Posted on 06/17/2009 2:59:34 PM PDT by wagglebee
VATICAN CITY, June 17, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) Archbishop Raymond Burke, the highest ranking American prelate in the Vatican has given an interview in a Catholic magazine, in which he says that Notre Dames decision to honor President Barack Obama was not only profoundly shocking, but also underscores a grave situation requiring action to ensure the incident is never repeated.
Burke is the prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, the highest court of appeal in the Church next to the Pope, and an outspoken advocate for life and family values. He has made headlines repeatedly for his insistence that ministers of communion should deny the sacrament to publicly and obstinantely pro-abortion individuals, especially politicians. He told the Catholic periodical, Inside the Vatican, that a number of lessons must be taken from Notre Dames high-profile conferral of an honorary doctorate on Obama, the most aggressive pro-abortion president in American history.
Burke said that the betrayal of the Catholic identity of Notre Dame University grew out of the danger of pursuing a kind of prestige in the secular world, which leads to a betrayal of the sacred aspect of its work, namely the fidelity to Christ and His teaching.
So I think everybody now realizes the gravity of the situation. Also I believe that the whole situation has sensitized more people with regard to the gravity of the practice of procured abortion in our nation, that is, they realize even more how far we have gone away from Gods will for human life, continued Burke.
That the premiere Catholic university in the United States would give an honorary doctorate of law to one of the most aggressive pro-abortion politicians in our history is profoundly shocking.
Now, we cannot forget what has happened at Notre Dame, said Burke. We need to take the measures that are necessary so that this is not repeated in other places. If it could happen at Notre Dame, where else could it happen?
Burke praised the witness of Bishop John DArcy of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana, whose diocese encompasses Notre Dame, for his very powerful witness to the Gospel of Life. DArcy had boycotted the Notre Dame graduation ceremonies in protest and rebuked the schools president, Fr. John Jenkins for honoring a President who has made laws which are against innocent life.
Burke added that DArcy was working hard to encourage a spiritual renewal among students at Notre Dame, while at the same time correcting what is gravely wrong.
I have friends who are professors or students at the university who tell me that there are a great number of the students are very devout in their practice of the Catholic faith, and strive in every way to live their faith and grow in it, said Burke. We certainly want to save that and promote it.
Read the Inside the Vatican report Overseer of Justice: http://insidethevatican.com/newsflash/2009/newsflash-jun-13-09.htm
See related coverage by LifeSiteNews.com:
Vatican Official: Bishops Have no Choice But to Refuse Communion to Pro-Abort Politicians
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/feb/09020402.html
Exclusive Interview: Leading Vatican Prelate Says Document of US Bishops Partly to Blame for Election of Most Pro-Abortion" President
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/jan/09012805.html
Commentary: Catholic Church in America Has Bred Her Own Destroyers: Obama Exploiting it
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09033002.html
Notre Dame's Bishop Rebukes Jenkins' Defense of Obama Honor
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042205.html
Notre Dame's Bishop on Obama's Pro-Abortion Views: "No One Is Allowed to Say Who Sits at Table of Life"
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040804.html
Now, we cannot forget what has happened at Notre Dame, said Burke. We need to take the measures that are necessary so that this is not repeated in other places. If it could happen at Notre Dame, where else could it happen?
Exactly!
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Don’t hold your breath.
It were a blood oath ceremony. Instead of graduation hats, they should have worm PlannedParenthood trademark condoms on their heads. These cheerers were ridiculous. That’s a summation of their talent on sex welfare.
Archbishop Burke bump. Top canon law guy in the Vatican
The Vatican should have weighed in before Obama’s speech. And even now I don't consider that the Vatican is actually going to do anything against Notre Dame (or any other “Catholic” university/college.
It's tiresome to keep reading about Catholic leaders protesting the non-Catholic behavior of institutions and political leaders (Pelosi, Kerry, etc.) without following it up with action.
Does anyone ever get excommunicated these days? Does any institution get de-sanctioned as a Catholic institution?
Precisely! Well said by Archbishop Burke. That is exactly what is wrong with it! : )
Let's pray they begin to follow through with action.
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