Shake Down the Thunder on Notre Dame
The ones who made or endorsed this decision are not thinking with the mind of the Church let alone the Mind of Christ.
Fr.Thomas J. Euteneuer is the President of Human Life International, a global leader in the Pro-Life movement and a graduate of Notre Dame.
Print(Notre Dame Fight Song)
I used to sing these words with tremendous zeal while a student at Notre Dame (ND) in the '80s and especially as a member of the ND Glee Club for a year. How proud we were to belt out this most famous of college fight songs and rally the troops for battle on the gridiron - and elsewhere! ND alumni do not need to be reminded how deeply embedded in our hearts this tune and these words are; we only need to be assured that they still mean what they indicate: namely, that Notre Dame's loyal sons are still "marching onward to victory" (of Catholic orthodoxy, that is.)
The decision of Notre Dame President, Fr. John Jenkins, to invite our nation's abortion-promoter-in-chief to speak at the May 17th commencement is such an egregious violation of our loyalty to our alma mater that it's hard to see how these words actually to Notre Dame apply any more. Who wants to "wake up the echoes cheering her name" now? Fr. Jenkins has just shaken down a sort of spiritual thunder on what used to be the country's premier Catholic university, and woe to him and the rest of the ND leadership for their decision to put Notre Dame definitively outside the scope of Catholic orthodoxy.
It's worse than that, of course, because Fr. Jenkins and his team have reaffirmed time and again, in the face of massive protests, their commitment to having President Obama speak at graduation and to receiving an honorary doctorate. It just doesn't get more tragic than that.
Let's be honest: all the hand wringing and justification for Fr. Jenkins' decision is just fluff. Despite the unprecedented tour de force of close to fifty US bishops objecting to this travesty, Fr. Jenkins's claim that his decision is "consistent" with the bishops' 2004 directive on speakers at Catholic colleges - simply because Barack Obama is not a Catholic - is, well, absurd on its face. No person in his right mind buys it.
And that's the point - Notre Dame leadership is not "in its right mind" any more. The ones who made or endorsed this decision are not thinking with the mind of the Church let alone the Mind of Christ. This doesn't just apply to Fr. Jenkins either. It also applies to his superior, Fr. Hugh Cleary, who has an obligation to demand Jenkins' immediate resignation from his post to end this scandal but who chose instead to make a sappy, glowing, politically-correct statement which dares call this hurtful fiasco a "teachable moment."
No, Father Cleary - a "teachable moment" would be your removing Fr. Jenkins from office to show the world that the Church really means what she says in calling abortion an "abominable crime." (Vatican II, Gaudium et Spes, 51)
As far as I am concerned, a thunder of judgment has just been shaken down on Notre Dame, its Board of Directors and any faculty, students or alumni who endorse the decision to bring Barack Obama to Notre Dame's campus to sully Our Lady's good name and our deepest loyalties.
Sincerely, Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer,President, Human Life International
- - -
The mission of HLI is to create effective opposition to the culture of death around the world.This article is used with permission.
Keywords:
NEWSLETTERS »
Rate This Article
1 - 10 of 43 Comments
Leave a Comment
More Politics & Policy News
- 'Journalism has been criminalized' Juan Williams declares
- Special Report from the Virginia Republican Nominating Convention: A Time To Choose - Life
- Lois Learner pleads the 5th. Was she the crook behind it or was she following orders from higher up?
- Sick of deception! Democrat threatens IRS with appointment of special prosecutor
- FOURTH OBAMA SCANDAL: Did HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius solicit funds for nonprofit group?
- Carney still insists nobody told Obama about IRS investigation
- State Department insider warns more whistle-blowers to come on Benghazi scandal
- Hillary better be prepared, House Oversight and Government Reform chairman Darrell Issa says
- E.W. Jackson Wins Nomination as Republican Candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
Featured News
- Fr. Paul Schenck: Finding Living Faith on Catechetical Sunday
- The Movie Yellow: Incest as 'Normal' and Cassavates's Slides Into the World of Woes
- The Chicago School Teachers Strike Reveals the Need For School Choice
- The Sexual Barbarians and the Dissolution of Culture
- The Happy Priest Challenges Us to Ask: Who is Jesus to Me?
- Michael Coren on Canadian Public Schools: Teachers, leave those kids alone
- We Cannot Ignore Our Consciences: Cardinal Dolan On Religious Liberty
- In the Face of Danger, Successor of Peter Travels to Lebanon as a Messenger of Peace
- Reflections on the Dignity and Vocation of Women: Who or What?
Most Popular
There's the problem! Americans are out of touch with scientific consensus on climate change Read More
Sex In Uniform: Why the Increase in Sexual Assaults in the Military? Read More
Culture of Corruption: Why Obama's misuse of Marines is wrong Read More
Bill Donohue, Catholic League, Disclose Fight with the IRS, Demonstrate Courage Read More
Pope Francis Shakes up the Ambassadors Meeting and Addresses Economic Issues Read More
Daily Readings
Reading 1, Sirach 5:1-8
Do not put your confidence in your money or say, 'With this I ... Read More
Psalm, Psalms 1:1-2, 3-4, 6
How blessed is anyone who rejects the advice of the wicked and ... Read More
Gospel, Mark 9:41-50
'If anyone gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong ... Read More
Saint of the Day
St. John Baptist Rossi
May 23: This holy priest was born in 1698 at the village of Voltaggio in ... Read More
Latest Videos
"Family Consecration to the Holy Family" Dr Scott Hahn View Video
May 23 - Homily: Your Mission To Preach View Video
May 23 - Homily: Conversion from Sin View Video
Credo Series - Episode 6 View Video
Human Judgment - 2 Pillars #34 View Video
Marketplace
Holy Hands
In a time when the priesthood is mocked and vilified, when the ... Read More
St Lucy. Saint Lucia. Baptismal Necklace. Communion Gift. Confirmation. Read More
Is anyone really shocked? This kind of nonsense has just been gaining momentum since Vatican 2. Mind you, I am NOT one of those who think Vat. 2 was wrong - it's what certain liberal folks have DONE with it...especially American clergy.
Frankly, there IS a way to counteract those who go against the Catholic Faith...STOP PAYING TITHES, STOP CONTRIBUTING to ANY parish or university that goes against the Church's teaching.
Where is the church leadership? Does our faith mean nothing to those who allegedly lead us? Either life is precious always, or my faith is just a lie. How can the hierarchy of the church allow this man to continue?
Fr. Jenkins and Fr. Cleary are not following the teachings of the Church nor the Constitution.Respect for life is essential. To honor someone who loves to destroy life is a disgrace. What does it profit to gain the whole world and lose his soul?
I am a long time Roman Catholic who is a Republican. And I must admit that I am appalled that a Catholic can even vote for a member of the Democratic Party, with its stance on abortion and homosexual marriage. And yet, they do, one election right after another. Perhaps those Catholics who vote Democratic should do as Jesus advises and "remove the log first from thine own eye ...and then shalt thou see clearly to remove the speck from thy brother's ..."
I don't understand professing allegiance to Obama over Christ and His Church on the most fundamental issue here: the affirmation of a President who supports the destruction of millions and millions of innocent human lives. No one denies that there are also other issues that call for attention, but taking the life of the innocent is always and everywhere intrinsically evil. Nothing is more atrocious than this and President Obama continues to demonstrate over and over that he is committed to promoting this most heinous crime.
This is not a balancing activity of checks versus excess. No matter how much good someone does opposing life means challenging Christ- for He is Life. It is heartwrenching, that priests like Fr. Jenkins and Fr. Cleary have engaged managerial enterprise over natural law. May God have mercy on them.
Thank you, Peter Bannon and Bruce Bradley SJ! Thank you!!! When will tunnel-visioned and one-issue-focused faith and hostility to open thought end? Sigh. All I can say is shame on you, all those who are protesting Obama coming to speak. Shame on you. The self-righteousness involved in all of this is unbelievable.
I have never felt shame for my Alma Mater until now. Disappointment runs to my core. Cheering? Not anymore. Money? Never. My daughter who I hoped to send there? No way. At this point, even if Obama is booted and Jenkins is ousted, I will not support the school at any level. The moral and financial fallout is immeasurable and probably not repairable in my lifetime.
My heart, like that of countless other alumni, is broken. My wallet, like that of countless alumni, is now closed.
I share the misgivings of Fr Euteneuer about President Obama's policies regarding abortion and stem-cell research. But I am unwilling to reduce the discussion to these issues alone. There are other life-issues (capital punishment, torture, social injustice, war-mongering) about which I also have strong feelings and on which President Obama ticks all the boxes, as the cliche has it. Catholics shouls rally to his support for restoring the good name and beneficial influence of the United States, for which so many of us have such respect and of which we have such high expectations, and then - only then - seek to exercise civilised, balanced, influence on the policies with which we rightly disagree. Many Catholics, and many admirers of the US around the world, such as myself, are appalled by a narrow, one-issue hostility to someone we see as the best hope for the world in so many ways and the finest President of the US some of us have seen in our life-time, disagreement on some policies notwithstanding. Christian disagreement means firm, but courteous, argument, not the shrill language typified by the unworthy phrase 'abortionist-in-chief' in this article. I say this with understanding and respect for those who have strong feelings in the matter.
Maybe there are Catholics who are not supine, as I said earler today in a comment regarding someone from Chicago last name Daley. No other form of opposition to John Jenkins and his handlers will make a dent in his conduct, but loss of contributions in life, and removing,or not including, ND in one's estate plans will. I wish I had a pledge I could recall.