Thread by me.
SOUTH BEND, Indiana, April 30, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Three more bishops have spoken out against the University of Notre Dame's decision to honor President Obama by asking him to deliver the commencement address and receive an honorary degree at the school's graduation ceremony May 17.
"In my first year as bishop no issue has generated more mail expressing dismay and sadness as the recent decision by the leadership of the University of Notre Dame to honor Pres. Barack Obama at this year's commencement," wrote Bishop James V. Johnston of the diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, MO in his weekly column dated May 1.
"Regardless of whether it is deserved or not, Notre Dame holds a special place in the hearts of a vast number of Catholics who see it as a proud symbol of the Catholic Church's place in American life."
Considering President Obama's extreme pro-abortion agenda, said the bishop, "it is saddening and bewildering that Notre Dame would act in this manner."
"This honor will cause confusion and scandal among many."
Bishop Johnston expressed solidarity with Notre Dame's Bishop D'Arcy and his decision to boycott the ceremony, and said he joins those calling for Notre Dame to "reconsider this decision."
"Even at this late date, such a reversal would be a credit to Notre Dame's leadership, and would restore the near-universal goodwill that Notre Dame is now almost assured of losing," said the bishop. . .
Thread by me.
Montpelier, VT (LifeNews.com) -- Vermont pro-life advocates are gearing up once again for a battle against legislation that would add the state to the list of those that have legalized assisted suicide. Led by Vermont Right to Life, state residents will participate in a rally in the state capital tomorrow.
The pro-life organization tells LifeNews.com the Healthcare is a Human Right rally is an event to remind state lawmakers that abortion and physician-assisted suicide are not health care and should not be included in any state health care proposal.
Just prior to the scheduled rally, lawmakers introduced legislation to legalize assisted suicide in both the state House and Senate.
The measures, S. 144 and H. 455, are causing pro-life groups, medical organizations and disability rights groups to be concerned about the specter of a government-run system that relies on rationing of health care along with legalized assisted suicide.
“It is no accident that the push to legalize physician-assisted suicide is rearing its ugly head at the same time that pressure is being put on lawmakers to change the health care system and reduce health care costs,” Vermont Right to Life director Mary Hahn Beerworth told LifeNews.com.
Beerworth said states such as Oregon, the first to legalize assisted suicide, have seen abuses. There, a patient can be denied lifesaving health care but the state government will cover the cost of a lethal dose of a deadly drug. . .
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