"seemingly without regard for the consequences"
More than stood up against Henry VIII. That's some progress.
Posted on 04/07/2009 12:43:29 PM PDT by wagglebee
NOTRE DAME, Indiana, April 7, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Seven more bishops have publicly spoken out against the University of Notre Dame's invitation to President Barack Obama to give the commencement address and receive an honorary law degree on May 17. In total 24 U.S. bishops have condemned the scandal (see list at bottom).
LifeSiteNews.com (LSN) today obtained Bishop William Higi's statement in Sunday's print edition of The Catholic Moment, the weekly newspaper of the Diocese of Lafayette, IN.
"Many people, including myself, who consider the University of Notre Dame the prestigious Catholic university in the United States, are most upset that the university has extended an invitation to President Obama to give its commencement address and receive an honorary degree," wrote Bishop Higi.
"Others have explained why so many object to this action. It need not be repeated here. In simple fact, the Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who stand in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions. The sanctity of life from conception to natural death heads that list of fundamental principles."
The bishop encouraged readers to file their protest at http://www.notredamescandal.com, where a petition launched by the Cardinal Newman Society has reached over 248,000 signatures.
Writing to Notre Dame's Bishop John D'Arcy from the Texas diocese of San Antonio, Bishop José Gomez and auxiliary bishop Oscar Cantú said in a March 31 letter that they were "saddened by the circumstances that made you decide not to attend" commencement ceremonies, and expressed "total support" of the bishop's action and motives.
"President Obama has made it clear that his policies on abortion and the general protection of innocent life are in dramatic opposition to the teachings of the Catholic Church," wrote the bishops. "At this critical time we cannot afford to send an ambiguous message to the leaders of our people." (To view the letter: http://www.archdiosa.org/txtfiles/attachment_153.pdf)
On April 1, Archbishop Alfred Hughes of the Archdiocese of New Orleans wrote "with a heavy heart" to University president Fr. John Jenkins, saying he could not see how the invitation was in alignment with U.S. Bishops' policy prohibiting honors for pro-abortion politicians.
While highlighting President Obama's personal charisma and talent, Hughes added: "But dignity and equality belong also to our unborn brothers and sisters. We cannot compromise our Church's clear and unflagging opposition to abortion and embryonic stem cell research by providing honors and a platform for those who deny the humanity and dignity of the most frail creatures in our midst. ...
"The University of Notre Dame used to be the flagship Catholic University in the United States," lamented Hughes. "I regret that we are not experiencing that leadership and integrity." (to view Abp. Hughes' full letter, go to: http://blog.nola.com/elections_impact/2009/04/Hughes%20lette...)
In a column last Friday in the diocesan newspaper of Youngstown, Ohio, Bishop George Murry wrote: "In politics, one cannot functionally separate a politician from his polices. Mr. Obama's policies of expanding the availability of abortion at home and exporting that availability overseas have demonstrated that he does not believe that the life of the unborn is very important. As a result, I cannot but be deeply disturbed by the decision made by the president and board of Notre Dame." (To view Bishop Murry's column: http://cathexpo.org/articledetails.aspx?articleid=240)
In Saturday's edition of the Fairfield County Catholic, Bishop William Lori of Connecticut's Bridgeport Diocese said: "Notre Dame extended this invitation unilaterally, seemingly without regard for the consequences for the mission of the Catholic Church in the United States. It is contrary to the efforts of bishops, parish priests, and laity to resist the anti-life decisions, policies, and legislation promoted by the Obama administration."
Bishop Anthony Taylor of Little Rock, AR in a Facebook note endorsed the position of U.S. Catholic Bishops' policy against the Notre Dame invitation, and stated that he "fully support[s]" Notre Dame's Bishop D'Arcy for repudiating the move and announcing his intent to boycott the graduation ceremony.
The bishops who have spoken out against the Notre Dame Scandal thus far (with some files from Thomas Peters of the American Papist blog, http://www.americanpapist.com/blog):
1. Bishop John D'Arcy, Fort Wayne-South Bend, IN
2. Cardinal Francis George, Chicago; President, USCCB
3. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, Galveston-Houston,
4. Archbishop Timothy Dolan, Milwaukee
5. Archbishop John Nienstedt, St. Paul-Minneapolis, MN
6. Archbishop Eusebius Beltran, Oklahoma City
7. Bishop Edward Slattery, Tulsa
8. Archbishop John Myers, Newark
9. Archbishop Alfred Hughs, New Orleans
10. Bishop Joseph Martino, Scranton
11. and Auxiliary Bishop John Dougherty, Scranton
12. Bishop Thomas Doran, Rockford, IL
13. Bishop Thomas Olmsted, Phoenix
14. Bishop Gregory Aymond, Austin
15. Bishop Robert Lynch, St. Petersburg
16. Bishop R. Walker Nickless, Sioux City
17. Bishop Kevin Rhoades, Harrisburg, Pa.
18. Bishop William E. Lori, Bridgeport, CT
19. Bishop Robert Morlino, Madison WI
20. Bishop George Murry, Youngstown, OH
21. Bishop William Higi, Lafayette, IN
22. Bishop Anthony Taylor, Little Rock, AR
23. Archbishop Jose Gomez, San Antonio
24. and Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Cantu, San Antonio
See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Notre Dame's Bishop Will Not Attend Obama-Honoring Graduation, Criticizes University's Decision
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09032408.html
Notre Dame Faces Groundswell of Outrage after Announcing Plan to Honor Obama
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09032312.html
Notre Dame President: School "Honored" by Obama's Acceptance to Speak and Receive Honorary Degree
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09032306.html
Catholic Notre Dame University to Give Obama Honorary Degree on May 17, Against USCCB Policy
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09032005.html
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That’s because they won’t do the right thing. They will do the popular thing. Evidently they want to be the next Georgetown.
More than stood up against Henry VIII. That's some progress.
The list grows.
Still waiting for a name listing with “CA” after it.
Notre Dame can go to h*ll.
The Catholics who support this “sports franchise” probably voted for Obama. It is obvious the “university” is pro-abortion.
Maybe when the alumni shows them the money ...or where the money used to be.
As some of our protestant brethren have noted, they’re headed the way of Harvard and Yale.
Where is Cardinal Mahoney?
Has anybody heard from Cardinal O’Mally of Massachusetts who is the bishop of Senator Kerry and Kennedy? Why Is he afraid to speak up against these 2 abortion Senators?
Not so much - Henry could just chop off their heads.
Sign the petition at http://www.notredamescandal.com/
Nearly a quarter of a million have signed to date, keep piling on..
And Notre Dame hasn't had a really good football team since Lou Holtz left over a decade ago.
This whole issue is absolutely mind boggling. A Catholic University that is honoring a man who has an unwaivering support of killing unborn children.
With all due respect to those who love life more than death I hesitate to make a generalization. BUT, how many students/alumni are there at Notre Dame that love life more than death? 1? 100? 1000? Are they just sitting there and going to let this happen without a fight? Are they a bunch of cowards who cannot stand up for the unborn children of America and the world?
How about the Pope? Is he going to allow Notre Dame to just flip off the Catholic church by honoring Obama with a law degree? Someone in Catholic leadership needs to get his response to this! What does he say?
Obama has decided that unborn life is not life to be protected under our constitution! What lawyer is deserving of honor who places his own finger on the scales of justice to favor death over life?
Notre Dame, this is your time! Choose this day who you will serve! There is no debate here. By “honoring” Obama you may as well erect a golden calf in the halls of your institution! Because you are worshiping a man (by honoring him) over worshiping the Living God.
I want to know - where is Bishop Wuerl on this?
That any of them are speaking out against this is some improvement.
Careful.
Some of the self-appointed devout here on FR frown on questioning in the least, the approach on the Church heirarchy.
(Doubtless the pro-life stalwarts are like FReepers -- one FReeper is worth 100 leftists at public demonstrations...)
If you openly defy your local Bishop, why would the opinions of other Bishop's matter more?
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