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PDF versionObama at Notre Dame: Incomplete Eloquence
May. 18, 2009
The presidents were there in splendid form; the bishops were not.
Three presidents stood upon the stage: Father Jenkins, the embodiment of academic integrity informed by faith; Father Hesburgh, Notre Dame’s president emeritus and civil rights champion, and Barack Obama, whose inauguration just months earlier was greeted with virtual national euphoria, but whose visit to campus was claimed to be “in defiance of church teaching.”
And the bishops? Sadly absent. Some, no doubt, honestly believed the President to be their antagonist. Most were silent. Notwithstanding repeated entreaties, the pastoral shepherds of the Church chose not to extend a simple pastoral blessing upon the graduates of the flagship Catholic university in America and their families.
God bless retired San Francisco Archbishop John Quinn, whose pension must be fully vested, since to my knowledge he alone conquered the intimidation of his peer group to praise President Obama for his “fine example of married life and the love and devotion to [his] children” as well as his “measured, thoughtful approach to issues of public concern. . . .”
In introducing President Obama, Father Jenkins completed Quinn’s much-needed act of Catholic hospitality and in so doing set the bar for the afternoon’s eloquence and insight extraordinarily high. From my teaching days at Notre Dame, I remember John Jenkins as a soft-spoken, scholarly Thomist who would think twice about asking even an overly talkative student to observe library silence. Yet, it was this man of gentle heart and unassuming mien who stepped to the podium and reset the terms of the whole debate.
The controversy, Jenkins noted, centered entirely on the invitation. "Less attention has been focused on the President's decision to accept." With that singularly important insight; much of the far right’s huff and puffery/ “we are at war” rhetoric fell harder than an opposing quarterback trying to maneuver past a formidable Notre Dame line.
As Jenkins noted, President Obama “is not someone who stops talking to those who differ with him." Indeed, this was and is the reason 54 percent of Catholics nationwide came to Obama’s side in the last election. This was and is an aspect of why more than two thirds of American Catholics approve of President Obama's early administration, notwithstanding the difference on life issues. Of course, to the discomfort of conservative partisans who had presumed to keep Catholics in a one-issue pocket in perpetuity, Father Jenkins relished making note of a leader who “respects the role of faith,” whose witness “transcends racial hatred,” whose goals of “extending health care,” “improving education,” “promoting renewable energy,” beginning “arms reduction,” “fighting poverty and disease,” and “reforming immigration.” These social justice matters might all be rank Catholic plagiarism were it not for their neglect in far too many parishes.
NCR: February 3-16, 2012
Subscribe to NCR to get all the news and special features that aren't always available online. In this issue:
- US News: Bishops Host Conference on Immigration
Conference fields advocates' questions on law, policy
- Special Section: Deacons. Serving as parish administrator; roles of wives; and more
- Study: Black Catholics are more engaged
New study by Notre Dame researcher about parish involvement in America
President Obama wasted little time addressing abortion, too. Calling it “a heart wrenching decision with moral and spiritual dimensions,” he called upon the graduates to help reduce the number of women seeking abortions . . ., to make adoption more available and to provide care and support for women who do carry their child to term.” This, he knew, would not end the debate or settle all differences, since some are “irreconcilable,” but differing views surely ought not to be reduced to caricature."
Graduation ceremonies are not academic symposia, as both George Weigel and the-last-minute-medal-declining-Mary-Ann-Glendon asserted in their outspoken criticism of Notre Dame. No, they are not, but Father Jenkins proved these celebrations to be what they must always be with world leaders, an opening of a channel of discussion, which the university president wisely observed, “doesn’t begin and end in an afternoon.”
No, of course, it doesn’t. Yet, without the academic and faith-based discernment of Father Jenkins’ invitation which opened the oval office door to the Catholic perspective and this President's implicit understanding and embrace of Gaudium et Spes “to show respect and love to those who think or act differently . . .in social, political and even religious matters,” the ubi caritas prayer that “all divisions cease” would have gone unarticulated.
The legendary four horsemen of Notre Dame have taken on a fifth rider.
Grantland Rice would have gladly added Barack Obama to that 1924 legendary ND backfield, except that those players inspired fear in their opponents. Obama conquers with a message of hope and a call for common ground – and he did so masterfully on graduation Sunday, 2009.
Football metaphor aside, there is work to be done. In a few days, President Obama will likely nominate a woman to the U.S. Supreme Court. It’s probably too much to contemplate, but seated directly behind the President was Notre Dame’s highly respected law dean, Patricia Ann O’Hara. If empathy is truly to be incorporated into the legal process, there are few socially progressive lawyers more capable of incorporating this much needed sensitivity into legal interpretation. A securities law specialist, no derivative-wielding purveyor of subprime nonsense would escape Dean O’Hara’s justice.
Is it presumptuous to make such suggestion? Not really. Why would one keep the best talent a secret from a friend, and fellow alumnus. And, of course, she is pro-life. Now, that would be a game changer.
Go Irish!
Kmiec is Chair and Professor of Constitutional Law at Pepperdine University; author of "Can A Catholic Support Him? Asking the big question about Barack Obama" (Overlook Press/Penguin).
Doug: Great column! I was
Doug: Great column! I was really proud of ND yesterday. The contrast in leadership between Pres. Obama and ND's admin on the one hand and the Bishops on the other was starke. It was heartening to see how clearly the class of 2009 sided with Jenkins / Obama / Hesburgh!
Keep up the good work.
It was like rubbing salt in
It was like rubbing salt in the wound to see Obama lecturing Catholics on abortion.
Obama even acknowledged he knows what this debate is all about – characterizing abortion as a "heart-wrenching" decision for any woman.
Why is abortion a "heart-wrenching" decision for a mother?
Because it's a decision to kill one's child – materialistic reasons, for reasons of convenience.
It should be "heart-wrenching" to decide to kill one's child.
"Because it's a decision to
"Because it's a decision to kill one's child – materialistic reasons, for reasons of convenience. It should be "heart-wrenching" to decide to kill one's child."
Did you really get the President's message? He made it clear that we shouldn't demonize people we don't agree with, that we shouldn't make caricatures of people's motives if we want to resolve certain very difficult ethical and moral issues. I think that he was "bang on" with this.
How can one celebrate this as
How can one celebrate this as a triumph when even the Ordinary absented himself. I don't think anyone doubted that President Obama would present a good speech. But that is not the point, the point is that a Catholic university honored a man who in his actions has sponsored laws that are inconsistent with our Catholic Faith. Respect yes, all Catholics respect President Obama. However to invite him without consultation beforehand with the local Ordinary, to honor him with a Doctor of Law and label him as "teacher" in the Catholic University is simply wrong on so many levels. Others opposed to Notre Dame's actions have written eloquently as to why this invitation was wrong from a Catholic Faith perspective and over 70 Bishops have made known their concern as well. The Professor speaks of the three Presidents. I prefer the trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever Amen! I bear no malice towards President Obama and wish him well, praying that he will fully embrace the Gospel of Life. Happy Easter! Christ is risen! Alleluia! Alleluia!
The ordinary was absent
The ordinary was absent alright and the extra-ordinary was soooo present and wonderful. Way to go Mr. President and Graduates!
Kmiec's essay is right about
Kmiec's essay is right about the presidents and the prelates. With regard
to the latter and their varied responses to the Notre Dame-Obama controversy, one thinks of Yeats' lines: "The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity." One constructive solution might be to elevate president Jenkins to the episcopacy.
Yes, Rev. McDaniel, I applaud
Yes, Rev. McDaniel,
I applaud ND and Father Jenkins for allowing this University to listen to a point of view that is full of social justice. Universities simply can and must not be intimidated by an Episcopacy that is stuck in the muck of its own illusive infallibility. The University is about the search for truth not about teaching an illusion that men of the Episcopacy have some special connection to truth. This supposed connection is disproven by important actions (misdeeds) of Bishops several times every decade. For people who want a cathecatical center and not a University, they can try Ave Maria an institution recently founded and financed from the money of the Domino’s Pizza tycoon. My guess is that tycoons prefer obedience to search for truth- the "simple man” is so much easier to control when he is fearful and obedient and full of Pizza!
One of the major purposes of a University is to allow their graduates to lead a life of creativity, seeking truth in their endeavors. Scientists and theologians will make no progress when they ask the Bishops what they can think and teach.
Although not a ND Grad., as a person with over 20 years of formal Catholic education, I am proud of you ND!
Peace and understanding,
R. Dennis Porch, MD
Right on! I wish we, the
Right on! I wish we, the faithful, would have the right to at least suggest candidates for Bishops to the Vatican.
My dream, probable impossible in my lifetime...
I enjoyed every bit of this
I enjoyed every bit of this article on the Notre Dame gradutation ceremony except the odd and awkward finale about a Catholic pro-fetus law dean being appointed by Obama to the Supreme Court. Catholics are already disproportionately represented in the august chamber as are, apparently those who place the woman's embryo ahead and above real, struggling human beings.
My sentiments exactly! Loved
My sentiments exactly! Loved the article except for the end.
So unborn children are not
So unborn children are not "real, struggling human beings"????
They are real and they are
They are real and they are human, but they are not struggling. Womblife is what people long to recreate in their born lives.
Probably, this whole issue would go away if only we were not so good as we are at preventing children from dying. If only infant and child mortality were as high as in the good old days, then people would think getting pregnant is a blessing instead of a potentially lifelong burden.
I’m shocked to see that
I’m shocked to see that anyone would advocate a return to the high infant mortality rates just on the belief that pregnancies would increase. The CDC ranks the US 29th globally in infant mortality, rising from 12th in the 60’s and 25th in the 90’s. I am sure that you are also aware that the rate for Blacks is far greater.
Thousands of children die every day from preventable causes and yet as a society, we take no blame in that but are all too willing to point the finger at someone who is pro-choice. There is something wrong with line of reasoning.
Don't you think all of the
Don't you think all of the federal money used to kill children in the womb could be put to better use working to help the lives of children? Maybe if this administration really cared for the poor it would see that the billion of dollars it gives to Planned Parenthood and other groups that promote abortion could be used to help people, not kill them.
Thank you for this much
Thank you for this much needed perspective, particularly your refering to "Gaudium et Spes" and the ubi cartias prayer.
Division is what launched inter-Christian genocide throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. It allowed for the horrible practice of anti-Semitism throughout much of the history of the Roman Catholic Church. Division is responsible for all of the hatred and vehemence launched at various factions within the greater Catholic church, the traditionalists, the separatists, the modernists, the Eastern Churches versus the Western Churches, Europe versus Africa, Latin America versus Rome.
My personal view of our church and my faith is similar to that of a large multiethnic, multigenerational, diversely political post-modern family assembled at a family gathering (a funeral, a wedding, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.). There are tears and there are opinions and their are alliances and crusades launched periodically around the dinner table, the pool table, the card table, and the coffee table. But despite all, in spite of all, there is a peace and a love, often chimeric, sometimes, ephemeral, but enduring, even if tenuous at the best of times.
Pax tecum -- with much gratitude, and in support of NCR's most excellent standard of journalism.
Carlton Chase, filmmaker, member of the Directors Guild of America
The title: Obama at Notre
The title: Obama at Notre Dame - Incomplete Eloquence ??? I don't get what that descriptive is meant to convey??? Kmiec seems to think Obama was quite eloquent...
He means that even if they
He means that even if they disagree, the presidents who were there were eloquent but it would have been complete if a bishop or two would have come to speak eloquently to the students also.
It must really frost these
It must really frost these bishops' buns that Obama is not a Catholic and, so, they cannot excommunicate him or deny him Communion. I wonder if these "shepherds" will ever have anything to say to their "flocks" about Bush, Cheney and torture. Oh, I forgot...Bush and Cheney are Republicans and it seems to be heresy ever to criticize Republicans.
Yvon Thivierge - It's not
Yvon Thivierge - It's not "the woman's embryo" it is a real, separate human being, that ought not be killed.
The important question is not
The important question is not the ought not, it is the how not. Your view on this is more important to the debate. It is easy to be pro-life if you ignore this aspect.
Will President Obama invite
Will President Obama invite pro-life people (not necessarily Catholics) on committees relating to family and women issues? Why did he refuse to meet with the organizers of the National Day of Prayer? It seems that he doesn't always listen to those who disagree with him.
I was humbled by courage and
I was humbled by courage and leadership of Father Jenkins, by the Notre Dame Class of 2009, and by President Barak Obama. I was embarrassed and mortified by the myopic, black and white Mother Angelica-Randall Terry-bully and terror-Catholic fundamentalists who lead a so called "catholic" movement which resembles NOTHING of the example of Jesus of Nazareth. Barak Obama is more of a Catholic than all of these. Shame on all of you. Kudos, Father Jenkins for your courage.
Father Raphael
I could not be prouder of Fr.
I could not be prouder of Fr. John Jenkins if I were his mother herself. He was able to articulate a path for the Catholic Church into the 21st century, much like Obama is doing for the country. With grace and humility he was able to extend an open hand to dialogue with the world. I like what another comment said that like Jesus we must ACTUALLY see Christ in the other and while remaining true to our understanding of God, reach out in love,in hope that together we might create the kingdom. Like those men who went fishing with Fr. Ted, such great things can happen when we are human with eachother. Thank you, Fr. Ted, Cardinal Bernardin, Barack Obama and Fr. John Jenkins and to the Spirit that has guided them. Keep on shinin'!
I could not be prouder of Fr.
I could not be prouder of Fr. John Jenkins if I were his mother herself. He was able to articulate a path for the Catholic Church into the 21st century, much like Obama is doing for the country. With grace and humility he was able to extend an open hand to dialogue with the world. I like what another comment said that like Jesus we must ACTUALLY see Christ in the other and while remaining true to our understanding of God, reach out in love,in hope that together we might create the kingdom. Like those men who went fishing with Fr. Ted, such great things can happen when we are human with eachother. Thank you, Fr. Ted, Cardinal Bernardin, Barack Obama and Fr. John Jenkins and to the Spirit that has guided them. Keep on shinin'!
I, too, was so humbled and
I, too, was so humbled and gladdened by the words and acts I witnessed from our President, Barak Obama, and Fr. Jenkins. Fr. Jenkins showed remarkable courage, insight, and spiritual maturity to follow his conscience with his consistent extension of hospitality to Obama in light of excoriating, vitriolic rejection by some--in the name of dogmatic correctness. He also lost a lot of money for his institution by way of fund raising based upon his decision to stay the course--again showing his courage.
Obama's words and actions bring me, a Catholic woman, keenly interested in Catholic social teachings, such hope, such comfort and relief to have a person who prayerfully discerns weighty issues. I like the fact that he wrestles with doubt and weighs ethical and moral issues of our day carefully. I genuinely believe he does the best he can. And when he spoke of Cardinal Bernardin, I began to weep--because Obama has been influenced from a legacy, a pedigree of deeply spiritual people who have formed him.
How ironic that two men who do not wear the official "mantle" of Catholic authority today to speak on moral issues of our day do so with such eloquence and example? Let the current parochial bishop boycott; let Ms. Angelica Randall Terry create drama with refusal of an award. They will be forgotten. Obama's Opus is a God-thing. It's a healing thing. Jenkins' Opus is the same. May God's light shine upon them. And then to come full circle back to the work of Civil Rights, and the work of past President, Fr. Ted....and Martin Luther King. What was that parochial bishop and Ms. Terry thinking? I feel sad for them.
Amen. I'm happy to see reason
Amen.
I'm happy to see reason and faith running about 3 - 1 against the hate mongers in the replies to this and many other posts.
The Spirit is leading us, whether the dogmatic, fundamentalist types want to be open to change or not.
Change is the only constant, and my bet is that God wants to get those of us who have not spoken loudly enough before to have our needs brought to the front so that others can see that the Catholic church is a vibrant, compassionate, just way of living Christ's gospel, not a hypocritical, hate-mongering group of loudmouths. The Bishops have much to answer for.
Pax et Bonum.
I agree with this comment
I agree with this comment whole heartedly. In co-exisiting we provide the best example of Christ's love. Christ throughouy the Bible reached out to and touched the most those that oppossed him. The example set at Notre Dame is one which I hope others will copy. If we are ecumenical and unconcerned about who is more right than the other, we could get much farther on many issues. Hooray for the colleges'invitation and the Presidents acceptance to speak.
Mr. Kmiec writes: These
Mr. Kmiec writes: These social justice matters might all be rank Catholic plagiarism were it not for their neglect in far too many parishes.
_______
How terribly true. For nine years I have unsuccessfully begged, pleaded, cast myself at the foot of the throne to prod my pastor and assistant pastor to assert these "other" values proclaimed by the magisterium and the vox populi.
Father Jenkens proclaimed: We welcome President Obama to Notre Dame, and we honor him for the qualities and accomplishments the American people admired in him when they elected him. He is a man who grew up without a father, whose family was fed for a time with the help of food stamps—yet who mastered the most rigorous academic challenges, who turned his back on wealth to serve the poor, who sought the Presidency at a young age against long odds, and who – on the threshold of his goal—left the campaign to go to the bedside of his dying grandmother who helped raise him.
________
Sister Joan writes: Obama's speech was, in fact, far more than the standard-brand graduation rhetoric. It didn't extol aphorisms or meander down the Brady Bunch memory lane. It was not a feel-good speech. It was a "face-up-to-the-life-you-have-just-inherited" speech.
It was a call not only to this year's graduates but to all of those who have preceded them intent more on winning than on working things out.
________
I am proud to have graduated from the same school that E. Brennan Bollman (valedictorian this year) did, a school that affirms the value of self-doubt that leads us to forego our own self-righteousness and inspires us to learn to listen.
May those pompous and self-righteous 70 of our 350 American bishops hang their heads in shame for flaming Presidents Jenkins, Obama, and Hesburgh. May our pastors brave up, shun cowardice, and proclaim the full gospel.
John D. ND: '66, '68, '92, '97
I loved Jenkins' speech. It
I loved Jenkins' speech. It may have been a bit too long. He had a powerful message, but he should have shortened so as to avoid "stealing" Obama's thunder.
I wish that Obama, who is so willing to enter into dialogue, would compromise a bit on stem cells. Adult stem cells are just as scientifically and medically viable as embryonic stem cells; we need not insist on ESCR when it is such an ethically volatile issue.
Also, he should have advised his committee on stem cell research to avoid treating embryonic stem cell research as a purely "scientific" issue; they made it seem as if Obama's decision had somehow saved science from religious dogma.
How about Kmiec for that
How about Kmiec for that Supreme Court seat? If I had a vote, he would have it!
I loved the invocation by
I loved the invocation by President Obama of the principle of seeking "common ground." Cardinal Bernardin would have indeed been proud, and I daresay, would have been THERE. How difficult for Catholics who see so much of the Church's social teaching upheld in Obama's programs, to see this good man reviled because he values both lives at stake in abortion, the mother's as well as the child's. I firmly believe he will find a way to make it more likely that women will avoid unplanned pregnancy, and if a child is conceived, to have programs in place that will make it practical as well as moral for a woman to sustain the life of the child, at least until birth , when adoption assistance and better financial perks could be available for use in its support.
My understanding is that
My understanding is that Bishop D'Arcy held an outdoor Mass this past Sunday as a show of solidarity with those students who protested Obama's presence. This is an outrageous misuse of the Liturgy. The Mass is intended as a method of unity, not division, much less as a means of voicing one's political concerns. When these bishops protest Cardinal Law's presence in the Vatican, then I might be impressed. Until then, they strike me as gutless wonders who enjoy the political spotlight more than anything else.
How could Notre Dame NOT
How could Notre Dame NOT invite President Obama, with its longstanding tradition of inviting presidents from both parties, and having previously presented Senator Moynihan with the Laetare Medal and Pres. Carter with the Notre Dame award (both pro-abortion)? President Obama took full advantage of the opportunity, having his way with Fr. Hesburgh, Fr. Jenkins and the University itself --- drawing from each of them credibility that can never be restored. He has Roe v. Wade on his side and now the power of the executive order to implement his anti-life policies -- and so why not appeal to the other side to be "fair minded" and "tempered" when he holds all the leverage? I wish the President would have had the decency to speak about service, civil rights and any other topic he has legitimate moral and political standing. There is no reconciliation between an enabler of partial-birth abortion and the Catholic church's teachings about the sanctity of life. But with true-to-form eloquence and boldness, President Obama cleverly stole the show, and with it a very large section right out the heart and soul of Our Lady's own university and its esteemed leadership.
First, he did mention service
First, he did mention service and civil rights.
Second, no one has done anything about the PBA. It is still in force.
I am not at all surprised
I am not at all surprised that the good Archbishop John Quinn spoke so eloquently. He is a role model for the other bishops.
"I believe (slavery) to be a
"I believe (slavery) to be a great political and a great moral evil. I thank God, my lot has been cast in a State where it does not exist. But, while I entertain these opinions, I know it is an evil at present without a remedy. It has been a curse entailed upon us by that nation which now makes us a subject of reproach to our institutions. It is, however, one of those moral evils, from which it is impossible for us to escape, without the introduction of evils infinitely greater. - James Buchanan, 15th President
"Understand -- I do not suggest that the debate surrounding abortion can or should go away. No matter how much we may want to fudge it -- indeed, while we know that the views of most Americans on the subject are complex and even contradictory -- the fact is that at some level, the views of the two camps are irreconcilable.. Each side will continue to make its case to the public with passion and conviction. But surely we can do so without reducing those with differing views to caricature." - Barack Obama, 44th President
Maybe history will look back on Barack Obama as being too comprismising and cowardly for failing to stop the great moral evil which is abortion.
He says that doesn't like abortion but he used his first 100 days to dramatically increase availibility of abortion?? That's like saying you want to stop smoking, but you start selling cigarettes on every street corner. It's a dishonest position.
Good bit of Monday morning
Good bit of Monday morning quarterbacking, albeit incomplete handicapping of a very dark horse in the upcoming Supreme Court race. Patty O'Hara still has a lot of work to do on equal human rights for the already born, non-aborted GLBT students on her campus, as does Fr. Jenkins. Luckily for them, President Obama was too much of a gentleman (which is more than can be said for a number of USCCB bishops!) to remind them of this fact.
C. McKee
ND '80
The wonderful introduction by
The wonderful introduction by Father Jenkins made me proud to be a Catholic and a Notre Dame supporter. The marvelous speech by President Obama made me proud to be an American. The silence of the American Bishops when Bush thumbed his nose at Pope John's entreaties to avoid Bush's pre-emptive war of choice spoke volumes about the Bishops' moral clarity and courage. With that record, it's tough to take them seriously when they fume that Notre Dame would honor this wonderful African American, Christian President. The Bishops made themselves look like partisan political hacks. Their Faustian bargain with the devil they helped elect to advance their single issue agenda left them in a lonely position indeed. They are still seething over Obama's election and just can't let it go. Eighty percent of Americans under 30 support Obama with enthusiasm. Must be tough for old republican Bishops to handle.
Christ promised to be with us always, no matter what they do. We'll get through it.
Thanks to Doug Kmiec for HIS
Thanks to Doug Kmiec for HIS eloquent report of Obama at Notre Dame. It was extraordinary that not one Catholic bishop was present at this joyous but serious celebration. And it was reprehensible. So it was up to the roundly condemned (by bishops) president of Notre Dame to make the Catholic pro-life case. Catholic education in this country is the wonder of the academic world--no other country has anything close to what the Church has done here for the life of the mind. Our bishops have sullied our colleges and they are sullied in return. Cardinal George and his cohort were reduced to petulance and Notre Dame stands out as an example for all Catholics. We should be proud.
You all have elected a new
You all have elected a new pope and no longer listen to your apostles. Eyes that don't see and ears that don't hear. To be "more of a Catholic" would not entail giving a right to kill. The Golden Rule applies to the unborn also. Who gives any of us the right to refuse a living human from coming the Table of the Lord?
As a young and poor Mexican
As a young and poor Mexican boy growing up Catholic in the United States I identified myself with Notre Dame. In good times and in bad, I defended ND. It was the proud representative of my faith and my spirit. It was Catholic first. I can no longer spiritually support ND and my prayers for ND will diminish. Faith makes my departure easier so I say goodbye to ND and if I have one more prayer left it is that it finds it way home soon. Go Blue & USC!!
Mr. Kmiec, may I respectfully
Mr. Kmiec, may I respectfully remind you that the bishops were doing no more than their duty by not associating themselves with the outpourings of honor for President Obama on Sunday. They themselves acknowledged the wrongness of conferring honors on such persons as Obama in their oft quoted 2004 document with which you must be familiar. It is difficult then to see why you condemn them for not being present. In that document, they were reflecting the Church's 2000 year old tradition of treating human life as sacred from its beginning to it's natural end. As you must be well aware, some Christians gave their lives for this cause. The Church has always regarded abortion as belonging to a special category of evil on a par with slavery, Hitler's final solution, segregation, apartheid or ethnic cleansing. There is a strange blindness today that prevents people from seeing abortion for the evil it is, especially people in powerful positions. The Church has an urgent responsibility to proclaim the error of Obama's unprecedented promotion of the culture of death and dispel that blindness. Conferring honors on abortion advocates fosters blindness instead of dispelling it, and leads people to think abortion is less important than the other good things someone like Obama has done or may do. That is the fundamental error in honoring him. That is why the Church is adamant that anyone who promotes the culture of death as he does (even if he is the most powerful person in the world) must not be honored by an institution dedicated to promoting the Church's teaching. It doesn't matter how much good he may want to do in other areas. Please understand I write this in no spirit of rancor. I merely state the Church's firm teaching against an insidious and socially destructive error that pervades our society today.
No, President Obama is trying
No, President Obama is trying to reduce abortions. And he is doing much more that any of the bishops or republicans. Stop listening to the the right wing pundits and do your part to reduce abortions.
If abortion is not evil, why
If abortion is not evil, why should we work to reduce it. If it is a good and a freedom, shouldn't we be increasing it.
Change the word abortion in
Change the word abortion in Obama's speech to slavery, racism, or torture and tell me how great a speech it was.
Kmiec's article is excellent,
Kmiec's article is excellent, as was the President's speech Sunday. Too bad the prelates who could learn from his words won't read them. The rudeness of some bishops, like Tom Doran, showed such poor taste. It's hard for me to believe I used to admire Tom for his preaching. Kudos to John Jenkins and prs. Obama!!
I really pity Dr. Kmiec with
I really pity Dr. Kmiec with how far he has fallen. He was once a noble and staunch defender of the Pro-Life cause, but now he has sold his soul for the praise of the world. One cannot help but compare him to Richie Rich, to whom St. Thomas More posed Christ's question: "What good does it gain a man to gain the whole world, but lose his soul".
Dr. Kmiec is also truly irrational if he thinks that President Obama will nominate anyone who opposed Roe v. Wade. The CW right now is with Judge Wood out of the 5th Circuit who is one of the most radically pro-Abortion jurists in America. But then, maybe that serves Dr. Kmiec's purpose, since he has deserted the Pro-Life cause and also it would appear, his Catholic faith.
Dr. K can count noses, all
Dr. K can count noses, all the way to seven - that being the number of justices who refuse to overturn Roe. He used to work with two of them, Roberts and Alito, so presumable he and Cafardi know their minds on this issue. They went with Obama because they realized that the whole "overturn Roe" strategy was never going to work out - and that continuing to use it as a justification for voting Republican was helping to perpetuate a fraud. Where I come from (Catholic College in Iowa) that is considered being honorable.
"Dr. K can count noses, all
"Dr. K can count noses, all the way to seven - that being the number of justices who refuse to overturn Roe. He used to work with two of them, Roberts and Alito, so presumable he and Cafardi know their minds on this issue."
...presumable(sic), that is the New Math at work. I count 4 justices who would vote to overturn Roe, Thomas, Scalia, Roberts, and Alito.
Kmiec asks in his 2nd essay on this topic...
"Do the street demonstrators fully appreciate the need for the practical?"
...I ask a similar question to all of you CINO's who voted for the most radical pro-abortion president (BHO) in this nation's history...
"Do you fully appreciate, that if you had followed your correctly formed conscience and voted against BHO, that we would now be appointting a pro-life Supreme Court justice to replace Souter and raise the number to FIVE justices who would vote to overturn Roe?"
Is he still campaigning to be
Is he still campaigning to be ambassador to the Holy See?
Thank you for this wonderful
Thank you for this wonderful article. As a returning Catholic and who just finished RCIA, I have been shocked by the mean spirited and judgemental attitude of some Cahtolics regarding Notre Dame's tradition.
My support of our President has caused other Catholics to call me names such "baby killer" "fake Catholic", or a "So-called Catholic." They never ask me what I think about issues, they just bully.
I never anticipated that I would enter a church where I am called names and told I am a sinner for voting for a US President. I am amazed that some Catholics believe they can judge one's faith in God or God's love for them. It's self-righteous. I see the same thing regarding this issue with Obama.
I am not sure if I made the right decision in returning to the church because of the hostility I see. Perhaps they see themselves perhaps as God's bullies but I am not sure I want to be associated with this kind of political based theology. Those who disagree with them are afraid to speak. I don't go to church for politics yet that's all the church ever seems to care about anymore. Since when has a US political party been given the right to own God?
Although none of the Catholics I mention would ever bother asking me, my vote for Obama was voting against the previous administration's record of violence, lies, torture, the death penalty, war, and general greed. In my heart, I could not "pick and choose" which violence was more acceptable.
In reality, I have realized that to be a true Catholic, you really cannot be political at all because whatever side you vote for, you are a hypocrite.
If God's role for you in the world is helping the poor, working to end the war, or reforming healthcare, (all of which the church speaks out about) then you are still not "Catholic enough" because you don't vote for a Republican. (Read Romans to find out why we all have a role.)
God has certainly blessed my life despite how my fellow Catholics may condemn me for voting for Obama.
I commend Obama on his bravery and Father Jenkins. Thank you for continuing a tradition of academic civility that includes all sides.
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