Late-breaking: new bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend soon?

At the risk of crying "bishop!" one too many times, I'm being told this afternoon that Bishop John D'Arcy of the diocese of Fort Wayne - South Bend, Indiana has summoned the priests of his diocese for a "once in a generation" announcement tomorrow.

At a local Mass in the diocese celebrated today, the celebrant mentioned the rising rumors that the new appointment would be announced soon. 

Bishop D'Arcy himself admitted in a statement posted to the diocesan website this Wedesday that his successor "cannot be too far away." He spoke in a way that could suggest he already knows who that individual will be. 

Finally, Vatican-rumor blog Whispers in the Loggia noted a flurry of recent activity undertaken by Bishop D'Arcy, which would also imply that he is wrapping up the last of his unfinished business.

Saturday morning announcements of new bishops are not unheard of. Tomorrow will tell.

For the record, my bet is Bishop Thomas Paprocki, as it was over a month ago.

update: a local newspaper seems to confirm my claims, and Whispers thinks Milwaukee is due too.

Notre Dame elects Fr. Jenkins to second term as President

Administration FAIL:

The University of Notre Dame Board of Trustees elected Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., on Friday (Oct. 16) to a second five-year term as president of the University, effective at the conclusion of his first term June 30, 2010, Chairman Richard C. Notebaert announced on behalf of the Board of Trustees.

“The vision and leadership that Father Jenkins has demonstrated in his first four years in office have been inspiring and innovative,” Notebaert said. “Building upon the foundation set by his Holy Cross predecessors, he is making the aspirations of this University a reality. The Fellows and Trustees look forward to continuing our work with him in service to Our Lady’s University.”

It depends on what you mean by innovative.

Huh? Notre Dame funds students to attend DC Gay March, hosts "coming out day"

What the heck?

The Cardinal Newman Society points out more craziness at Notre Dame:

A surprise move from the Student Activities Office allowed five students to attend a national gay rights demonstration in Washington D.C. Sunday, sophomore Jackie Emmanuel, president of the Progressive Student Alliance (PSA), said.

The students were granted permission from the Office to use PSA funding to travel to the nation's capital to participate in the National Equality March over the weekend, Emmanuel said.

"The fact that we were University-approved was surprising but it was a wonderful surprise," she said. "The University hasn't always been entirely receptive in the past."

... She said her group hung out in the gay neighborhood of the city and stayed with friends to minimize costs. (ND Observer)

Whose bright idea was this?

A Notre Dame student sent me this photo they snapped on their phone at the student center a few days ago. In case you can't read it, the headline says "Coming Out Day - by signing this pledge:"

I'm guessing this is organized by Notre Dame's "Core Council for Gay and Lesbian Students" as part of their October 11th "National Coming Out Day"

Notre Dame: Charlie Rice asks President Jenkins to do the "manifestly right thing" for pro-life detainees

I've written before about the plight of those who marched for life on the Notre Dame Campus prior to the commencement address delivered by Barack Obama. I've also written at length about the Notre Dame scandal.

Yesterday Dr. Charles E. Rice - one of the most famous professors at Notre Dame - takes up the cause of the "Notre Dame 88". He writes (ph/t Insight Scoop):

... I understand that Notre Dame students have invited you to participate with them in the March. The problem arises from an aftermath of Commencement. On this I refer back to Chief of Staff Shavers’ response to Professor Freddoso’s request that Notre Dame ask dismissal of the charges against those arrested. Dr. Shavers states that “these protesters were arrested for trespassing and not for expressing their pro-life position.” That is misleading. This is not an ordinary case of trespass to land such as would occur if a commuter walks across your lawn and flower bed as a short-cut to the train station. Notre Dame is ordinarily an open campus. Those 88 persons, 82 of whom are represented by Tom Dixon, ND ’84, ND Law School ’93, were arrested not because they were there, but because of who they were, why they were there and what they were saying. Other persons with pro-Obama signs were there but were not arrested and not disturbed. Serious legal and constitutional questions are involved, arising especially from the symbiotic relationship between the Notre Dame Security Police, who made the arrests, and the County Police. This letter is not a legal brief. Rather I merely note that it is disingenuous for Notre Dame to pretend that this is merely a routine trespass case. (emphasis added)

... Clearly, Notre Dame should do all it can to obtain the dismissal of those criminal charges. This has nothing to do with one’s opinion of the tactics of rescue at abortuaries. It is simply a matter of you, as President, doing the manifestly right thing.

... Your decision to present an official Notre Dame presence at the March could be beneficial, but not in the context of an unrelenting criminalization by Notre Dame of sincere and peaceful friends of Notre Dame whose offense was their desire to pray, on the campus, for the University and all concerned including yourself. If you appear at the March as the continuing criminalizer of those pro-life witnesses, you predictably will earn not approbation but scorn—a scorn which will surely be directed toward Notre Dame as well. As long as you pursue the criminalization of those pro-life witnesses, your newest pro-life statements will be regarded reasonably as a cosmetic covering of the institutional anatomy in the wake of the continuing backlash arising from your conferral of Notre Dame’s highest honor on the most relentlessly pro-abortion public official in the world. (emphasis added)

[for the full text - see Insight Scoop.]

I will be watching carefully how the "Notre Dame 88" are treated by Fr. Jenkins.

Please, Fr. Jenkins, do the manifesty right thing.

{Updated:} A Note from Fr. John Jenkins, President of Notre Dame

Posted for informational purposes (thanks to the readers who forwarded this to me).

Dear Members of the Notre Dame Family,

Coming out of the vigorous discussions surrounding President Obama’s visit last Spring, I said we would look for ways to engage the Notre Dame community with the issues raised in a prayerful and meaningful way. As our nation continues to struggle with the morality and legality of abortion, embryonic stem cell research, and related issues, we must seek steps to witness to the sanctity of life. I write to you today about some initiatives that we are undertaking.

Each year on January 22, the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision, the March for Life is held in Washington D.C. to call on the nation to defend the right to life. I plan to participate in that march. I invite other members of the Notre Dame Family to join me and I hope we can gather for a Mass for Life at that event. We will announce details as that date approaches.

On campus, I have recently formed the Task Force on Supporting the Choice for Life. It will be co-chaired by Professor Margaret Brinig, the Fritz Duda Family Chair in Law and Associate Dean for the Law School, and by Professor John Cavadini, the Chair of the Department of Theology and the McGrath-Cavadini Director of the Institute for Church Life. My charge to the Task Force is to consider and recommend to me ways in which the University, informed by Catholic teaching, can support the sanctity of life. Possibilities the Task Force has begun to discuss include fostering serious and specific discussion about a reasonable conscience clause; the most effective ways to support pregnant women, especially the most vulnerable; and the best policies for facilitating adoptions. Such initiatives are in addition to the dedication, hard work and leadership shown by so many in the Notre Dame Family, both on the campus and beyond, and the Task Force may also be able to recommend ways we can support some of this work.

I also call to your attention the heroic and effective work of centers that provide care and support for women with unintended pregnancies. The Women’s Care Center, the nation’s largest Catholic-based pregnancy resource center, on whose Foundation Board I serve, is run by a Notre Dame graduate, Ann Murphy Manion (’77). The center has proven successful in offering professional, non-judgmental concern to women with unintended pregnancies, helping those women through their pregnancy and supporting them after the birth of their child. The Women’s Care Center and similar centers in other cities deserve the support of Notre Dame clubs and individuals.

Our Commencement last Spring generated passionate discussion and also caused some divisions in the Notre Dame community. Regardless of what you think about that event, I hope that we can overcome divisions to foster constructive dialogue and work together for a cause that is at the heart of Notre Dame’s mission. We will keep you informed of our work, and we ask for your support, assistance and prayers. May Our Lady, Notre Dame, watch over our efforts.

Update - The Cardinal Newman Society (the organization which gathered over 350,000 signatures protesting Obama's commencement honors), has released a statement which includes four more steps Notre Dame should take if Fr. Jenkins is serious about upholding the University's mission.

Rick Garnett, a professor at Notre Dame, also writes his thoughts.

Meanwhile, Ed Morrissey, a Catholic contributor to the widely-read conservative blog Hot Air writes about the ongoing paradox of Fr. Jenkins intending to attend the March for Life soon, while continuing to prosecute those who marched for life on the campus of Notre Dame:

Jenkins himself will participate in a massive protest against abortion. Will he do so while prosecuting the woman at the center of the court case that has lent years to the pro-life cause to undo the damage of Roe, merely for the offense of having embarrassed Jenkins during Obama’s appearance? Does Notre Dame, a Catholic institution, really want to press criminal charges against fellow pro-lifers who did nothing on their campus except hold signs and pray the Rosary?

Jenkins should drop the charges and end what seems to be a personal grudge against these activists. Until he does, he risks being a modern-day Pharisee, hiding behind trespassing statutes to gain retribution against those who publicly disagreed with Jenkins about his invitation to Obama. We’ll pray that Jenkins makes the right decision.

Irony: Notre Dame ralies alumni to "Fight for the lives of Children"

The kick-off for Notre Dame University's Fall fundraising campaign (here's why it's ironic):

The first in this year’s series of “What Are You Fighting For?” ads aired last Saturday during the Notre Dame vs. Nevada game. This installment featured Dr. Kasturi Haldar, Notre Dame biology professor and chair of the Center for Rare and Neglected Diseases.

Among the afflictions that Prof. Haldar works to cure, is Niemann-Pick Type C. Though this disease even sounds obscure, it is very real to Mike and Cindy Parseghian. Three of their four children were born with, and eventually died from, this syndrome. Prof. Haldar hopes that her research will lead to new treatments and cures, so that a rare disease diagnosis, like Niemann-Pick, is no longer a death sentence.

Fighting for the lives of children; it's one more battle our faculty and students couldn't wage without your support. Thank you.

You can watch this ad on our site: http://video.nd.edu/204-fighting-for-the-lives-of-children. I hope you enjoy it.

Don't get me wrong - I'm all for fighting for the lives of children.

I just want to see us fighting for the lives of *all* children.

And opposing those who continue to put millions of them in harms way.

Hypocrite: Fr. Jenkins still showing no mercy to Notre Dame protesters

Ever notice how people who talk about "tolerance" and "understanding" when they feel persecuted show precious little of either when it's their turn in power?

That's exactly what Fr. Jenkins is doing now. 

After being roundly criticized by bishops and faithful alike for inviting Barack Obama to give the commencement address at Notre Dame earlier this year, Fr. Jenkins is now doing precisely nothing to help the plight of over 88 peaceful pro-life protesters who were arrested on Notre Dame's campus in the weeks leading up to Obama's arrival (I blogged about their situation back in June).

Thomas Brejcha, a Notre Dame alum and president of the Thomas More Pro-Life Law Center has penned an open letter to Fr. Jenkins:

I’m writing you, as president of Notre Dame, my alma mater, with an urgent plea that you drop the criminal trespass charges that have been pending against the many defendants – most of whom are faithful, fervent pro-life Catholics – who “dared” to venture onto Notre Dame’s campus last Spring, 2009, to bear peaceful, prayerful witness to the sanctity of all human life, from conception to natural death. 

... All were arrested, handcuffed, and hauled off to jail where they spent the night and sometimes longer in custody.

Surely that protracted detention and the humbling impact of a public arrest on trying to enter the campus of America’s premier Catholic university was enough of a penalty to offset whatever “injury” or “insult” these good people inflicted on Notre Dame’s property rights.

So, it was shocking to hear that the charges were not quickly dropped, and an even worse surprise to hear that these good Catholics had to return to South Bend to enter their pleas of “not guilty” and then again to demand jury trials.

When the St. Joseph County prosecutor backed off the latter demand, we were yet more deeply aggrieved on hearing, Fr. Jenkins, that you had responded to a request that the charges be dropped by claiming that “it is out of [your] hands.”

With respect, Father, the future of these cases – if they must go on – is squarely in your hands. Notre Dame is the complainant. Its security personnel directed and/or conducted the arrests, pointing out those who would be arrested (pro-lifers) and those who would not (those carrying pro-Obama signs and/or taunting the pro-lifers).

Participation of Notre Dame witnesses will be essential if these 88 cases – all of which are to be scheduled for jury trials – actually go forward. Some defenses that already have been raised by initial trial counsel – e.g., Catholics’ access to the Sacred Heart Basilica on campus – also would require Notre Dame witnesses’ involvement in the trials.

So much for tolerance, forgiveness and finding common ground.

Fr. Jenkins ought to be ashamed.

Huh? CNS fails to fairly report USCCB's "support D'Arcy" statement

Something important happened at the US bishops' combined meeting last week, which we are just hearing about today: "the USCCB expressed their solidarity for Bishop John M. D’Arcy ... in particular for his care and concern for the University of Notre Dame, which resides in his diocese."

It's an important move because there had previously been a calculated attempt by some liberal Catholics to discredit the dozens and dozens of bishops who spoke out about the Notre Dame scandal, claiming in effect that these vocal bishops represented a "minority" position, out of step with the "majority" of US bishops.

The USCCB released this statement of support:

"The bishops of the United States express our appreciation and support for our brother bishop, the Most Reverend John D'Arcy. We affirm his pastoral concern for Notre Dame University, his solicitude for its Catholic identity, and his loving care for all those the Lord has given him to sanctify, to teach and to shepherd."

Now, how do you think Catholic News Service - the USCCB's own news agency, reported this story?

First, with out-dated numbers: "More than 50 bishops voiced their disapproval of Notre Dame's invitation to Obama and decision to give him an honorary degree." 

In fact, my list (when I stopped counting) had 75+ bishops named. These are not obscure or new numbers, and I wasn't the only one to compile such a list. This is lazy reporting by the CNS author, Nancy Frazier O'Brien. And it's convenient that the number she decides upon is, oh, about 40% of the actual number (by my conservative standards - I only counted active US bishops, for instance).

Second, with dissenting, minority views: "But two bishops interviewed at the San Antonio meeting by the National Catholic Reporter said they see a need for dialogue with U.S. Catholic university presidents about this issue and left open the possibility of revisions to "Catholics in Political Life."

Isn't it fascinating how, when a "minority" of bishops take a position against Notre Dame's invitation, they are dismissed as a minority, but when the majority of US bishops (or at least, the public voice of the bishops in committee) take a position for Bishop D'Arcy, it is then the minority position that is given space and even the last word (seriously - two bishops?! And in the National Catholic Reporter? This is our her go-to source for information!).

Really, it's impossible to win with rules of engagement like this, especially when Catholic News Service seems to have more of an affinity with the National Catholic Reporter than the US Bishops executive committee.

Third, just to really drive this point home, O'Brien says: "The statement made no direct reference ... to a recent call by the board of directors of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU) for the bishops to revisit their 2004 statement, "Catholics in Political Life."

That was an attempt by liberal Catholics to simply change the 2004 statement and so avoid the (legitimate) conclusion made by D'Arcy that Notre Dame and (hence, by inference) many other Catholic institutions are currently operating in violation of what it says.

But back to the point: O'Brien has full awareness of this challenge made by the ACCU, and feels free to make negative points about what statements don't say or respond to, and yet ... she does not bring up the context I mention above, namely, that liberal Catholics have been attempting to marginalize the vocal opposition of dozens of bishops to the Notre Dame invitation. Therefore, in the full picture, the bishops are responding against this attempt to marginalize Bishop D'Arcy by releasing a statement in support of him. Why support Bishop D'Arcy, in other words, unless he was in fact being attacked by some?

So who is left expressing a dissenting viewpoint at this point in the game? Well, two bishops, picked-up by the National Catholic Reporter ... and given selective play by O'Brien in the Catholic News Service.

Related: I'm not the only person to note these endemic issues with CNS's reporting. 

In an effort to be fair myself, CNS does plenty of good reporting - but it's frustrating to see how often it really drops the ball on some of the most important current stories, especially ones that involve Catholic interaction with the culture-at-large. I'm not asking that we all think the same on these issues, I'm asking that more than one way of thinking be fairly presented to the readers of CNS.

Exclusive: ND President Jenkins made $432,000 in 2006

Notre Dame President and Trustee Rev. John Jenkins was compensated to the tune of $432,000 in 2006, and had an expense account of over $170,000 that same year (he is 5th from the top):

For full-size click here.

This image was taken from Page 18 of Notre Dame's public IRS 990 form (PDF) as a c-3 organization.

I'm not drawing any conclusions from this information, but it was surprising to me when I found out.

Poster: Fr. Jenkin's idea of "Reasoned Dialogue"

After my story on Thursday ("Hypocrite: Fr. Jenkins offers no mercy to pro-lifers arrested on his campus") an AmP reader was inspired to put together the poster below. I thought it was powerful and present it for your consideration:

Related: Video of this priest being arrested on the Notre Dame campus has over 200k YouTube views.

Hypocrite: Fr. Jenkins offers no mercy to pro-lifers arrested on his campus

This unfolding drama deserves more attention:

The president of the University of Notre Dame has "no interest" in interfering with the fates of over 80 peaceful pro-life protesters arrested on campus while protesting President Obama's May 17 commencement speech, says the pro-lifers' attorney. One of the arrestees, Lambs of Christ founder Fr. Norman Weslin, issued a statement Monday calling on University president Fr. John Jenkins to heed the arrested group's requests to meet, which Weslin says Fr. Jenkins has ignored.

... Attorney Tom Dixon told LifeSiteNews.com (LSN) Tuesday that none of the charges have been dropped, and only two individuals accepted an offer to plead guilty in return for a sentence of time served and a fine. The rest face a maximum sentence of a year and prison and a $5,000 fine.

Asked about Notre Dame's involvement in the case, Dixon said he has "not heard anything" from the school, "except that they don't have any interest in exploring ways to resolve these matters." (LSN) (More backstory here)

So much for an olive branch. Fr. Jenkins is being given a perfect opportunity to show mercy, to deliver on his (and Obama's) promise of putting aside old grievances and moving forward in an enlightened fashion. Instead, Fr. Jenkins offers no common ground and no dialogue to these pro-life protesters.

Actions speak louder than words, and in this case, lack of action speaks louder than anything Fr. Jenkins has said. Does he really believe in forgiveness and understanding? Or does he just play these cards when he stands to benefit?

Why did Obama use "children" over "fetus" to describe the unborn?

Dan Gilgoff spots something interesting in Obama's ND speech:

One line in particular in President Obama's Notre Dame speech really jumped out at me: "Let's provide care and support for women who do carry their children to term."

Obama used the word children as opposed to fetus, employing the nomenclature of antiabortion activists as opposed to that of the pro-abortion-rights movement. If the fetus is a child, antiabortion advocates say, how can you justify abortion?

... Is the president subtly invoking the antiabortion lexicon in addressing conservative religious audiences? Or am I reading too much into this? (US News)

I have to respond that, sadly, I think Gilgoff is reading too much into this.

You see, abortion advocates are happy to use the term "child" to describe a "wanted" child. In other words, for them, a child is not a "child" until the mother has made a choice to keep it. Otherwise a "child" remains a "fetus" until he or she takes their first breath of air.

What changes for that child at that moment - besides location - escapes me, but so goes the illogical logic of abortion supporters.

Besides, Obama spoke about his desire to eliminate "offending" words from the public discourse on abortion (funny that he chose a term commonly used against pro-lifers - "ideologue"). Can one imagine how jarring it would be, considering the audience, to have called an unborn child a "fetus"? Especially considering how often the word is used in the phrase "terminate a fetus"?

I would hope somewhat jarring.

Papist Quote of the Day: William McGurn in WSJ

Contrast:

"In the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian, there is a wonderful photograph of Father Ted Hesburgh -- then Notre Dame president -- linking hands with Martin Luther King Jr. at a 1964 civil-rights rally at Chicago's Soldier Field.

Today, nearly four decades and 50 million abortions after Roe v. Wade, there is no photograph of similar prominence of any Notre Dame president taking a lead at any of the annual marches for life.

Father Jenkins is right: That's not ambiguity. That's a statement."

Props to the Wall Street Journal for publishing this.

Related: "Notre Dame's Useful Service" by Bevil Bramwell, OMI in the Catholic Thing.

Archbishop Chaput on Fr. Jenkins, in particular

Light in the darkness:

"There was no excuse – none, except intellectual vanity – for the university to persist in its course. And Father Jenkins compounded a bad original decision with evasive and disingenuous explanations to subsequently justify it.

... Father Jenkins' explanations, and President Obama’s honorary degree, are a fitting national bookend to a quarter century of softening Catholic witness in Catholic higher education. Together, they've given the next generation of Catholic leadership all the excuses they need to baptize their personal conveniences and ignore what it really demands to be "Catholic" in the public square."

Dynamite line:

"We also have the duty to oppose [Obama] when he's wrong on foundational issues like abortion, embryonic stem cell research and similar matters. And we also have the duty to avoid prostituting our Catholic identity by appeals to phony dialogue that mask an abdication of our moral witness."

The entire statement is of this quality and clarity.

Huh? L'Osservatore Romano takes Obama's side

L'OR isn't backing down from its positive take on Obama:

"The search for a common ground: This seems to be the path chosen by the president of the United States, Barack Obama, in facing the delicate question of abortion," the newspaper said.

The newspaper, which was reporting on the Notre Dame commencement for the first time, acknowledged the controversy caused by the president's appearance at what it called "the most prestigious Catholic university in the United States."

"Yesterday, too, as could have been predicted, there were protests. But from the podium set up in the basketball arena, the president invited Americans of every faith and ideological conviction to 'work in common effort' to reduce the number of abortions," it said.

All we have right now is this second-hand report via John Thavis of Catholic News Service.

... it reads like the talking points of Obama's administration. Who is writing this stuff?!

Text: Fr. Jenkins' Obama introduction

Since many folks have asked for it:

Ph/t: AmP reader James.

Post-op: Obama at Notre Dame

Unfortunately, I don't have the time at present to cover this extensively (see my previous post), but I have linked to three of the most interesting reaction/follow-up pieces I've seen so far.

Time permitting, I may add to this later today. In the meantime, please feel free to post your own links in the comment box below. No spamming - I'll just delete it.

In order, a Catholic liberal, a feminist liberal, and a Catholic conservative ... all unsatisfied:

• Michael Sean Winters gave Obama's performance a "C-"; a "lost opportunity"
• Liberal Feminist Martha Burke said that Obama was "weak on women's rights"
• Notre Dame legend Ralph McInerny is especially disappointed with Fr. Jenkins

So much for trying to please everyone. There's a saying about how that normally goes.

Blogging before/during Commencement

3:30PM - Obama's full speech is here. Thanks to everyone who followed and RT's my twitter feed.

2:15PM - I am live blogging the commencement exercises here on Twitter.

12:45PM - I'm twittering the day's events remotely. Jill Stanek (pro-life blogger), NewsCoaster (ND alum), ContraTorrentem (pro-life grassroots activist) are on-site and updating their twitter pages regularly. John Norton of OSV is in a press box where the commencement ceremony will be held.

12:00PM - Seriously, where do other people find their sources? This BeliefNet author claims "about 20% of the bishops have condemned Notre Dame for inviting the President". That statistic is simply weeks old. The current tally is double that. It's hard for me to give much weight to arguments when the author can't even get the numbers straight.

11:45AM - The mainstream media is giving this story lots of play, as you can see. It's becoming an opportunity for major outlets, such as the AP, to discuss the recent Gallup poll numbers, etc.

11:30AM - C-SPAN will be airing Obama's speech at 3PM EST online here.

11:00AM - Mining through the emails is taking some time, but Jill Stanek is updating frequently from on-site and Joe Lawler looks like the one sane voice at USA Today's live blog.

9:00AM - Woke up this morning to find DRUDGE's top headline to be "Vatican silent on Obama speech", linking to this horrible article by Amy Sullivan in Time. Damian Thomspon responds here.

Notre Dame: A reality check from Thomas More College

Embroiled in all this Notre Dame controversy, this came as a breath of fresh air:

At Thomas More College, Not Obama But Arinze

MERRIMACK - Some Catholic colleges this year are seeking their commencement speakers from the ranks of men with power in the secular world-regardless of those men's adherence to the fundamental principles of justice and morality.

The Thomas More College of the Liberal Arts turned instead to a man who came from material poverty in a troubled British colony in Africa, a convert from traditional African paganism, who made his name as a pastor of the Christian people in his country, as a peacemaker in its civil war, and a sober guardian of the Church's deposit of Faith.

They're referring to Francis Cardinal Arinze.

Open thread: What will Obama say at Notre Dame?

Tom McFeely is trying to get a make an educated guess based on how Obama handled his first commencement speech of the season at Arizon State University:

During his speech, the president joked about the controversy that erupted there over the secular college’s decision not to grant him an honorary degree, on the grounds that he had yet to accomplish enough as president to warrant that honor.

“I learned to never again pick another team over the Sun Devils in my NCAA bracket,” he said, referring to the school’s basketball team, CNN reported. “It won’t happen again.”

Said Obama, “President [Michael] Crow and the board of regents will soon learn all about being audited by the IRS.” (NCRegister)

McFeely also notes this monumental irony about ASU's choice to not grant an honorary degree:

"ASU declined to grant Obama the honor of an honorary degree on the grounds he hasn’t done enough to earn one, whereas Notre Dame is conferring the identical honor even though Obama has done far more than enough, through his promotion of abortion, to disqualify himself from ever receiving such an honors from an authentically Catholic institution."

Headline Bistro also analyzes how Obama attempted to use the stress of the ASU situation in his favor:

"Not only did the president address that head on, but he wove it into his advice for the graduates – “No matter how much you’ve done, how successful you’ve been, there’s always more to learn, always more to achieve,” he said. “You too cannot rest on your laurels … your own body of work is also yet to come.”

Will Obama do similarly at Notre Dame? With major newspapers now joining the bandwagon and printing stories on the Notre Dame-abortion-Catholic Church drama, the lack of even an allusion to the debate would be just as obvious as an actual statement during his address on his support for abortion."

Well, ladies and gentleman, it's about time to place your final bets. Commencement is, after all, in 2 days.

Claim: Leaked text of Notre Dame's honorary degree to Obama

Randall Terry claims someone leaked to him the official text of Notre Dame's Honorary Doctorate Degree to Barack Obama:

"At the 164th Commencement The May Exercises The University of Notre Dame Confers the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, on the 44th president of the United States, whose historic election opened a new era of hope in a country long divided by its history of slavery and racism.

A community organizer who honed his advocacy for the poor, the marginalized and the worker in the streets of Chicago, he now organizes a larger community, bringing to the world stage a renewed American dedication to diplomacy and dialogue with all nations and religions committed to human rights and the global common good.

Through his willingness to engage with those who disagree with him and encourage people of faith to bring their beliefs to the public debate, he is inspiring this nation to heal its divisions of religion, culture, race and politics in the audacious hope for a brighter tomorrow.

On Barack H. Obama, Washington, District of Columbia" (Christian News Wire)

Randall Terry is not a particularly reliable source, but the above text does seem plausible and much-in-keeping with the sort of verbiage coming from Fr. Jenkins' office in recent weeks.

Ph/t: Creative Minority Report.

Weigel on the real political game playing out at Notre Dame

I've read plenty of commentary on the Notre Dame situation, including the claim from the some that Catholics who oppose the invitation are merely playing a political game. I've already said that I don't think this is the case. I think they'd be thrilled if Obama became pro-life, and actively pray for it.

But all that doesn't mean some sort of political game isn't in fact being played - for instance, this very shrewd one that George Weigel points out:

"The Obama administration is full of very smart political operators. Reading last November’s electoral entrails, they’ve sensed the possibility of driving a wedge through the Catholic community in America, dividing Catholics from their bishops and thus securing the majority Catholic vote Obama received in 2008. And they’ve shrewdly judged that the soft underbelly of Catholic resistance to the Obama administration’s radical agenda on the life issues is composed of Catholic intellectuals, their prestige institutions (like Notre Dame and Georgetown), and their opinion journals—the very people and opinion centers who claimed last year that Obama was the true pro-life candidate. It’s a clever move on the political chessboard, and barring extraordinary actions from the bishops, it will likely meet with considerable success."

Politics aside, however, Weigel spends the majority of his column for the Denver Catholic Register asking, "What ‘Church’ does Notre Dame belong to?"

That's also a question worth asking.

ND Alumni withhold nearly $14m because of Obama at ND

The hemorrhaging continues. These are just the donations they can track down:

Notre Dame alumni who are upset with the university's decision to allow pro-abortion President Barack Obama to give this coming weekend's commencement speech and to give him an honorary degree continue to withhold their donations to the Catholic college.

In total, pro-life alumni and donors who feel disenfranchised by Notre Dame's decision have decided to withhold nearly $14 million in gifts they normally would have given.

David DiFranco, a Michigan businessman and 1995 Notre Dame graduate, told LifeNews.com on Wednesday that the ReplaceJenkins.com web site for disgruntled alumni has received over 1,400 pledges to withhold donations within a month since its launch. (LifeNews)

I'm not sure if I'd call these folks "disgruntled." "Principled" sounds better to my ears.

Fr. Jenkins, in letter to graduating class, digs in his heels over Obama

From University of Notre Dame President Fr. John Jenkins, CSC to the graduating class of 2009 (letter dated May 11th) - the relevant passages:

Notre Dame has a long custom of conferring honorary degrees on the President of the United States. It has never been a political statement or an endorsement of policy. It is the University’s expression of respect for the leader of the nation and the Office of the President. In the Catholic tradition, our first allegiance is to God and Christ, yet we are called to respect, participate in, and contribute to the wider society. As St. Peter wrote (I Pt. 2:17), we should honor the leader who upholds the secular order.

At the same time, and born of the same duty, a Catholic university has a special obligation not just to honor the leader, but to engage the culture. Carrying out this roll of the Catholic university has never been easy or without controversy. When I was an undergraduate at Notre Dame, Fr. Hesburgh spoke of the Catholic university as being both a lighthouse and a crossroads. As a lighthouse, we strive to stand apart and be different, illuminating issues with the moral and spiritual wisdom of the Catholic tradition. Yet, we must also be a crossroads through which pass people of many different perspectives, backgrounds, faiths, and cultures. At this crossroads, we must be a place where people of good will are received with charity, are able to speak, be heard, and engage in responsible and reasoned dialogue.

The President’s visit to Notre Dame can help lead to broader engagement on issues of importance to the country and of deep significance to Catholics. Ultimately, I hope that the conversations and the good will that will come from this day will contribute to closer relations between Catholics and public officials who make decision on matters of human life and human dignity.

There is much to admire and celebrate in the life and work of President Obama. His views and policies on immigration, expanding health care, alleviating poverty, and building peace through diplomacy have a deep residence with Catholic social teaching. As the first African-American holder of this office, he has accelerated our country’s progress in overcoming the painful legacy of slavery and segregation. He’s a remarkable figure in American history and I look forward to welcoming him to Notre Dame.

Real the full letter here.

Notre Dame: Lies, Damn Lies, and "Catholic Democrats"

Because some are saying (erroneously) that the core of resistance to Obama's Notre Dame invitation is purely an exercise in partisan politics, an organization called Catholic Democrats is playing, well, a partisan game.

Look at how they present the situation:

On May 17, President Obama will speak at the University of Notre Dame's commencement, a Presidential tradition since the 1950s. In fact, every American President since Dwight D. Eisenhower has spoken at Notre Dame. It's a time to celebrate America's future in a non-partisan way.

But recently, political activists, operatives, and pundits from the far right have tried to turn this celebration into a political firestorm. Unfortunately, they have been joined to varying degrees by a vocal minority of Catholic bishops. They are calling on Notre Dame to "uninvite" President Obama, and failing that, they've pledged to turn a solemn and joyful commencement ceremony into a political and media circus.

Catholic Democrats respectfully disagrees. We believe that we can show America that a few vocal conservatives do not speak for all Catholics on this issue. And we particularly take exception to the angry and divisive tactics they have used to go after the Catholic identity of Notre Dame, President Obama, and all his Catholic supporters, without regard to the hidden costs to our Church and our country.

Now, rather than pointing out how absurd and lacking in evidence their claims are, just read what the organizers of the petition are saying and see what they are actually doing:

"ND Response, a coalition of 12 Notre Dame student groups, has received official permission to host a prayerful and constructive demonstration on the campus of the University of Notre Dame on the weekend of Commencement. As students of this University, we invite all those interested in respectfully and constructively standing alongside us as we give witness to Notre Dame’s Catholic identity and affirm the sanctity of life. Please see our website for more details related to ND Response's plans for commencement."

How are these students political activists, operatives and pundits? How are they trying to turn commencement into a "political and media circus"? How is this "angry and decisive" tactics?

To me, it seems they want to witness to Notre Dame's Catholic identity and affirm the sanctity of life. And you know what, I tend to believe them to be sincere. And I can't say the same of Catholic Democrats.

Of course, what Catholic Democrats is trying to do is paint all forms of objection with the same brush as Randall Terry and his ilk. Well thats completely unfair, but Catholic Democrats doesn't like being precise. It tends to undermine their argument, after all. They apparently prefer to deal in stereotypes.

"But wait!" you say, "This is all a cover - the actual demonstration will be deeply partisan!"

Well, that would require them jumping a long way from the text of the prayer card they are distributing:
If this is the kind of prayer you can say, and you can make it to Notre Dame for commencement, please consider attending in solidarity with these brave, non-partisan students. Defeat the lies with your prayerful presence.

Round-up: *77* Bishops have responded to Notre Dame's Obama invitation

Catherine Harmon at Catholic World Report started this list, and I have continued it:

Bishops’ statements on Notre Dame’s invitation to Barack Obama:

1. Bishop John D’Arcy, Fort Wayne-South Bend
2. Cardinal Francis George, Chicago
3. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, Galveston-Houston
4. Archbishop Timothy Dolan, Milwaukee (--> NYC)
5. Archbishop John Nienstedt, St. Paul-Minneapolis
6. Archbishop Eusebius Beltran, Oklahoma City
7. Bishop Edward Slattery, Tulsa
8. Archbishop John Myers, Newark
9. Archbishop Alfred Hughs, New Orleans
10. Bishop Joseph Martino, Scranton
11. and Auxiliary Bishop John Dougherty, Scranton
12. Bishop Thomas Doran, Rockford, Ill.
13. Bishop Thomas Olmsted, Phoenix
14. Bishop Gregory Aymond, Austin
15. Bishop Robert Lynch, St. Petersburg
16. Bishop R. Walker Nickless, Sioux City
17. Bishop Kevin Rhoades, Harrisburg, Pa.
18. Bishop William E. Lori, Bridgeport, CT
19. Bishop Robert Morlino, Madison WI
20. Bishop George Murry, S.J., Youngstown, OH
21. Bishop William Higi, Lafayette, IN
22. Bishop Anthony Taylor of Little Rock, AR
23. Archbishop Jose Gomez, San Antonio, TX
24. and Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Cantu
25. Bishiop Jerome Listecki, La Crosse, WI
26. Archbishop Edwin O'Brien, Baltimore MD
27. Bishop Alex Sample, Marquette MI
28. Archbishop Daniel Buechlein, Indianapolis
29. Bishop Robert Baker, Birmingham AL
30. Bishop Samuel Aquila, Fargo ND
31. Bishop Gerald Barbarito, Palm Beach FL
32. Bishop Fabian Brukeswitz, Lincoln NE
33. Bishop Richard Stika, Knoxville TN
34. Bishop Robert Finn, Kansas City
35. Bishop Joseph Latino, Jackson MS
36. Bishop Leonard Blair, Toledo OH
37. Bishop Gerald Gettelfinger, Evansville IN
38. Bishop George Lucas, Springfield IL
39. Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk, Cincinnati OH
40. Bishop Thomas Wenski, Orlando FL
41. Bishop Robert Vasa, Baker OR
42. Bishop Paul Coakley, Salina KS
43. Bishop John Le Voir, New Ulm MN
44. Bishop Victor Galeone, St. Augustine FL
45. Bishop David Zubik, Pittsburgh PA
46. Bishop Paul Loverde, Arlington VA
47. Archbishop Joseph Naumann, Kansas City, KS
48. Bishop Peter Jugis of Charlotte, NC
49. Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Center, NY
50. Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver, CO (as first reported by AmP here).
51. Bishop Glen Provost of Lake Charles LA
52. Bishop Joseph Galante of Camden, NJ
53. Cardinal Rigali of Philadelphia, PA
54. Bishop John McCormack of Manchester, NH
55. Archbishop Doland Wuerl of Washington, DC (somewhat)
56. Bishop Bernard Harrington of Winona, MN
57. Bishop Michael Warfel of Great Falls-Billings, MT
58. Bishop Michael Jackels of Wichita, KS
59. Bishop James Johnson of Springfield - Cape Girardeau, MO
60. Bishop Edward Cullen of Allentown, PA (diocesan newspaper)
61. (Aux.) Bishop Roger Gries of Cleveland, OH (highschool address)
62. Bishop Robert Hermann, apostolic administrator of St. Louis, MO
63. Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay, WI
64. Bishop Remundo Pena of Brownsville, TX
65. Bishop George Thomas of Helena, MT
66. Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston, MA at Boston College Law School
67. Bishop John Gaydos of Jefferson City (in the Catholic Missourian)
68. Bishop Lawrence Brandt of Greensburg, PA
69. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn, NY
70. Bishop Joseph of Altoona-Johnstown, PA
71. Bishop Frank DeWane of Venice, FL
72. Bishop Frederick Campbell of Columbus, OH
73. Archbishop Allen Vigneron of Detroit, MI
74. Archbishop Robert Carlson of St. Louis, MI
75. Bishop Michael Sheridan of Colorado Springs, CO (Catholic Herald)
76. (Auxiliary) Bishop James Conley of Denver, CO (personal letter)
77. Bishop Donald Trautman of Erie, PA

Feel free to send me the names of arch/bishops I have missed!

Please send tips by email (I don't always have the time to check the comment box).

Life Site News also has an updating list of bishops (including emeritii).

No, Abp. Burke isn't going to intervene in Notre Dame "immediately"

update: my apologies to Michael Voris, STB for attributing to him the quote below which is not from him. The quote is actually from Marc Brammer, the Owner of RealCatholicTV.

update 2: RealCatholic TV is disputing the quote originated from Marc Brammer. See changes below.

Many people have emailed me today asking me to substantiate rumors being circulated by "The Vortex" program on RealCatholicTV.com that Archbishop Burke will intervene in Notre Dame "immediately."

{update 2: here is the text I've been receiving, attributed to Marc Brammer}:

"We have it on good authority that The Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura headed by its Prefect Mons. Archbishop Raymond Leo Burke has been duly petitioned and is preparing to deal with the Congregation of the Holy Cross on a number of issues including the awarding of an honorary degree to President Obama."

As I twittered yesterday, I put no stock in these rumors.

What has apparently happened is that someone has "filed a brief" in Rome with "actionable consequences" against Notre Dame. According to my knowledge of canon law, that's about as significant as someone sending a letter to the President - sure, you can send them a letter, but that doesn't mean they have to read or act on it. All this means is that Archbishop Burke('s staff) checks the mail.

Of course, Archbishop Burke could conceivably do something, but we have zero evidence that he will if we're basing them on the rumors circulating right now. Frankly, this doesn't strike me as his style - to rush something out the door with the President coming only a few days away.

The Vortex program also asks people to pray for Pope Benedict, Archbishop Burke and for the Notre Dame situation. I absolutely agree with all that. But let's not make our prayers dependant on or exclusive to invoking a last minute "hail mary pass" from the Vatican. Good things can come about in other ways, too.

Rick Garnett tries to set public opinion straight on Notre Dame

I'm happy to see Notre Dame professor Richard W. Garnett publish in a USA Today blog to clarify for the general public what the Notre Dame controversy is about, by telling them first what it is not about:

"To honor President Obama or not? This controversy is not about what should be said at Catholic universities, but about what should be said by a Catholic university."

And that insightful distinction is just the beginning.

FYI, Rick is also a regular contributor to the Mirror of Justice blog.

Related: "Obama college speeches spark controversy" in USA Today.

Video: Fr. Corapi on Notre Dame Scandal

Press release from the Cardinal Newman Society:

"Fr. John Corapi thanks signers to the petition at http://www.notredamescandal.com/ and urges Catholics to continue the fight for Catholic campuses." [Read the full press release here, and watch the video below:]

Notre Dame Update: Commencement Demonstration Details, etc.

Lots has been happening, of course.

First, NDResponse.com has released their impressive list of activities for the commencement demostration.

Also, Patrick O'Hannigan in American Spectator defends Mary Ann Glendon from her detractors.

Meanwhile, Max Bonilla of FUS shows how Catholic institutions ought to go about selecting their honorees.

Finally, I just want to note a disturbing trend that has cropped-up. Apparently, the usual suspects are trying to claim that the Vatican is actually taking Notre Dame's side in this dispute, based solely upon that L'Osservatore Romano article (which we've taken a look at here, for instance).

Predictably, a Wapo op-ed makes this claim, Thomas Reese, SJ does the same (in an absurd manner - see Fr. Z's devestating vetting), and even John Allen plays into this stream. He at least should know better.

I don't have the time at present to re-tread this ground. If some commentors want to take a L'Osservatore Romano editorial against 70 of their own bishops, that's their business. But I can tell you if situations were reversed, and I were trotting-out an L'OR editorial as support for my position, when 100% of speaking bishops held the contrary to my position, they wouldn't even bother to answer my arguments, so I won't.

At the same time, let me be clear: I'm not trying to take a rhetorical short-cut here ... I actually think the substance of the argument - apart from the witness of authorities - still comes down against the prudence of Notre Dame's decision. But at a certain point, I can only point to some obvious realities (like the witness of the bishops, Mary Ann Glendon's refusal etc.) and forward folks to my archives on this issue for more background, and then take up my position on the sidelines to see what will happen next. The guest is, after all, on his way.

update - Amy Welborn:

"What if L'Osservatore Romano had run an editorial slamming Obama? What if word had come from, I don't know, the Curial office dealing with Catholic education that Notre Dame had made a mistake in honoring Obama?

Would [WaPo op-ed writer mentione above] Dionne and those who agree with him [like Fr. Thomas Reese, SJ alsomentioned above] then declare the Notre Dame invitation and honor to be a mistake because..."the Vatican" said it was?I'm going to guess no.

I'd guess the talking points would be a bit different if the wind were to blow in that direction. It would be all about Curial blindness to the American landscape, to the subtleties of the Church-state relationship in the United States...and so on."

"...Back to the [L'OR] paper - Austin Ruse provides a useful critique of the editorial, explaining how the writer gets some important facts wrong about the Obama-administration embryonic research proposal. This is key. If the editorial is based on faulty understandings and premises, the value of it is diminished. It doesn't matter where it was published and it doesn't matter if the Pope himself had written it."

Amy is trying to clarify the various levels of authority we have speaking about Notre Dame. Here's my take:

Contra Notre Dame, 100% of the bishops who have spoken publicly on the matter (at current count, 70).

"Pro" Notre Dame, a few liberal-leaning pundits referencing a L'OR editorial that gets most the facts wrong.

So, as I've said, whether we want to take a short-cut or the long road, it gets us to the same judgement about Notre Dame's decision. I'm prepared to examine the results of this decision, but let's be clear about the faults of the decision which brought us to where we are: a bad place that could have been avoided.

Poll: 52% of Americans, 60% of Catholics, think Notre Dame made a mistake

Props to Rasmussen for polling this debate:

Fifty-two percent (52%) of Americans nationwide say the University of Notre Dame should have followed guidelines set by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and refrained from awarding an honorary degree to President Obama.

... By a 60% to 25% margin, U.S. Catholics say the university should not award an honorary degree to the president. Sixty-six percent (66%) of Evangelical Christians share that view along with 52% of other Protestants.

However, a plurality (45%) of those who do not have Christian affiliations say the university should give the president the honorary degree.

Especially interesting:

...It is also worth noting that the response is tied more closely to the violation of the bishops’ guidelines than to the policy issue concerning abortion. Those who describe themselves as pro-choice on abortion are evenly divided as to whether or not the university should award an honorary degree to the president. Pro-life adults strongly believe the university should have followed the bishops’ guidelines.

Pew Forum did polling on this topic last week, linking it to Mass attendance.

Map & Statistics: 1 in 3 Dioceses are critical of the Notre Dame invite

[Diocese are marked in black if they have released a statement. update: Jefferson City added.]

By my updating count, 66 bishops have commented in public (and critically) about Notre Dame's decision to invite Barack Obama for commencement and also give him an honorary degree.

There are 195 dioceses in the United States. That means that among US bishops who are the head of a diocese, about 1/3 of them are against this decision.

Plus, I can't find one bishop who has gone on record supporting the decision. Just something to ponder in the 13 days ahead. Ponder seriously.

Action item: Check your diocesan newspaper archives/website to see if your bishop has spoken.

Video: Powerful Notre Dame Response

Actually, "powerful" is an understatement:

Notre Dame response has updated their website with this breaking news:

"We have received official permission to hold a prayerful and constructive demonstration on the South Quad of the University of Notre Dame between 11am and 4pm on the day of Commencement. The students of this coalition would like to extend an invitation to all those interested in joining us on campus on May 17th as we respectfully give witness to Notre Dame's Catholic identity and pro-life principles. An official schedule for this demonstration will be posted on NDResponse.com in the next 48 hours."

It is imperative that this be a peaceful protest. These brave Notre Dame students are taking a great risk.

Notre Dame is in the news, but does it know it?

Far from "promoting dialogue" in full transparency, the Notre Dame Office of News & Information seems to have a very different take on "ND in the News" than, well, the news.

So, in other words, Notre Dame is very in favor of promoting dialogue, just as long as it's the one-sided kind.

Humor: Fr. Jenkins' Tanqueray Gin Ad

In the 1990's, Tanqueray Gin sponsored a US advertising campaign that went like this:

Left: "In his next life, Mr Jenkins hopes he's... Mr Jenkins."
Middle: "Mr Jenkins finds that deep dives tend to bruise one's olives."
Right: "Mr Jenkins denies all rumors, whatever they may be."

A witty AmP reader updated the campaign for Notre Dame President Fr. Jenkins amid the Notre Dame debacle:

"In his next life Fr. Jenkins hopes he's... Mr. Jenkins."
"Fr. Jenkins finds that deep theology tends to bruise one's ego."
"Fr. Jenkins exacerbates all situations, whatever they may be."

Clever, light-hearted ... and just a little true.

Poll: Approval of ND's Obama invite inversely proportional to Mass attendance

Props to the Pew Forum for taking up this issue (my underlining):

Most Catholics who have heard about the issue support the University of Notre Dame's decision to invite President Barack Obama to speak and receive an honorary degree at its May 17 commencement, even though he supports abortion rights and embryonic stem cell research. But a new poll conducted by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life also finds a deep division on this issue between the most-observant Catholics and those who are less observant, as defined by frequency of worship service attendance.

"...Regular church attenders also express much higher levels of disapproval of Obama's visit to Notre Dame. Among white Catholics who attend church at least once a week, a plurality (45%) say it was wrong for Notre Dame to invite Obama, while the majority of less-observant Catholics (56%) take the opposite view, saying Notre Dame was right to invite him."

[Full polling and analysis here.]

Now, of course, weekly Mass attendance (i.e., Sunday Mass attendance) is compulsory for Catholics. That means people who don't attend Sunday Mass aren't even practicing the basics of their faith. Catholics who are maintaining the minimum standards of living their Catholic faith disapprove of the decision (as a plurality).

Isn't it odd that Fr. Jenkin's invitation corresponds more with Catholics who are not going to Mass on Sunday on a regular basis than those who are? Isn't it strange that Catholics who don't make it a priority to receive Jesus are fine with Notre Dame making it a priority to receive Obama? And finally, why can almost 1 in 4 Catholics who don't even attend Sunday Mass regularly see something wrong with an invitation that the supposed flag-ship of American Catholic education is blind to?

Friday Required Reading: Lacy Dodd asks Fr. Jenkins a question

But before she asks the question, she tells a story - her story:

For many members of the Notre Dame Class of 2009, the uproar surrounding the university’s decision to honor Barack Obama with this year’s commencement address, and to bestow on him a doctorate of laws, has provoked strong feelings about what the ensuing conflict will mean for their graduation.

I know how they feel. Ten years ago, my heart was filled with similar conflicts as we came closer to the day of my own Notre Dame commencement and my commissioning as an officer in the United States Army.

You see, I was three months pregnant.

[Read on.]

Today: Notre Dame Leadership Holds "MayDay" Meeting

Today the Board of Trustees and Fellows of the University of Notre Dame are meeting.

I believe this gathering to be a defining moment for the future of Notre Dame.

Let us pray that they be granted the wisdom and courage to make good decisions in these difficult circumstances.

Mater nostra, ora pro nobis!

Photo: What Obama will wear at Notre Dame's Commencement

Here is Notre Dame's traditional academic garb for the degree Obama is being awarded:

This week the White House confirmed that the plan is for Obama to wear this on May 17th:

“I honestly don’t know what the dress code is for that day. I can assume that the president would wear what one traditionally wears at that commencement,” Gibbs told CNSNews.com during Monday’s White House press briefing. (CNSnews)

"Vita, Dulcedo, Spes" is part of the opening line of the Salve Regina, and means "(our) Life, (our) Sweetness (and our) Hope." It was the favorite hymn of Fr. Basil Moreau, CSC, founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross which founded the University of Notre Dame. The phrase is also Notre Dame's institutional motto (source).

[photo credit: Herff-Jones]

Flash: Former Laetare Medalist Judge John T. Noonan to deliver address at Notre Dame’s Commencement in lieu of Mary Ann Glendon

From Notre Dame's Office of News & Info:

Judge John T. Noonan Jr., the 1984 recipient of the Laetare Medal, has accepted an invitation to deliver an address in the spirit of the award at Notre Dame’s 164th University Commencement Ceremony on May 17. His speech will be in lieu of awarding the medal this year.

“In thinking about who could bring a compelling voice, a passion for dialogue, great intellectual stature, and a deep commitment to Catholic values to the speaking role of the Laetare Medalist – especially in these unusual circumstances – it quickly became clear that an ideal choice is Judge Noonan,” said Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., president of Notre Dame. “This commencement ceremony, more than anything else, is a celebration of our students and their families. Judge Noonan will join with President Obama and other speakers in that celebration, sending them from our campus and into the world with sound advice and affirmation.

“Since Judge Noonan is a previous winner of the Laetare Medal, we have decided, upon reflection, to not award the medal this year.”

And way down at the bottom, as an "afterthought" conclusion:

"Mary Ann Glendon, Learned Hand Professor of Law at Harvard University and former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, was selected as the 2009 Laetare Medalist but declined the honor."

My quick take:

• "Especially in these unusual circumstances." I love it when press releases fail to acknowledge, then simultaneously presume the reader to know, what is happening.
• Fr. Jenkins has discovered an inventive way to avoid "re-gifting" the Laetare medal, after he haughtily (and I argued, in a knee-jerk manner) claimed he would give the award to someone else. Hello, Plan C.
• I'll leave it for others to evaluate what we can expect from Noonan. What's his track record? I'm pretty sure he (falsely) believes Catholics are free to disagree with the Church about contraception.
• Fr. Jenkins is not even trying to touch why Mary Ann Glendon would refuse Notre Dame's highest honor. I think he's learned a very painful lesson about putting words in other people's mouths.
• At the same time, note at least two little jabs Jenkins sneaks in: 1} he says Noonan has a "passion for dialogue" ("unlike some people," you can almost hear Jenkins say). 2} Jenkins also claims that commencement is "more than anything else, a celebration of our students and their families" - he is trying to redefine what commencement is (and omitting the honorary degree part entirely) in order to avoid the blow being leveled at him by (now 55) bishops - namely, that Notre Dame is giving a platform to Obama and honoring him. This decision/press release represent a hardening Notre Dame response to criticism.

Nevermind the Vatican, the AP needs to learn how to Google

Plenty of people (rightfully) pointed out awhile back that the Vatican press office (especially) could do a better job using basic internet search techniques to avoid embarrassment.

Well, just to keep the playing field fair, let's note that even the Associated Press seems to be internet research-impaired at times.

At the end of an AP article treating Obama's response last night to a question about the Notre Dame controversy and where abortion is on his priority list, author David Alexander (with editing help by Mohammad Zarghm) concludes:

"Several bishops also have criticized the university for the decision."

... several?! Try fifty-five.

Now, I may study theology, but I also have enough elementary math skills to be pretty sure that "several" is less than 1/10 of the actual number of bishops who have criticized Notre Dame. And it's not like I'm the only person who has been keeping track (so has LifeSite, for instance) ... in other words, these 50+ statements generate quite a large internet footprint.

A logical Google search of "notre dame obama bishop" yields plenty more than several results.

Okay, I won't belabor the point further. C'mon, AP - use Google.

Text: Obama's response to tonight's question on Notre Dame, FOCA and abortion

Tonight during Obama's press conference Ed Henry of CNN asked an excellent question.

Here is the text of the question and Barack Obama's response:

CNN's Ed Henry: Thank you, Mr. President. In a couple of weeks, you're going to be giving the commencement at Notre Dame. And, as you know, this has caused a lot of controversy among Catholics who are opposed to your position on abortion.

As a candidate, you vowed that one of the very things you wanted to do was sign the Freedom of Choice Act, which, as you know, would eliminate federal, state and local restrictions on abortion. And at one point in the campaign when asked about abortion and life, you said that it was above — quote, above my pay grade.

Now that you've been president for 100 days, obviously, your pay grade is a little higher than when you were a senator.

Do you still hope that Congress quickly sends you the Freedom of Choice Act so you can sign it?

OBAMA: You know, the — my view on — on abortion, I think, has been very consistent. I think abortion is a moral issue and an ethical issue.

I think that those who are pro-choice make a mistake when they — if they suggest — and I don't want to create straw men here, but I think there are some who suggest that this is simply an issue about women's freedom and that there's no other considerations. I think, look, this is an issue that people have to wrestle with and families and individual women have to wrestle with.

The reason I'm pro-choice is because I don't think women take that — that position casually. I think that they struggle with these decisions each and every day. And I think they are in a better position to make these decisions ultimately than members of Congress or a president of the United States, in consultation with their families, with their doctors, with their clergy.

So — so that has been my consistent position. The other thing that I said consistently during the campaign is I would like to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies that result in women feeling compelled to get an abortion, or at least considering getting an abortion, particularly if we can reduce the number of teen pregnancies, which has started to spike up again.

And so I've got a task force within the Domestic Policy Council in the West Wing of the White House that is working with groups both in the pro-choice camp and in the pro-life camp, to see if we can arrive at some consensus on that.

Now, the Freedom of Choice Act is not highest legislative priority. I believe that women should have the right to choose. But I think that the most important thing we can do to tamp down some of the anger surrounding this issue is to focus on those areas that we can agree on. And that's — that's where I'm going to focus.

I will refrain from commenting at this point. Do note, however, that Obama makes no comment about the Notre Dame scandal. I'm not quite sure immediately what significance there may be to that omission.

And props to Ed Henry for playing hardball. I wouldn't be surprised if he's taking hits for it.

[photo credit: CNN]

update - video of this question (via the SuzyB blog):

Photos: 300,000 printed signatures being shipped to Notre Dame

David Costanzo, Communications Director of the Cardinal Newman Society (which organized the NotreDameScandal.com petition), has sent me the original covert art and actual photos of the ready-for-shipping mega-binders which contain the first 300,000 signatures:

I hope Fr. Jenkins has a big mailbox:

These were sent out to Fr. Jenkins today.

[second photo credit: Sioux Printing]

CNS begins delivering 300k+ protest signatures to Notre Dame

update: I've posted photos of the final product here.

Just in time for the (in my opinion, all-important) meeting of the Notre Dame Trustees and Fellows:

This morning, April 29, 2009, the first 300,000 names of individuals who signed the petition at NotreDameScandal.com — opposing the University of Notre Dame’s decision to honor President Barack Obama at commencement — began to be delivered to Notre Dame president Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., the Board of Trustees and the Board of Fellows as they prepare for scheduled meetings on Friday, May 1, at Notre Dame.

As of this morning, more than 344,000 people have signed the petition, but because of the overwhelming numbers it took The Cardinal Newman Society more than 24 hours to prepare the data and print more than 64,000 sheets of paper, double sided, which were then bound in notebooks and sent via FedEx to Father Jenkins and individual members of the Notre Dame Board of Trustees and Board of Fellows.

Copies of the petitions are also being rushed by The Cardinal Newman Society, which sponsored the petition, to Archbishop Zenon Cardinal Grocholewski, Prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for Catholic Education; Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the Apostolic Nuncio (Vatican ambassador) to the United States; Francis Cardinal George, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB); Bishop John D’Arcy, of Fort Wayne-South Bend, who presides over Notre Dame; and Bishop Robert McManus, Chairman of the USCCB Education Committee.

“Only the Notre Dame Trustees and Fellows have direct authority over Father Jenkins, so their meetings on Friday are our best hope for an end to this scandal,” said Patrick J. Reilly, President of The Cardinal Newman Society.

“It is critical for all of us to pray that the Trustees and Fellows charged with safeguarding Notre Dame’s Catholic identity will heed the 50 bishops [NB: by AmP's count - 53] and hundreds of thousands of faithful Catholics urging Notre Dame to withdraw its invitation to President Obama.” (CNS)

I commend everyone who made the time to sign the petition. Your efforts are not in vain.

AmP Poll: What is the best solution to the Notre Dame scandal?

We've been discussing the Notre Dame Scandal at great length on AmP. Time for a poll.

If you can't see the poll, click here and scroll down until you do. As always, please spread the word!

Bishop Jenky, CSC - a hope for Notre Dame?

In the interest of completeness I must mention one episcopal figure whose silence is notable in this Notre Dame scandal: the Most Rev. Daniel Jenky, CSC of Peoria, IL.

There are four reasons I hope Bishop Jenky is taking an active role in this situation, at least behind the scenes if not in public:

1) He is a member of the Notre Dame community. He completed several degrees there and was appointed Superior of the Holy Cross Priests and Brothers of Notre Dame (who administer the University).

2) He is a member of the Notre Dame administration - appointed both to its Board of Trustees and Board of Fellows (where the real decisions are made). Their charter includes this as a duty of the office:

The essential character of the University as a Catholic institution of higher learning shall at all times be maintained, it being the stated intention and desire of the present Fellows of the University that the University shall retain in perpetuity its identity as such an institution. (PDF source)

3) He is a member of the U.S. bishops. He was a one-time auxiliary under Bishop D'Arcy in the diocese of Fort Wayne - South Bend. And in 2002, as Ordinary of Peoria, he was a full member of the body which released the 2004 directives that Notre Dame has now been convicted of violating.

4) Finally, to my knowledge, he is the only CSC-congregation bishop in the United States. He is, in other words, a brother priest with President Jenkins and half of the others members on the Board of Fellows.

He is thus able to speak as member with, administrator of, overseer from without and brother to Notre Dame.

That's four ways we can hope he'll help.

Consistent: Abp. Hughs boycotting Xavier commencement over pro-abort speaker

I twittered this story yesterday but it deserves more attention.

Lest we think that the Notre Dame situation is a unique one - where the local ordinary (in this case, Bishop John D'Arcy) is refusing to attend commencement exercises that honor a pro-abortion speaker - Archbishop Hughes is making a similar stand in New Orleans:

"Archbishop Alfred Hughes will not attend Xavier University’s commencement because national democratic strategist Donna Brazile, who is a Louisiana native and Catholic, is scheduled to speak, according to a letter from Hughes.

... “Ms. Brazile has a public record in support of keeping abortion legal,” Hughes wrote.

"I recognize that Ms. Brazile is a Catholic Louisiana native who has worked effectively in service to the poor and African Americans in particular. However, her public statements on the abortion issue are not in keeping with Catholic moral teaching.”

Hughes cited Brazile’s support of Obama’s decision to reverse a Mexico City policy, which allows federal funds to go to organizations that provide abortions, as proof of her pro-abortion stance. (Local WWLTV)"

Brazile responded by email to a local paper:

"I will remain faithful to the Catholic Church and my Christian faith which keeps me grounded."

Some counter-argument.

Oh, and as a point of trivia: who gave Xavier's 2006 commencement speech? That's right: Senator Barack Obama. He's since moved on to bigger Catholic universities. You can read the text of his address that day here.

More on Abp. Hughes at Catholic News Agency, LifeSite, and Cardinal Newman Society.

Image: "Mary Ann Glendon" spikes to #9 most popular on google

Not only Catholics are watching this story unfold:

mary ann glendon

Related searches: glendon, laetare medal, mary ann glendon notre dame, american papist, cnn
Peak: 3 hours ago
Location:
6% - New York, NY
5% - South Bend, IN

... did you catch that list of related searches? ;-)

Whoops - No Glendon on the dais now!

Kenneth Woodward, writing in the Washington Post on March 30th:

"The nation's Catholic bishops have another sticky issue on their plates. President Obama has accepted an invitation to deliver the commencement address at the University of Notre Dame in May and to receive the customary honorary degree. It is quite a coup for the nation's most resonantly Catholic university. American Catholics and their bishops should be proud."

But here's where it gets good - Woodward continues:

On the dais at Notre Dame, Obama will find a familiar face: Harvard Law professor Mary Ann Glendon, Bush's ambassador to the Vatican, who will receive this year's Laetare Medal in part for her peerless defense of human life. It's important that the president hear her message as well as deliver his own. It is equally important that this kind of engagement take place at a university devoted to both faith and reason. Where else but in a university setting should we expect this kind of principled presentation of issues?

I quote this as a reminder that Woodward and defenders of Notre Dame's decision were already trying to make Glendon's appearance serve as a foil against the statements of U.S. bishops. Well, that won't work anymore.

Breaking: White House responds to Glendon Refusal

David Brody at CBN News passes along the short communique:

“President Obama is disappointed by former Ambassador Mary Glendon’s decision, but he looks forward to delivering an inclusive and respectful speech at the Notre Dame graduation, a school with a rich history of fostering the exchange of ideas. While he is honored to have the support of millions of people of all faiths, he does not govern with the expectation that everyone sees eye to eye with him on every position, and the spirit of debate and healthy disagreement on important issues is part of what he loves about this country.”

Jen Psaki, White House Deputy Press Secretary

Report: What Fr. Jenkins is telling top donors and ND officers

I place strong confidence in the report of last week which claimed Fr. Jenkins came to Washington DC for pre-planned meetings with top Notre Dame donors.

I'm now finding out bits and pieces of what he was telling them during those sessions. Evidently he is frequently citing 1 Peter 2:17 ("Give honor to all, love the community, fear God, honor the king") as a biblical support for Notre Dame's decision to bestow an honorary degree on Barack Obama

Now, I'll leave it to the biblical exegetes to take a crack at that argument. I think it's baloney, myself.

Back to the reports: at this weekend's Alumni Senate gathering at Notre DAme, Fr. Jenkins, far from backing down, told the audience that they should be "on the front lines" of defending the University. An even more disturbing report from the same event:

"Apparently [Fr. Jenkins] also made light of Bishop D'Arcy's Thursday letter chiding him for not consulting the bishop ahead of time and for propagating incorrect statements on the USCCB document; [Jenkins] said that he didn't consult the bishop, but then again he doesn't consult him on most decisions regarding the university."

Remember, this is after Bishop D'Arcy wrote:

I pledge to work with Father Jenkins and all at Notre Dame to heal the terrible breach, which has taken place between Notre Dame and the church. It cannot be allowed to continue ... Notre Dame and Father Jenkins must do their part if this healing is to take place. I will do my part.

Sounds like Fr. Jenkin's isn't even trying to do his part.

Next, I'll take a look at Fr. Jenkin's co-decision makers: the Notre Dame Board of Trustees.

[photo: ND College of Arts & Letters.]

New Facebook Group: I Support Mary Ann Glendon and her Noble Refusal!

The group description:

"We support Mary Ann Glendon and her Refusal of Fr. Jenkin's disingenuous offer of Notre Dame's Laetare Medal."

Join the group HERE and invite your friends!

update: this group already has 800+ members!

Flash: Fr. Jenkins announces he will transfer Laetare Medal

This has all the signs of a knee-jerk half-baked response to Glendon's morning bombshell:

Statement by Father John Jenkins on the Laetare Medal

The following statement from Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., president of the University of Notre Dame, is in response to the decision by Mary Ann Glendon to decline acceptance of the University’s Laetare Medal:

“We are, of course, disappointed that Professor Glendon has made this decision. It is our intention to award the Laetare Medal to another deserving recipient, and we will make that announcement as soon as possible.” (University of Notre Dame Office of News & Information)

... and that's it.

He only registers "disappointment", not even attempting to answer her arguments.

In a scramble, they have no fall-back award recipient because they were presuming she would accept. Instead, they are left pulling out the Rolodex.

"Nothing to see here. Moving on."

Black Monday: Group confirms ND alumni witheld $8.2m in *one* week

From their press release:

Organizers of ReplaceJenkins.com, an online effort urging alumni and donors to the University of Notre Dame to withhold donations, announced Monday that they have personally confirmed over $8.2 million in withheld donations as a part of their national outreach effort.

The website ReplaceJenkins.com has received over 900 pledges from alumni and donors promising to withhold future donations. Several of the largest gifts include estate bequests to the University that have been removed from donors’ wills. ReplaceJenkins.com organizers have personally confirmed a majority of the largest donations, and continue to verify the validity of millions of additional gifts.

More from LifeNews.

Combined with Glendon's refusal ... what a day for Notre Dame's administration.

Update: Expert commentary on Glendon's noble refusal

In reaction to this morning's breaking news story that Mary Ann Glendon has refused the Laetare Medal.

Fr. Raymond J. de Souza at NCRegister:

Father John Jenkins likely thought himself very clever. Professor Mary Ann Glendon just took him to school.

In declining to receive the Laetare Medal alongside President Barack Obama’s honorary doctorate of laws at next month’s commencement, Glendon has refused to participate in the shabby manipulation Father Jenkins attempted to engineer. It is a rare personage who could ennoble an award by refusing to receive it, but Professor Glendon has done just that. The Laetare Medal will now be known best for the year in which it was declined. Glendon chose, to use the apt words of Bishop John D’Arcy in this regard, truth over prestige.

The significance of Glendon’s refusal is enormous. The most accomplished Catholic laywoman in America — former ambassador of the United States to the Holy See and current president of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences — has refused to accept Notre Dame’s highest honor. It is a signal moment for the Catholic Church in the United States. It is a signal moment for the Church’s public witness. It is may even be a signal moment for Notre Dame. What Glendon will not say at Notre Dame will finally be a fitting response to what Gov. Mario Cuomo said there some 25 years ago. [Read on.]

Ed Peters at Canon Law Blog:

I see Dr. Mary Ann Glendon's refusal to provide cover for Notre Dame's inexcusable conferral of honors on a prominent pro-abortion politician as an application of Canon 209.1 "The Christian faithful, even in their own manner of acting, are always obliged to maintain communion with the Church", or of Canon 225.2 "According to each one's own condition, [laity] are also bound by a particular duty to imbue and perfect the order of temporal affairs with the spirit of the gospel and thus to give witness to Christ, especially in carrying out these same affairs and in exercising secular functions."

The evil that ND President Jenkins and his Board of Trustees committed has, Deus laudetur, occasioned one of the most striking displays of episcopal fortitude I can remember, mobilized hundreds of thousands of American Catholics against another quiet surrender to the Culture of Death, and has effected notice to several once great Catholic institutions that it's time, finally, to decide where they stand.

I say, God bless Ambassador Glendon.

Flash: Mary Ann Glendon *turns down* Notre Dame Laetare Medal

She had been notably silent about accepting the honor, now we know why. She just faxed this letter to the president of Notre Dame at 9:30AM this morning:

{update - Fr. Jenkins has issued a response.}

Dear Father Jenkins,

When you informed me in December 2008 that I had been selected to receive Notre Dame’s Laetare Medal, I was profoundly moved. I treasure the memory of receiving an honorary degree from Notre Dame in 1996, and I have always felt honored that the commencement speech I gave that year was included in the anthology of Notre Dame’s most memorable commencement speeches. So I immediately began working on an acceptance speech that I hoped would be worthy of the occasion, of the honor of the medal, and of your students and faculty.

Last month, when you called to tell me that the commencement speech was to be given by President Obama, I mentioned to you that I would have to rewrite my speech. Over the ensuing weeks, the task that once seemed so delightful has been complicated by a number of factors.

First, as a longtime consultant to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, I could not help but be dismayed by the news that Notre Dame also planned to award the president an honorary degree. This, as you must know, was in disregard of the U.S. bishops’ express request of 2004 that Catholic institutions “should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles” and that such persons “should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.” That request, which in no way seeks to control or interfere with an institution’s freedom to invite and engage in serious debate with whomever it wishes, seems to me so reasonable that I am at a loss to understand why a Catholic university should disrespect it.

Then I learned that “talking points” issued by Notre Dame in response to widespread criticism of its decision included two statements implying that my acceptance speech would somehow balance the event:

• “President Obama won’t be doing all the talking. Mary Ann Glendon, the former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, will be speaking as the recipient of the Laetare Medal.”

• “We think having the president come to Notre Dame, see our graduates, meet our leaders, and hear a talk from Mary Ann Glendon is a good thing for the president and for the causes we care about.”

A commencement, however, is supposed to be a joyous day for the graduates and their families. It is not the right place, nor is a brief acceptance speech the right vehicle, for engagement with the very serious problems raised by Notre Dame’s decision—in disregard of the settled position of the U.S. bishops—to honor a prominent and uncompromising opponent of the Church’s position on issues involving fundamental principles of justice.

Finally, with recent news reports that other Catholic schools are similarly choosing to disregard the bishops’ guidelines, I am concerned that Notre Dame’s example could have an unfortunate ripple effect.

It is with great sadness, therefore, that I have concluded that I cannot accept the Laetare Medal or participate in the May 17 graduation ceremony.

In order to avoid the inevitable speculation about the reasons for my decision, I will release this letter to the press, but I do not plan to make any further comment on the matter at this time.

Yours Very Truly,

Mary Ann Glendon

[source: First Things - which appears to be inundated with traffic...]

{update - Fr. Jenkins has issued a response.}

update: LifeNews adds a little context. update 2: expert commentary posted here.

Sunday Reading: A Notre Dame Witness for Life

Last Thursday: "William McGurn, Notre Dame alumnus (Class of 1980) and former chief speech writer for George W. Bush (2005-2009), lectured on the topic, 'A Notre Dame Witness for Life.' Mr. McGurn is currently a columnist for the Wall Street Journal". It was sponsored by the Notre Dame Center for Ethics and Culture.

A reader who sent it in called it "quite incredible - one of the more eloqent pieces you will ever read." Several other folks have claimed the same. I provide it as this week's AmP Sunday Reading. You may click here for the PDF version. Kathryn Lopez also has the text, and has gobs of links to good things happening at Notre Dame.

update: you can watch a video of the entire lecture here.

Today: Notre Dame Eucharistic Procession

Explained by a Notre Dame student (underlining mine):

"This Sunday, we are having our 5th annual Eucharistic Procession. Even though it started being planned long before the invitation was ever extended to President Obama, it serves as a strong testament and witness to our Catholic faith here at ND. The main intentions to be prayed for are (in addition to the praise and honor we give to Christ in our adoration of Him in the Sacrament): a greater respect for and protection of human life, from conception until natural death; an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life, especially in the Congregation of Holy Cross; and for blessings upon the students, faculty, administration and staff of Holy Cross College, St. Mary's College, and the University of Notre Dame."

Does anyone have pictures or a report of the procession? Thank you!

update: here's a report from a Notre Dame student blogger.

Update: Notre Dame offers to pay for Obama's visit

Between police protection and private plane trips, it's clear that Notre Dame has money to burn on this.

Notre Dame's plane is flying back to South Bend tonight

So says FlightAware:

Aircraft Cessna 560 Citation 5 (twin-jet) (C560/L)
Origin Washington Dulles Intl (KIAD - track or info)
Destination South Bend Rgnl (KSBN - track or info)
Other flights between these airports
Route AML J149 FWA (Decode)
Date Wednesday, Apr 22, 2009
Duration 1 hours 24 minutes
Status Scheduled
Scheduled Actual/Estimated
Departure 09:58PM EDT 09:58PM EDT
Arrival 11:22PM EDT 11:22PM EDT
Speed 414 kts
Altitude 40000 feet

Back story here and here.

The tipster who notified me of the departure asked if this was the "return of the prodigal son"?

I said nope, the prodigal son was sorry. ;-)

Text: CSC Superior General's (of Notre Dame) letter to Barack Obama

This letter was forwarded to me today by Dawn Eden over at The Dawn Patrol. I believe it is genuine:

Here is the full text of the 13-page letter to President Obama from the Rev. Hugh W. Cleary, C.S.C. Superior General of the Congregation of Holy Cross, which oversees Notre Dame.

update: this is evidently a public letter published in America. More on Fr. Cleary here.

Commentary: What Bishop D'Arcy's Statement Means

Now that you've had a chance to read Bishop D'Arcy's statement, here are some reasons why it represents an extremely significant development in the Notre Dame situation.

1. Bishop D'Arcy makes it clear that Fr. Jenkins completely brought this on himself. Jenkins failed to notify D'Arcy of the invitation until after it had been issued (therefore Jenkins never sought approval or advice from his own local bishop), he attempted to engage Bishop Olmsted in canonical debate, involved D'Arcy in this debate by cc'ing him in on the letter (deciding too late to include D'Arcy in the process) and has asked for D'Arcy's response. At the same time, Jenkins took his arguments to the Notre Dame board of trustees and saw to it that they were published on the national scene, essentially putting D'Arcy in a position to where he had to respond.
2. D'Arcy has shared his letter with other bishops. While acting on his own authority, he is not alone in his opinions (indeed, 42 bishops have spoken out so far), among bishops or the faithful.
3. D'Arcy's language is definitive: "the meaning of the sentence ... is clear" "the statements which Father Jenkins has made ... are simply wrong." "I consider [the matter] closed." "The failure to consult the local bishop ... the lawgiver in the diocese, is a serious mistake." In other words, there is no room for authentic debate on this topic. The only response Fr. Jenkins is being invited to is obedience and reparation.
4. D'Arcy wastes no time pointing how pathetically poor the defense offered by Fr. Jenkins is in reality. Fr. Jenkins, implies D'Arcy, has completely ignored "fundamental, canonical and theological principal[s]"; has failed to consult with "any competent canonist with knowledge of the tradition and love for Christ’s church", to say nothing about how Fr. Jenkin's negligently bypassed the local bishop's "pastoral responsibility to teach" which is "central to the university’s relationship to the church." (this last point is a biggie, I think.)
5. Finally, this line of D'Arcy's should send a chill up Fr. Jenkin's spine: "I, like many others, will await to see what the follow up is on this issue between Notre Dame and President Obama." D'Arcy continues with this straightforward and urgent demand: "Notre Dame and Father Jenkins must do their part if this [substantial and true, and not illusory] healing is to take place." Fr. Jenkins is being held to his word.

Indeed, I could go on, but I think the picture is becoming clear: the ball is in Fr. Jenkin's court.

It's time to fly back to South Bend and face the music.

Breaking: Bishop D'Arcy says Jenkins "simply wrong" about Obama invitation defense

You can only push a good bishop so far, you can only stretch the truth so much (underlining mine):

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Recently, Father John Jenkins, CSC, in a letter of response to Bishop Olmsted of the Diocese of Phoenix, who had written him, critical of the decision to invite President Obama to speak and receive an honorary degree of law at Notre Dame, indicated that it was his conviction that the statement “Catholics in Political Life” (USCCB) did not apply in this matter. Father Jenkins kindly sent me a copy of his letter, and also at a later meeting, asked for a response.

In an April 15th letter to Father Jenkins, I responded to his letter.

Now the points made in his letter have been sent by Father Jenkins to the members of the Notre Dame Board of Trustees and have been publicized nationally, as well as locally in the South Bend Tribune. Since the matter is now public, it is my duty as the bishop of this diocese to respond and correct. I take up this responsibility with some sadness, but also with the conviction that if I did not do so, I would be remiss in my pastoral responsibility.

Rather than share my full letter, which I have shared with some in church leadership, I prefer to present some of the key points.

[For Bishop D'Arcy's six devestating points, click here. He continues:]

In my letter, I have also asked Father Jenkins to correct, and if possible, withdraw the erroneous talking points, which appeared in the South Bend Tribune and in other media outlets across the country. The statements which Father Jenkins has made are simply wrong and give a flawed justification for his actions.

I consider it now settled — that the USCCB document, “Catholics in Public Life,” does indeed apply in this matter.

The failure to consult the local bishop who, whatever his unworthiness, is the teacher and lawgiver in the diocese, is a serious mistake. Proper consultation could have prevented an action, which has caused such painful division between Notre Dame and many bishops — and a large number of the faithful.

That division must be addressed through prayer and action, and I pledge to work with Father Jenkins and all at Notre Dame to heal the terrible breach, which has taken place between Notre Dame and the church. It cannot be allowed to continue.
I ask all to pray that this healing will take place in a way that is substantial and true, and not illusory. Notre Dame and Father Jenkins must do their part if this healing is to take place. I will do my part.

Sincerely yours in our Lord,
Most Reverend
John M. D’Arcy

Read my comments here.

(and once again, AmP Twitter carried this story a full hour ago.)

Update: Why Fr. Jenkins is in DC

Observers of the Notre Dame scandal have been abuzz since yesterday's report that the Notre Dame charter plane had flow to DC, speculating that Fr. Jenkins had used it to set up a meeting with Barack Obama.

Now an informed source tells me that Fr. Jenkins is in town for a multi-day seminar/symposium for high level Notre Dame donors, which has been planned for some time now and involves several speakers and events. Because the activities are private, they were not "advertised" to the wider public.

Of course, just because Fr. Jenkins has good reason to be in DC besides meeting with Obama, doesn't mean he might not have attempted to meet with him while he was in town. I'm trying to track down that possibility next.

Report: ND President Jenkins in DC meeting with Obama (+analysis)

Joseph Lawler writing for AmSpec passes along a fascinating report:

"At Off the Record, Phil Lawler (my dad) is passing along a report that he has from a reliable source: ND President Fr. John Jenkins is in Washington, D.C. today for an unannounced meeting at the White House. This is still merely a rumor, but indeed FlightAware shows the ND jet flying to Dulles this morning."

Joe goes on to note that, despite the criticism of 42 bishops (and counting), Fr. Jenkins is digging in his heels, claiming he and others are "tremendously proud" to honor Obama (source).

As for the backlash to the announcement of Obama's invitation, which has included over 325,000 individuals signing a petition protest, Jenkins says: "it's unfortunate that the great event of President Obama coming to this campus has been a little clouded by that controversy."

... a little clouded?! This is easily the biggest scandal to hit Notre Dame in years, if not in its long history. To say the event has been "a little clouded" is simply a sentence out of la-la land.

Whatever Fr. Jenkins is saying in public, it's clear that internally Notre Dame is in severe conflict - this is quickly becoming an identity crisis for the institution, a struggle for the soul and reputation of the university. And Fr. Jenkin's fiddling isn't helping put out any of the fires.

And, surprise-surprise, I think it's going to get worse. I've been alerted to at least one other significant detail of the visit in particular which, if confirmed, will further strain the situation. Let's call it the "georgetown policy."

So if Fr. Jenkins is in DC to meet with Obama, what are they doing? My guess would be damage control. They are probably putting their heads together and trying to figure out some solution to what is fast becoming a watershed moment in the relations between the Obama administration and Catholic America.

Let's hope, work and pray for a peaceful (and satisfying) abatement to the waters.

Towards that end, we should recall that the top-down decision making pursued so far by Obama/Jenkins simply isn't working. Fr. Jenkins owes Notre Dame - and Obama owes American Catholics - a just solution which respects the contributions and concerns of those 42 bishops and 325,000 signers.

update: Notre Dame's student newspaper is claiming that the University spokesman is denying reports that Fr. Jenkins met Obama in Washington today. Can anyone lend clarity pro/con?

update 2: Why Fr. Jenkins is in DC (according to one source).

Overview: The latest Notre Dame Scandal news

It's hard to keep up with it all. Check back for continuing updates.

NDResponse.com is a good place to start. And of course NotreDameScandal.com (300,000+ signatures!).

But here's an interesting new innitiative:

ReplaceJenkins.com is a national effort consisting of Notre Dame Alumni and financial supporters who believe the University should not honor President Barack Obama given his public actions and commitment to the destruction of innocent human life, in violation of the express teachings of the Catholic Church.

As you can see - it really goes for the throat.

Cardinal Newman Society updates us on the (lack of a) Jenkins response:

Students at the University of Notre Dame have announced that university president Rev. John Jenkins, C.S.C. is refusing to meet with them regarding Notre Dame’s plan to honor and provide a commencement platform to pro-abortion President Barack Obama on May 17. (More: LifeSite)

Newt weights in:



Julia Duin of the Washington Times surveys the situation:

"American Catholicism is definitely at war with itself -- or at least with its institutions of higher learning. We're still waiting to find out what form anti-Obama protests will take on the day of commencement, but I'm betting he might not get the same rapturous welcome there that he enjoyed this past Tuesday at Georgetown University."

She also notes: "Thirty-three Catholic bishops have issued some kind of statement criticizing Notre Dame's decision to host the president." Hmm, I wonder where she got that number?

Bishop D'Arcy clarifies stance on ND protests, will attempt to attend protest himself

Forwarded to me by a professor of Notre Dame:

I received this communication yesterday from Bishop D'Arcy's secretary. I think it's fair to say that in this statement Bishop D'Arcy is going way beyond what anyone has a right to expect from a bishop in this delicate situation. Please pass the Bishop's statement of support for the students of NDResponse on to local residents who may have been misled by the local media's cunning distortions of the Bishop's previous statement discouraging participation in disrespectful demonstrations by outsiders.

Also, I want to remind everyone that NDResponse will be sponsoring a March for Life tomorrow, Friday April 17, beginning at 6:00PM down at the Grotto. A large turnout of local residents would be a terrific instance of Christian witness.

Bishop D'Arcy spoke with Mary Daly of NDResponse this afternoon and asked that I also share the following with you. He told Mary to share his following comment with any and all students.

"I am supportive of all efforts by NDResponse or any other prayerful and dignified demonstrations by Notre Dame students; and if my schedule allows, I will attend and also meet with students if they would find this helpful." - Bishop J. M. D'Arcy

I hope to update this post shortly with more details.

Contrast: "No honorary degree for Obama from Arizona State"

While Notre Dame's administration trips over itself trying to sell the farm, Arizona State keeps its head:

PHOENIX - If President Barack Obama expects an honorary degree when he gives the spring commencement address at Arizona State University, school officials will have to tell him "no we can't."

Obama, who will to speak May 13 to ASU graduates on the Tempe campus, will not be given an honorary degree, an honor universities typically give to commencement speakers.

"It's our practice to recognize an individual for his body of work, somebody who's been in their position for a long time," Sharon Keeler, an ASU spokeswoman, told The Associated Press. "His body of work is yet to come. That's why we're not recognizing him with a degree at the beginning of his presidency." (AP)

How embarassing for Notre Dame's administration.

ND Pres. Jenkins tries a canon law defense ... and fumbles

First the context:

LifeSiteNews.com has obtained a copy of University of Notre Dame President Fr. John Jenkins' commentary on the U.S. Bishops Conference (USCCB) document, "Catholics in the Political Life," which was sent to Notre Dame's Board of Trustees at the beginning of this month. In the commentary Jenkins explains how he believes that the university's invitation of President Obama to be this year's commencement speaker and receive an honorary law degree is in keeping with the "letter and the spirit" of the recommendations included in the USCCB document.

[Read Fr. Jenkin's commentary here.]

A response from Canon Lawyer Ed Peters:

Notre Dame President Fr. John Jenkins continues to flail about for an adequate response (though short of resigning, there isn't an adequate response) to his monumental gaff of bestowing an honorary doctor of laws degree on a president who has spent his entire political career seeing to it that millions of human beings are excluded from the protection of law. Jenkin's latest lunge is for the life ring stamped "canon lawyers we consulted". Figures.

... Jenkins, invoking unidentified canon lawyers, holds that the USCCB's 2004 statement, "Catholics in Political Life", merely restricts Catholic institutions from honoring Catholics whose public record evidences disdain for fundamental moral principles. Is the man serious?

[Find out why this doesn't work.]

See also:

• Cardinal Newman Society
• LifeNews
• Fumare blog

Notre Dame update: Priests of CSC speak out against Obama, etc.

Priests of the Congregation of Holy Cross (who administer the University of Notre Dame) break their silence:

We write as priests of the Congregation of Holy Cross and as proud graduates of the University of Notre Dame to voice our objection to the University's decision to honor President Barack Obama by inviting him to deliver this year's Commencement address and by conferring on him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.

We wish to associate ourselves with and encourage those courageous students and treasured alumni who, while deeply loving Notre Dame, vigorously oppose this sad and regrettable decision of the University administration.

It is our deep conviction that Notre Dame should lead by word and deed in upholding the Church's fundamental teaching that human life must be respected and protected from the moment of conception. In so doing the University must take seriously the 2004 instruction of the U.S. Catholic Bishops that "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."
We especially regret the fissure that the invitation to President Obama has opened between Notre Dame and its local ordinary and many of his fellow bishops. We express our deep gratitude to Bishop John D'Arcy for his leadership and moral clarity. We ask that the University give renewed consideration to Bishop D'Arcy's thoughtful counsel which always has Notre Dame's best interests at heart.

The University pursues a dangerous course when it allows itself to decide for and by itself what part of being a Catholic institution it will choose to embrace. Although undoubtedly unintended, the University administration's decision portends a distancing of Notre Dame from the Church which is its lifeblood and the source of its identity and real strength. Such a distancing puts at risk the true soul of Notre Dame.
We regret that our position on this issue puts us at odds with our brother priest in Holy Cross, Fr. John Jenkins, C.S.C. Yet, in this instance, for the good of Notre Dame and the Congregation of Holy Cross, we cannot remain silent. Notre Dame's decision has caused moral confusion and given many reason to believe that the University's stance against the terrible evil of abortion is weak and easily trumped by other considerations. (More.)

Related:

• Revealed: Obama Commencement Talking Points for University of Notre Dame Trustees
• Radical activist Randall Terry brings his controversial pro-life 'battle' tactics to Notre Dame
• Clergy Denounce ND Invitation to Pro-Abortion President as Dishonoring Memory of JP2

Note the contradictions between the statement of the CSC clergy and ND Trustees' talking points.

Video: Bishop D'Arcy on Notre Dame's Obama invitation

Here it is:

Explained:

When Notre Dame University, an iconic catholic institution, invited President Barack Obama to be the commencement speaker and to receive an honorary law degree on May 17, it was news to Bishop John D'Arcy, whose diocese includes Notre Dame.

The presidential invite and the bishop's subsequent decision not to attend the graduation ceremony has generated an overwhelming response from all over the world.

The bishop issued a statement, but has refused all interviews, until now.

CUA Law's Commencement Speaker Approves of ND's Obama Invitation

Selective dissonance?

Catholic University of America President Rev. David M. O’Connell thinks that Notre Dame made a mistake by inviting President Barack Obama to deliver a speak at commencement exercises next month.

Mark Shields, the political columnist who will be addressing graduates as commencement speaker at Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law next month, disagrees.

Shield’s syndicated column, published after the University announced him as speaker, goes against the stated opinions of O’Connell and several members of the board of trustees, including chairman Bishop William E. Lori.

“As a proud graduate of Notre Dame and, frankly, as an admirer of Father Jenkins, I am not a disinterested bystander in this controversy,” writes Shields. “My university likes to think of itself, not immodestly, as the place where the Catholic Church does its thinking. But the current rhubarb is already conspicuous for generating — mostly off the campus — more heat than light.”

“The reality is that Roe v. Wade is not going to be overthrown,” he continued. (CUA student-run Tower blog)

Yes, defeatism is generally a feature of enlightened discourse.

/sarcasm.

Papist Quote of the Day: Bishop Doran on Notre Dame invitation

As the individual who sent it to me said, "Slams is a gentle word!":

"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." - The Most Reverend Thomas G. Doran, D.D., J.C.D., Bishop of Rockford [source.]

More ND Backlash ... Palm Sunday protest planned

A survey of the pertinent headlines:

• Archbishop John Myers of Newark, NJ has issued a strong letter
• Archbishop Nienstedt protests ‘egregious’ invite of Obama to Notre Dame
• The Most Rev. Edward J. Slattery, Tulsa bishop, and the Most Rev. Eusebius Beltran, Oklahoma City archbishop, have joined calling for the cancellation (Eusebius is such an awesome name!)
• One priest is calling on supporters of life to Wear Black on May 17th (ND commencement)
• Students of Notre Dame are planning a Palm Sunday Prayer Rally [more info] [press release]

Exclusive: New ND Law Dean contributed to Obama/pro-abortion Catholic politicians

Notre Dame is really on a roll, isn't it?

It appears that the upper administration has made yet another questionable decision.

Yesterday they announced their new Law School dean:

"The chancellor and dean of the Hastings College of the Law at the University of California has been named as the new Joseph A. Matson Dean of the University of Notre Dame Law School. Nell Newton will assume her new responsibilities on July 1. She succeeds Patricia O'Hara, who is stepping down after 10 years as dean."

And who does the new dean of Notre Dame Law support when it comes to political candidates?

[source: Huffington Post.]

That's right, she donated the maximum amount to Barack Obama for his presidential run. And she gave money to Jackie Speier who is a pro-abortion Catholic politician. And she gave money to John Kerry was was a pro-abortion Catholic nominee for President.

... and this is the type of scholar that Notre Dame chose to lead its Catholic Law School?

An informed reader contributes:

"The law school at Notre Dame has made great strides in recent years, recruiting a respectable number of folks that are drawn to Catholic orthodoxy ... The law school has been trying to fill the deanship for some time. There were hopes for an outstanding transitional figure, who could foster both academic rigor and Catholic orthodoxy at Notre Dame. Yesterday, ND announced its new law school dean, Nell Jessup Newton. She may be a gifted administrator, but there are far superior scholars on the current ND faculty ... So much for hope and change."

So much for Catholic identity and witness, too.

update - LifeNews:

In its announcement, Jenkins praises Newton but makes no mention of her donations to pro-abortion candidates in opposition to the pro-life teachings of the Catholic Church.

“In Nell Newton, Notre Dame has gained a superb scholar, a proven academic leader, and a person deeply committed to the University’s mission,” Father Jenkins said.

Ah, this could be helpful - what is the university's mission, Fr. Jenkins?

Breaking: Cardinal George says Notre Dame Obama invite "Extreme Embarassment"

Personally unable to do anything - maybe. Personally unable to say anything? Nope:

Speaking as the head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, this weekend Cardinal Francis George of Chicago said that the University of Notre Dame's decision to host and honor President Obama at their commencement ceremony this year was an "extreme embarrassment" to Catholics.

"Whatever else is clear, it is clear that Notre Dame didn't understand what it means to be Catholic when they issued this invitation," George told the crowd at a conference Saturday on the Vatican document Dignitas Personae. The conference was hosted by the Chicago archdiocese's Respect Life office and Office for Evangelization at the Marriott O'Hare hotel.

In a video obtained by LifeSiteNews.com (LSN) today, Cardinal George prefaced his remarks by noting that as USCCB president he does not have jurisdiction or authority over other bishops, but nonetheless has "some moral authority, without any kind of jurisdiction or any sort of real authority."

"As president of the U.S. bishops' conference I have to precisely speak for the bishops and not in my own name, as I could as Archbishop of Chicago," he added. (LifeSite)

In related news:

• Head of Holy Cross order asks Obama to rethink position on abortion (!)
• Bishop Walker of Sioux City, IA is in "surprise and anger"
• Bishop Rhoades of Harrisburg, PA weighs in as well

Sorry for the scant commentary. I am in-between things at the moment.

Two more bishops weigh in on ND decision

Bishop Robert Lynch of St. Petersburg:

" ...it is a very prestigious platform to offer a President who is leading the battle for an expansion of abortion rights which may ultimately end up being unparalleled in recent history. Early “markers” are not encouraging in this regard but hope needs to spring eternal and while Notre Dame may have acted way too early and too generously, I am more alarmed that the rhetoric being employed is so uncivil and venomous that it weakens the case we place before our fellow citizens, alienates young college-age students who believe the older generation is behaving like an angry child and they do not wish to be any part of that, and ill-serves the cause of life...."

Bishop Robert Morlino of Madison:

"As for Obama speaking at Notre Dame, Bishop Morlino noted that President Obama is not a Catholic, and as President of Notre Dame, he would NOT have invited Obama to speak. But while Obama is not Catholic, he is still bound by the natural law of human reason, a concept that has not only escaped Obama, but the majority of Catholics in the pews who elected him President. "It's hard to hold President Obama accountable to a standard of understanding of the natural laws that most Catholics can't comprehend. We have to do a better job of teaching the natural law."

Ph/t: AmP reader Daniel.

Update: PDF Scan of Cardinal George's ND letter

Earlier this morning I blogged:

"I received a report which says Cardinal George's office is writing back to people who have expressed complaints about ND, saying that neither he nor the USCCB has authority in the issues."

Here now is a PDF scan of the Cardinal's letter:

The circling was done by the individual who scanned the document, I believe.

Hadley Arkes makes a modest proposal about ND

Hadley Arkes over at the Catholic Thing says, "So - you want debate? Fine - let's debate!":

As H.L. Mencken used to say, people ought to get what they want “good and hard.” If the university excuses itself in this instance with the claim that the president is coming to Notre Dame to have a serious conversation, well … let’s have that serious conversation. Notre Dame is amply supplied with people who can articulate the Catholic position on abortion and the taking of innocent life. Why not have a debate/discussion?

Read on. Arkes is that wonderful combination of right and fun-to-watch-being-right.

... about awfully important issues, too.

Report: Cardinal George says he, USCCB have no jurisdiction over ND

Update - here is a PDF scan of the document in question.

I received a report which says Cardinal George's office is writing back to people who have expressed complaints about ND, saying that neither he nor the USCCB has authority in the issues. Cardinal George is the President of the U.S. Bishops. This would explain why we have seen no official statement from that body. For what it's worth.

Flash: Dolan on ND decision: "They made a big mistake"

From the Deacon's Bench, the soon-to-be Archbishop of New York weighs-in during an interview taped today (video here):

"They made a big mistake ... in an issue that is very close to the heart of Catholic world view, namely, the protection of innocent life in the womb, [Obama] has unfortunately taken a position very much at odds with the Church." - Archbishop Timothy Dolan

Cardinal DiNardo says ND decision "requires charitable but vigorous critique"

This happened on Friday aftrenoon but I only had time to note it on AmP Twitter (see why you should follow me?).

Here is Cardinal DiNardo's full message in the Catholic Herald (underlining and bold mine):

In light of what I wrote above, I want to venture a comment on the recently released statement of the University of Notre Dame; that statement noted that the President has accepted an invitation to give the Commencement Address this year as well as receive an Honorary Law Degree. The news release then outlines the fact that a number of other Presidents have given the Commencement Address at Notre Dame and have thus highlighted, in effect, the university’s importance. I find the invitation very disappointing. Though I can understand the desire by a university to have the prestige of a commencement address by the President of the United States, the fundamental moral issue of the inestimable worth of the human person from conception to natural death is a principle that soaks all our lives as Catholics, and all our efforts at formation, especially education at Catholic places of higher learning. The President has made clear by word and deed that he will promote abortion and will remove even those limited sanctions that control this act of violence against the human person. The Bishops of the United States published a document a few years ago asking all Catholic universities to avoid giving a platform or an award to those politicians or public figures who promote the taking of unborn human life. Even given the dignity of Office of the President, this offer is still providing a platform and an award for a public figure who has been candid on his pro-abortion views. Particularly troubling is the Honorary Law Degree since it recognizes that the person is a “Teacher,” in this case of the Law. I think that this decision requires charitable but vigorous critique.

The petition, meanwhile, has surpassed 200,000 signers. Other developments of note:

• Rush Limbaugh spoke about the situation on his program on Friday. Here's the transcript.
• A CUA editorial bemoans: "We fear that thanks to a deaf administration which cannot see past its own narrow and constricting interpretation of a complex Catholic dogma, no similar day will dawn at this University. No hope lies on the horizon of a free exchange of ideas. And yet hope remains, just out of sight for every freethinking student here." [Oh please.]
• LifeNews: "ND President's Religious Superior Says Jenkins "Fulfilling Responsibilities" of President"

If you've already signed the petition, and want to do more, consider donating to Project Sycamore - "protecting the Catholic identity of Notre Dame". They have separate finances, and a proven track record of defending the Catholic identity of alma mater. See their "Notre Dame fund to protect human life."

Talk about a watershed moment.

update - you have to love Damian Thomspon: "This guy is awesome."

update 2 - AmP reader Jim clarifies about Project Sycamore/ND Fund to Protect Human Life:

"...it is my understanding that they are completely independent of each other. The former is an external alumni-led initiative. The latter is an on-campus initiative of the University's Center for Ethics & Culture.

Both are very worthy of donations! Especially the ND Fund to Protect Human Life which is working at the grassroots level on campus to change hearts and minds. "

3 Quick Notre Dame Updates

This is more than a numbers game - it's about principles. This, however, is still discouraging to read:

"Seventy percent of the alumni letters opposed having Obama giving the speech, while 73 percent of student letters supported his appearance. Among the 95 seniors who wrote letters, 97 percent supported the president's invitation."

Fr. Sirico of the Acton Institute weighs-in on his blog:

"This is not a matter of abortion (I presume we agree on how evil it is); nor is it about free speech (you could have invited the president to a discussion for that). This is about coherence. You no longer know who you are as a Catholic institution.

It pains me to write this letter to you. I ask that you go before the Blessed Sacrament and look into your soul – the soul of priest – and reverse this decision before more scandal is brought to the Church."

Remember that Red Envelope campaign? Check out this redirection/development:

The (ND) students have begun a campaign of protest against Fr. John Jenkins, the president of Notre Dame. Their participation in a national campaign that will mail red envelopes to the White House has been changed to send the letters to Fr. Jenkins.

"This envelope represents one child who died because of an abortion," read the envelopes. "It is empty because the life that was taken is now unable to be a part of our world. This envelope was going to be sent to President Obama on March 31. However, as he is scheduled to receive an Honorary Doctorate of Laws Degree from Notre Dame on May 17, we ask that you deliver it to him on our behalf at that time."

Bishop Aymond on ND award: "does not live up to its Catholic identity"

Bishop Aymond of Austin, TX has added his episcopal voice to the debate over Notre Dame's invitation:

Statement regarding the University of Notre Dame

As was announced recently, the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., is presenting President Barack Obama with an honorary degree and have asked him to give the commencement address.

I, along with many other Catholics, express great disappointment and sadness that a Catholic university would honor someone who is pro-choice and who holds many values contrary to our Catholic belief.

In the midst of such a sad situation, as Catholics we must continue to be pro-life and to proclaim with even greater strength the values of Christ and the teachings of the Catholic Church.

In my opinion, it is very clear that in this case the University of Notre Dame does not live up to its Catholic identity in giving this award and their leadership needs our prayerful support.

Ph/t: Aggie Catholics.

Open Letter: Dr. Janet Smith to Fr. Jenkins

Dr. Janet E. Smith is the Fr. Michael J. McGivney Chair of Life Ethics at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. She has granted permission for her letter to Fr. John Jenkins, President of Notre Dame, to be published:

"Dear Fr. Jenkins - Let me add my voice to those who are profoundly disappointed at the choice of President Obama as the commencement speaker.

The Notre Alumni Association has been putting out this statement [full text here]:

“The University does not support the President’s positions on specific issues regarding the protection of human life, including abortion and embryonic stem cell research. Our positions on these issues are firm and unwavering. The invitation to President Obama to be the Commencement speaker shouldn’t be taken as condoning or endorsing his positions that contradict the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Rather, the University has invited the President to campus for what he’s done for racial equality, and for his stands on poverty, immigration, education, infectious disease, and seeking peace. These are causes dear to the heart of Notre Dame, and he has elevated these causes and made them his own.”

Father, I know that if someone like George Wallace had been elected president of the United States, no matter how much good he had done – no matter how many causes “near to Notre Dame’s heart” he had elevated, Notre Dame would not have invited him to be the commencement speaker nor given him an honorary degree. The world would not have believed that Notre Dame remained “firm and unwavering” in its opposition to racism. It would not have thought that Notre Dame was hoping to spark a national dialogue on racism. It would have thought Notre Dame had lost its mind and faith.

It truly is a scandal that Notre Dame has decided to honor President Obama. There is no reason that Catholics should believe that we can look to Notre Dame for leadership on the most controversial issues of the day, issues that involve the yearly killing of millions of the innocent. It is such a shame."

AmP Poll: What do you think of Notre Dame's invitation to Obama?

For the latest posts, scroll down or click here and scroll down. Notre Dame scandal updates here.

As always, please feel free to explain your vote in the comment box and spread the word.

(if you can't see the poll - click here.)

Bishop Olmsted tells Fr. Jenkins Obama invitation "public act of disobedience to US Bishops"

Here is a screen capture of the letter that the Bishop of Phoenix Thomas Olmsted sent to Notre Dame President Father Jenkins yesterday (on the Feast of the Annunciation) and has now permitted to be published today:

These are very strong words from Bishop Olmsted, especially these two lines:

"It is a public act of disobedience to the Bishops of the United States."

"I pray that you come to see the grave mistake of your decision, and the way it undercuts the Church's proclamation of the Gospel of Life in our day."

Mike Phelan, Director of Marriage and Respect Life for the Diocese of Phoenix, introduced the letter this way:

"Due to the fact that the invitation by Notre Dame’s president, Fr. John Jenkins, to President Barack Obama to give the commencement speech at Notre Dame’s May graduation is a public act causing widespread public scandal due to the US President’s clear support of policies which fail to protect and even attack innocent human life, Bishop Olmsted has given permission to release the attached email text publicly."

And now you have it, too. My comprehensive coverage of the Notre Dame scandal is available here.

Welcome, new readers, don't forget to follow my Twitter updates and join the AmP Facebook Fanpage.

"White House Reacts to Obama-Notre Dame Debate"

LifeNews:

Reacting to the news that local Bishop John D’Arcy will not attend the event because of Obama's strong pro-abortion record, White Hose spokeswoman Amy Brundage shrugged off the criticism.

"Notre Dame is one of the first universities President Obama will visit as president and he is honored to address the graduating class, their families and faculty of a school with such a rich history of fostering the exchange of ideas," she said in a statement.

Brundage said Obama understands not everyone will agree with his pro-abortion views.

"While he is honored to have the support of millions of people of all faiths, including Catholics with their rich tradition of recognizing the dignity of people, he does not govern with the expectation that everyone sees eye to eye with him on every position," she added.

"[T]he spirit of debate and healthy disagreement on important issues is part of what he loves about this country," Brundage continued.

I wonder what is going on behind the scenes. A lot I'd imagine.

How did Obama at ND happen? Look to the "Land of Lakes"

Diogenes lets us know that the Obama invitation didn't come about overnight:

Notre Dame’s Fr. Hesburgh was the rebels’ alpha male who ceremoniously announced that Catholic colleges and universities should be independent of, and no longer submissive to the teaching authority of the Catholic Church in their teaching and research functions, if they wanted to be “effective.” Evidently, the Notre Dame trustees, and the bulk of its faculty wanted the school to be “effective”—that is, well thought of in the editorial pages of the New York Times. They accepted the terms of rebellion. The ties to the Church were kept in name only.

This was all clearly and piously set forth in the second sentence in the Land O’Lakes declaration:

To perform its teaching and research functions effectively the Catholic university must have a true autonomy and academic freedom in the face of authority of whatever kind, lay or clerical, external to the acade