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
NYer:
You may wish to contact someone to see if the USCCB can fix its website (see the map link at post 47).
It mistakenly lists Bishop Mansour as being the head of the eparchy of St. “Marion” (should be “Maron”).
N
Father Jenkins will never withdraw the invitation. It would be too shameful, it would be an admission of guilt, and it would turn Democrats everwhere against Notre Dame.
Regretably, in most cases the primary job of a university president is fund raising, and Notre Dame has done extremely well in that regard. Now I think they're between a rock and a hard place, because they'll offend liberal donors if they pull out and they'll offend orthodox donors if they don't. In fact, if they pull out now, they will have succeeded in offending absolutely everyone.
There is one reasonable hope, I think. If enough complaints are made, if enough scandal is raised, if enough negative publicity comes from this, then Obama may find some convenient excuse to back out. Too tired from all his travels in behalf of our country, perhaps. Maybe a sudden head cold.
Obama wants this event to be a showcase stage for him to appear on, like the Greek Temple or the Berlin Monument. Here he is, being adored by the faculty and students of Notre Dame, America's great Catholic football college. Here he is, practically being invested with his honorary robes by The Gipper.
But if the event becomes one big food fight and protest instead of an adoring crowd of symbolic worshippers, that ain't what he wants. So, the more protests and the more bad publicity, pointing out that he is the world's number one baby-killer and an enemy of God and the Church, the better.
That ain't what he wants.
Can we infer anything from the fact that the great Catholic football college is failing, as of late, both at Catholicism and football?
Yes, it might very well be a sign. Especially with all the dough they spent on their new stadium.
I have not been impressed with our new bishop.
His name is lacking on the list...
The more ruckus we raise the sooner Rahmbo and Axelrot will whisper in Obama's ear "Even a dumb general like you knows when to retreat".
Leni
Good on ya, Mrs Don-o! Excellent leadership skills.
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