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PDF versionBishops voice support for D'Arcy on Notre Dame row
by John L Allen Jr on Jun. 22, 2009
The U.S. bishops today released a statement of support for Bishop John D’Arcy of Fort Wayne-South Bend, the diocese where the University of Notre Dame is located, for his handling of the recent controversy surrounding the university and President Barack Obama.
D’Arcy made a presentation to the spring meeting of the U.S. bishops last week in San Antonio during a closed-door session. Notre Dame’s decision to invite Obama to deliver its annual commencement address on May 17, and to award the president an honorary doctorate, sparked wide criticism because of Obama’s pro-choice stance.
“The bishops of the United States express our appreciation and support for our brother bishop, the Most Reverend John D'Arcy,” the statement read. “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.”
D’Arcy boycotted the commencement ceremony at Notre Dame, saying that decisions by Obama on federal funding for overseas abortion services and on embryonic stem cell research mean support for “the direct destruction of innocent human life.”
Speaking on background, several bishops told NCR during the San Antonio meeting that a sense of solidarity with D’Arcy, coupled with impressions he had not been adequately consulted by the university, helped explain why almost no American bishop publicly spoke in favor of Obama’s appearance. At last count, more than 80 had come out against it.
D’Arcy, who is almost 78 and thus well past the normal retirement age of 75, is widely respected among his brother bishops, and is seen as someone who has often defended Notre Dame and its leadership on other issues over the years.
"Speaking on background,
"Speaking on background, several bishops told NCR during the San Antonio meeting that a sense of solidarity with D’Arcy, coupled with impressions he had not been adequately consulted by the university, helped explain why almost no American bishop publicly spoke in favor of Obama’s appearance. At last count, more than 80 had come out against it."
"COUPLED WITH IMPRESSIONS HE HAD NOT BEEN ADEQUATELY CONSULTED BY THE UNIVERSITY..." Aha! so the O'Drama at Notre Dame wasn't really about ABORTION after all, it was about POWER and CONTROL. What a surprise, coming from an American bishop. And, for the record, while D'Arcy did indeed boycott the ceremony, he could not resist the bright lights of TV cameras across campus at the grotto on graduation day. The San Antonio solidarity letter of support sounds more like episcopal damage control and/or circling the wagons.
Yes, His Eminence is the
Yes, His Eminence is the power of the diocese. It's about time your "type" states that. But, you miss the point. He was not consulted, because ND knew that this is something that needed to be covert. His Eminence, being a just and honorable bishop, would still have had concern with awarding the most pro-abortion president ever.
Craig, Are you Catholic? If
Craig,
Are you Catholic? If so, do you accept the authority of the Church hierachy to teach and guide you on matters of faith and morals? I never would have converted to the Catholic faith if I didn't accept this foundational principle. My opinion is that Catholics who reject the authority of the hierarchy are de-facto Protestants - after all the one and only thing that all Protestants can agree on is the rejection of the Church's authority! Before Jesus ascended into Heaven, He delegated His authority to the apostles and to their successors. This model has kept the Catholic Church unified and free from doctrinal error for 2,000 years. All other models (that rely on personal (and fallible) interpretations of the Bible) have resulted in dis-unity and thousands of different interpretations of Jesus' teachings. I will pray for a change in your heart and mind... God Bless!
Well put, thank you.
Well put, thank you.
Sad, very sad! The "Mitres"
Sad, very sad! The "Mitres" just don't get it.
Throughout the ND-Obama
Throughout the ND-Obama drama, I have had a sneaking suspicion that the main
reason the bishops have made such a big deal/a big fuss is to divert the attention of the American Catholic people away from THEIR OWN SCANDAL: the way they mishandled the clergy sexual abuse problems...playing hide-and-seek with priests who abused children, sending them from diocese to diocese. How sad for everyone that the bishops make a stand against Notre Dame, while lacking any backbone when dealing with/admitting their own sins/problems.
It reminds me of the WORDS OF JESUS from yesterday's Gospel (Matt. 7:3-5):
" Why do you notice the SPLINTER in your neighbor's eye, but do not perceive the WOODEN BEAM in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove that splinter from your eye,' while the wooden beam is in your eye? You HYPOCRITE, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother's eye."
They ARE dealing with it.
They ARE dealing with it. Yes, mistakes have been made in the handling of that crisis, but that doesn't negate the necessity to speak out against other evils--other scandals that can also do souls harm.
If the bishops allowed themselves to be cowed into silence, thinking, "Oh, well, we've got our own in-house scandals to deal with. Better just ignore this," they would have done the faithful a tremendous disservice. When a father commits a sin (even a very public one), he's not excused from correcting his children when they sin.
The scandal was created by
The scandal was created by greedy people who went for deep pockets. Treatent center closed due to lawsuit. Small per cent of priests guilty. Smaller than teachers, coaches , ministers etc etc. No money in those areas. Treatment for victims is willingly paid, they want more. How about the profession that cannot address proper treatment of predators. We ignor fact that they also did not or could not resolve the issue.
God bless Bishop D'Arcy. If
God bless Bishop D'Arcy. If only we had more bishops with his moral courage. God and Pope Benedict XVI willing, we will have more!
Amen to that! :)
Amen to that! :)
Yawwnnnnnnnnn -------- If
Yawwnnnnnnnnn --------
If anyone thinks this was a surprise, they need to stop watching reality TV.
And, besides, the relevance of this is ?????
God bless the courageous
God bless the courageous bishops. No more whimpy milktoasts needed.
As a Catholic bishop, Bishop
As a Catholic bishop, Bishop D'Arcy did what he should have done. However, his action perpetuates the notion that there exists a phenomena called Cahtolic higher education. The Land of Lakes meeting dispelled any link between Cstholic bishops and most universities called catholic. The few remaining ones, i.s. Ave Maria in Florida and those controlled by the Legion of CHrist group cannot be true universities as they prohibit various types of discussion and/or research -- to a greater extent than did the Catholic universities of the 40's and 50's.
After 40 years of working in "catholic" higher education I have seen the disappearance of the Catholic factor. At best one might say there is a catholic 9small c) factor in these universites that is nit differnet wfron the catholic orienttion in secular colleges.
Ed Menaunt
So, let me get this
So, let me get this straight... Jesus said, "by their fruits you shall know them," right? For a while now I've been following Mr. Allen's articles and the replies to them because I want to know what you Catholics (and I presume that you who reply are Catholics) are about.
So far, I am reaching the conclusion that being Catholic means:
1. being blindly Republican and
2. hating anyone you disagree with.
Do I have that right?
Paul
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