homepage if you’d like to read about it or to see what was said and done.

I especially recommend the full text of Professor Freddoso’s speech from the rally–especially for those of you wishing to write off ND once and for all, and assume that all faculty there are compromised or worthy of suspicion in some way.

Finally, and most importantly, ND Response is beginning a Million Rosaries campaign for the conversion of President Obama TOMORROW, Wednesday April 8th, which will last for the next 40 days, until Commencement Day on May 17th. Pray a rosary each day and record on the ND Response homepage the number of rosaries you have prayed for President Obama–and we will present him with a spiritual bouquet for his conversion when he comes to campus. What would be a more Catholic way to address this awful circumstance? Please participate!!
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I think that is a beautiful idea. I hope he understands why it is being given to him.
 
The evil that exists in our world has found a place to dwell at Notre Dame. What a shame! I pray for the members of the university that do not agree with the invitation that was extended to the president by Fr. Jenkins and his staff of advisors.

I honestly don’t think that Jesus would have approved of their choice. He would have befriended the president in order to teach him “the way”, but would not have honored him for “his ways”.

They say that some of the president’s interests are in line with Catholic social teachings, but I can’t think of anything more important than the right to life! If one doesn’t have the right to live, then what’s it matter if he has access to healthcare or housing or a decent job? All of God’s children are deserving of these rights, not just the ones that managed to make it safely out of the womb!
 
Notre Dame alum here.

Notre Dame is still a Catholic university. Of course the administration made a grave error in choosing to honor President Obama, but a very determined and vocal opposition has risen from within the Notre Dame community to protest this choice. This second group is itself comprised of students, alumni and faculty including prominent members such as Ralph McInerny and Charlie Rice.

Please do not give up on us. We need your prayers and support. As for the response, I agree with Professor Rice:

“An alumnus has suggested that students, faculty, staff and friends of Notre Dame ought to - and we will - pray a continuous Rosary of reparation at the Grotto during the time of Commencement, from two to four on Sunday, May 17th. This would not interfere with Commencement which is on the other side of campus. It would not be a demonstration or protest. No signs, marches, or disruption. Just peaceful prayer, in silence or aloud, by individuals and families. If you can’t make it to the Grotto, pray the Rosary during that time wherever you are.”

Protests can be distorted by the media in a plethora of ugly ways, but prayer makes a clear statement that nearly all understand. Let us pray that the turnout at the Grotto is so great that it becomes a news story all to its own.
 
I am curious. When President Bush gave the commencement address did you write a letter to protest that. The Catholic Church opposes the death penalty also and as Governor of Texas Mr. Bush sent more people to die than any governor in recent history. He actually giggled about it when he was on the Letterman show back in 2000.

Mr. Bush also engaged this country in an unprovoked war in Iraq. Over 4000 Americans have died there and God only knows how many Iraqi citizens. Did you send a letter complaining about this?

Mr. Bush also openly lied in 2004 about wiretapping American Citizens. Said he wouldn’t do that without a court order, even though he had been doing it since 2002. Lying is still a sin I believe. Did you send a letter then?

Abortion is a horrible thing, but it must be dealt with in and intelligent manner. Contraception is one way to deal with this but the Catholic church illogically opposes this option as well.

Abortion is legal in this country. The death penalty is legal in most states. Contraception is legal in this country. Being able to buy an AK47 is legal in this country. Being gay is legal in this country. This is a country of laws. Some I agree with, some I don’t. President Obama has a monumental task in front of him. Two wars, an economic crisis, a country that is not much safer from terrorist attacks then it was before 9/11.

If your catholocism is your guiding light in all issues then you should have protested President Bush speaking at Notre Dame. And you definitely should not have voted for him in either election.
 
Delasalleman said:
I am curious. When President Bush gave the commencement address did you write a letter to protest that. The Catholic Church opposes the death penalty also and as Governor of Texas Mr. Bush sent more people to die than any governor in recent history. He actually giggled about it when he was on the Letterman show back in 2000.

Mr. Bush also engaged this country in an unprovoked war in Iraq. Over 4000 Americans have died there and God only knows how many Iraqi citizens. Did you send a letter complaining about this?

Mr. Bush also openly lied in 2004 about wiretapping American Citizens. Said he wouldn’t do that without a court order, even though he had been doing it since 2002. Lying is still a sin I believe. Did you send a letter then?

Abortion is a horrible thing, but it must be dealt with in and intelligent manner. Contraception is one way to deal with this but the Catholic church illogically opposes this option as well.

Abortion is legal in this country. The death penalty is legal in most states. Contraception is legal in this country. Being able to buy an AK47 is legal in this country. Being gay is legal in this country. This is a country of laws. Some I agree with, some I don’t. President Obama has a monumental task in front of him. Two wars, an economic crisis, a country that is not much safer from terrorist attacks then it was before 9/11.

If your catholocism is your guiding light in all issues then you should have protested President Bush speaking at Notre Dame. And you definitely should not have voted for him in either election.
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]Abortion is a horrible thing, but it must be dealt with in and intelligent manner. Contraception is one way to deal with this but the Catholic church illogically opposes this option as well.


Abortion IS a form of birth control. If contraception “worked” there would be fewer abortions. In the years before Humanae Generae was published, many Catholic bought the lie that easy availability of contraception would eliminate the need for abortion. Instead the numbers shot up dramatically in New York state after abortion was legalized, even though contrception was easy to get. People are simply not rational about sex.

But as far as Bush and the death penalty are concerned, in Texas, the governnor does not have an absolute pardon right. A board makes the real decisions. Furthermore, the Catholic Church does NOT categorically condemn executions as it does abortions. There is a prudential argument to be made in favor of executions, because if the state has a monopoly on judgment for capital crimes, we are likely to less vigilante justice. Finally, Bush spoke at Notre Dame in 2001 long before the war.
 
I thank you for your correcting me. I am just confused regarding this furor of catholics over Obama when I don’t recall reading or hearing much catholic objection to Bush who as Governor of Texas for five years sanctioned the death of over 130 people, one of whom I believe was considered to be mentally retarded. He also seemed to take pride in this. I also do not recall much Catholic outrage over the war in Iraq, even after evidence kept growing that Mr. Bush lied to us as to the reasons we invaded that country.

As far as I know Mr. Obama didn’t solicit the invitation to Notre Dame, it was extended to him by the university. To now embroil the new president

Abstinence from sex for all those who do not wish to have children would be an ideal solution. I just do not believe that is feasable. Education, Contraception and possibly better economic conditions for the poor in this country seem to me to be some answers to eliminate unwanted pregnancies. I just don’t believe that people are going to stop having sex. Most people, anyway.

Thank you again for sharing your facts and views on this subject.
 
Delasalleman said:
Abortion is legal in this country. The death penalty is legal in most states. Contraception is legal in this country. Being able to buy an AK47 is legal in this country. Being gay is legal in this country. This is a country of laws.
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Abortion, contraception, and gay so-called “marriage” violate divine law and natural law. Divine law and natural law trump man-made civil law. Such faulty civil laws do not have to be obeyed; indeed, they must be resisted in the name of justice.
 
In this scandalous controversy, only 29 bishops have spoken out. There are 365 U.S. Bishops, 46 U.S. Archbishops, and 12 U.S. Cardinals.

In the words of Christ ”Where are the others?” The spirit of Vatican II chickens have come home to roost, I’m afraid.
 
Delasalleman said:
I thank you for your correcting me. I am just confused regarding this furor of catholics over Obama when I don’t recall reading or hearing much catholic objection to Bush who as Governor of Texas for five years sanctioned the death of over 130 people, one of whom I believe was considered to be mentally retarded. He also seemed to take pride in this. I also do not recall much Catholic outrage over the war in Iraq, even after evidence kept growing that Mr. Bush lied to us as to the reasons we invaded that country.
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The Pope made it clear that there is no moral equivalence between supporting the death penalty and /or the liberation of Iraq and abortion. He stated that catholics in good conscience could disagree on the former but never on the latter.
As far as I know Mr. Obama didn’t solicit the invitation to Notre Dame, it was extended to him by the university. To now embroil the new president

Abstinence from sex for all those who do not wish to have children would be an ideal solution. I just do not believe that is feasable. Education, Contraception and possibly better economic conditions for the poor in this country seem to me to be some answers to eliminate unwanted pregnancies. I just don’t believe that people are going to stop having sex. Most people, anyway.

Thank you again for sharing your facts and views on this subject.
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Totally irelevant to the discussion at hand. The USCCB made it clear that pro-abortion Politicians should NOT be honored at Catholic Universities. Fr Jenkins invitation is a slap in the face of both the Bishops and those Catholics who adhere to the teachings of the Church.
 
Delasalleman said:
Abortion is a horrible thing, but it must be dealt with in and intelligent manner. Contraception is one way to deal with this but the Catholic church illogically opposes this option as well.
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There is nothing illogical about teaching contraception is evil. What could be seen as illogical is inviting a man who supports abortion to speak at a university that claims to be in union with the Catholic Church.
 
It would be like quoting a Mormon professor at Brigham Young about the legal meaning of Proposition 8. Sure, he might be unbiased, and he might even be right–but he’s too close to the issue to be a reliable source.

Well there’s a speck of truth in what you say, until one would then have to apply that theory to asking the pope about a Catholic controversy - he’s too close to the source perhaps?

Look, even if Satan himself says the truth we judge it by itself not by where it came from.
 
ND is a Catholic university being run by a priest with a motive of his own. Why did he invite an anti-Catholic polititian to speak to ND’s graduating class?

The Catholic Church teaches that Christ’s sufferings and death on the cross set the groundwork toward forgiveness of our sins. The conceived baby wihin the womb has the stain of original sin. The newborn is baptized - removing the stain. The baby, child, and teen should be guided and taught by adults to follow Catholic practices. One Catholic practice is to regard the unborn as human beings.

Compare a president who chooses to condemn the innocent to death to Pontius Pilate. Pilate’s idea of truth was changeable. As TRUTH stood before him he acknowledged Jesus’ innocense, but wanted to please the citizens. He claimed it was not his choice to codemn Jesus to death, but in Truth it was his choice. Jesus is absolute TRUTH. Many times indifferent politicians and citizens select their own truths. They call it ‘freedom of choice’, but a lie is a lie is a lie, no matter how one tries to conceal it.

I think of Jesus’ tomb and CHRIST lying in death-.after washing away our sins. I think of fetuses in nuturing wombs, unbaptized babies - concieved with original sin. Why should so many be condemned to death before baptism?

God willing, the fetus has the right to be born and baptized, and eventually to choose whether or not to follow Jesus. The FOCA is a direct asault on practicing Catholics, We are supposed to have the right to practice our faith. President Obama is directly responsible for trying to force us to pay for abortions and stem cell research. It’s his choice to condemn the innocent or help save them. He’s a politician with his own agenda. He’ll most likely submit to the most popular choice.
 
patriciamn09 said:
ND is a Catholic university being run by a priest with a motive of his own.
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I am not sure that I agree with the first part of your statement.

ND is “historically” Catholic, but I’m not convinced about its current status. Maybe the first step in resolving this mess is calling a spade a spade.
 
Lepanto said:
I am not sure that I agree with the first part of your statement.

ND is “historically” Catholic, but I’m not convinced about its current status. Maybe the first step in resolving this mess is calling a spade a spade.
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Agreed. For those of us old enough, this so-called Catholic institution had the unchecked and unbrideled Fr. Richard Mc Brien as head of its theology dept. Enough said, about it’s Catholic credentials.

What bothers me about this entire fiasco is not Obama (he is what he is) but it appears that this entire thing was done (and done sucessfully thus far) as an open challenge to the Hierarchal Church.

The "Smoke of Satan that has entered the tabernacle " that Pope Paul spoke of, is exactly this groups of dissendents, with puffed heads and distorted faith as their gospels.

It seems at times that some shepards care more for the wolves howling than the sheep they pretend to watch over.
 
Domer1997 said:
As an alumnus of Our Lady’s University, I too was outraged AT FIRST. However, I then contacted the highest people that I know at the university. One happens to be fairly high up. She informed me to feel rest assured that Notre Dame as an institution is very clearly and unwaveringly PRO-LIFE. They just began building an endowment for pro-life initiviatives and have contributed mega-dollars for adult stem-cell research (the alternative to embryonic). I was re-assured that the university is well aware of Obama’s pro-abortion stance. HOWEVER, she stressed to me how vital it is to the American Catholic Church that Obama’s administration hear the voice of the Catholic Church and put Catholic issues in the FOREFRONT. I was re-assured that Notre Dame is hoping that this invitation to be at the university will be a beginning to getting these life issues (as well as other important Catholic issues - immigration reform, poverty, social justice, ending war etc…) in the forefront of this administration. Obama is not coming to Notre Dame to preach about an anti-life agenda. No pro-abortionist would ever be so ignorant to do such a thing. He is coming as the President of the United States, and Notre Dame is the acting Church attempting to get the Vatican’s point across to this man and his administration. Without common discussion NOTHING will ever get resolved in our favor (Catholics’ favor).

This could turn out to be extremely positive. Don’t judge! He is still the American President and should be welcome on any university campus in this nation. If one cannot respect the man, then respect the office upon which he holds. Obama would be welcomed at the Vatican without question or hesitation. He should be welcomed at Notre Dame.

Let’s pray that this visit helps get our precious life issues into the forefront of this administration’s priorities. Pray for a change of heart for Obama. If it happend to Saul, it can happen to Obama. Instead of the Road to Demascus, maybe it will instead be State Route 31.

I’m hoping for the best. Keep a positive attitude!!!
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Joe

Sorry I’m not impressed with what motives the university claims to have. Obama’s invite with honor is a scandal. It is not judging when you do what St. Paul requires of us -discern and admonish.

Personally, I’m embarassed that honoring the first aggressively pro-infanticide president is confused with chatting or as Fr. Jenkins claims, dialogue.

There is no debate - there is a man who supports the most vile evil being rewarded and honored by a "Catholic instituion after winning 54% of the so-called Catholic vote.

If ND is such a “Catholic” school, how is it that over 90% of the senior class supports giving Obama such honors?

As far as " immigration reform, poverty, social justice, ending war etc" those are exactly what the pro-abortion party’s playbook also is, as wellas every other secular college.

It really depends how you intend to solve those issues. The devil (and I do mean Satan) is in the details.

The big government war on poverty by the left certainly destroyed the black family, making them permanetly dependent upon the welfare state and without fathers in the home. (The Catholic principle of subsidiarity is belittled regularly by these leftist institutions.)
 
I apoligise I did not mean to resend “Domer1997” post, but to comment on it. (That was my first post). To “Domer1997” Your post is exactly what I have seen develop at ND the last 15 years. Graduating without the ability to have any critical thinking skills.This makes you vulnerable to defend your faith. Remember if we do not stand for something, we will fall for anything.
God Bless,
Joe
 
Don_L said:
Joe

If ND is such a “Catholic” school, how is it that over 90% of the senior class supports giving Obama such honors?
.)
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“Those who are not liberal when they are young have no heart, those who remain liberal as thy mature have no mind”

Fr Jenkins is problem.
 
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