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Domer1997
Guest
I got the same email today from the alumni relations director, Chuck Lennin. I believe Fr. Jenkins made an honest and righteous decision. He’s correct in the fact that any university has a responsibility for a cross-flow of ideas. He’s also right when stating that a Catholic university has an increased duty, a duty to Christ and His church. For those who have not read Fr. Jenkins recent policies, I’ll summarize them. Notre Dame is allowing performances and speakers that may have ideas compromising some church teachings. Being a Catholic university, however, he is forcing those faculty members involved to make it very clear that Notre Dame is not advocating or supporting these dissident views. He stresses that students need to see the other side of issues to strenghthen their own faith and knowledge, and he is correct. Fr. Jenkins is requiring that the Catholic tradition be present in diologue when any views are presented in dissidence to Catholic teaching by a performance or speaker. For example, this year’s Vagina Monologues were read in a classroom with no funding and were read for academic purposes only. Following each reading of the monologues was a panel discussion with representitives from the theology department stressing the importance of Catholic teaching on the aspect of human sexuality. Although the monologues do denounce violence against women (which is admirable), they also are very abrasive and contain teaching contrary to Catholic doctrine. I believe it is universally agreed that Notre Dame cannot stand by and let any view which is inherently contrary to the school’s principles be represented without the proper clarification of Catholic doctrine. Fr. Jenkins is simply making sure the doctrine is constantly present when addressing situations contrary to Church teaching.
I’m fairly conservative, and I see no problem with this approach. We cannot live in a bubble and hide these dissident views from students. However, we can present these ideas and then explain why they are not in accord with Christ and His Church.
Academic freedom can live hand-in-hand with Roman Catholic teaching.
I just hope the right wing conservatives understand this, and I hope the left wing liberals accept these ideas as well. The liberals must understand that Notre Dame has a duty to her founding principles, the Catholic Church. Dissident ideas cannot linger on that university campus without being intertwined with the truth, our Catholic theology. The conservatives must realize that if we truly believe in our Doctrine as the truth of God, we have nothing to fear. The Vagina Monologues will never break down the Catholic theological foundation of Notre Dame or hopefully any Christian institution. We must combat these dissident views with our theology. This strengthens our faith in Christ’s Church, and this strenthening is Fr. Jenkins’ intention when allowing these productions as well as any other prodcution that dares to come in the way of our beliefs.
My message to all: know your apologetics! Know the Catechism of the Catholic Church and more importantly the meaing behind these principles, and trust that different views in our society and culture will never break these ideals. We need to face them head on and combat them with our Faith, similar to the model Notre Dame is now using.
Now if someone says to you, “Notre Dame is allowing the Vagina Monolgues on campus…isn’t that terrible!” Please know that there is a LOT more too it
And, please know that they are not compromising the integrity of the Church and her beliefs.
God Bless and God bless ALL of our Catholic universities everywhere!
I’m fairly conservative, and I see no problem with this approach. We cannot live in a bubble and hide these dissident views from students. However, we can present these ideas and then explain why they are not in accord with Christ and His Church.
Academic freedom can live hand-in-hand with Roman Catholic teaching.
I just hope the right wing conservatives understand this, and I hope the left wing liberals accept these ideas as well. The liberals must understand that Notre Dame has a duty to her founding principles, the Catholic Church. Dissident ideas cannot linger on that university campus without being intertwined with the truth, our Catholic theology. The conservatives must realize that if we truly believe in our Doctrine as the truth of God, we have nothing to fear. The Vagina Monologues will never break down the Catholic theological foundation of Notre Dame or hopefully any Christian institution. We must combat these dissident views with our theology. This strengthens our faith in Christ’s Church, and this strenthening is Fr. Jenkins’ intention when allowing these productions as well as any other prodcution that dares to come in the way of our beliefs.
My message to all: know your apologetics! Know the Catechism of the Catholic Church and more importantly the meaing behind these principles, and trust that different views in our society and culture will never break these ideals. We need to face them head on and combat them with our Faith, similar to the model Notre Dame is now using.
Now if someone says to you, “Notre Dame is allowing the Vagina Monolgues on campus…isn’t that terrible!” Please know that there is a LOT more too it
And, please know that they are not compromising the integrity of the Church and her beliefs.God Bless and God bless ALL of our Catholic universities everywhere!
K
Kirane
Guest
However the local Baptist college here does not have students participate in any pornographic plays on campus.
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proud2bcatholic
Guest
I have an idea, let’s show “Debbie Does Dallas” on campus, and afterwards sit around and have a discussion of why it is against Catholic moral teaching. Man it would be nice if Catholic Universities were actually Catholic Universities. Send your kids and money to the true Catholic schools, such as Franciscan, Christendom, Ave Maria, Magdalen, St. Thomas Aquinas in CA, and the few others.
“Fear not those who can harm your body, but, rather, fear Him who has control over your eternal soul.” -
“Fear not those who can harm your body, but, rather, fear Him who has control over your eternal soul.” -
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proud2bcatholic
Guest
No there isn’t.Now if someone says to you, “Notre Dame is allowing the Vagina Monolgues on campus…isn’t that terrible!” Please know that there is a LOT more too it
Yes they are, they are allowing the minds and souls of those under their care to be defiled.
I am praying for Fr. Jenkins.
K
Kirane
Guest
What I don’t understand is why at Baptist colleges they sit around and discuss themes from decent plays which illustrate family and Bible themes, family problems and family relationships, while at Catholic colleges they want to spend their time sitting around and discussing themes relevant to lewd plays and how young girls are seduced by older lesbians into homosexual relationships
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FiremanFrank
Guest
As a loving Catholic, if I lived near that Baptist College I would try to form a group of protesters from that college who would go over to Notre Dame and shame them into stopping that play.
As “one Christian holding another Christian to accountability” …
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frommi
Guest
One could make a sensible argument that if you’re going to go out and call something ‘sinful’ or ‘against Catholic teaching’, you should probably see what it is you are speaking out against.
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Elzee
Guest
Ditto.
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buffalo
Guest
It’s the old free expression of ideas excuse again. It is more important than Catholicism and morality.
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Lucania
Guest
One could make that argument, but I don’t know if I would call it a sensible one. Look, I don’t have to seek out interaction with a poisonuos snake to find out if I will die if I get bit. I’ll just take others word on it. I know enough about The Vagina Monologues to know that a Catholic University shouldn’t be showing it. The name alone should be a clue If you think you need to view it, find another venue, NOT at a Catholic University. Sometimes you just have to use common sense. It would be nice if Catholic Universities would actually stick to Catholic teaching.
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frommi
Guest
Lucania said:
There are pieces of the Vagina Monologues that are not by rule offensive to Catholic sensibility.
The play is not fiction, it’s based on real interviews. So what is the difference between viewing this play or reading the play in the context of an educational setting?
Fr. Jenkins was in a tight spot on this one, and seems to have come up with a solomonesque solution.
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M-Dent
Guest
He sure was. He was asked by Bishop John D’Arcy ( Fort Wayne-South Bend) that the performances be ended. He showed where his loyalties lie.
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Isidore_AK
Guest
How so? All he needed to do was outright ban it, and tell anyone that compains “Don’t let the door hit you in the butt on the way out!”.
Pretty simple solution…
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fix
Guest
If true, that is very interesting.
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frommi
Guest
His loyalty is to the university and the order that runs the university. He isn’t under the jurisdiction of the local ordinary.
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fix
Guest
Perhaps you, or someone else, can help be reconcil this with what you wrote?:
Code:
***APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTION***JOHN PAUL II
ON CATHOLIC UNIVERSITIES
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frommi
Guest
Code:
***APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTION***JOHN PAUL II
ON CATHOLIC UNIVERSITIES
What you write is of course, accurrate. I was just making the point that a university not owned or run by the diocese is in a different situation than one that is. It’s a situation where the Bishop is responsible to a Catholic University, not responsible for it.
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M-Dent
Guest
Sorry, I should have posted a link to the Bishops own words,
diocesefwsb.org/COMMUNICATIONS/monologues.htm
A
Angels_Watchin
Guest
There’s a scripture that says something like this - Do not look on or listen to anything that does not bring honor and glory to God.I got the same email today from the alumni relations director, Chuck Lennin. I believe Fr. Jenkins made an honest and righteous decision. He’s correct in the fact that any university has a responsibility for a cross-flow of ideas. He’s also right when stating that a Catholic university has an increased duty, a duty to Christ and His church. For those who have not read Fr. Jenkins recent policies, I’ll summarize them. Notre Dame is allowing performances and speakers that may have ideas compromising some church teachings. Being a Catholic university, however, he is forcing those faculty members involved to make it very clear that Notre Dame is not advocating or supporting these dissident views. He stresses that students need to see the other side of issues to strenghthen their own faith and knowledge, and he is correct…Fr. Jenkins is simply making sure the doctrine is constantly present when addressing situations contrary to Church teaching.
I’m fairly conservative, and I see no problem with this approach. We cannot live in a bubble and hide these dissident views from students. However, we can present these ideas and then explain why they are not in accord with Christ and His Church.
Academic freedom can live hand-in-hand with Roman Catholic teaching.
I just hope the right wing conservatives understand this, and I hope the left wing liberals accept these ideas as well. The liberals must understand that Notre Dame has a duty to her founding principles, the Catholic Church. Dissident ideas cannot linger on that university campus without being intertwined with the truth, our Catholic theology. The conservatives must realize that if we truly believe in our Doctrine as the truth of God, we have nothing to fear. The Vagina Monologues will never break down the Catholic theological foundation of Notre Dame or hopefully any Christian institution. We must combat these dissident views with our theology. This strengthens our faith in Christ’s Church, and this strenthening is Fr. Jenkins’ intention when allowing these productions as well as any other prodcution that dares to come in the way of our beliefs…
…
Now if someone says to you, “Notre Dame is allowing the Vagina Monolgues on campus…isn’t that terrible!” Please know that there is a LOT more too it
God Bless and God bless ALL of our Catholic universities everywhere!
So, for one thing - God say’s not to watch this.
It’s GOD who does not want us to look at this trash, whether or not you think it’s a “good idea for the freeflow of ideas”. When you present this kind of dialog over and over again, it becomes, in the mind of the student, NORMAL.
Present truth only - then, when something is NOT true, it will knock you over!
You say "The conservatives must realize that if we truly believe in our Doctrine as the truth of God, we have nothing to fear. " Except the moral decay and homosexual agenda and feminist thinking being planted in the brains of UNKNOWLEDGABLE, unwise, unexperienced 18-22 year olds. And the "If"part of your quote is s supposition-THAT IS NOT TRUE for MOST CATHOLICS - many, not because of their own fault but because of faulty teaching from the parish to the school to society!
Emotion and hormones are at their peak and independence to the extreme. Why plant those seeds?
That is liberal thinking, whether you realize it or not.
Students must NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE discussing, listening to untruth.
They must be told, taught, shown and experience TRUTH. Then, when the lie hits them in the face (hopefully OUTSIDE of the Catholic College Campus!), they will have conviction to defend it.
Angel
- Status