Four More Bishops, 9 Holy Cross Priests Condemn ND Scandal

LifeSiteNews.com -- Your Life, Family and Culture Outpost ^ | April 8, 2009 | By Kathleen Gilbert

[topher]

Wednesday April 8, 2009

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Four More Bishops, 9 Holy Cross Priests Condemn ND Scandal

By Kathleen Gilbert

NOTRE DAME, Indiana, April 8, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A group of priests with the Congregation of the Holy Cross (C.S.C.), the religious order that runs the University of Notre Dame, and four more U.S. bishops have issued their condemnation of Notre Dame's decision to honor President Obama with an honorary law degree and an invitation to speak at the school's May 17 commencement. 

Nine Holy Cross priests and Notre Dame alumni wrote a letter concerning the scandal to the University's Observer newspaper yesterday, requesting that fellow C.S.C. member and University president Fr. John Jenkins "revisit this matter immediately" as "failure to do so will damage the integrity of the institution and detract from all the good work that occurs at Notre Dame and from the impressive labors of its many faithful students and professors."  Both the local C.S.C. superior, and the superior general in Rome, have refused to condemn the invitation. 

Said the priests: "The University pursues a dangerous course when it allows itself to decide for and by itself what part of being a Catholic institution it will choose to embrace."

The priests lamented "the fissure that the invitation ... has opened between Notre Dame and its local ordinary," and that the invitation "portends a distancing of Notre Dame from the Church."

"Although undoubtedly unintended, the University administration's decision portends a distancing of Notre Dame from the Church which is its lifeblood and the source of its identity and real strength," said the priests.  "Such a distancing puts at risk the true soul of Notre Dame." 

Archbishop Daniel Buechlein of Indianapolis, in a letter to Fr. Jenkins posted on the archdiocese's website today, wrote: "I join my voice to the chorus of thousands of faithful Catholics around the United States, and those of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis in particular, who are appalled and embarrassed by your recent invitation to President Obama to address the 2009 graduates of Notre Dame.

"I was stunned and angered upon hearing the news of the invitation; in the end, I am among the thousands of good people who are profoundly saddened by it," he wrote.  "There isn't a single reason that would justify Catholic sponsorship of the president of our country, who is blatantly opposed to the Catholic Church's doctrine on abortion and embryonic stem-cell research.

"You dishonor the reputation of the University of Notre Dame and, in effect, abdicate your prestigious reputation among Catholic universities everywhere," the Archbishop concluded.  "Like other people of good faith, I await some action that indicates your regret concerning a truly wrong decision."

Bishop Alexander Sample of Marquette, Michigan, the nation's youngest bishop at 48, called the decision "unconscionable" in a statement published today.

"It is unconscionable to me that a Catholic university would bestow such an honor upon an individual who is so completely out of step with the Catholic Church's teaching on the need to protect innocent human life in its most vulnerable forms, even if that individual holds the highest office in the land," said Sample.  The bishop said he has written to Fr. Jenkins urging him to withdraw the invitation, "Because this has the potential to cause grave scandal to the faithful and weaken our united Catholic efforts in defense of life."

"It saddens me beyond words that the great university named after Our Lady would bestow distinction and honor on a politician who would seek to expand threats to such innocent human life," wrote Sample.  (To view Bp. Sample's full comments: http://www.dioceseofmarquette.org/upcarticle.asp?upcID=1969)

Archbishop Edwin O'Brien of Baltimore has said he was "disappointed and bewildered" by the decision, reports the Baltimore diocese's Catholic Review newspaper.

In a March 26 letter, O'Brien told Fr. Jenkins that he "fully supports" the statement by Notre Dame's own Bishop John D'Arcy, who announced his plan to boycott the ceremony and expressed dismay at the decision to invite Obama.

"[I] regret that [Bishop D'Arcy] must bear this personal affront from a university which he has so consistently and ardently supported this last quarter century," Archbishop O'Brien wrote.  O'Brien also wrote a separate letter to Bishop D'Arcy thanking him "for your strong and noble stand in your effort to uphold the reputation of the University of Notre Dame as a thoroughly Catholic institution."

In Friday's edition of the Birmingham diocesan newspaper One Voice, Bishop Robert J. Baker published an article "to express my deep disappointment" over the Obama invite, which he called a "travesty."

"That a Catholic school should publicly recognize a man who unashamedly promotes values clearly opposed to the Church's teaching on the Gospel of Life is a travesty to the legacy of Catholic education," said Baker, who concurred with Bishop Thomas Olmsted's statement that the situation constituted "a public act of disobedience to the Bishops of the United States."

Baker encouraged Catholics "to vigorously react to this situation through prayer," as well as public witness on the day of commencement.

The bishops who have so far gone public with their disapproval of Notre Dame's invitation of Obama (in alphabetical order) are:

1. Bishop John D'Arcy - Fort Wayne-South Bend, IN
2. Bishop Gregory Aymond - Austin, TX

3. Bishop Robert Baker - Birmingham, AL
4. Archbishop Daniel Buechlein, Indianapolis, IN
5. Archbishop Eusebius Beltran - Oklahoma City, OK
6. Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Cantú - San Antonio, TX
7. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo - Houston, TX
8. Archbishop Timothy Dolan - New York, NY
9. Bishop Thomas Doran - Rockford, IL
10. Auxiliary Bishop John Dougherty - Scranton, PA
11. Cardinal Francis George - Chicago, IL; President, USCCB

12. Archbishop José Gomez - San Antonio, TX
13. Bishop William Higi - Lafayette, IN
14. Archbishop Alfred Hughs - New Orleans, LA
15. Bishop Jerome Listecki - La Crosse, WI
16. Bishop William E. Lori - Bridgeport, CT
17. Bishop Robert Lynch - St. Petersburg, FL
18. Bishop Joseph Martino - Scranton, PA
19. Bishop Charles Morlino - Madison, WI
20. Bishop George Murry - Youngstown, OH

21. Archbishop John J. Myers - Newark, NJ
22. Bishop R. Walker Nickless - Sioux City, IA
23. Archbishop John C. Nienstedt - St. Paul-Minneapolis, MD
24. Archbishop Edwin O'Brien, Baltimore, MD
25. Bishop Thomas Olmsted - Phoenix, AZ
26. Bishop Kevin Rhoades - Harrisburg
27. Bishop Alexander Sample - Marquette, MI
28. Bishop Edward J. Slattery - Tulsa, OK
29. Bishop Anthony Taylor - Little Rock, AR

See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:

Seven More U.S. Bishops Make 24 Against Notre Dame Scandal
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040704.html

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

URL: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040807.html

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[topher]

The AP is reporting 10 Holy Cross Priests are protesting the action of Notre Dame President and fellow Holy Cross priest Father John Jenkins...

[The Brush]

If Catholics stopped donating to Notre Dame I’d bet they would have a change of “heart”

[topher]

Hoping for 100 Bishops by April 17th -- one month before...

In terms of the Holy Cross priests, the local Superior General and the Superior General in Rome have refused to condemn the decision of Father Jenkins...

[Man50D]

Why isn't the Pope speaking out? Petition www.notredamescandal.com/.

[topher]

If you read the New York Times article on this, you would have read about how the University is hurting from this scandal. Notre Dame Alumni, some running very big businesses, are very upset. Also, some prospective students were very disappointed -- according to the New York Times.

Considering the source, a very liberal newspaper, this must bode very bad for Notre Dame University...

[topher]

Archbishop Daniel Buechlein of Indianapolis, in a letter to Fr. Jenkins posted on the archdiocese's website today, wrote:

"I join my voice to the chorus of thousands of faithful Catholics around the United States, and those of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis in particular, who are appalled and embarrassed by your recent invitation to President Obama to address the 2009 graduates of Notre Dame.

"I was stunned and angered upon hearing the news of the invitation; in the end, I am among the thousands of good people who are profoundly saddened by it," he wrote. "There isn't a single reason that would justify Catholic sponsorship of the president of our country, who is blatantly opposed to the Catholic Church's doctrine on abortion and embryonic stem-cell research.

"You dishonor the reputation of the University of Notre Dame and, in effect, abdicate your prestigious reputation among Catholic universities everywhere," the Archbishop concluded. "Like other people of good faith, I await some action that indicates your regret concerning a truly wrong decision."

Strong words...

[EDINVA]

I’m glad to finally see Archbishop O’Brien of Baltimore on that list ... he may have been there before but I missed it.

[hinckley buzzard]

In another example of admistrative brilliance:

Holy Cross Father John I. Jenkins, university president, spoke against the play in January, (2006), saying it was antithetical to the Catholic identity of Notre Dame, and that repeat performances on campus would suggest that the university endorsed the content and message of the play (Vagina Monologues).

But in a statement yesterday (April 6 2006) Fr. Jenkins granted permission for the play to continue on the grounds of academic freedom, saying, “the creative contextualization of a play like ‘The Vagina Monologues’ can bring certain perspectives on important issues into a constructive and fruitful dialogue with the Catholic tradition.” www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/apr/06040609.html

In three months, plain clear thinking turns to rotting garbage.

Methinks someone with a set of pictures has gotten to "Father" Jenkins.

[lilylangtree]

Time to replace Notre Dame leadership. What a travesty!

[topher]

No. Today is the first day that I am aware of this... LifeSiteNews.com did not have him on the list yesterday — though he might have published comments late yesterday or during the day...

[Salvation]

**If Catholics stopped donating to Notre Dame I’d bet they would have a change of “heart”**

Amen!

[EDINVA]

Yhu have to wonder if they are doing the a liturgical Chinese water torture on Jenkins .. drip drip drip .. instead of all the bishops/archbishops joining in at once. Each time one joins, it’s another headline.

[Earthdweller]

"Methinks someone with a set of pictures has gotten to "Father" Jenkins."

I agree...everything this new admin touches seems to have a criminal element to it.

[Salvation]

Canon Law (the Pope) has already spoken out on this saying (I’m rephrasing) that no Catholic college or university can support anything that does not agree with Catholic doctrine.

Obortion Obama and his stand on abortion (as well as other issues, fills this fully.

[Salvation]

 

 

1.    Francis Cardinal George
2.    Bishop John D'Arcy 
3.     Bishop Robert Lynch
4.    Archbishop John Nienstedt

5.    Archbishop Timothy Dolan

6.    Bishop Thomas Olmsted

7.    Bishop Gregory Aymond

8.    Daniel Cardinal DiNardo

9.    Archbishop John J. Myers

10.    Bishop Edward J. Slattery

11.    Bishop Kevin Rhoades

12.    Bishop R. Walker Nickless

13.    Bishop Robert Charles Morlino

14.    Bishop Thomas Doran

15.    Archbishop Eusebius Beltran

16.    Bishop Alfred Hughes

17.     Bishop Joseph Martino

18.    Bishop Oscar Cantú
19.    Bishop John Dougherty

20.    Bishop William Higi

21.    Archbishop José Gomez

22.    Bishop Jerome Listecki

24.    Bishop William E. Lori

25.    Bishop George Murry

26.    Bishop Anthony Taylor

27.    Archbishop Daniel Buechlein

28.    Bishops Alexander Sample

29.    Archbishop Edwin O'Brien

 

 

 

Twenty-nine Bishops have spoken out against Notre Dame.  Who will be next?

 

BTW, I truly believe that Pope Benedict is watching this fiasco at Notre Dame and taking notes!

 

[Sun]

“I truly believe that Pope Benedict is watching this fiasco at Notre Dame and taking notes!”

It would be great for him to hear about this, because he would know how to handle this.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Work to maintain Catholic tradtions

We write as priests of the Congregation of Holy Cross and as proud graduates of the University of Notre Dame to voice our objection to the University's decision to honor President Barack Obama by inviting him to deliver this year's Commencement address and by conferring on him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.

We wish to associate ourselves with and encourage those courageous students and treasured alumni who, while deeply loving Notre Dame, vigorously oppose this sad and regrettable decision of the University administration.

It is our deep conviction that Notre Dame should lead by word and deed in upholding the Church's fundamental teaching that human life must be respected and protected from the moment of conception. In so doing the University must take seriously the 2004 instruction of the U.S. Catholic Bishops that "Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors, or platforms which would suggest support for their actions."

We especially regret the fissure that the invitation to President Obama has opened between Notre Dame and its local ordinary and many of his fellow bishops. We express our deep gratitude to Bishop John D'Arcy for his leadership and moral clarity. We ask that the University give renewed consideration to Bishop D'Arcy's thoughtful counsel which always has Notre Dame's best interests at heart.

The University pursues a dangerous course when it allows itself to decide for and by itself what part of being a Catholic institution it will choose to embrace. Although undoubtedly unintended, the University administration's decision portends a distancing of Notre Dame from the Church which is its lifeblood and the source of its identity and real strength. Such a distancing puts at risk the true soul of Notre Dame.

We regret that our position on this issue puts us at odds with our brother priest in Holy Cross, Fr. John Jenkins, C.S.C. Yet, in this instance, for the good of Notre Dame and the Congregation of Holy Cross, we cannot remain silent. Notre Dame's decision has caused moral confusion and given many reason to believe that the University's stance against the terrible evil of abortion is weak and easily trumped by other considerations We prayerfully request that Fr. Jenkins and the Fellows of the University, who are entrusted with responsibility for maintaining its essential character as a Catholic institution of higher learning, revisit this matter immediately. Failure to do so will damage the integrity of the institution and detract from all the good work that occurs at Notre Dame and from the impressive labors of its many faithful students and professors.

We offer these views as we enter Holy Week, recalling the triumph of Christ's holy cross. As "men with hope to bring" we are confident that Notre Dame may yet give true honor to its patroness, and witness to Her Son, through its commitment to the sanctity of life.

Wilson D. Miscamble, C.S.C.

Stephen M. Koeth, C.S.C.

Gregory P. Haake, C.S.C.

Daniel J. Parrish, C.S.C.

Michael B. Wurtz, C.S.C.

Mark R. Ghyselink, C.S.C.

Terrence P. Ehrman, C.S.C.

John A. Herman, C.S.C.

Ronald J. Wasowski, C.S.C.

Vincent A. Kuna, C.S.C.

Holy Cross Priests

[Steelfish]

Waiting for Cardinal Mahony to join the Group?

[Salvation]

LOL!

[mckenzie7]

You’ve got to be kidding! Even making him a cardinal was a BIG mistake.