Free the 'Notre Dame 88' Petition Launched
It is important for pro-lifers to let Fr. Jenkins know that we have not forgotten what happened on his campus last May.
'During the Obama scandal controversy, Fr. Jenkins repeatedly assured us that he and Notre Dame are 100% pro-life. Yet, now he is refusing even this tiniest of olive branches to these 88 pro-lifers' said HLI President and Notre Dame Alumnus Fr. Thomas Euteneuer.
PrintSOUTH BEND, INDIANA (Christian Newswire) - A petition to "Free the Notre Dame 88" has been launched. The petition is co-sponsored by Human Life International (HLI), the Thomas More Society and LifeSiteNews.com. It is addressed to University of Notre Dame President Fr. John Jenkins, and urges him publicly to ask that the charges against the 88 pro-lifers who were arrested on the Notre Dame campus in May of last year be dropped.
"During the Obama scandal controversy, Fr. Jenkins repeatedly assured us that he and Notre Dame are 100% pro-life. Yet, now he is refusing even this tiniest of olive branches to these 88 pro-lifers," said HLI President and Notre Dame Alumnus Fr. Thomas Euteneuer. "Asking that the charges be dropped will cost Fr. Jenkins absolutely nothing, but it could save the ND88 from a protracted trial process, and possible jail time. As long as this situation persists with Notre Dame's cooperation, how can Fr. Jenkins possibly expect us to take him seriously?"
Members of the ND88 travelled to South Bend in May to protest the university's honoring of Obama (whom pro-lifers have called "the most pro-abortion President in U.S. history") at its commencement. In many cases their "protest" took the form of walking onto campus and praying and/or carrying pro-life signs. For this "crime" they were handcuffed, arrested, and thrown in prison.
At the same time, witnesses report that pro-Obama demonstrators were allowed to roam free throughout the campus.
Now the ND88 are facing charges of trespassing, with a maximum sentence of up to a year in prison and/or a $5,000 fine.
"Notre Dame seriously tarnished its image as a pro-life institution when it honored President Obama earlier this year," said Tom Brejcha, Chief Counsel for the Thomas More Society, which is representing the ND88. "However, it is not too late for the university to restore its pro-life reputation. The first step in that direction would be to stop the persecution of these pro-life heroes by asking that the charges be dropped."
While Fr. Jenkins has responded to concerned pro-lifers by claiming that Notre Dame does not have the power to ask that the charges be dropped, Brejcha called such claims "flatly wrong."
"They always have the power to ask," he said, adding that Notre Dame's asking, "would have great weight with the prosecutor."
Brejcha said, however, that despite repeated requests Fr. Jenkins has continued to refuse to do so.
"It is important for pro-lifers to let Fr. Jenkins know that we have not forgotten what happened on his campus last May," said Brejcha. "We have not forgotten, and we will not forget as long as the ND88 are being forced to pay such a steep price simply for standing up for the pro-life values that Jenkins and Notre Dame profess to hold."
Sign the petition here:
https://secure.lifesitenews.com/np/clients/lifesitenews_us/campaign.jsp?campaign=19
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Dear Father Jenkins,
where is our free speech?
It's time to tell it like it is: if you are prolife what were you thinking?
Marianne Weber
JeanC,
Well said. Forgiveness goes both ways. By showing up at the March, he is saying he indeed believe in Life. Is it real?
If if is, then how come he have not FORGIVEN the 88?
Action speaks louder than word. Children do what they see from their parents.
God Bless!
I signed and I encourage all of us to peacefully sign and let your friends know Catholic or otherwise if they so wish to.
Peace.
Eddie Fong
I like your comments Ed but I have to say something important here before this keeps going.
So Im not here to embarrass you but this is what I would do if I met Father Jenkins.
Dont get mad at me but remember he, Jenkins is one of our brothers.
If he is at the March for Life its got to tell us he is in solidarity.
I dont know why he or the University allowed the presenting of the award but keep in mind he is one of our priest.
Go to him or someone and peacefully engage him and ask him about what he thinks before we isolate.
Remember it say go to our brothers and sisters and find out what its all about.
If they err or are in error we find out let them know gently.
God will take care of the rest.
Get the scoop first.
Chuckle chuckle.
Peace.
I read somewhere that we should never attack a priest - but say a Hail Mary and ask Our Blessed Lady to hand our worries and concerns about the said priest to her Son. Rather than send Fr Jenkins to Coventry - yes, I know, the temptation is great - but say a Hail Mary from the heart and nothing more? No conversation, no compromise. Just have a word with our mum - Our Lady.
Ever wonder why ND have not free the 88? This institution was supposed to be THE FACE OF THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY. Yet they forgot what Jesus answered when asked about forgiving the offender.
What a shame!
May I suggest to March for Life participants this: STAY AWAY FROM FR. JENKINS AT THE MARCH!
Isolate him from the crowd.