Posted on 03/27/2009 5:17:57 PM PDT by chase19
ND President's Religious Superior Says Jenkins
"Fulfilling Responsibilities" of President
By Kathleen Gilbert
NOTRE DAME, Indiana, March 27, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) -
Fr. David Tyson, C.S.C., Provencial of the University of Notre Dame and religious superior of ND president Fr. John Jenkins, today responded to questions about Jenkins' decision to back the invitation of Obama to speak at Notre Dame, saying that Jenkins is "fulfilling his responsibilities" as president of Notre Dame.
Fr. Tyson is Fr. Jenkins' superior in the Congregation of the Holy Cross, a Rome-based order of priests and brothers who answer directly to the Pope, rather than the local prelate.
Fr. Jenkins has been at the center of intense controversy after it was announced last Friday that Notre Dame extended an invitation to President Obama to offer the commencement address and receive an honorary law degree May 17. Fr. Jenkins and Notre Dame spokesmen have said the invitation would stand despite enormous protest from Catholic leaders and Notre Dame alumni (to sign the Cardinal Newman Society's petition protesting the invite: http://www.notredamescandal.com).
While declining an interview on the matter, Fr. Tyson issued a statement to LSN emphasizing that Holy Cross does not control Notre Dame governance and policy.
Fr. Tyson said his relationship with Fr. Jenkins as religious superior is "not an employment relationship, as some might think," but added that, "Father Jenkins is a good priest and is fulfilling the responsibilities for which he was chosen by the Board of Trustees."
As provincial superior, Tyson oversees the spiritual welfare of the order's local members.
Notre Dame's Bishop John D'Arcy issued a statement Tuesday condemning the invitation and announcing his intention to boycott the ceremony. Two other U.S. bishops so far have also condemned the invitation. To contact Fr. Tyson's office: sfocht@nd.edu
During Mass and Stations of the Cross, my parish priest spoke out against what was going to happening at ND. He was really ticked off and mentioned Obama by name.
Another broken religious order, evidently. I don’t know much about the Congregation of the Holy Cross, but that let Fr. Jenkin’s predecessor do some pretty horrible things, and now they are letting Jenkins do the same.
He is quite right in saying that on most matters having to do with Notre Dame, Fr. Jenkins answers to the Board of Directors, not to his religious superior. But he answers to his religious superior on matters of faith and morals, and it seems to me that that applies in this case. It is a major scandal for the Church and the Order, as well as the College.
We have a problem with religious orders in the USA. Reminding you that the same was true in the 16th Century. Luther was an Augustinian. The Franciscans jumped ship in large numbers, too. The Reformation was mainly a revolt of the lower clergy.
We really don’t know what is going on behind the scenes about this .. some alum groups have begun to organize and it’s not realy likely it’s independent of supportive clergy.
But what about his responsibilities to obey the Pope? And Church teaching.
He flunks, in my estimation.
I guess I am looking for courageous clergy. I have seen a few in last year (mostly Priests, but more and more Bishops).
To me, a behind the scenes response is not adequate. This is a bold attack on our faith and life. It is creating scandal.
It should not take a Papal enclave to get an authoritative statement from the Bishops that this visit is unacceptable. It should state in no uncertain terms that this invite is not withdrawn, the university will lose it's Catholic charter and all Church financial support, and all faculty Priests will be called back to their order.
I found it interesting that the order of priests at NDU aren’t part of the diocesan structure, or in any way in its ‘line of command’ to any US clerical authority but report directly to the Pope. Given how outspoken THIS Pope has been, I imagine there will be a statement and consequences coming out of Rome before too long.
In the meanwhile since the chain of command is so complex, and not the monolith everyone THINKS the RCC is, it causes scandal across the board. Not good.
I have been giving the matter some serious thought and believe this whole issue can be amicably resolved if Jenkins, Tyson, et.al., would merey change the name of their order from Congregation of the Holy Cross to the Order of Pontius Pilate. It would be far more honest and truly capture their moral sense.
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