Posted on 04/04/2009 5:18:50 AM PDT by kellynla
Controversy has erupted over Notre Dame's invitation to President Barack Obama to speak at its May commencement ceremony. The president will address the university and receive an honorary doctorate in law.
Bishop John J. D'Arcy of the Fort Wayne-South Bend diocese has decided not to attend the commencement, explaining, "My decision is not an attack on anyone, but is in defense of the truth about human life." Bishop D'Arcy's position is reflective of the outrage of many in the Catholic community.
Their angst is understandable since Mr. Obama has pursued a strong anti-life agenda both before and after assuming the office of president. Indeed, Mr. Obama’s actions are at odds with the very foundations of American law and justice: a belief that all men are created equal and that innocent human life should be protected by the state.
Catholic tradition is very clear that both abortion and the destruction of embryos undermine the basic principles of human life. The Catholic catechism states, "Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person—among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life."
The catechism goes so far as to call for "excommunication latae sententiae" (essentially, immediate default excommunication) for anyone who cooperates in an abortion. With such clear, strict pro-life doctrine, it is no wonder that Catholics are up in arms over Notre Dame's decision to honor a man whose words and actions directly support the destruction of nascent human life.
Since taking office in January, President Obama has changed U.S. policy to support abortions abroad, removed limitations on the federal funding of embryonic stem cell research (research which would require the destruction of embryos), and appears ready to remove federal laws which allow physicians to object on conscience to performing abortions or giving out contraceptives.
Moreover, the president promised during his campaign to repeal the Hyde amendment, an amendment that prevents federal funding of abortions (except in cases of rape or incest or to save the life of the mother).
He also promised to sign the Freedom of Choice Act, which would overturn nearly all state and federal restrictions on abortion and nearly all state and federal restrictions on funding for abortion.
The right to life has properly been described as the First Right. It is that right without which no other right can exist. As Pope John Paul II stated in his Apostolic Exhortation Christifideles Laici, "The inviolability of the person which is a reflection of the absolute inviolability of God, finds its primary and fundamental expression in the inviolability of human life.
Above all, the common outcry, which is justly made on behalf of human rights—for example, the right to health, to home, to work, to family, to culture—is false and illusory if the right to life, the most basic and fundamental right and the condition for all other personal rights, is not defended with maximum determination." The protection of human life is necessary to establish justice and compassion in society.
Notre Dame President Rev. John Jenkins has defended the school's position, calling the speech "a basis for further positive engagement." Pro-life Notre Dame alumnus Kenneth L. Woodward echoes this defense in a recent Washington Post column.
He explains that the university must necessarily allow for the open discussion of such issues, since it is "devoted to both faith and reason." Woodward and Jenkins miss a key distinction: There is a big difference between allowing a person to speak at a university and granting him an honorary degree and making him the centerpiece of commencement exercises.
The former can be defended on the grounds that a university should allow for a wide discussion of issues, but the latter expresses the university's stamp of approval on the president.
Catholic theologian and biographer, George Weigel, sees through Rev. Jenkins's faulty argument: "Commencement is not an occasion for debate. Commencement is not an opportunity to set the foundations for a dialogue. Commencement and award of an honorary degree is a statement on the part of the university that this is a life worth emulating."
Catholics have long upheld the importance of protecting nascent human life, even as other groups of Christians have succumbed to cultural pressures.
Pope Benedict XVI stated, "God's love does not differentiate between the newly conceived infant still in his or her mother's womb and the child or young person, or the adult and the elderly person. God does not distinguish between them because he sees an impression of his own image and likeness (Genesis 1:26) in each one."
Unfortunately, Notre Dame appears to value cultural approval more than the teachings of the Catholic Church.
By honoring Mr. Obama at its commencement, Notre Dame trivializes our culture's devaluation of human life.
The consequences of doing so are explained clearly in the Vatican's summary of Evangelium Vitae: "The causes of this 'culture of death which threatens man and civilization are traced by the Holy Father to a perverse idea of freedom, which is seen as disconnected from any reference to truth and objective good, and which asserts itself in an individualistic way, without the constitutive link of relationships with others."
Our culture is increasingly embracing a culture of death, and Notre Dame's blessing of our president is yet another disturbing sign of this trend. If even Catholics are abandoning their traditional, rich understanding of life, who will be left to defend it?
Realpolitics that causes a severe loss for RealAmerica—as the Obamunists have planned all along.
If BHO was a man of principle he would never darken the doors of an institution he hates.
But he is not—he is of the “will to power” ilk so clearly described in “Mein Kampf.”
Obama: The new Messiah foisted upon the world by the secular church.
IMHO
But nothing compared to the aggressive umbrage Catholics have shown throughout history when their faith was being assaulted.
As it is being now.
BTW, what is your religious affiliation?
Ban teleprompters and he probably won’t appear.
Ban teleprompters and he probably won’t appear.
Where are the inaccuracies much less any undeserved recriminations laced with satirical insults?
If BHO was to be knighted by my King I would do my utmost to prevent it and accept any derision as justified if I didn't..
ping
I am a deist of the Jeffersonian sect and,like him,a firm believer that even though I’m no true Christian I know the Christian faith is the only pragmatic and the most efficasious salvation for the wicked world.
The divinity of Jesus matters little to me,I just know His way is THE way.
Being a conservative means to totally accept the doctrine of “what works,” and Christianity still owns the market on that concept.
With boo-coo thanks to the Catholics for starting it all.
“Where are the inaccuracies?”
For starters...
“With boo-coo thanks to the Catholics for starting it all?”
Jesus Christ “started it all.”
You may not wanna admit it, but the Catholic Church was founded by God almighty...I hope you & ol’ Tommy Jefferson aren’t offended. LOL
“Where are the inaccuracies?”
your own admittance:
“OK,there is more than a peep”
“I just don’t see too many Christians of other denominations willing to sully their sacred institutions by honoring an evil abomination like Obama?”
I don’t see too many Christians of other denominatios willing to do ANYTHING! They go to church, live their lives and many even volunteer but lets not compare the Minors with the MAJORS for TWO THOUSAND YEARS! LMAO
It doesn’t sound like Obamamania from the article.
In Rome...last I checked. And you can see & hear him on EWTN LIVE & in living color celebrating Palm Sunday Mass from...ROME! 8PM ET
“He has the power.... why does he not use it?”
As I have previously posted, “it ain't over til the fat lady sings.”
“why is ted kennedy still allowed to be Catholic?”
You do know the difference in a CINO and a practicing Catholic...
You win.
But only because of your Christian passion—which I truly admire—salt of the earth and all that,you know.
Apparently so. Sounds like the alumni endowments may be slowing down. Maybe some liberal group will take up the slack. I don't think ND would have made this move without first considering how it would affect endowments. Who could the new benefactors be??
Fr. Jenkins just screwed up...
he was more impressed with having the first Black POTUS speak at the commencement than the reality of what the first Black POUTS might stand for & have to say.
I don't expect to see & hear Hussein at the ND commencement.
Maybe you’re right and it’s just as simple as that. One would think that he’d run this by the board and that some one person on the board at least would say “well now let’s think about this for a minute here.”
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