Bishop D'Arcy Will Not Attend Notre Dame Graduation

A bishop must teach the Catholic faith "in season and out of season," and he teaches not only by his words -- but by his actions.

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SOUTH BEND (Catholic Online) - Along with thousands, we have been regularly visiting the Web Site of the Diocese of Fort Wayne - South Bend awaiting the expected statement of the Most Reverend John M. D'Arcy concerning the controversial decision of the University of Notre Dame to have President Barack Obama not only speak at the commencement of the University but to honor him with a Doctor of Laws Degree.

We were informed yesterday, as were many Catholic and other news sources, that such a statement would be forthcoming. We now present this statement in full. It appears on the Diocesan Web Site. We note that with his courageous and uncompromising defense of life, the Bishop also referred to the clear language contained in the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop's statement "Catholics in Political Life".

We express our deep appreciation and respect to Bishop D'Arcy. We invite all of our readers to pray for Bishop D'Arcy as well as for "Our Lady's University". Finally, we invite all of our readers to pray for the end of the Culture of Death in America and to work to build and spread a new Culture of Life and Civilization of Love in its place:

Concerning President Barack Obama speaking at Notre Dame graduation, receiving honorary law degree March 24, 2009

"On Friday, March 21, Father John Jenkins, CSC, phoned to inform me that President Obama had accepted his invitation to speak to the graduating class at Notre Dame and receive an honorary degree. We spoke shortly before the announcement was made public at the White House press briefing. It was the first time that I had been informed that Notre Dame had issued this invitation.

"President Obama has recently reaffirmed, and has now placed in public policy, his long-stated unwillingness to hold human life as sacred. While claiming to separate politics from science, he has in fact separated science from ethics and has brought the American government, for the first time in history, into supporting direct destruction of innocent human life.

"This will be the 25th Notre Dame graduation during my time as bishop. After much prayer, I have decided not to attend the graduation. I wish no disrespect to our president, I pray for him and wish him well. I have always revered the Office of the Presidency. But a bishop must teach the Catholic faith "in season and out of season," and he teaches not only by his words -- but by his actions.

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"My decision is not an attack on anyone, but is in defense of the truth about human life.

"I have in mind also the statement of the U.S. Catholic Bishops in 2004. "The Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions." Indeed, the measure of any Catholic institution is not only what it stands for, but also what it will not stand for.(emphasis added)

"I have spoken with Professor Mary Ann Glendon, who is to receive the Laetare Medal. I have known her for many years and hold her in high esteem. We are both teachers, but in different ways. I have encouraged her to accept this award and take the opportunity such an award gives her to teach.

"Even as I continue to ponder in prayer these events, which many have found shocking, so must Notre Dame. Indeed, as a Catholic University, Notre Dame must ask itself, if by this decision it has chosen prestige over truth.(emphasis added)

"Tomorrow, we celebrate as Catholics the moment when our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, became a child in the womb of his most holy mother. Let us ask Our Lady to intercede for the university named in her honor, that it may recommit itself to the primacy of truth over prestige."

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