Bishop Doran to Notre Dame: Rescind Obama Invitation or Change your Name
This decision of your flies in the face of the expressed directive of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.I would ask that you rescind this unfortunate decision.(Bishop Doran)
I would ask that you rescind this unfortunate decision and so avoid dishonoring the practicing Catholics of the United States, including those of this Diocese. Failing that, please have the decency to change the name of the University to something like, The Fighting Irish College or Northwestern Indiana Humanist University. (Bishop Thomas Doran)
PrintMANASSAS, Va. (Cardinal Newman Society) – Bishop Thomas G. Doran of the Rockford, Ill. Diocese, has provided The Cardinal Newman Society a copy of a letter he sent to University of Notre Dame President Father John Jenkins expressing his “dismay and outrage” at the decision to honor President Obama at commencement on May 17, 2009.
Bishop Doran wrote that Fr. Jenkins should rescind the invitation “and so avoid dishonoring the practicing Catholics of the United States, including those of this Diocese.” In a separate letter to The Cardinal Newman Society, the Bishop indicated that he has advised the people of the Rockford diocese how to make their own sentiments on the matter known to the authorities at Notre Dame.
The bishop suggested that if Fr. Jenkins fails to rescind “this unfortunate decision” he should have the “decency” to change the university name to something like, “The Fighting Irish College” or “Northwestern Indiana Humanist University.”
“On behalf of our more than 20,000 members and the nearly one quarter of a million signers of the petition opposing Notre Dame’s actions, I want to thank Bishop Doran for his strong public witness and letter encouraging Fr. Jenkins to rescind the commencement invite to President Obama,” said CNS President Patrick Reilly.
The following is the text of the letter provided by Bishop Thomas G. Doran to The Cardinal Newman Society:
March 31, 2009
Reverend John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.
President
University of Notre Dame
400 Main Building
Notre Dame, IN 46556
Dear President Jenkins:
I wish to express in my own name and on behalf of the Catholic community of this Diocese, my dismay and outrage at your decision to invite the current President of the United States to address the 2009 graduates of the University of Notre Dame and to receive an honorary degree.
This decision of your flies in the face of the expressed directive of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in the year 2004, that Catholic institutions not so honor those who profess opposition to the Church’s doctrine on abortion and embryonic stem cell research.
I would ask that you rescind this unfortunate decision and so avoid dishonoring the practicing Catholics of the United States, including those of this Diocese. Failing that, please have the decency to change the name of the University to something like, “The Fighting Irish College” or “Northwestern Indiana Humanist University.”
Though promotion of the obscene is not foreign to you, I would point out that it is truly obscene for you to take such decisions as you have done in a university named for our Blessed Lady, whom the Second Vatican Council called the Mother of the Church.
I sign myself, Very truly yours,
The Most Reverend Thomas G. Doran, D.D., J.C.D.,Bishop of Rockford
Bishop Doran wrote that Fr. Jenkins should rescind the invitation “and so avoid dishonoring the practicing Catholics of the United States, including those of this Diocese.” In a separate letter to The Cardinal Newman Society, the Bishop indicated that he has advised the people of the Rockford diocese how to make their own sentiments on the matter known to the authorities at Notre Dame.
The bishop suggested that if Fr. Jenkins fails to rescind “this unfortunate decision” he should have the “decency” to change the university name to something like, “The Fighting Irish College” or “Northwestern Indiana Humanist University.”
“On behalf of our more than 20,000 members and the nearly one quarter of a million signers of the petition opposing Notre Dame’s actions, I want to thank Bishop Doran for his strong public witness and letter encouraging Fr. Jenkins to rescind the commencement invite to President Obama,” said CNS President Patrick Reilly.
The following is the text of the letter provided by Bishop Thomas G. Doran to The Cardinal Newman Society:
March 31, 2009
Reverend John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.
President
University of Notre Dame
400 Main Building
Notre Dame, IN 46556
Dear President Jenkins:
I wish to express in my own name and on behalf of the Catholic community of this Diocese, my dismay and outrage at your decision to invite the current President of the United States to address the 2009 graduates of the University of Notre Dame and to receive an honorary degree.
This decision of your flies in the face of the expressed directive of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in the year 2004, that Catholic institutions not so honor those who profess opposition to the Church’s doctrine on abortion and embryonic stem cell research.
I would ask that you rescind this unfortunate decision and so avoid dishonoring the practicing Catholics of the United States, including those of this Diocese. Failing that, please have the decency to change the name of the University to something like, “The Fighting Irish College” or “Northwestern Indiana Humanist University.”
Though promotion of the obscene is not foreign to you, I would point out that it is truly obscene for you to take such decisions as you have done in a university named for our Blessed Lady, whom the Second Vatican Council called the Mother of the Church.
I sign myself, Very truly yours,
The Most Reverend Thomas G. Doran, D.D., J.C.D.,Bishop of Rockford
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The Cardinal Newman Society is dedicated to renewing and strengthening Catholic identity at America's 224 Catholic colleges and universities.This article is used with permission.
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Dear bishop Doran,
Thank you for standing up for the unborn. I am very troubled by the actions,inactions,inconsistencies within the Church.It is time the Church takes a united stand against "Catholic" politicians, "Priests" and Catholics
who go against Christ's teachings. I would hope that Bishops and the hierachy of the Church start a "Reform" from within and cleanse the Church from the top down.
Thank you Bishop Doran for your strong stand.
Dear Bishop Doran,
May God bless you Today, Tomorrow, all your live and forever for all you are doing for God and His People.
He (Father Jenkins) reminds me that we must learn from history. Not all the priests of world war 2 made a stand against that form of darkness that entered the world, some even embraced the nazis even said those that did not were narrow thinkers (sound familiar?)
It is my belief that a soul like Maximilian Kolbe shines a brighter light and that A soul like his would not bow before President Obama today on that which he knew to be wrong. Many who lived then are embarrassed for not being stronger i would pray we are spared that embarrassment
May the ALMIGHTY TRINITY in HIS LOVE and MERCY help us all to stand together against that which we know to be wrong
Best Regards
G McDonnell
How about changing its name to Notre Shame University? After all, this is where Richard McBrien disseminates his shameful heresies very shamelessly.
What a great letter! I go to a non-Catholic college, but I still think it's more Catholic than Notre Dame. Thank you, Bishop Doran.
Why doesn't Father Jenkins do the moral and right thing? He should step down immediately! Any person who supports abortion shouldn't speak at a Catholic University!!!
Et tu Notre?
It is outrageous to watch as the President of Notre Dame defies the tremendous outcries of the people to rescind its invitation to Obama. I am ashamed to be a Notre Dame supporter and will no longer proudly show my support for my once beloved University. I feel the president of the University should be removed from his position and a true Catholic be put in his place. One who cares about the church and its teachings rather than show boating in front Obama. I call for all Notre Dame students, past and president to boycott the ceremony in protest and in support of our Catholic (and Christian) Faith and Church.
I am so glad to see bishops finally starting to speak out about such things. God bless Bishop Doran and all the bishops who have wrote Notre Dame, and all the laity as well. We as Catholics can no longer afford to sit back and ignore anarchy in the Church, because it's that attitude that has enabled this type of thing to happen in the first place. There are those inside and outside the Church, who feel that they can disregard our beliefs and our rights because no one will care enough to fight back. We have to prove them wrong and speak out. We failed to do this during the last election and now Christians have a powerful enemy in the White House.
How can the leading Catholic university invite somebody who is against many of the beliefs of the catholic church? We should be upset about this, but we should also be upset with ourselves for electing officials that are not in total agreement with our beliefs. It is a shame that 60 to 70 million catholic let this country get in the shape that is in today. We as catholics need to stop voting with our bank accounts in mind and voting with our Lord in mind.