Posted on 05/08/2009 6:47:04 AM PDT by NYer
NOTE: Father Corapi also prepared a video on behalf of the Cardinal Newman Society – You can view it on Father’s website and find more information and SIGN THE PETITION by clicking here.
It is my privilege to be able to deliver the following message on behalf of the Cardinal Newman Society:
As you know, the University of Notre Dame—an old and honored Catholic institution of higher learning in the United States—recently dishonored itself, and to some extent the entire Catholic world, by inviting President Barack Obama to receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree, and to deliver the commencement address on May 17th.
Mr. Obama will be the ninth U.S. president to be awarded an honorary degree by the University and the sixth to be the Commencement speaker. He is the first to be so honored, however, that has such an obviously public and pernicious anti-life, and anti-Catholic/Christian bias.
The Catholic Church has taught and does teach that every human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person—among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life (CCC 2270).
Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion is gravely contrary to the moral law (CCC 2271). On more than one occasion Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa of Calcutta called it “murder.”
No president in history has been so damaging to the cause of respect for life than this one, and he’s only just begun. His constant and unwavering support for the right to choose the homicide of abortion is a matter of record—and not only abortion, but partial-birth abortion, infanticide, fetal stem cell research, and even removing the right of medical professionals to act in accordance with their conscience marks him as a singular enemy of essential elements of the Catholic Church’s moral teaching.
This man the University of Notre Dame invites to receive an honorary doctorate degree and deliver the commencement address? Whether intended or not, this sends a terrible message to the Catholic world and to the world at large. A picture is worth a thousand words. Which thousand words will be articulated to an already morally relativistic culture by the picture of Mr. Obama receiving such honors from a Catholic University? Metaphorically and morally it’s like shooting yourself in the foot. So Notre Dame limps on.
Many of you did what you could to prevent this travesty from actually happening, and at this moment barring a bolt of lightning or divine intervention, it looks like it will happen. We want to sincerely thank the more than 350,000 people that signed the petition of protest against Notre Dame’s obvious lack of good judgment in making a singularly public statement that not only dilutes the University’s Catholic credibility and identity, but undermines the authentically Catholic identity and credibility of the Church in this country.
Almost 70 bishops have likewise voiced their disapproval in no uncertain terms, thereby demonstrating their courage and strong pastoral leadership. We are very thankful to them as well.
This strong and courageous witness is truly a sign of hope. It needs to grow. Authentic Catholic identity has to be restored in our Catholic Universities and other institutions of learning. If it is restored, our nation will be restored. If it is not restored we shall have much to answer for in the moral unraveling of a great nation, and ultimately the loss of souls.
The Catholic Church and its educational institutions must return to a position of strong and uncompromising moral leadership, integrity, and credibility. If we stand for nothing we begin to fall for everything. If, indeed, we “choose prestige over principles and popularity over morality” then we become part of the problem, not part of the solution.
Pray for the University of Notre Dame, its president, its board of directors, and students. And pray for our bishops, for in the end the burden will rest on their shoulders to decide whether the University of Notre Dame, and others like it, are Catholic or not.
The battle is not over, my friends, it’s just now begun in earnest. So, fight the good fight, and run the race to the finish line, for in the end we have the certain knowledge that truth will triumph over lies, light over darkness, and good over evil.
God love you. God bless you. Good bye.
Fr. John Corapi
As I said, my belief and it is UNCHANGEABLE is that it only be done when the life of the mother is at risk, regardless of which technique is used.
When my son and his intended were seriously discussing marriage, that’s the first thing my husband and I made plain to both of them. We are PRO-LIFE and we expect YOU TWO to be open to it (no struggle or opposition ensued) to include an unplanned visit from the stork. Abortion is OFF the table — not an option. I can still remember their faces — so young, so beautiful and their golden heads just nodded.
Your suggestion is EXACTLY what our Catholic brothers and sisters in my sphere of influence are suggesting. Kneel and pray — not loudly — do not shout him or others down, just kneel and pray. It sends a message louder than anything you could shout.
That's true, but the law can be a teacher, too. Most importantly, we have to defend the lives of the unborn with whatever morally licit means are available, including the law.
Why is it that he gets it but the president of ND remains clueless???
For those of us who can't be there, it's important to set some time aside each day, in prayerful support of this cause.
I do, believe me, I do.
Interesting! Have you ever read Taylor Caldwell's book: Great Lion of God?
If we do it right, we pick up friends along the way. Catholics have such a rich tapestry and depth of spirituality, we should, of all creatures, be filled with joy. We should be fearless, but most of all we should be open armed and hearted. To comfort and entice those around us to join us on the road of life. THAT'S HOW YOU DO IT. By comparison, every other way of life should look like a road apple [that is, quite frankly, the nicest way I could think to say it].
Geez, I read her insatiably as a late teenager, but I don’t remember that one. I remember Costain’s “Dear and Glorious Physician”. I’m going up to the library next week and see if they have it. I might remember it if I get into it.
This weekend son graduates from college tomorrow, and I have 11 people in for breakfast, lunch and dinner on Saturday, plus I have two Marines’ pets I’m babysitting for the weekend. They were both called out of town — one for recruitment weekend duties and the other to meet his intended’s parents for the first time. So, how could I refuse. ;-) Son leaves for OCS at Quantico at the end of the month, so this is our last hurrah for ten weeks.
We’re bbq-ing after the ceremonies at the Muny all morning and early afternoon. It’s raining cats and dogs, thundering and lightning like crazy today. Everybody on the thread, please say a prayer for a beautiful day tomorrow or 11 people and four dogs are going to be soaking wet from sun-up to sundown. But next week, I’m available to read, heh, heh, heh.
Caldwell wrote “Dear and Glorious Physician,” I thought it was Costain. Oh, and “Captains and Kings” was the first book of hers I read. So, what did I read by Costain (he was another of my F A V O R I T E authors).
For my 17th Birthday, my mother gave me Caldwell’s “The Listener”. It’s a treasure to me because 1) it was my 17th birthday, 2) my mother’s inscription is in her very unique handwriting; and C) ;-) I loved Caldwell.
That is one of my favorites!!! There are 2 editions - one with that title and another entitled "He who Listens", published in Great Britain. One of her most intriguing books was Dialogues With the Devil , which is often difficult to find. It is a debate between the Archangel Michael and Lucifer about the planet Earth.
—"Childish raptures! said Lucifer, with scorn, his eyes flashing like lightning. "Are we indeed whimpering and craven children, or slaves? Can we be content with toys and little deliciousnesses? Are we not mind, as well as emotion? And is not the mind, of both angel and man, the noblest of possessions, and worth exercising. It is in our minds that we approach the closest of Him, Who is all Mind. Mind is the creator of all philosophy, all order, all beauty, all satisfaction, but emotion is the lowliest of the virtues, if it is a virtue at all. Mind has in it the capacity to know all things, or, at least, the minds of angels."
In her introduction, Ms. Caldwell states that she takes no credit for this book. Well worth the search; it's a treasure.
Her book Pillar of Iron which takes place in Roman times, was brilliant. In fact, I feel as though I were living it in today's society.
No president in history has been so damaging to the cause of respect for life than this one...a singular enemy of essential elements of the Catholic Church’s moral teaching.
You have no idea how alone I thought I was in my love of Caldwell. Seemed no one I’d met had ever heard of her or read her. I gave up thinking about it. You’re the second person on Free Republic in the last year who has loved her work as I do. Wow! Just wow!
I love it. I hope this happens. Though I can just imagine the MSM reporting.
"Graduating seniors demonstration their devotion to President Obama by kneeling before him as they receive his wisdom."
Well, if there's enough support for it, why don't we offer it -- and make it SAFE -- right up through age 18? We can call it "termination of parenthood" and have "termination centers" where unwanted offspring can be painlessly dispatched by lethal injection or nitrogen asphyxiation.
After all, teenagers are almost as inconvenient and troublesome as babies, and a lot more expensive.
You seem to think abortion is icky. The Catholic Church teaches that abortion is not merely icky ... it's murder.
Ever heard of the "Ten Lost Tribes of Israel"? Know why they're the Ten Lost Tribes? Because they split off, politically, from the rest, and began to embrace Canaanite idolatry. One of the major parts of Canaanite idolatry was the sacrifice of babies to the god Molech.
Their punishment was to be conquered by the Assyrians. When the Assyrians conquered a nation, they destroyed it utterly. Those whom they didn't kill, they removed physically to the furthest part of their empire. The intermarried with the remnant to destroy any consciousness of nationhood within a century or two.
What kind of punishment do you think God has planned for America? It's started already, you know. Once, we were rich, free, powerful, industrious, and respected.
Our destiny is to be poor, enslaved, powerless, unemployed, and in thrall to foreigners. That's what keeping abortion "safe and legal" will do to a nation.
Ichabod. The glory has departed.
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