Posted on 05/19/2009 12:06:06 PM PDT by Lorianne
Organizers of a group asking alumni and donors to withhold donations to the University of Notre Dame following its controversial commencement invitation to President Barack Obama claim to have confirmed nearly $14 million in donations have been withheld by those concerned about the university’s Catholic identity.
The group, ReplaceJenkins.com, said it had received over 1,400 pledges from alumni and donors promising to withhold future donations.
ReplaceJenkins.com was launched by alumni and financial supporters of the university who said they would withhold their contributions until Rev. Jenkins is replaced by someone who "is committed to the authentic identity of Notre Dame, grounded in the teachings of the Catholic Church."
Group spokesman David DiFranco, a 1995 graduate of Notre Dame, said the donors were "at least loosely aware" of what he called the university’s "trend away from its Catholic identity."
"But the invitation of President Obama to speak and to receive an honorary degree, combined with the weak responses presented by Father Jenkins as a defense to those who have criticized the decision, is what drives most alumni to our site," he said.
Fr. Jenkins’ action brought national attention to a problem "decades in the making," DiFranco said.
"A shrinking percentage of Catholic faculty and the efforts of secular-minded board members has long been eroding the Catholic heritage and foundation that makes Notre Dame great. President Obama’s invitation represents the culminating scandal in this trend."
DiFranco said nearly all alumni who had contacted ReplaceJenkins.com had already decided to cease supporting the school.
"Our website merely tallies the sum of their collective decision," he
‘bammy talked to the powers that be at ND and told them not to worry about any contributor backlash?
I assume you mean "How is it more conservative?"
Well, almost uniquely in higher education Notre Dame has only single sex dormitories (no co-ed dorms), and opposite-sex visitors are only permitted in the dormitories during specified visiting hours. Each dormitory on campus has it's own chapel, with mass said in each dormitory at least every Sunday and Holy Day. Students are required to take two semesters of theology while at ND, regardless of their major. Underage drinking is ALMOST entirely prohibited on campus. Illegal drug use is not tolerated.
That's just off he top of my head.
Count on earmarks more than making up for the lost donations.
Of the lasting memories this event created, for me, it comes down to one that I just can’t get out of my mind.
A man is honored in the house of God. This man has done everything possible to support the murder of babies. He stood before a large cheering crowd of those that call themselves Christians and those that call themselves educated......
WHILE outside, an aging and near frail priest is arrested, handcuffed and removed from the crowd.
His crime— slowing and peacefully walking, while praying in a small and reasonably quiet demonstration, all in support of the lives of the little ones that can not defend themselves.
He did this within the United States of America.
He didn’t do this for fame, fortune, money or political gain. He did this out of his love for the sanctity of life, the obligation and love he has for God and his knowledge that killing babies is wrong.
So the man that supports the killing of babies is honored, while the priest that supports their right to live is arrested.
I am sorry, but ND and these Catholics will NEVER be able to wash their hands clean from this sad moment...... that never needed to happen.
They should drop.
Just what is brilliant about this speech, Krauhammer?
You summed it up nicely.
I whole heartedly agree.
“I think you’re confusing “Catholic University” with “Seminary.””
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No. I’m not. A Seminary exists to train individuals for the religious life. A far cry from regularly practicing the basic sacraments of the Catholic faith.
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“A Catholic University doesn’t exist merely to indoctrinate students to Catholicism. They aren’t simply Christian versions of radical Islam’s madrassahs.”
In what way is FREELY CHOSSING to attend a University that believes in the essential practicing the sacraments of the Catholic faith an indoctrination. ANd how does it approach the level of radical Islam?
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From your quoted mission statement:
“The University encourages a way of living consonant with a Christian community and manifest in prayer, liturgy and service.”
I don’t see how the University in any way shape or form is actively promoting the ideas in this statement, in the entire student body.
So, yes, we have Catholicism if you want to come look for it?
I wish we had a college like that in the Central Valley.
Thanks for the illuminating reply.
It sounds like Notre Dame has all the trappings of a Catholic place, but that they are not necessarily a part of the required curriculum.
So, “We Got Catholic IF you want it?
Neither do I, these days. As a poster said upthread, universities are by default hotbeds of liberalism, and in this culture, and with the accessibility of higher education, that means something these days. I am by no means anti-intellectual, but I am thinking that the government’s push for greater educational accessibility has tied right into the indoctrination plans of the left, who entrenched themselves in education long ago. From programs like “Headstart” to college grants and loans.
I don’t see how the University in any way shape or form is actively promoting the ideas in this statement, in the entire student body.
Prayer, liturgy, and service.
What, exactly, should they do? Mandate attendance at mass and mandate regular prayer? For all students? Will non-Catholics be permitted at this university? If so, will they be required to attend mass as well?
Notre Dame is a world-class University that actually honors and encourages (rather than ridiculing) the practice of one's religious faith. That is very rare among universities that anyone has ever heard of. Are there smaller colleges that are more doctrinaire? Certainly. But Notre Dame is almost unique as a highly ranked University that is welcoming to people of faith.
As for service, it is astonishing to me how much emphasis Notre Dame (and many other colleges) place on community service these days.
Your post is profoundly touching, I hadn’t considered that. But it does reinforce my belief that this is the trend of things, and Christ’s return for His people can’t be much longer in light of the trend. I believe there’s no going back. Mrs Thatcher referred to it as “the ratchet effect” in politics, the principle applies just as well for culture and society.
(excerpted from this well written observation by Jeff Crouere, HERE)
"The day that the University of Notre Dame invited President Obama to speak at their commencement ceremony was the day the school sacrificed their Catholic identity. The school has been known as the premier Catholic institution in the country. For decades, Catholics from around the nation have sent their children to Notre Dame and supported the school with generous donations. Today, Notre Dame is no longer worthy of such support. It has abandoned Catholic teaching to curry favor with the new presidential administration.
Notre Dame invited the most pro-abortion President in our nation’s history to speak to graduating seniors. Obama has a 100% pro-choice voting record and issued an executive order upon taking office to allow federal funding for international organizations that perform abortions. His move should not have surprised anyone for as an Illinois State Senator Obama opposed the Born Alive Infant Protection Act, which would require hospitals to provide emergency treatment to infants who survive an abortion. On numerous occasions, Obama worked to defeat this humane bill, which subjected children born alive to certain death.
<CUT>
The Obama invitation will be a very expensive one indeed for Notre Dame for the school will not only lose donations, it will lose support. By ignoring Catholic teaching and clear mandates, its very identity should be questioned. If it does not follow the Catholic Church, what does Notre Dame follow, President Obama?
Fortunately, a few students disagreed with the honor bestowed upon President Obama. About 50 seniors and hundreds of their friends and family held a prayer vigil while the graduation ceremony was taking place. While the radical pro-abortion President Obama was honored, peaceful pro-life protestors praying the rosary were arrested. Such treatment was uncalled for and showed the school’s utter disregard for the participants of the respectful rally. Among those arrested were an 80-year old priest and other elderly demonstrators.
<CUT>
There is absolutely no excuse for what happened at Notre Dame. It was an atrocity that will not soon be forgotten by millions of Catholics and former supporters of the university. By choosing prestige over principle, Notre Dame has become just another in a long line of Obama sycophants, joining Hollywood, the mainstream media and other liberal universities across the nation.
At this point, Notre Dame is no longer unique; it is just like any other liberal university, staffed by liberal faculty members and administrators, who work together to produce a liberal, cafeteria Catholic student body of Obama groupies."
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