This Post has become massive with information, and tons of people have visited, and continue to (and send me updates). For clarity’s sake, this post now holds just updates…not the original protest article. For that article, click here.
For a Personal Thank You to Bishop D’Arcy, click here.
BISHOP D’ARCY, WHO HAS OVERSEEN ND’s GRADUATION FOR 25 YEARS…BOYCOTTS OBAMA’S SPEECH!!!!
*JOIN THE FACEBOOK GROUP, SIGN THE PETITION TO PROTEST, READ RELATED ARTICLES…AT THE BOTTOM*
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Catholic Church…wow! While the leaders at Notre Dame continue to herald their decision to give Obama an honorary doctorate and commencement speech honors…the people are rising up!
Things you need to know:
The Notre Dame Scandal Petition is over 165,000! With the right effort, we could have 200k by the end of the week. Keep working! (link below)
The Facebook Group Now has over 700 members (link below)
National Right to life has called for Obama’s invitation to be rescinded. (link below)
George Weigel, biographer of Pope John Paul II has recently relayed his severe distaste of having Obama speak. (link below)
When people say “All Presidents are asked to speak at Notre Dame,” two things: 1. Only EIGHT President’s have received the honor Obama is receiving…only EIGHT. 2. The Bishops just released the statement saying that all Catholic Institutions must refrain from honoring pro-abortion leaders.
Civility. Always Civility. We must relay our message powerfully, rationally, and kindly. Catholics and supporters of this Catholic cause MUST do so courageously, with conviction, and with proper prudence.
Let’s keep it up!!!
Join the Facebook Protest Group, Click Here.
Sign the Petition to Send to Notre Dame Protesting, Click Here.
For the article announcing his speech, Click Here.
To protest, write the President of ND, Click Here.
Father Jonathan Morris of FoxNews weighs in.
Read HotAir Article, Click Here.
Read Article at Boston.com, Click Here.
LifeNet Article, along with Bishop’s addresses, Click Here.
Blog Entry, vote in support of un-inviting Obama, Click Here
Theologian George Weigel weighs in, Click Here.
Another great article, Click Here.
Another Great Blog: Mary’s Anawim, Click Here.
American Papist Weighs in, Click Here.
National Right to Life Calls for Obama invite to be rescinded.
19 comments
Comments feed for this article
March 22, 2009 at 7:32 PM
lucy jo
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09032005.html
This link give email addresses to the Notre Dame and the bishops.
March 22, 2009 at 11:21 PM
JeffG
You can write ND’s President at
http://president.nd.edu/contact-us/thank-you
March 23, 2009 at 12:39 PM
Scott Vaughn
Notre Dame is supposed to be a CATHOLIC University. Catholics have been called to fight what John Paul II called the culture of death. Our new President champions the culture of death. Every week, it seems that he is reversing another Pro-Life government policy.
Now, we are sending taxpayer money … Read Moreoverseas to fund abortions; we are creating human beings in labs just to take their stem cells when adult stem cells work better than anything you can get from the embryos; he is working to take away healthcare professional’s freedom of conscious and forcing Pro-Life doctors to go against their Hippocratic oaths by forcing them to perform abortions.
This is what President Obama has done so far in office. It is wrong. It is terrible. And it goes against everything Nortre Dame should belive as a Catholic University.
I have no problem with honory degrees. Universities do it all the time to get free speakers for their commencement ceremonies. My problem with this situation is that a Catholic university is honoring somoene that goes against what the Catholic Church stands for with regards to life.
A Jewish university would not give a holocaust denier an honorary … Read Moredegree. A historically black university would not give a KKK member an honorary degree. A Catholic university should not give an honorary degree to someone who has done more to encourage and increase abortions in the few months that he has been in office than has been done since Roe vs Wade.
Barack Hussein Obama is my President. I respect his office. I gladly give him all the respect that he is due. But I will not “get over” one of the fundamental values that I hold dear: the Right to Life.
March 23, 2009 at 1:06 PM
Elizabeth Burgess
This is indeed a disgusting and shameful action on on the part of Notre Dame, named “Our Lady” after the pregnant, teenage, unmarried Jewish girl who chose to give live and birth to the Savior of the World! She certainly did not consider Jesus a “punishment.” I am so sad for this university, who so quickly departs from the Catholic Bishop’s teachings on politicians that openly support pro-death policies! “The Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.”
March 23, 2009 at 2:35 PM
Joseph Herzog
I am a little uneasy about giving Obama the Honorary degree. Giving honorary degrees is probably a standard etiquette practice that most university’s “award” to their special guest commencement speaker. In general, I think this practice is overdone and should not be done.
with regards to Obama speaking, I believe these words of Fr. Jenkins (Notre Dame’s president) are interesting:
“You cannot change the world if you shun the people you want to persuade, and if you cannot persuade them … show respect for them and listen to them,” he said.
“We want to recognize his very real and significant accomplishments and his leadership. At the same time, we want to engage him in the future, and I think this occasion will be a wonderful time to do that,” he said. “I think if he is going to reconsider his views, I think Notre Dame is the best possible place to begin that process.”
How are we supposed to get Obama to change his mind about abortion if we do not invite him into our house and treat him with respect and love? Jesus invited tax collectors and prostitutes to his home to have dinner and washed their feet.
March 23, 2009 at 2:53 PM
JeffG
Hey Joseph,
Great question. I hope I can help with an explanation.
First, I do think that the worst part of this whole thing is that only 8 President’s have received this award, and you are truly right, that is the worst part.
Second, inviting him to a healthy debate (an idea offered by a Joseph Cleary II on Belief.net) on campus could be a wonderful way to change his heart.
Third, I completely agree that his mind does need to be changed, and if one is a Catholic, they should most certainly above all be concerned about his soul. Now here is why that means he SHOULDN’T speak:
While Christ did wash the feet of the apostles (from what I remember the Prostitute actually washed Christ’s feet), and did serve those who needed his help, Christ’s service came through instructing correctly and telling others that they needed to repent. What he did NOT do was give a pulpit to those who spoke against Him, or against His teaching. In fact, he spoke out to those who claimed authority, and did so harshly. He also warned people to change their ways. Here is how a Priest could be like Christ:
1. Visit Obama and tell him, in a Civil Manner, about the evils of abortion.
2. Ask him to visit campus, and explain that he needs to respect life.
What people are discarding here, and what the Catholic Church asserts, is that Obama heavily supporting Abortion rights, is the equivalent to supporting human sacrifice for other’s convenience. He is as radical on this issue as one can be.
So should we give him a pulpit? Certainly not. What we can do is say “Good for you for working hard, but please work for good.” A Catholic Priest should say “You have an eternal soul Mr. Obama, and you will be responsible for all of these children. Please repent. Come, we will welcome you on a retreat. But I am sorry, we can neither allow you Communion, nor allow you a pulpit to speak from, until you repent. We will be praying for you!”
Love is not allowing people to do whatever they want. Love is both giving them the freedom to choose, and properly instructing them on the best choice. But one thing we cannot in a civil society allow, is someone the choice to end another’s life in an unjust way. That is what abortion is. And the Catholic Church is in effect giving Obama credibility. Note: despite the Catholic Church’s teaching on Obama, 54% of Catholics voted for him. What a sad thing to happen!
I hope that helps Joseph, and again, thanks for the concern. If you’ve got another question, or suggestion, please let us know.
March 24, 2009 at 11:11 AM
Suzanne Laurier
It is shameful that Notre Dane would consider honoring President Obama in this way, in view of his ‘pro-death’ stance especially.
March 24, 2009 at 12:20 PM
Paul Probus
No wonder we have politicians who call themselves Catholic and still
oppose the right to life for all people!
To use the school named after Our Lady to grovel before an evil-minded,
evil acting politician is indeed disgraceful and blasphemous!!!
March 24, 2009 at 5:50 PM
lucy jo
http://proecclesia.blogspot.com/
“Bishop D’Arcy Speaks on Notre Dame and Obama; Bishop Will Not Attend Boycott Ceremony ”
Bishop D’Arcy’s letter is posted here.
“My decision is not an attack on anyone, but is in defense of the truth about human life.”
March 24, 2009 at 5:53 PM
virginia Bronga
Shame on Notre Dame University!!! Time for the Pope to pull its Catholic Status ..and this following the vagina monologues! Shame Shame Shame !!!!!!!!
March 24, 2009 at 6:32 PM
Original Notre Dame Protest Post «
[...] March 24, 2009 in Uncategorized | by JeffG The original Notre Dame Protest Post has become MASSIVE with information. Therefore, I moved my original article to this post, simply for clarity. For all Protest updates, click here. [...]
March 24, 2009 at 7:21 PM
Bishop D’Arcy: Noble, Courageous…thank you for speaking about in Concern to Obama «
[...] For Bishop D’Arcy’s letter and other information concerning this issue, click here. Squarewon.org [...]
March 25, 2009 at 6:38 PM
lucy jo
145,154 signers
March 25, 2009 at 8:28 PM
lucy jo
150,799 signers!!!! (as of 10:15 PM)
It’s on Greta! She is interviewing two co-eds who are working to have O banned from campus.
March 25, 2009 at 8:51 PM
lucy jo
Kathleen Donahue and Mary Daley are on Greta.
They are coeds at Notre Dame who are seeking to have Obama uninvited from the commencement.
They did an excellent job explaining that this is about a public figure at odds with Catholic moral teaching speaking at a Catholic institution.
Greta is asking about the war and Bush; Katherine says this is about the prolife “mantra” of the Catholic Church.
Wow – hope these girls are on youtube.
RC courage is on the march.
March 26, 2009 at 11:23 AM
lucy jo
165,828 signers!!!! (as of 1:05 PM)
March 26, 2009 at 4:38 PM
lucy jo
172,386 signers!!!! (as of 6:05 PM)
March 27, 2009 at 4:01 PM
enzoselva888
Here’s a list of MANY ND emails: put them ALL in your TO field, God Shall Know His Own!
president@nd.edu, jbradley@nd.edu, Srregina@rlb.us.com,
“sfocht@nd.edu” , “vocation.1@nd.edu” , “indcscdv@nd.edu” , provost@nd.edu, Lykoudis.1@nd.edu, “pkilpat1@nd.edu” , science@nd.edu, GradSch@nd.edu, dmayerni@nd.edu, hood.11@nd.edu, nhoyt@nd.edu, fh@p2arch.com, jed@adgoffice.com, Economakis.1@nd.edu, Buccellato.5@nd.edu, Crowe.2@nd.edu, DeFrees.3@nd.edu, Doordan.1@nd.edu, abuccellato@nd.edu, Bullene.3@nd.edu, Brandt.5@nd.edu, pbess@nd.edu, bass.11@nd.edu, ias@nd.edu, Younes.1@nd.edu, Westfall.2@nd.edu, contact@holycrosscongregation.org, studegov@nd.edu, agwyrick@alumni.nd.edu, irishladym@comcast.net, irishtiny@embarqmail.com, mcgreevy.5@nd.edu, swonger.1@nd.edu, Carolyn.Y.Woo.5@nd.edu, archmazzola@tiscalinet.it, hpage@nd.edu, theology.theo.1@nd.edu, rreish@nd.edu, gschmid1@nd.edu, kkoski2@nd.edu,
March 29, 2009 at 12:03 PM
MJ
I would also like to note, that if Notre Dame invited a speaker who had an amazing track record on many social justice issues, but was maybe up in the air on torture or racism, no one would say they were inviting him/her there for an open dialogue about those issues or that it was a great sign of bi-partisanship. No, they would decry it as shameful and want to run that speaker out on a rail.
The only reason why liberal Catholics and liberal mainstream media proponents think that this is okay and are calling us closed-minded is because we still hold this as a fundamental issue and they want us to see as one of many, on which we can compromise.
And although it is all well and good for Fr. Jenkins (do I still have to call him Father? Has he been de-frocked yet? ok ok just kidding…) to talk about how this may serve as a starting point to change Obama’s mind, politicians are like dogs. If you reward them while they do something, they will think they should keep doing it—even if you’re telling them how much you don’t like what they’re doing. Politicians, like all animals, avoid what gets them hurt. And the people who value life as the starting point for every other issue we face in our political debate, the issue on which there is no compromise, must make it hurt politicians to pay lip service to our concerns and then violate our values.