A message from Bishop Aymond: Statement regarding the University of Notre Dame

The Friday Epistle ^ | March 27, 2009 | Bishop Aymond, Diocese of Austin

[Titanites]

As was announced recently, the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., is presenting President Barack Obama with an honorary degree and have asked him to give the commencement address.

I, along with many other Catholics, express great disappointment and sadness that a Catholic university would honor someone who is pro-choice and who holds many values contrary to our Catholic belief.

In the midst of such a sad situation, as Catholics we must continue to be pro-life and to proclaim with even greater strength the values of Christ and the teachings of the Catholic Church.

In my opinion, it is very clear that in this case the University of Notre Dame does not live up to its Catholic identity in giving this award and their leadership needs our prayerful support.

[Titanites]

Bishop Gregory M. Aymond

Bishop Gregory Aymond was born on November 12, 1949 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

He graduated from Notre Dame Seminary in 1975 with a master’s of divinity degree.  After graduating from the seminary he engaged in further studies at Loyola’s Institute for Ministry.

Bishop Aymond was ordained to the priesthood on May 10, 1975.  After his priestly ordination he served as a parish priest and high school teacher, and was appointed to the faculty of Notre Dame Seminary in 1981 as the director of Pastoral Education and a professor of Pastoral Counseling and Homiletics.  He served in this capacity until 1986, when he was appointed president/rector of Notre Dame Seminary and served in that capacity for 14 years.

During his ministry in New Orleans, he served as the director of the Pontifical Mission Societies as well as a member of the national board from 1977 to 2000.  He was also the founder and director of the Christ the Healer Medical Mission Program of the Archdiocese of New Orleans in Granada, Nicaragua.

Bishop Aymond was ordained auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New Orleans on January 10, 1997.  He was appointed as coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Austin on June 2, 2000 and became the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Austin on January 2, 2001.

Bishop Aymond has served as:

• Chair of the Board of Directors of National Catholic Educational Association from 2000-2004.
• Chair of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People and the World Missions Committee
• Member of the USCCB Committee on:

• Diaconate
• Catholic Education
• Vocations
• Priestly Formation
• Campus Ministry

      And currently serves as a member of the USCCB Committee on:

• Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth
• Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations

      And as the Episcopal Moderator of the “Catholic Leadership Institute”

• Has co-authored a book Facing Forgiveness, published by Ave Marie Press in 2007

Since his arrival in Austin, the diocese has seen unprecedented growth, including the development of an Institute for Spiritual Direction; the opening of San Juan Diego Catholic High School, which specifically targets financially disadvantaged students; a program with St. Mary’s University in San Antonio that allows lay people in the Austin Diocese to obtain a master’s degree in theology using distance learning technology; three-fold increase in the number of seminarians; and the establishment of an Institute for Ecclesial Ministry.

[the anti-liberal]

I've noticed lately that they've been saying 'honorary degree' instead of 'honorary law degree.'

Maybe even they know how ridiculous this looks and sounds.

[Man50D]

Petition www.notredamescandal.com/

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

I, along with many other Catholics, express great disappointment and sadness that a Catholic university would honor someone who is pro-choice and who holds many values contrary to our Catholic belief.

The padre's message just became a little weaker!

[Titanites]

Contact number for Fr. David Tyson, who is Fr. Jenkins Ordinary at Holy Cross: 574-631-6196.

The assistant who answered at Fr. Tyson's number advised writing an email to sfocht@nd.edu. The emails will all be compiled and presented by Fr. Tyson to Fr. Jenkins, the President of UND.

[Ann Archy]

Is Fr’ Jenkins SUPERIOR at NOTRE DAME????? That’s a ND e-mail address....just wondering if he didn’t give you an address that was NOT Fr. Jenkins Superior.

[Ann Archy]

Wouldn’t his Superior be at HOLY CROSS headquarters??

[Ann Archy]

What about contacting the BOARD MEMBERS of NOTRE DAME!!

[Titanites]

Is Fr’ Jenkins SUPERIOR at NOTRE DAME????? That’s a ND e-mail address....just wondering if he didn’t give you an address that was NOT Fr. Jenkins Superior.

Holy Cross has their seminary and house/quarters on the Notre Dame campus.

[Ann Archy]

OH!!

[Titanites]

What about contacting the BOARD MEMBERS of NOTRE DAME!!

Here is the contact info provided on another thread for some of the Fellows of the University, who are over the Board of Trustees.

[Salvation]

BTTT!