A Catholic university in name only. Theology classes are no longer a requirement of incoming freshman and haven't been for many years. The president of the the university may be a priest, but he's a priest that's much more closely aligned with the US Council of American Bishops than he is with Rome.
Ave Maria in Florida is one of, if not the only Catholic college that keeps to Catholic teachings.
“Theology classes are no longer a requirement of incoming freshman and haven’t been for many years”
This isn’t true. Granted, it’s possible to take worthless theology classes but they still have to take theology.
I have a LOT of problems with the Bishops’ Conference, but they do affirm the sanctity of human life. As some of the critics of Fr. Jenkins point out, he is directly violating the letter published by the bishops last year—although frankly that letter could have been better and more clearly written.
Still, although some bishops may keep their mouths shut about this—and all but his diocesan bishop have a right to do so, I suppose—you won’t find any of them defending this heretic. Not even the worst of them.
Heretic is not a popular term of use these days, but that’s what Fr. Jenkins’ behavior amounts to, IMHO. He is a disobedient son of the Church.
But --- technically --- the USCCB does not have jurisdiction over Notre Dame per se, since Notre Dame is under the CSC Fathers (their superior is in Rome), and is incoporated separately and functions under a Board of Trustees. In fact, they've made the "Who's in charge here?" question so complicated, that you could get whole kennels full of clerics and academics yelping, squirming and pointing to each other, saying "It's his problem, not mine."
So who's the legal controlling authority? Here's the contact information for the Board of Trustees.
Who's the canonical authority? Well, Notre Dame President Father Jenkins is a member of the Congregation of the Holy Cross order of priests. Ask his Superior General to state that hit is contrary to the CSC's policy to give platforms and honors to people who violat fundamntal moral norms, and that therefore Barack Obama is ineleigible for honors at Notre Dame:
Very Rev. Hugh W. Cleary, C.S.C.
Superior General
Congregation of Holy Cross
Via Framura, 85
00168 Rome, Italy
Or e-mail him: contact@holycrosscongregation.org
If these men don't see the light, they have to at least feel the heat.
But please do write an e-mail or send a letter or two. Consider it a practical application of your Baptismal Promises.
Please.