Posted on 05/11/2009 11:51:24 AM PDT by wagglebee
South Bend, IN (LifeNews.com) -- Notre Dame students who don't want to attend a graduation ceremony involving pro-abortion President Barack Obama put together alternate plans. Today, they announced that Father Frank Pavone, the director of Priests for Life, will lead prayer at a pro-life prayer vigil.
The Class of 2009 Vigil for Life will be celebrated at Sunday's commencement ceremony at the same time as the graduation event.
“In standing with these students, I am standing with the true spirit of Notre Dame: a pro-life spirit, in harmony with human reason and Catholic Faith," Father Pavone told LifeNews.com on Monday.
"The scandal that has been generated does not represent what Notre Dame is all about," Pavone added. "It represents a radical betrayal of what Notre Dame is all about."
Pavone said the scandal has resulted in pro-life Catholics standing up for the teachings of the Catholic Church and wanting to hold the university accountable to them.
“Hundreds of thousands of Catholics, hundreds of priests, and dozens of bishops have called upon Notre Dame to end this scandal by withdrawing its invitation to President Obama," he said. "The result of that demand is not in our control."
Pavone told LifeNews.com he thinks pro-life students should exercise their right not to attend the graduation ceremony, where President Obama will give the commencement address and receive an honorary degree.
"One final response to this scandal is fully in the control of each graduating senior: don't show up. Don't participate in an event which will only serve to obscure rather than highlight the Church’s pro-life teaching and the true spirit of Notre Dame," Pavone continued.
"The seniors who do this are manifesting the real meaning of commencement: they are carrying out the witness to truth and service that their hard-earned degrees have prepared them to give in the world," he added.
Some pro-life students plan to join Pavone for the alternative event, but others plan to conduct their own protest during the graduation ceremonies, ND Response, the pro-life collection of student groups, told LifeNews.com last week.
"It certainly appears obvious from these announced plans that a large or perhaps the sole focus of that response is a boycott," ND Response indicated. "There also may be other small groups or individuals amongst the 2009 graduates and their guests who have their own ideas about raising the pro-life issue to Mr. Obama inside the Joyce Center."
The students say they want a focus on peaceful and respectful opposition, especially in light of some of the more in-your-face opposition appearing at their campus in recent days along with the arrest of some pro-life advocates.
Related web sites:
Priests for Life - http://www.PriestsforLife.org
Notre Dame response - http://www.ndresponse.com
Awesome and intelligent response.
Good for these students standing up for the rights of ALL humans!
Yeah, on the Interstate 80/90 exit ramps in both directions, as you exit toward South Bend/Notre Dame.
It looks to me they were trying to convey that “pro choice” really means “pro abortion”. Hence underlining the word abortion.
I think I read it on Jill Stanek’s site.
Billboard companies are notorious for censorship.
We tried to rent one in the perfect place for this past
year’s Komen race. The company wouldn’t let us
put our banner up. So we relied on our trusty
Truth Truck!
I think they just figured it was too in your face and this is
the PC result.
As someone else posted on a similar thread, Notre Dame, that CINO institution, might issue a “you don’t show up, you don’t get a diploma” BS. God bless Father Frank Pavone!
I am very happy to see many at Notre Dame are taking a stand against abortionists and their Obama.
that is great and sadly it is the only way of a few on how to get the message out due to a bias media who refuse to report the actual news or tell the public what is really going on around this country
Now THAT is beautiful. It brings tears to me eyes! Well, done! : )
There has been a plane flying over with pro-life messages, unfortunately this won't be allowed when Obama is there.
KD
Wow .. that seriously wonderful and hands-down right on!
God bless them. If the 0 goes, I hope the motorcade has
to proceed by at least one of the billboards ... at 5mph.
.
Billboard Bump
Drat. Well, it’s better than nothing.
I love it too!
Unless I’m mistake, airspace is ALWAYS restricted around the president.
Good for them for knowing better and good for Father Frank, who has exactly the right strategy!!!!!
Awesome and says it all.
“Pro-abortion choice” is bizarre wording, but it has an advantage that it undermines the “pro-choice” language by pointing out the nature of the choice.
Excellent idea! It is best not to show up at all at the Obama ceremony.
Those who think they can stand up and walk out just before Obama speaks are mistaken. The whole place will be under security lockdown...once in, there’s no leaving until Obama finishes speaking and leaves the campus.
So, prolife Notre Damers, families and friends:
Protest O!
Don’t Show!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.