Nineteen Bishops Now Oppose Honor for Obama at ND Commencement
The Cardinal Newman Society (CNS) is encouraging its 20,000 members, the more than 235,000 supporters of the petition at NotreDameScandal.com and all the Catholic faithful to support a Notre Dame student prayer rally on Palm Sunday by offering a Rosary for their intentions. The prayer rally is a direct response to oppose the University of Notre Dame’s invitation to President Obama to be commencement speaker and receive an honorary doctor of laws degree on May 17, 2009.
“It is imperative that everyone concerned for Notre Dame’s Catholic identity join in the Holy Rosary on Palm Sunday,” said Patrick J. Reilly, CNS President.
Last Tuesday, the University of Notre Dame student-formed coalition, Notre Dame Response, announced their plans for their first public demonstration in front of the famous “golden dome” Main Building on campus to take place at 2:00 p.m. CT on Palm Sunday. Events in the prayer rally include an invocation, an address by the ND Response Chairman, a keynote speech, a Rosary (at 2:40 p.m. CT), announcements, and a procession with flowers to the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. The students are inviting “all those who share our concerns to support our efforts by joining in this respectful display.”
The students are strengthened by the witness of the nineteen bishops who have stated their opposition to Notre Dame’s decision to honor and provide a commencement platform to President Obama. A list of the bishops’ statements and other news and resources are provided at NotreDameScandal.com.
One of the most recent bishops to join in the public opposition is Archbishop Alfred Hughes of the New Orleans Archdiocese. In a letter to Notre Dame President Father John Jenkins, the archbishops wrote, “The University of Notre Dame used to be the flagship Catholic university of the United States. I regret that we are not experiencing that leadership and integrity.”
Another recent statement was made by Bishop William Lori of the Bridgeport Diocese. In the Fairfield County Catholic, Bishop Lori said, “Notre Dame extended this invitation unilaterally, seemingly without regard for the consequences for the mission of the Catholic Church in the United States. It is contrary to the efforts of bishops, parish priests, and laity to resist the anti-life decisions, policies, and legislation promoted by the Obama administration.”
Notably, the President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Cardinal George, commented last weekend that “Notre Dame didn't understand what it means to be Catholic when they issued this invitation.” He referred to Notre Dame’s actions as an “extreme embarrassment” to Catholics.
Most of the bishops who have spoken publicly have cited the 2004 USCCB statement “Catholics in Political Life,” as foundational to their opposition to Notre Dame’s honor for President Obama. The statement reads, “The Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.”