Posted on 05/03/2009 8:18:34 AM PDT by foutsc
First Carrie Prejean, and now Mary Ann Glendon. Brave women are standing up for their religious principles in a very American way. According to the Boston Globe...
Harvard Law professor Mary Ann Glendon, one of the most prominent Catholic conservative intellectuals in the United States, announced yesterday that she would refuse a prestigious award from the University of Notre Dame rather than appear on the same platform on which President Obama is being awarded an honorary degree.She cited the nominally-Catholic University's decision to bestow an honorary degree on the pro-abortion president. Amid the hubbub she has displayed admirable grace:
She said she was also unhappy that "talking points issued by Notre Dame in response to widespread criticism of its decision included two statements implying that my acceptance speech would somehow balance the event.""A commencement, however, is supposed to be a joyous day for the graduates and their families," she said in the letter, addressed to Notre Dame's president, the Rev. John I. Jenkins. "It is not the right place, nor is a brief acceptance speech the right vehicle, for engagement with the very serious problems raised by Notre Dame's decision, in disregard of the settled position of the US bishops, to honor a prominent and uncompromising opponent of the church's position on issues involving fundamental principles of justice."
Others, like the Reverend Kenneth Himes of Boston College, view this as merely political gamesmanship. "But one also has to say that there is a political game going on here, and part of that is that you demonize the people who disagree with you, you question their integrity, you challenge their character, and you brand these people as moral poison. Some people have simply reduced Catholicism to the abortion issue, and, consequently, they have simply launched a crusade to bar anything from Catholic institutions that smacks of any sort of open conversation."
With all due respect to Friar Himes, Professor Glendon has not demonized our president, nor has she branded him as moral poison. Abortion is viewed as an inherent evil by Catholic dogma, so it is no longer open to debate in a Catholic setting. Funny that a layperson would grasp what a cleric does not.
It should be noted that Rev. Himes opposed Boston College bestowing an honorary law degree upon Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice.
Reverend Himes gives himself away stating that this is a political game. Trust me Father Himes, this is no game, nor is it at all political. It is religious. It is dead serious for some of us.
After all, how "prestigious" can it be if it from an institution who is handing out honorary degrees to proponents of infanticide.
If I can piggyback on what you said so eloquently:
It isn't a game. Those who believe in God, and their faith, are committed to supporting the right to life from conception on. It is a fight worth having, and to compromise one's faith to get along is not what Christ commanded of us.
Jesus himself was mocked and put to death for speaking the truth to salvation. Unfortunately Father Hines doesn't seem to see the similarity in defending life and following the word of God for salvation's sake.
Especially for the babies.
This is such a convoluted statement that I don't know where to start.
Assuming that some people have reduced Catholicism to the abortion issue (which isn't the case), I can't imagine having such an 'open' conversation about a major issue of the faith. What type of open conversation can Catholic institutions have regarding abortion? Perhaps Fr. Himes has some good ideas about how to make abortion more efficient.
However, I don't see Mary Ann Glendon's response to Notre Dame's characterization of her acceptance speech as "balance the event" as a political game. On the contrary, she has raised the debate beyond politics, basing her position on principles and by standing solidly on her beliefs. As she so eloquently put it, it is problematic for Notre Dame "to honor a prominent and uncompromising opponent of the church's position on issues involving fundamental principles of justice."
To go even a step further, those that harbor pro-life attitudes that Father Hines finds as just a single issue, doesn't seem to get we are in an absolute struggle for life in our society.
Those who are unwilling to stand up for the simple basic God given right to live are morally corrupt in their thinking. How dare people like Father Hines, and I use the term "Father" loosely here, chastise the Mary Ann Glendons of the world because the likes of Mary Ann are following the teachings of our Dear Lord.
What is it about the Sanctity of life that these priests like Father Hines and Father Jenkins don't understand?!!!
Exactly. He is the one playing political games it seems.
The letter also cited Pope John Paul II's objection to the Iraq war.
The debate over the Rice invitation underscored tensions between liberal and conservative Catholics.
"This is the only time these people have cited Pope John Paul II on anything," said the Rev. Paul McNellis, who is an adjunct professor in the philosophy department.
Himes appears to play politics frequently, always batting left.
i HOPE THERE ARE A LOT OF EMPTY SEATS WITH THE GRAD HAT FACED DOWN....IN PROTEST!!
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