Obama to Give Commencement Speech at Notre Dame

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catharina said:
No mirage, PeterK.
Like Catholics everywhere, our leadership is in the Vatican.

Yet you have a point in a way. It seems that many Catholics in this country regard their religious commitments to be secondary to their political and financial goals. Horribly sad and terribly faithless, but perhaps all too true.

To find a Catholic identity, one lives a Catholic life.
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And in that sense, Notre Dame is simply a microcosm of American Catholicism. A remnant of the faithful, surrounded by a great majority who have sold out to secularism.
 
I think this should go beyond letter writing, calling and e-mail. I think devout Catholics should peacefully protest at the Commencement. This will continue to go on as long as our voices are not heard.
 
The more I think about it, the happier I am that I went to a “prestigious” state university. The pro-aborts there wore tweed sport coats, not Roman collars. No ambiguity or schizophrenia there.
 
article.nationalreview.com/?q=OTBlNmY2NzM4ODdkNDY0NzRjMzA3OTZlYjg5YzcwYjU=&w=Mw==

This is an excellent compilation of ideas from some of our country’s finest Catholic teachers, writers and priests, in regards to the ill advised invitation of Obama to ND.

An excerpt:

This is a highly cynical act, contemptuous of the Church’s prophetic voice in civil society and wagering that there will be no retribution. If a midwestern school seeks attention by granting Mr. Obama an honorary doctorate in law, the next logical step would be to grant Judas Iscariot posthumously an honorary doctorate in business administration.

— Fr. George W. Rutler is a Catholic priest in New York.
 
This is from the Pro Life Action League:

If Fr. Jenkins doesn’t do the right thing and dis-invite Barack
Obama, pro-life groups from across the Midwest – starting
with the Pro-Life Action League – have pledged to protest.
Code: 
 So be ready to join a once-in-a-life-time MASSIVE pro-life
 protest in South Bend, Indiana on May 17.
It’s a last resort if phone calls and emails do not convince Fr. Jenkins to disinvite BO. So it looks like the graduation will occur under protest, exactly what the students were hoping would not happen. Often in order to stand up for what you believe in, something important to you is lost. Oh well, not soooo bad - some people lose their lives.
 
If anyone is interested, It’s likely that one priest at ND is suffering a lot. That would be Father J. Steele. He is the Spiritual Director of the Right to Life Club at Notre Dame. A note promising prayers for his work might be comforting to him.

jsteele10@gmail.com

Another email address will reach the Presdient of the Club. Her name is Mary Kate Daly.

mdaly4@nd.edu

I do feel especially terrible for this group of students at ND.
 
HouseArrest said:
This is from the Pro Life Action League:

If Fr. Jenkins doesn’t do the right thing and dis-invite Barack
Obama, pro-life groups from across the Midwest – starting
with the Pro-Life Action League – have pledged to protest.
Code: 
 So be ready to join a once-in-a-life-time MASSIVE pro-life
 protest in South Bend, Indiana on May 17.
It’s a last resort if phone calls and emails do not convince Fr. Jenkins to disinvite BO. So it looks like the graduation will occur under protest, exactly what the students were hoping would not happen. Often in order to stand up for what you believe in, something important to you is lost. Oh well, not soooo bad - some people lose their lives.
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Do you really think that many people will be willing to show up for a protest like this? I suspect we can find a million pro-lifers within four hours drive of South Bend. It would be nice if a lot of them showed up on that Sunday. It might be the only thing that could make this bad decision into lemonade. Hundreds of thousands of pro-lifers praying the Rosary outside of the Joyce Center might actually have an impact. The only thing better would be to have faithful students praying the Rosary out loud inside the Joyce Center.
 
BartBurk said:
Do you really think that many people will be willing to show up for a protest like this? I suspect we can find a million pro-lifers within four hours drive of South Bend. It would be nice if a lot of them showed up on that Sunday. It might be the only thing that could make this bad decision into lemonade. Hundreds of thousands of pro-lifers praying the Rosary outside of the Joyce Center might actually have an impact. The only thing better would be to have faithful students praying the Rosary out loud inside the Joyce Center.
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I don’t know how many will show up. This group is based in Chicago and has been successful in the past in gathering groups for praying outside abortion clinics and for 40 days for life. It’s quite possible they could get a noticeable number. I was responding mostly to the student posting in this thread that was concerned about a protest during her graduation.

I think the most effect protest would be one from the student body. Empty seats, the rosary, or something like that.
 
Only the “unreasonable” Catholics will protest. The “reasonable” Catholics will welcome Obama, just like they voted for him last November.

Damage is done. Gates of hell will not prevail indeed.

The teachings of the Church don’t matter one bit if they’re never actually taught or adhered to. Heaven forbid that someone might be offended.

Will Bishop Darcy be inside, shaking Obama’s hand and getting his picture taken with him or will he be outside, protesting for life?
 
BartBurk said:
Do you really think that many people will be willing to show up for a protest like this? I suspect we can find a million pro-lifers within four hours drive of South Bend. It would be nice if a lot of them showed up on that Sunday. It might be the only thing that could make this bad decision into lemonade. Hundreds of thousands of pro-lifers praying the Rosary outside of the Joyce Center might actually have an impact. The only thing better would be to have faithful students praying the Rosary out loud inside the Joyce Center.
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If the president is going to be on campus, there is no way any protesters will get near it. Besides, even if they could get near the school, the president’s own “volunteer” thug army will make sure they are dispersed.
 
idrum677 said:
If the president is going to be on campus, there is no way any protesters will get near it. Besides, even if they could get near the school, the president’s own “volunteer” thug army will make sure they are dispersed.
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Then maybe the protest should be held before he gets here. Of course if enough people showed up the day he was here they couldn’t stop them.
 
As a Notre Dame graduate of 2009 I express my sadness over the University’s decision. My first instinct was to boycott the ceremony. However, I’ve worked my way through anxiety and depression, failing out of school, and loosing hope into a life as successful person and much more faithful Catholic. I called Fr. Jenkins office, signed the Cardinal Newman Society petition, and I’m writing Fr. Jenkins a letter. I don’t think the University will change its decision but I think it is necessary they understand some of the students are offended by this decision.

I want Catholics to know that the University’s decision doesn’t represent the entire faculty, religious order, and student body at Notre Dame. Yes, there are a lot of people on campus who have different views on Catholic teaching and politics, but there are some of us who adhere strictly to an orthodox Catholic identity.

All I can do is pray for President Obama’s conversion and recognition of the sanctity of life, and that the University rescind their offer (which will not happen). I also pray that the president’s experience at Notre Dame may help lead to his conversion. I’m still seriously debating attending the graduation. If it were soley up to me I would not attend. However, I know how much it means to my parents and my Dad still really wants to go. Unfortunately, unlike him, I can’t just get up and walk out when the president speaks.
 
ND_Mike said:
As a Notre Dame graduate of 2009 I express my sadness over the University’s decision. My first instinct was to boycott the ceremony. However, I’ve worked my way through anxiety and depression, failing out of school, and loosing hope into a life as successful person and much more faithful Catholic. I called Fr. Jenkins office, signed the Cardinal Newman Society petition, and I’m writing Fr. Jenkins a letter. I don’t think the University will change its decision but I think it is necessary they understand some of the students are offended by this decision.

I want Catholics to know that the University’s decision doesn’t represent the entire faculty, religious order, and student body at Notre Dame. Yes, there are a lot of people on campus who have different views on Catholic teaching and politics, but there are some of us who adhere strictly to an orthodox Catholic identity.

All I can do is pray for President Obama’s conversion and recognition of the sanctity of life, and that the University rescind their offer (which will not happen). I also pray that the president’s experience at Notre Dame may help lead to his conversion. I’m still seriously debating attending the graduation. If it were soley up to me I would not attend. However, I know how much it means to my parents and my Dad still really wants to go. Unfortunately, unlike him, I can’t just get up and walk out when the president speaks.
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Those faithful students that do not approve of this speaker deserve a quiet and respectful commencement. IMHO all protests should be done at the airport and along the route to ND and not where those that worked hard for their degrees are being forced to sit.

Alumni, and that will include you 2009 grads, should stop supporting the school and we all know the pocketbook is where protests do the most good.

Years ago someone told me that when you gave a penny for a tip you were telling the person you were not happy with the service. This way they could not think that you just forgot to leave one. Maybe it is time to send those schools that claim to be Catholic a penny in an envelope.
 
idrum677 said:
If the president is going to be on campus, there is no way any protesters will get near it. Besides, even if they could get near the school, the president’s own “volunteer” thug army will make sure they are dispersed.
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From my experience reading about them in the past, the Pro Life Action League knows exactly where they are and aren’t allowed to stand. They have been doing this for quite some time. No matter what happens in the details of the protest, I believe they will be able to have some sort of impact on the university.

It’s also interesting to note the national director, Joe Scheidler, is a Notre Dame graduate.
 
Any demonstration of opposition to Obama’s visit would have to be very, very large. Something so large the media could not ignore it. The Right To Life March is routinely ignored. This will be too, unless they can see a way to portray it as the lunatic fringe.
 
"In 2004, the United States of Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) approved a policy statement called “Catholics in Political Life,” which says, with reference to pro-abortion politicians, “They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.”

President Obama has been called the “abortion president” by pro-life activists, and his appearance at the university would appear to violate the USCCB’s policy against honoring pro-abortion politicians"

I would think this is enough to keep him from being able to go there to speak or receive any award. His actions suggest support for abortion, even if he does not speak on the subject.🤷

Blessings,
 
John Jenkins (sorry…can’t call him Fr. because it’s evident he doesn’t know the weight behind that title!) should withdraw the invitation, or HE should be withdrawn. What a heretic,

The persecution of the Chuch began with the “Catholic-in-name-only” Obama supporters…now being made stronger by the likes of Jenkins.
 
Vonier said:
Any demonstration of opposition to Obama’s visit would have to be very, very large. Something so large the media could not ignore it. The Right To Life March is routinely ignored. This will be too, unless they can see a way to portray it as the lunatic fringe.
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Oh I don’t expect the President or the media will even give a hoot, no matter how large. I was hoping for the university to take notice.
 
The “real” Catholics at ND should do as the libs did at Washington University in St. Louis in May of 2008 when Phyllis Schlafly received an honorary degree. Schlafly, however, did attend Wash U and holds both a bachelor’s and law degrees from Washington University"

":A group of students, faculty and staff protested Friday morning at Washington University’s graduation ceremony.

They are upset that the university awarded conservative political activist Phyllis Schlafly with an honorary degree.

The group wore armbands, carried anti-Schlafly fliers and even turned their back when she received her award."
 
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