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Obama's singling out Bernardin, Hesburgh is message for us
May. 19, 2009
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Fr. Richard McBrien
Printer-friendly versionSend to friendPDF versionIt is not a surprise that the media and most commentators have focused on what was evident to just about everyone present at the University of Notre Dame's Joyce Center for Sunday's graduation ceremonies and to those who subsequently read the full text of President Barack Obama's address to the graduates, their parents and special guests, and the faculty, and through them to the entire nation.
Obama called for achieving some measure of common ground on the highly charged abortion issue. He urged both sides in the debate to engage one another with "open hearts" and "open minds," and always to employ "fair-minded words," acknowledging all the while that "at some level, the views of the two camps are irreconcilable."
The word from the White House before the speech was that Obama would touch upon the abortion issue in his talk, given the controversy that has swirled around the university for weeks, but that he would not dwell upon it nor make it the centerpiece of his remarks. Obama, however, decided to follow the latter course.
What was most significant about Obama's commencement address was not what was obvious to most people, but his singling out of two church figures for special praise — two extraordinary persons who painfully remind us of how far the Catholic church in the United States has fallen from the high standards of leadership that they set.
Obama noted that he had not been raised in "a particularly religious household," but that his mother instilled in him "a sense of service and empathy that eventually led [him] to become a community organizer" to find jobs for the unemployed and to improve schools for every child.
Those with whom he worked represented a broad spectrum of ecumenical and inter-faith traditions — individuals who were inspired by their faith to do many good works. As a result of these contacts, Obama found himself "drawn — not just to the work of the church, but to be in the church. It was through this service," he said, that he "was brought to Christ."
He had high praise for the late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, who was at the time archbishop of Chicago. He referred to Bernardin as "a kind and good and wise man. A saintly man." He recalled the cardinal's speaking at one of the first organizing meetings that Obama had attended on the South Side.
Bernardin spoke about a whole spectrum of moral issues (a "consistent ethic of life," perhaps), some of which, like abortion, were sources of division in the group. "And yet," Obama observed, "he was congenial and gentle in his persuasion, always trying to bring people together, always trying to find common ground."
Obama noted that just before his death, Bernardin had pointed out, "You can't really get on with preaching the Gospel until you've touched minds and hearts."
The Catholic church in the United States has been bereft of such compelling pastoral leadership ever since Bernardin died in 1996. Were he still alive and in a position of influence in the U.S. hierarchy, some 70 bishops might not have publicly protested, almost in lock-step, against Notre Dame's invitation to Obama.
Fr. Thomas Reese, S.J., former editor-in-chief of America magazine, predicted in his blog for The Washington Post and Newsweek that every round of applause for the President at Notre Dame's Commencement would be a repudiation of those episcopal condemnations. And so it was, loudly and many times over.
The second person whom Obama singled out in his commencement address was Notre Dame's president emeritus, Holy Cross Fr. Theodore Hesburgh.
Noting that it was the 55th anniversary of the historic Brown v. Board of Education decision of the U.S. Supreme Court, which marked only the beginning of the struggle to desegregate the schools and other public facilities, Obama cited the work of Hesburgh and other members of the Civil Rights Commission as paving the way for the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The commission, originally established by President Dwight Eisenhower, had been comprised of six very different members: two Southern governors, the dean of a Southern law school, one African-American, and Hesburgh.
They worked for two years, Obama recalled, and Eisenhower had to intervene personally because no hotel or restaurant in the South would serve the black and white members of the commission together.
Finally, when they reached an impasse in Louisiana, Hesburgh flew the members to Notre Dame's retreat in Land O'Lakes, Wisconsin, "where they eventually overcame their differences and hammered out a final deal."
"Years later," Obama recounted, "Eisenhower asked Father Ted how on earth he was able to broker an agreement between men of such diverse backgrounds and beliefs. And Father Ted simply said that during their first dinner in Wisconsin, they discovered that they were all fishermen. And so he quickly readied a boat for a twilight trip out on the lake. They fished, and they talked, and they changed the course of history."
It was also Hesburgh who supplied the metaphors that Holy Cross Fr. John Jenkins, Notre Dame's president, and Obama used in their respective defenses of the invitation to speak to the graduates and receive an honorary degree.
A Catholic university, Hesburgh always insisted, is both a lighthouse and a crossroads. As a lighthouse, it "stands apart, shining with the wisdom of the Catholic tradition." As a crossroads, however, it is a place where there is a dialogue between that Catholic tradition and the wider culture, and where the two can "co-exist with friendship, civility, hospitality, and especially love."
The Catholic church does not have that kind of vision and leadership today. Bernardin and Hesburgh had supplied both in abundance. Unfortunately, our current hierarchy does not.
[Fr. Richard P. McBrien is the Crowley-O'Brien Professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame.]
Though Father John Jenkins is
Though Father John Jenkins is no Father Ted Hesburgh, his eloquent introduction of President Obama was the brightest moment of his brief Notre Dame presidency. And though Cardinal Francis George is no Cardinal Joseph Bernadin, his sad conduct during the days leading up to President Obama's Notre Dame address was yet another dark moment in his already too-long reign as Chicago archbishop.
Thank God Cardinal George is
Thank God Cardinal George is no Cardinal Bernardin. Cardinal George has the courage to stand up for truth, life and the Gospel of Christ. Bernardin did not have moral fortitude.
Pardon me, Milbo1, but any
Pardon me, Milbo1, but any 'jerk' can stay away. It takes one with moral fortitude to face the problems and walk into the fray and DEAL with it. Cardinal has the fortitude of an overcooked strand of spaghetti!
Would you mind discussing
Would you mind discussing further your basis for your statement.
thanks.
I would like Little Bear to
I would like Little Bear to discuss the basis of his/her foolish statement also.
All well and good to request
All well and good to request Little Bear to do the same. None-the-less, since your reply is scan any explanation is a bit cowardly.
Jesus sat down and dialoged
Jesus sat down and dialoged with many. But did he honor the pharsees or call them hypocrites? Did he give them honors for their theological work or harshly and publically critique it? How does that compare with Notre Dame honoring the President with a law degree when on the topic of murder of the unborn his position is so wrong? How did Fr Jenkins' speech harshly and publically critique Obanama's disturbing votes and views on abortion?
BTW, abortion is NOT a religious issue an more than any other type of murder. Living in a pluralistic societ requires that we treat it w/o religious argument. Certainly athiests think murder of a 2 year old is wrong or a 10 year old. Yet they don't concern themselves with whether or not a person has a soul. The only non-religious and scientific understanding clearly recoginizes the time in the womb as stages in the development of a human being that start at conception and end in death. Notions of "person" seperate from "human being" are a better example of a faith based argument regarding abortion.
Let's remember that Jesus was
Let's remember that Jesus was part of the Pharisaic movement (why else would they have always been around) and that Christianity sprang out of Pharisaic Judaism, just as Judaism after 70 CE did.
Interesting views from a
Interesting views from a priest not wearing a collar...
Father can you call your self Catholic when you stray so far from the teachings of the church?
Focus on the content, not the
Focus on the content, not the clothes!
Rich and Ted and their
Rich and Ted and their left-of-left friends have been sticking-it to the Church for years. Rich's button-down collar looks good; perhaps his bishop will make it permanent. The honorary degree was a big mistake.
Though you may be fond of
Though you may be fond of "collars", think twice before "confessing" to this Priest who was wearing a COLLAR:
http://www.buffalonews.com/nationalworld/state/story/480629.html
11/01/08 06:39 AM
Diocese bars priest named in suit
NEW YORK — A Catholic priest accused of seducing a distraught New York divorcee has been dropped as a hospital chaplain and barred from serving as a priest in the city.
The Rev. Elvis Elano is named in a $25 million lawsuit that details his relationship with Judith Rodrigues-Lytwyn, whom he met when she came to him for confession at a Queens church.
He left two months ago to work as a chaplain at Benedictine Hospital in Kingston, living in the rectory of nearby St. Joseph’s Church.
“Father Elano has been suspended from his duties at Benedictine Hospital, where he provided pastoral care to our patients since August,” hospital spokesman Sean Casey told the Daily News.
Church officials in New York City said Elano — ordained in the Philippines in 1992 — also had been barred from serving as a priest here. But the Rev. Kieran Harrington, a church spokesman, said Elano’s departure from Our Lady of the Snows Church in Queens had nothing to do with the sex scandal.
In the lawsuit, filed in Brooklyn state Supreme Court, the 50-year-old woman said her affair with the 44-year-old priest began in March, after she told him about her divorce during confession at Our Lady of the Snows Church in Queens.
She said he began “encouraging her to engage in a sexual liaison with him to assist her in overcoming her pain associated with her husband and because it was ‘ordained by God,’ ” according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit also names the Diocese of Brooklyn, which includes Queens, and the Our Lady of the Snows Church as defendants, charging them with negligence for failing to properly supervise the priest.
On Thursday, the Vatican issued a new document saying that candidates for priesthood should take tests to screen out heterosexuals who cannot control their sexual urges and those with strong homosexual tendencies.
Priesthood “requires certain abilities as well as moral and theological virtues, which are supported by a human and psychic — and particularly affective — equilibrium, so as to allow the subject to be adequately predisposed for giving of himself in the celibate life,” said the document from the Vatican’s Congregation for Catholic Education.
Evidently the pope still
Evidently the pope still considers him to be a Roman Catholic and priest of same since he isn't being excommunicated and as public as his statements are, he surely would be if they found him to be far off-base.
Indiana State University at
Indiana State University at South Bend
There is a new Pope in town and a new head of the Apostolic Signatura to review the record; plus, the honorary degree was awarded just three days ago - give it time.
The broader question is whether Rich and Ted and their left-of-left friends at Notre Dame pledge loyalty to the Pope, to the State or to themselves.
If their loyalty is to the Pope, then the honorary degree would not have been awarded in priestly obedience to the Bishop. The televised fiasco that ensued would not have occured.
If to the State, then remove the statues from campus, dismantle the church, drop the theology department, join the Big Ten and change the name to Indiana State University at South Bend.
If to themselves, then the priesthood is no longer for them.
In any case, there are too many "if's" when there ought to be none.
Mary must be wondering why so many below the Dome are arguing with each other and no one is looking-up to worship Her.
Mary is a creature, just like
Mary is a creature, just like all other human beings. She should never be worshiped. She is not God.
Mary was born sinless so she
Mary was born sinless so she is unique and deserves to be loved and honoured as the Blessed Mother of Jesus the Son of God
Bravo! Bravo, NCR! Bravo,
Bravo! Bravo, NCR! Bravo, McBrien! At least there is some small vestige and remembrance of the greats who once inhabited this world, and even this Church. I used to worry about how I would be able to survive in the growing idiocy that some of our American bishops and "faithful" have been promoting. The loss of vision! Thank you for a breath of what might have been. Thank you President Obama and all those who applauded for the challenge!
You point out why I am still
You point out why I am still in the church. We have had wonderful leaders who occasionally rise above the petty and [fill in the blank] style of most current Bishops and Cardinals. I guess my church is a mediocre institution with moments of brilliance and courage.
I pray I will see those moments again soon
Thank you Fr. Mc Brien for an
Thank you Fr. Mc Brien for an insightful commentary on an historic visit to Notre Dame by President Obama. I was proud to be an American Catholic listening to both presidents Jenkins and Obama. I felt called to higher common ground rather than embarassed by narrow measures. I feel certain that the graduates of 2009 at Notre Dame will remember their commencement and return to some of the challenges and lessons that the speakers tried to impart.
What a blessing to read
What a blessing to read wisdom rather than bigotry! Thank you!!!
I totally agree with this;
I totally agree with this; those 70+ bishops have their heads in the sand. They are out of touch with most Catholics (including *faithful Catholics* (the sensus fidelum) and certainly, the younger generation). Another outstanding thing about Obama's speech: I cannot recall any other president mentioning "original sin" in a public speech! The bishops are foolish to regard Obama as an enemy of faith.
The 70+ "Pharisee" Bishops,
The 70+ "Pharisee" Bishops, "Pharisee" Archbishops and "Pharisee" Cardinals have qualified for the Pieter Bruegel Award.
A hand painted copy of the Painting "the Blind Leading the Blind" will be sent to each of them:
http://www.artbible.info/art/large/556.html
"The Blind leading the Blind" (Mathew 15:14) will be awarded at a special function to these 70+ "SINGLE ISSUE" BISHOPS.
Jesus had told his disciples that it was not necessary to wash hands before eating. Scribes and Pharisees who heard about this were infuriated, as it was a clear breach of Jewish law. When the disciples informed Jesus about that, he replied that the Pharisees were blind leading the blind, and that all would end up falling into the ditch. The disciples should pay no attention to them.
Pieter Bruegel here depicts the subject literally. The painting is also a study of the different stages of falling, a technical challenge that Bruegel seemed to be fascinated by toward the end of his life.
The expressions on the faces range from trust to surprise and shock.
The church in the background emphasizes Bruegel's message: do not blindly follow leaders that lead you away from the Church, or you will end up in trouble.
Bruegel usually painted details with great care, after studying the subject extensively. Ophthalmologists (eye doctors) are said to be able to recognize five different eye diseases in this painting.
While I agree completely with
While I agree completely with the sentiments expressed by Bruegel the Opthalmologist, I would respectfully point to the absolute necessity of our discontinuing using the word "Pharisee" as a pejorative in any context. It is, in the first place, disrespectful to our Jewish sisters and brothers, as virtually all modern-day Rabbinic Judaism derives from the Pharisees. In the second place, the portrait of the Pharisees painted in the Gospels has much more to do with the tensions between the Jesus Movement (Christianity) and Judaism when the Gospels were written than with anything that may have been going on in Jesus' actual lifetime. In fact, Jesus and the Pharisees would have had much in common in the early 30s of the Common Era. They undoubtedly had their differences of interpretation and opinion, being brother Jews, after all. But later, in the 80s and 90s, when Luke, Matthew and John were written, the Temple in Jerusalem had been destroyed and the Pharisees and the members of the Jesus Movement were at the outset of a struggle for the mantle of the true and authentic Israel. I apologize for the pedantic history lesson. My real point is simple. I'm all for criticizing the 70+ bishops (and more); they certainly deserve it. But let's call them "holier-than-thou" or "pompously self-righteous" or even "sanctimonious prigs," and embargo the terms "Pharisee" and "pharisaic" as unhistoric and potentially insulting to our Jewish sisters and brother.
May we dare hope that by
May we dare hope that by reclaiming the words of the truth tellers, their message may live again as well! Thank you, as always, Rev. McBrien.
Cardinal Bernadine and Fr.
Cardinal Bernadine and Fr. Hessburgh did not have to contend with the most pro-choice president ever elected and by a majority of Catholics. Times, they have changed and we no longer live in the 20th century. I really wonder if Governor George Wallace had been elected to the presidency and still harbored racist attitudes toward African Americans, but embraced other worthy causes, would he have been selected by Notre Dame to speak? Would Cardinal Bernadine given his imprimatur? I wonder if a Governor Lester Maddox of Georgia would have been treated as well by Fr. O'Brien if he had been asked to speak at a Catholic institution? Fr. O'Brien, this is the 21st century where communication is instant, like this comment. When the president of a Catholic University invites a controversial figure like President Barack Obama and Fr. Jenkin's does not consult with his bishop in Fort Wayne but seeks the guidance of others outside of the jurisdiction of Bishop D'arcy, I really don't think Cardinal Bernadine would have appreciated a similar thing in his archdiocese. If Fr. Jenkins had just communicated with his bishop and then respected his bishop's decision, none of this would have happened.
Fr. Jenkins is NOT a diocesan
Fr. Jenkins is NOT a diocesan priest---he does not make his vows to the Bishop, but to the Superior General of his order. From history, most of the Universities were staffed by religious orders---just so that a wider scope of ideas could be pursued at universities without having to 'ask permission' from the local ordinary.
If religious order priests would have had to ask permission of local ordinaries to do research and then teach their research---saints like Albert the Great, Bonaventure and Thomas Aquinas would never have been able to carry out their studies---and the universal church would have been so much intellectually poorer. And it was the Catholic Universities (run by male and female religious orders), that accepted students who were either Native Americans, Hispanics and African Americans---long before the local ordinaries concerned themselves about social justice and rights.
Oh, I believe that given Joseph Bernadine's record, and what he had to face in similar situations---he would have been beside President Obama at the graduation, for sure!
Little Bear, at every
Little Bear, at every religious priest's ordination he promises "respect and obedience" to his ordinary. This is the bishop of whatever diocese he resides. Religious or not, Bishop D'Arcy is the ordinary for every priest residing and working in the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend.
Little Bear, at every
Little Bear, at every religious priest's ordination he promises "respect and obedience" to his ordinary. This is the bishop of whatever diocese he resides. Religious or not, Bishop D'Arcy is the ordinary for every priest residing and working in the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend.
What a true! Richard McBrien
What a true! Richard McBrien is the prophet of our times; he cannot be silenced by the church’s status quo. He said: "The Catholic church does not have that kind of vision and leadership today. Bernardin and Hesburgh had supplied both in abundance.
Unfortunately, our current hierarchy does not"
He is right; we are so concerned about bowing our heads before communion and kissing the rings of bishops when we are before them. The hierarchy has missed the point of what really matters and what Jesus is all about, the righteous ones feel they are the owners of an absolute truth. Remember that the greatest rebel and life transforming person ever existed on this planet was Jesus, he was the one who brought the mighty of the Jewish hierarchy and the righteous ones of his time down from their clerical thrones and positions of power. No wonder they crucified him.
I ask myself, where is the compassion of Jesus in the pro-life movement? The only thing they have done is condemned women who have had an abortion and attack those who think differently. I am against abortion, I am a pro life person, but I am a pro life across the board. I am against the death penalty, war, and against corporate America destroying the livelihood of millions of people throughout the world who are dying of hunger, illnesses, and oppression.
I agree with President Obama, yes, let’s find a common ground, God is present in all of us, be a pro life or pro choice, or pro anything. Let’s come together in silence and let’s listen what Jesus has to say. War against people or a cause can only be eliminated if we come in prayer and find peace within our spirits and come together seeking solutions, we need to work together against poverty and help women who find themselves in the dilemma to choose life over death. It is time for men to stop telling women what is right or wrong with our thinking, it is time for us women to come together and search for what is best for us.
Thank you, M, for your
Thank you, M, for your comment. I feel exactly the same. It seems the "pro-life" advocates are really only anti-abortion. They are so focused on the "rules" that they have forgotten the one rule/commandment of Jesus - "love one another as I have loved you". I, too, feel that I am pro-life across the board. Thanks again. You articulated perfectly how I was feeling.
When was the last time you
When was the last time you saw someone actually kiss a bishop's ring? What bishop can you name who isn't constantly disparaged by both the left and right wings in his diocese?
It is plain to see one of the
It is plain to see one of the reasons that the graduating class of 2009 were willing to swallow the sacharin speech made Sunday by President Obama. Fr. McBrien, is bending these young adults into thinking that abortion is something to be debated and that bad mouthing the Catholic hierarchy is the way to score points with the majority of 'hollywood crazed' citizens of the U.S.
Mr. Obama will be a major player in the downfall of the U.S. because of his view on killing unborn children.
There is no middle ground when speaking about murdering unborn children.
Murder is murder and sugar coating it will not make it otherwise.
This liberal attitude of many Christians (Catholics included) stating that killing unborn children is something we need to discuss is NOT up for debate.
Many of the youth of today have not been properly catchecized and therefore, don't realize what is in store for the world when we destroy our unborn. Almighty God will withdraw His favour because of this genocide and we shall all pay the price - just look back in history. When people have refused to follow the ten commandments and worshiped idols, it wasn't long before they paid the price.
Please take a look at some of the pictures on the pro life website.
Their slogan 'this is a child, not a choice' is spelled out for anyone to see.
Wash the scales from your eyes and remember Christ said, "thou shalt not kill"!
Provide us the Biblical
Provide us the Biblical citation exactly please
What version?
What version?
It is indeed exhausting to
It is indeed exhausting to continue tolerating these "Catholics" who ignore the bulk of Catholic Social Teaching. Abortion is wrong but where is their passion when it comes to the starving poor. Every seven seconds a child dies of starvation somewhere in the world. In the United States, more than 10% of the population lives on a poverty level income. More than 5% of the US population live on half of that. How can this happen in the richest nation of the world? How can we stand up for the unborn when we don't seem to care about them once they are born? For those of you who now feel justifiably indignant with that last question I'd like to ask them when was the last time they gave their time to a food pantry or a soup kitchen? Have they ever visited a homeless shelter and asked if they could volunteer to help? When did they inquire about the poor who live all around them? How often do they dismiss the poor as deserving their fate because they "obviously" don't want to work?
George W. Bush and the rest of his conservative ilk presided over presidencies that NEVER introduced an amendment to the constitution to protect unborn life. They used the pro-life plank to garner the support they needed to get elected and then ignored the issue as a debate they "could not win." COWARDS! It was Republican presidents who appointed the judges to the Supreme court who decided in favor of abortion rights in Roe v. Wade and the subsequent decisions to uphold Roe V. Wade [Including the "sainted" Ronald Reagan]. It was George W. Bush who signed legislation allowing 250 million dollars a year for stem cell research on the "existing" lines of human embryonic stem cells. What happens when that research produces an effective cure? What kind of a Pandora's box did that stupid decision produce?
This kind of "one issue" Catholic also likes to ignore the fact that the only significant reduction in the number of abortions performed in the US happened during the 90s when Bill Clinton was president. There is a direct correlation between adequate income and abortion. Hard date shows that when people have enough money to provide for the children they have they do not make the horrible choice to abort. These Catholics are not interested in that though. These Catholics are not looking at how we can make abortion rare when all they are willing to do is make abortion illegal. These Catholics are not interested in how we can find common ground with a president who is committed to helping all people.
Ask yourself who benefited from the presidency of George W. Bush? Take a look at all of the tenets of Catholic Social Teaching and ask yourself how much of it was a priority to the previous administration.
Don't hide behind your passionate indignation which focuses on this one issue alone. Get out of your ivory towers, roll up your sleeves and start paying attention to the Mission of Jesus. Preferential treatment of the poor is mentioned in scripture over 2,000 times - more than any other single issue. How have we become so good at ignoring such a consistent mandate?
The spirit of Vatican II may
The spirit of Vatican II may not be completely dead among the American hierarchy, but it is definitely on the ropes. Our bishops need to meditate upon and revive the spirit of openness called aggiornamento that the great Pope John XXIII so frequently spoke about.
Please define the spirit of
Please define the spirit of Vatican II. I know the 16 documents, but perhaps you can educate me on the "spirit," which is apparently more important than the Council itself to readers here.
Excellent summary of Obama's
Excellent summary of Obama's most important remarks. Does anyone know where a copy of Fr. Jenkins' introduction of Obama can be found?
You can watch video of each
You can watch video of each of the addresses on the University of Notre Dame website
This excellent, heart-warming
This excellent, heart-warming article clearly shows Obama has chosen the truly "Christian" way, that even has the Vatican's approval, and that the American episcopate has really become a religious sect or cult.
Thank you Fr. McBrien for
Thank you Fr. McBrien for bringing this to our attention. While I am appreciative of this information, it also saddens me over what we have lost. I do hope that one of the 70 was not from the Diocese of St. Augustine.
Alas, how true! Hopefully,
Alas, how true! Hopefully, the courage of Fr. Jenkins and Notre Dame in not backing down, opened the windows to the Spirit who sees the whole picture, "the consistent ethic of life".
I could not agree more with
I could not agree more with Fr. McBrien. I am proud of my President, ashamed of many bishops. The more they scream, the more credibility they lose. Their myopia is sad. They never found anything to criticize in President Bush, who began a preemptive war of choice and enthusiastically supported the death penalty. Those currently eligible for the office of bishop in the U.S. are Republicans, the more right-wing, the better. I refuse to leave my church, even if it seems to me that they have.
Wow, those 70 'wise men' now
Wow, those 70 'wise men' now have mud on their faces; I pray that like the mud the Lord used, they may see again. Jesus, Bernardin and Hesburgh have given us an example to follow. Let us wash each other's feet, but only after we walk the road together. I now feel proud (again) to say that I am a Roman Catholic, one who is open, loving and able to change.
The 70 "WISE MEN" have all
The 70 "WISE MEN" have all qualified (with great difficulty) for the Pieter Bruegel Award.
A hand painted copy of the Painting:
http://www.artbible.info/art/large/556.html
Fr. McBrien you are 100%.
Fr. McBrien you are 100%. When I look at the leadership of the American Church I am sad and disgusted. I don't think enough time or effort has been spent on how we reached this point. Sure, the gene pool is weak, but a lot of it must be attributed to John Paul II and the kind of men he wanted to lead the Church. He was clearly not interested in having "lighthouses" and we are paying the price of having failed and narrow-minded leaders.
Well, anyway, didn't we shine
Well, anyway, didn't we shine last Sunday
Those 70 bishops who
Those 70 bishops who protested Obama's appearance, how many of them were there? How many attended the vigils, took part in the protest marches, got arrested? I sus pect it's a low number ... maybe approaching zero?
I think this says more about the current crop of bishops than any more criticisms of their pronouncements.
I think that it should be
I think that it should be acknowledged that the persons involved with the promotion of the Gospel of Life (including the Bishops and their people, the people of God) greatly mourn the loss of life in abortion and the experimentation on ensouled fetuses and the fertilized eggs of human beings. In your mercy remember "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted". Blessed Easter! Christ is risen! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Snowdrop, how do you known
Snowdrop, how do you known when a ferus in "ensouled"? I am a graduate of a Catholic grade school high school, college, graduate school and seminary and I have always been taught that this is something that we have no way of knowing.
Ever pray the Angelus? If
Ever pray the Angelus? If not, ask your grandpa...
Where is in Angelus or even
Where is in Angelus or even in Luke 1:26-38 does it say when a fetus is ensouled ?
It never cease to amaze me, the holier than thou attitude of people who think just because other people do not think and act like they do then those people automatically is more a sinner than they do, pray less then they do, less favorable in the eye of God then they do.
In Jesus time the people with that attitude are called Pharisee.
All this talk about
All this talk about ensoulment... Abortion need NOT be a religious issue especially in a pluralistic society, it can't be, at least not more than any other type of murder. The only non-religious and scientific understanding clearly recoginizes the time in the womb as stages in the development of a human being that start at conception and end in death. Notions of "person" seperate from "human being" are a better example of a faith based argument regarding abortion. But what of those w/o faith, they don't thing a human being ever has a soul, and yet they still think it's wrong to kill a 2 year old, or a 10 year old, etc... Because murdering human beings is wrong.
Jesus sat down and dialoged with many. But did he honor the pharsees or call them hypocrites? Did he give them honors for their theological work or harshly and publically critique it? How does that compare with Notre Dame honoring the President with a law degree when on the topic of murder of the unborn his position is so wrong? How did Fr Jenkins' speech harshly and publically critique Obanama's disturbing votes and views on abortion?
Amen!
Amen!
Thank you, Fr. McBrien, for
Thank you, Fr. McBrien, for another thoughtful article. I do so miss Cardinal Bernardin and Bp. Ken Untener, whose Little Black Books I use during Lent. We need more courageous clergy to speak out when rules and regulations take precedence over pastoral outreach.
Let us thank God that we were
Let us thank God that we were blessed with the wisdom, patience and humility of Cardinal Bernadin and Father Hesburgh. Let us pray that others will follow their example and lead us to find solutions for what divides us so bitterly.
Thank you, Fr. Richard P.
Thank you, Fr. Richard P. McBrien, for a truly sincere and down-to- earth essay. Where is the vision and leadership in the U.S. church today?CAP
Fr. McBrien s observatiion is
Fr. McBrien s observatiion is correct. We shall not see the likes of Hesburgh and Bernardin again. The Church has become a mean and vindictive, one-issue institution. Where are the pastoral letters from the USCCB during this time of economic and health-care crises, staggering unemployment, prolonged war, and the recession's effect on children and families? Oh, that's right; they are at Notre Dame marching for those yet unborn.
"Finally, when they reached
"Finally, when they reached an impasse in Louisiana",
Cardinal Justin Rigali - Philadelphia, PA; Chairman, USCCB Pro-Life Committee is still sleeping at the Wheel.
Cardianl Rigali has DEFINED "Prolife" for the "DUMB" members of the USCCB to be applied:
"only to the life of the unborn in the uterus, during the TEN LUNAR MOTNTHS of Pregnancy - FROM CONCEPTION TO DELIVERY, but not after BIRTH!!"
Cardinal Rigali has "slept at the wheel" while his "LAZY" Colleagues from the "BIBLE BELT" are still "STRUGGLING" with ending CAPITAL PUNISHMENT in their states.
Apparently, Cardinal Rigali does NOT have a clue about the documents put out by USCCB on Capital Punishment. Cardinal Rigali may not even have read this document put out by USCCB:
http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/national/penaltyofdeath.pdf
Nor do these "LAZY DOZEN" from the "BIBLE BELT" appear to know anything mentioned in the same document:
http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/national/penaltyofdeath.pdf
These "LAZY DOZEN" from the "BIBLE BELT" still do not have a clue as to how to end CAPITAL PUNISHMENT in their States:
1.Bishop Robert Lynch - St. Petersburg, FL
2.Bishop Thomas Wenski - Orlando, FL
3.Bishop Gerald Barbarito - Palm Beach, FL
4.Bishop Frank J. Dewane – Venice, FL
5.Bishop Victor Galeone - St. Augustine, FL
6.Archbishop Alfred Hughes - New Orleans, LA
7.Bishop Glen Provost - Lake Charles, LA
8.Bishop Sam Jacobs - Houma-Thibodaux, LA
9.Archbishop José Gomez - San Antonio, TX
10.Bishop Emeritus John Yanta - Amarillo, TX
11.Bishop Gregory Aymond - Austin, TX
12.Bishop Reymundo Pena - Brownsville, TX
For the person looking for a
For the person looking for a copy of Father Jenkins intro. to Obama go to the National Catholic Register and you will find a link in an article from yesterday. You may also want to go to the register for another view of both speeches. But only go there if you are open minded and fair which most of the posters here are apparently not.
Shame on Father McBrien. I would be worried about his influence but he has been discredited as having anything valuable to say for quite some time now and as for Father Reese, his commentary was narrow minded and intellectually dishonest. There are many, many Catholics listening to the bishops who openly opposed the scandal at ND. The number doesn't matter since as both McBrien and Reese should know the Catholic Church is not a democracy and the TRUTH is not subject to polls. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT A MAJORITY Of AMERICANS OR CATHOLICS THINK ABOUT ABORTION. WHETHER IT BE ONE OR ONE MILLION, 10 MILLION OR 50 MILLION THAT AGREE WITH THE CHURCH OR DISAGREE WITH THE CHURCH ON THIS ISSUE, ONE THING REMAINS CLEAR: ABORTION IS WRONG EVERYTIME.
BTW, I know approximately 40 million Americans who are opposed to abortion: the murdered babies. Although, since they are in heaven maybe they are grateful not to have been born into this sad, sad world.
Obama talks a good game but what a joke. He called for the very things that pro lifers have been doing for 30 years: helping pregnant women, promoting adoption, encouraging abstinence if you are not in a position to have a child. What have the pro abortion crowd been doing? Everything they can to increase the number of abortions. 40 million and counting.
Isn't that Marcial Maciel's
Isn't that Marcial Maciel's old paper? Is it still publishing?
Yes Father, thank you for
Yes Father, thank you for helping our Catholic Church return to the True Commands that we have been given by the Lord our God! It is very hard for me to listen to these other Catholics who are so dishonoring the Right to Life! God gives Life! Only men can take it away!
Very few followed Jesus as
Very few followed Jesus as the result of a direct command. Most became his disciples because of the authority of his teaching and the compassion with which he taught. Like love of God and love of neighbor - these two elements of proclaiming our faith lose their power when we separate them.
It's not the topic that I
It's not the topic that I object to, but rather the time and the place. The delusion that dialogue can happen on such desparate views of abortion is a whole other issue. What I found distasteful was that as this venerable institution assembles in faith, to launch unto the world its newest grads, was that its centerpiece was not a Catholic inspiration, but an anti-hero of sorts. The call for dialgoue is superficially tolerant at best, but it is buying into the hype and moral blindness of our times. Leadership is more about knowing when and where to engage the adversities of culture, and I for one, find that the commencement ceremonies would not be the place.
I agree this graduation
I agree this graduation ceremony was not the time nor place for the abortion debate. It didn't happen in Phoenix - no one protested or challenged President Obama and his speech did not contain anything about abortion. I doubt his speech would have at Notre Dame except for all the hoopla from the anti-abortion crowd. They challenged and he answered. If they hadn't protested he would have given a talk like he did in Phoenix.
They also didn't honor him
They also didn't honor him with a degree at Az. If that had been the case at ND, there would not have been the protest there was.
Richard P McBrien has put
Richard P McBrien has put into words what we all sense is in our culture.
But "culture" is not "truth." Christ is "Truth." That "Truth" that is of Christ, is not being lived in a culture that kills its young for whatever convenience the culture desires.
We can not follow the trends in the culture. We are called to a life that follows Christ. We all, as God's holy people, want to live in Him, for Him, through Him and forever with Him in heaven. This U. S. president is not "about" that, but Notre Dame MUST be "about" that. Maybe culture is taking the lead at Notre Dame. It seems that Notre Dame's quest of belonging in our culture has usurped the true values of that institution. And R.P. Mcbrien, for one, fell into that dangerous abyss with them. God help us all.
Bravo! I personally would not
Bravo! I personally would not ever have an abortion but hopefully I would be compasionate to somebody who decided that it was their only option. My niece came to me 17 years ago trying to think her way through having or not having an abortion. I didn't judge or tell her what to do...we just prayed. Three days later she called me to say that she decided to keep the baby. LOVE helped so much more than any morality lecture I could have given her. "LOVE ON ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU"...It's really simple.
Abortion is not like the
Abortion is not like the other issues mentioned. There can be just wars and appropriate applications of the death penalty. Those are issues that faithful Catholics can disagree on, at least to some extent. For example, whether a particular war is just, or whether a nation can protect itself without the death penalty, are quesitons open to debate.
In contrast, abortion is always wrong. That is because it is the intentional killing of an inocent human life. You simply can't be a faithful catholic and be pro-abortion. It is like claiming you are catholic and then taking the positon that, I am against killing 20 year olds, but I don't think the government should impose that choice on people who find 20 year olds inconvenient.
By inviting and giving an aware to Obama, Notre Dame sends the message that it is ok for a Catholic to be pro-abortion. The fact that we have so many Catholics that see no conflict between their pro-abortion position and their Catholic faith, shows how problematicNotre Dame's invitation and award was. I am greatful that those 70 Bishops stood up for what's right. We need their teaching.
We shouldn't be asking ourselves if the Bishops are out of touch with the faithful, but whether the faithfull are out of touch with Faith. It doesn't matter if 99.9% of the "faithfull" are pro-abortion, it is still wrong.
John P, And who are those
John P,
And who are those 'things' that we kill in an unjust wars? Are they not living, ensouled human beings just as we are? Did not pregnant women, babies, children, unarmed men, and the elderly killed in these wars. Are they not human, also?
It is alright to kill people from a nation that never declared war on us---hey they are not white Americans---so we can kill them and debate it---is that it. Their lives aren't as precious as the unborn. Really?
Secondly, what about the women carry the fetus? Just walking baby-making machines---without rights, is that it? All these 70+ Bishops have never become pregnant, have never had morning sickness, have never had labor pains, and have never wondered where the next dollar was coming from to feed, clothe, and house a baby. And that is just for starters. These bishops only know how to talk about laws----they do not know the reality of having to raise a child.
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