So I take from that you would not be opposed to ND inviting David Duke to speak at the commencement and be awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Ethics because you hope a miracle might happen?
Do you mean like promoting homosexuality, staying in a heretical ecclesial community that condemned America instead of praying for her and teaches African Liberation Theology, like desiring to repeal abstinence programs…, I could go on and on.
No, you should talk with people, insist that your views are reasonable, and if indeed we interpret correctly the word of the Lord, the Holy Spirit will do His work in those people’s souls. By being quarrelsome and not engaging in dialogue with those people we shut down one of the three means of reverting the situation. The two others are, of course, prayer and example. Having a decent, coherent life that conveys the values of Catholicism is a powerful argument. It’s difficult but feasible. I had huge discussions on abortion with my agnostic/atheist friends and coworkers (there was a referendum in my country, Portugal, about the issue two years ago, which was lost, although with a low turnout). I learnt two things. First, my friends’ grasp of the philosophical questions involved was very weak, although they’re highly educated people. The second thing is that they understand most of our arguments and end up seeing your Catholic opinion as reasonable and well founded. Some of them might some day abstain in a new referendum or perhaps even vote against. Looking at your example and other Catholics’ examples may lead people to think “hey, these people are nice people and, although they defend tough things as banning legal abortion, they show comprehension, compassion, charity and do not judge the others.” For judging the others and ourselves, my friend, is God’s task, not ours. So I ask: how many of us try to live Catholic lives so that our examples may be seen as admirable by others? Too few, too little time. I am guilty of that, too.
Excellent point! I think this is a valid question.
Fr. Jenkins ought to remember that any advise one gets from a lawyer is self-serving.
No dialogue is going to take place a Notre Dame. Obama is speaking from a postion of extreme power, not as a mere publicist. He is already running for re-election, and that is his primary purpose in being there. He would like to convey an impression of moderation, but he is, after all, coming from the most extreme postion possible in American politics. Any move toward the center would still leave him to the left of a pro-choice Republican such Guiliani.
Fr. Corapi is one priest I wish we could clone.
The Pope doesn’t make the appointments to ND. As I understand it, the Holy Cross order associated with the U. does that.
Patrick Madrid just sent this link out on his Facebook account about the Bishops that speak and those that don’t. Good read.
These are not mutually exclusive scenarios. We can still be righteously angry with Notre Dame and pray for their souls.
The fact that AB Burke made this statement from the vatican is as good as the vatican making a statement because usually there are many issues from around the world, if there is no delegation then the pope will die
from making commentsBrilliant post. That sums it up perfectly.
Unfortunately I believe he will score a lot of points with “Catholics”.
On the other hand, many are going to look at President Obama getting an honorary degree and decide, “well, I guess this is proof that Catholic truths are negotiable”. That’s the scandal.