Arrested at Notre Dame; Statement by Randall A. Terry

5/5/2009
Christian Newswire (www.christiannewswire.com)

I was taken alone to a cell on campus where I prayed the sorrowful mysteries. With each mystery, my fear for Notre Dame grew.

(Randall Terry at Notre Dame). Obama will be honored and welcomed on campus, though the innocent die at his command; we were jailed, and banned forever from the campus, because we defended those dying at his order.

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SOUTH BEND, Ind. (Christian Newswire) - Randall Terry submits the following statement concerning his arrest at Notre Dame on Friday, May 1, 2009, and is available for interviews:

Six of us went to Notre Dame on Friday, May 1, to make a visual statement about child-killing and ND's invitation to President Obama to speak at the '09 graduation.

We pushed baby carriages with dolls covered with stage blood, and a bumper sticker stating:

Obama '09
One Dead baby at a Time
Notre Dame

William Kee and I were arrested immediately. The others were given the chance to leave, and did so.

I was taken alone to a cell on campus where I prayed the sorrowful mysteries. With each mystery, my fear for Notre Dame grew; Jesus, betrayed by Judas and abandoned by His friends; "He came unto His own, and his own did not receive Him;" "I received these wounds in the House of my friends�" The irony was chilling.

We were transferred to jail � at Notre Dame's order � for our peaceful, visual defense of the babies; meanwhile Notre Dame plunges ahead with her plan to honor the premier child-slayer of the western hemisphere.

Obama will be honored and welcomed on campus, though the innocent die at his command; we were jailed, and banned forever from the campus, because we defended those dying at his order.

I had the unshakable sense that Mary herself wept at this evil, and the dread that Notre Dame is being weighed in the balance by God, and found wanting.

But my fear goes deeper. I fear for "pro-life Catholics" who condemn our actions; I fear for lukewarm clergy who look askance at our measures; I fear for "Catholic press" that lacks the courage or integrity to even cover our activities, is embarrassed by our tactics, ashamed at our boldness, and seduced to silence by the fear of men.

Yes: we will stand trial for "trespass;" but the arrogant and the fearful in the Church Militant that "trespass against us" by denigrating what it means to be militant are on trial as well.

A dreadful reckoning is coming. The blood of the innocent cries from the ground to God for justice. We will all be judged for our part in allowing this slaughter to continue. We will be held accountable for what we have done, and what we have failed to do; for every idle word, and every silent denial of Christ.

The Obama/Notre Dame harlotry is the "consummation" of Catholic America's godless marriage to moral relativism, lukewarmness, and unholy pacifism.

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1 - 10 of 17 Comments

Sara Palen
3 years ago
Maria,

I believe we are in agreement. I too choose to live out my faith in a different way than Randall Terry. I choose to help young women, and sometimes men, in a crisis pregnancy center. I do believe, however, that just in the days of slavery, the images of of what's going on can speak louder than words. There have been many so-called fanatics that have made people "nervous", such as Harriet Beecher Stowe, for instance. She was demonized for telling the truth about slavery and expunding upon the injustice of slavery in the most discriptive ways. The image of the aborted baby is much like that of the African slave. I did not mean to judge you personally. Sorry. I do however believe the actions that took place are having a ripple effect in the Catholic community as a whole in this country.

Maybe Randall Terry could have used some better words. Maybe some feel as he does and are frustrated with a country which, as a whole, is somewhat luke warm. But, this issue goes well beyond the property lines of Notre Dame.
Margaret
4 years ago
President Obama is against everything that the Catholic church believes in and it is ridiculous to have him speak at Notre Dame. His thoughts are completely opposite of what Notre Dame instills in the young persons attendig its school.
Pat Mallory
4 years ago
Randall Terry has issued his "Marching Orders" to our Catholic leaders, and has dictated his terms to our Bishops. No serious plan has been offered to end abortion of course, nor is one sought.
Maria
4 years ago
Sara and James,
I give presentations on the Passion and all the gory details. I appreciate the martyrs. The witness of the martyrs and Holy Innocents was in the shedding of their blood. The apostles preached the truth of the crucifixion without waving bloody rags in the face of the crowds. Still, I know there's a place for images of aborted babies, and I use them at times. But bloodied dolls in strollers?
"Soon you will see real sacrifice. Will that change you then?" How do you know I have not seen sacrifice, and how do you know I need to change? I was merely commenting on Randall Terry's statement that seemed to indicate that anyone who does not appreciate his particular decisions is somehow not fully pro-life - he put the word in quotes when speaking of that group of people. Also, didn't the ND Response ask that no people from off campus demonstrate on the campus? I think we should respect their desires. They have a wonderful, well-thought out plan, and I hope others don't get in the way. They welcome all the prayers we can give them.
There is not only one way to defend life, and if I chose not to do it in the way Mr. Terry does, does that really make me any less pro-life?
I choose to work with other groups for the cause because some of Randall Terry's techniques make me nervous. I wish he would be okay with that, from me and from the clergy. I'm not condemning him; I'm saying don't judge those who disagree with the method yet agree with the message.
Irish Law
4 years ago
I'm just curious why my comment from yesterday was not posted. For the time being I'm going to assume that these comments are only meant to be in agreement with Mr. Terry and that dissent or intellectual inquiry will be censored. I'm upset that this is the case, but if someone could just let me know why I was censored, I would appreciate it. Thanks.
scott paper
4 years ago
faith without works is dead randall terry has shown us we can not stand idly by while the slaughter of the innocents is at hand
Julie Amateis
4 years ago
Wow. Andy Holland, you said it better than I could. I pray too.
Paul Sutton
4 years ago
Faith without works is dead.The form of these works obviously is up to the individual.It is a very gutsy approach to put your body on the line for the cause but each must choose for themselves."More things are achieved by prayer than this world dreams of" so prayer is an essential part of our lives.Direct action also is needed - according to our capacity.Public acts of fidelity to the teaching of the Catholic Church.Demonstrations at N.D. vigils at abortion mills etc.do untold good.Supported by prayers of those unable to be there they will bear even more fruit.
Perhaps if these were united to acts of penance (Wednesdays & Fridays are traditional days of penance)they would be even more acceptable to Holy God. Our Lady has called for prayer & penance countless times.
May God confound & rebuke His enemies.
From Our Lady`s Land of the Southern Cross.
Sara Palen
4 years ago
No, Maria, Jesus defended life, yours and mine, by allowing himself to be bloodied and spat upon, to be whipped, for nails to be driven through his body to be hung up on a cross and stabbed, a most gruesome way to die. And now we display this most unpalatable act as the symbol of our faith. (apparantly too unpalatable even for some Christian institutions) You know what I see, Maria, in those bloodied babies? I see a crucified Jesus. I know for a fact that seeing some of these things have indeed changed the heart of one woman in particular who now speaks to groups about the truth of abortion. Maria, sometimes the truth, even in love, is unpalatable. I will be praying, but I won't be offended by a man who chooses to express the truth in that way. For a Catholic university to give honors to a man who refuses to recognize Jesus in the very least of our brothers is much more unpalatable. What he condones is the real thing, flesh and blood as Jesus once was.
James
4 years ago
"but one of the basic principles of spreading our Faith and welcoming others is to do so in a way that is palatable to the receiver". Hmmm

Tell that to the Holy Martyrs who died in the arena from various bloody, sordid and disgusting "techniques". Since we are not allowed to see those being "martyred" publicly, like our original Catholics, alternate methods are in order to demonstrate how "sheep" are slaughtered sheep. Maria, not all Catholic teaching is as tidy as you would like it to be. Sometimes you have to see the horror to fully understand this sin...kinda like the crucifixion. No matter though. Soon you will see real sacrifice. Will that change you then?

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