Obama must have new orders for him.
Unless they are performing a ritual together as part of the preparations.
For those who have been following the uproar the University of Notre Dame's decision to honor Pres. Obama by giving him the commencement podium and an honorary degree despite his extreme anti-life record, here's new information. At Off the Record, Phil Lawler (my dad) is passing along a report that he has from a reliable source: ND President Fr. John Jenkins is in Washington, D.C. today for an unannounced meeting at the White House. This is still merely a rumor, but indeed FlightAware shows the ND jet flying to Dulles this morning.
What could they be talking about? We can only speculate. Last weekend Bishop Robert W. Finn of Kansas City joined 42 American bishops who have spoken out against Obama's invitation by claiming "I suspect that, since Notre Dame will need a scapegoat for this debacle, and Fr. Jenkins will probably lose his job, at this point perhaps he ought to determine to lose it for doing something right instead of something wrong. He ought to disinvite the President, who I believe would graciously accept the decision..."
That Fr. Jenkins would rescind the invitation seems unlikely given that on Saturday Fr. Jenkins reaffirmed his invitation to a crowd celebrating black student-athletes at Notre Dame that "shook down the thunder" with applause. But then what could they be talking about? If there is any change in the status of Obama's invitation, it's big news.
Notre Dame has its own JET??? Jenkins is in for a major tongue-lashing. (After he gives Obama his tongue-bath.)
Speculation ping!
Obama must have new orders for him.
Unless they are performing a ritual together as part of the preparations.
Why does the president of ND need his own plane?
April 23, 2009 Update on Notre Dame's Fr. Jenkins' trip to DCUPDATE, 4/23, 7a: Per American Papist, Notre Dame's plane flew back to South Bend last night, according to FlightAware:
Aircraft Cessna 560 Citation 5
Origin Washington Dulles Intl
Destination South Bend Rgnl
Date Wednesday, Apr 22, 2009
Duration 1 hours 24 minutes
Scheduled Actual/Estimated
Departure 09:58PM EDT 09:58PM EDT
Arrival 11:22PM EDT 11:22PM EDT
An AmP reader wondered if the prodigal son were returning home. The prodigal son in Jesus' parable only realized he was a prodigal when he ran out of money. So we shall see, because while speculation was Jenkins flew to DC to meet with President Abortion, AmP reported yesterday:
Now an informed source tells me that Fr. Jenkins is in town for a multi-day seminar/symposium for high level Notre Dame donors, which has been planned for some time now and involves several speakers and events. Because the activities are private, they were not "advertised" to the wider public.What timing. Hopefully some of those donors closed their checkbooks.
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UPDATE, 4/22, 8:20a: The Notre Dame Observer News is denying on Twitter that Fr. Jenkins met with Barack Obama at the White House yesterday:
Note: even though the Notre Dame Observer News is denying that Father Jenkins met with President Obama, it does not mean that Father Jenkins did not go to the Whitehosue to discuss the issue with Whitehouse staff.
It would be unlikely for Obama to met with Father Jenkins at this point -- regardless...
At least, that is in my opinion.
The meeting of the full Board of Trustees and Board of Fellows this coming Friday is far more important...