Fr. Jenkins Wants the ND 88 Jailed?

LifeSiteNews.com has reported on "a bizarre personal encounter" between an attorney and Fr. Jenkins regarding the ND 88. The site recounts a conversation between the two:

"When I said to you, Fr. Jenkins, that these defendants believe that, like [the civil rights leader] Dr. King, they did nothing wrong but were marching for civil rights and social justice for all Americans, born and unborn, you responded, 'But Dr. King served time in jail.'"

Could this mean the self-avowed "pro-life" Fr. Jenkins actually wants jail time for the peaceful pro-life protesters?

Related: Threats to Life: Abortion

[2/9]

Fr. Jenkins would do it again

Despite the scandal, public protests, graduates' boycotts, criticism from bishops, and the flagrant disregard for the 2004 USCCB statement ("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"), Fr. Jenkins has told an interviewer that he would do it all again. The Notre Dame president - who has refused to seek leniency for pro-lifers who were arrested while peacefully protesting on his campus - said that if he had it to do all over again, he would again invite pro-abortion President Obama to speak at commencement and would again award him an honorary law degree. Regarding the pro-homosexual, pro-abortion President, Fr. Jenkins says "It was an honor for us to welcome him to campus." Too bad he wasn't so "honored" by the presence of the pro-lifers (including an elderly priest) who were carted off to jail and still face fines and jail time for peacefully protesting the scandal on Our Lady's campus.

Note: For more regarding the ND-Obama scandal, click here and see the news archives for 2009

[12/28]

That's Catholic character?

Undaunted by controversy, Notre Dame's Board of Trustees has elected Fr. Jenkins to a second term. It was claimed that "The vision and leadership that Father Jenkins has demonstrated in his first four years in office have been inspiring and innovative." The Fellows of the University claimed Fr. Jenkins "combined courageous leadership with the kind of priestly dedication, pastoral concern and inspiration that we have come to expect of a President of Notre Dame" and expressed appreciation for his commitment to the "Catholic character of the University", where they say "the Catholic faith...[is] celebrated and lived."

Fr. Jenkins responded that he was "humbled" and said he "will continue pursuing the goals I cited at my inauguration four years ago – offering an unsurpassed undergraduate education, becoming even more pre-eminent as a research university, and ensuring that our Catholic character informs all that we do."

Can someone please explain how awarding the "most pro-abortion president in history" with an honorary law degree, disobeying your bishop, scandalizing millions, imprisoning peaceful pro-lifers (including an elderly priest), refusing leniency to the peaceful pro-lifers, paying for students to attend a 'gay rights' rally, permitting vulgar performances on campus, etc., etc. is a means of expressing the university's Catholic character? In light of recent events, how exactly can Fr. Jenkins say his goal is to ensure "that our Catholic character informs all that we do"? What exactly is this "Catholic character" he is referring to? Certainly this is not the Catholic character depicted in Grandma's catechism. One wonders just how much more of this "Catholic character" the Church will tolerate before expunging the university from its list of Catholic schools.

[10/19]

Can you say...gullible?

A couple recent news items have set off a "gullibility alert." Wonder how many will be taken in?

» Apparently Catholics are now supposed to believe that Fr. Jenkins of Notre Dame is a pro-life champion. On one hand, he has announced a new task force to "support the sanctity of life" and he plans to attend a march for life next January, on the other hand he invites the "most pro-abortion president in history" to his Catholic campus & awards him with an honorary law degree while peaceful pro-lifers on his campus - including an elderly priest - are carted off to jail. These pro-lifers now face fines and additional jail time since Fr. Jenkins has essentially ignored requests to drop charges or seek leniency. Now there's a great pro-lifer, huh?

» Catholics in Samoa are holding vigils at a building where a "mysterious" image has supposedly appeared. Some believe the image "represents" the Blessed Virgin Mary holding Rosary beads. News reports say the "image" is caused by "weathering" outside the building and by "patches of damp in the tropical climate." One believer said that "it's quite a lot of excitement for us to have something like this", while a spokesman for the Archbishop says of the image, "This is something people should look deeply into." Some observers say the image looks like a "Coca-Cola bottle" while others claim it looks "more like Christ." And where do you think the image appears? One guess... On a building owned by a Protestant (heretical!) 'church'. Yes, that's just got to be the Blessed Virgin. No wait, maybe it's Coke.

[9/17]

Your chance to help pro-lifers

It is being reported that Notre Dame's president is refusing to drop charges or ask for leniency in the case of pro-life protesters who were arrested earlier this year over their peaceful efforts on the Catholic campus. These protesters may now face a fine of $5,000 and up to 1 year in jail. Why not help your fellow pro-lifers by calling the university on their behalf and voicing your opposition to this injustice?

Phone: (574) 631-3903

[9/5]

A thing of beauty

Truths and strong words from Archbishop Chaput's statement concerning the ND scandal are a 'thing of beauty'. Highlights include:

* We "have the duty to avoid prostituting our Catholic identity by appeals to phony dialogue that mask an abdication of our moral witness."

* "Notre Dame did not merely invite the president to speak at its commencement. It also conferred an unnecessary and unearned honorary law degree on a man committed to upholding one of the worst Supreme Court decisions in our nation’s history"

* "[T]here was no excuse - none, except intellectual vanity - for the university to persist in its course."

* "Father Jenkins compounded a bad original decision with evasive and disingenuous explanations to subsequently justify it."

* "Notre Dame's leadership has done a real disservice to the Church, and now seeks to ride out the criticism by treating it as an expression of fringe anger. But the damage remains, and Notre Dame's critics are right."

* "[T]he most vital thing faithful Catholics can do now is to insist - by their words, actions and financial support - that institutions claiming to be 'Catholic' actually live the faith with courage and consistency."

[story here] [5/19]

The good & the bad, and the ridiculous

The following is a short summary of certain good & bad elements from Notre Dame's controversial commencement ceremony & the events surrounding it...

The Good

* Some pro-life students boycotted their own commencement ceremony

* Bishop D'Arcy boycotted the graduation ceremony & spoke to pro-lifers at a Notre Dame pro-life rally [story here]

* Around 100 pro-life students attended the graduation wearing a pro-life symbol; These students remained seated while Obama received standing ovations

* Courageous individuals risked arrest in support of the pro-life cause. Those arrested included an elderly priest, Alan Keyes, and Norma McCorvey (the "Roe" of "Roe vs. Wade")

* Pro-life hecklers disrupted Obama's speech on several occasions

* The pro-life rally held at ND was attended by thousands [story here]

* Bishop D'Arcy called the pro-life students who boycotted their commencement "heroes" [story here]

* A selfless lady declined a prestigious ND honor [see previous news brief]

The Bad

* The "most pro-abortion president in history", Obama, received an honorary law degree from the nation's "most prestigious Catholic university", causing great scandal

* ND's president disregarded the bishops' statement, his own bishop's condemnation, and the public scandal to go forward with his "pet project". Despite this, students seem to support him overwhelmingly.

* Obama enjoyed the support of thousands of students & received a standing ovation; Attendees even chanted Obama's campaign slogan in response to pro-lifers' heckling

* Radical pro-abortion Obama received ND's honor & affirmed his pro-abortion stance while wearing a robe containing an inscription to the Holy Mother of God, "symbolizing dedication of all Notre Dame's activities to the Virgin Mary" [story here]

* There was no formal condemnation of ND's honoring Obama from Pope Benedict XVI (Archbishop Burke criticized the decision, but this is obviously not the same as if a condemnation had come from Pope Benedict himself)

* Some fear that "Notre Dame will become symbol of Catholic dissent" [story here]

The Ridiculous (pathetic, absurd)

* Obama's ridiculous call to find "common ground" over the murder of the unborn. Would he advance "common ground" on racial matters or would he reject racism outright?

* Hypocrisy of Obama on "respecting" each others views on abortion considering that he has shown no respect to the views of pro-lifers (and, of course, it isn't possible for pro-lifers to "respect" the views of those who advocate the killing of children) [story here]

* Hypocrisy of Obama concerning "conscience rights"; on one hand he claims to honor conscience rights, but on the other he works to remove protections already in place [story here]

* Fr. Jenkins' laudatory treatment of Obama; Embraces him, pats him on the back, almost seems to campaign for Obama

* The Vatican newspaper's response to the event fails to include a condemnation of the scandal; instead claims Obama seeks "common ground" on baby killing [story here]

[5/18]

Thank a ND student

The scandal over Notre Dame's commencement, which will feature & honor Obama, "the most anti-life president in U.S. history", has not been entirely devoid of 'signs of hope'. Although ND's President continues to act in defiance of the U.S. Bishops - not to mention basic Catholic common sense - and, unfortunately, also with some backing of ND students, many others have been strongly on the side of truth and life. Since the news first broke, dozens of bishops have spoken out against the decision, the area's bishop will be boycotting the commencement, another bishop has already held a Mass of reparation, one lady selflessly turned down a prestigious ND honor, donors have withheld millions in donations, and there has been "national outrage". And, in the course of events, Obama's anti-life policies have been exposed to those who might otherwise have been unaware of them.

One thing this country typically suffers from is apathy. In this case at least - thankfully - apathy has not been as readily apparent. Although it appears that the commencement plans will, unfortunately, go as planned, many pro-life students at ND are not taking this lightly. Recently, they have announced plans to hold a protest at their commencement. Also, many ND students are expected to boycott their own graduation. Some students may confront Obama over his pro-abortion position. Images of aborted babies may be draped along the way. Although this should be a special day - a day of joy - for these students, a cloud will be put over the event because their leader has chosen to betray Catholic principles and would not back down even in the face of condemnation by his bishop & public outcry.

In spite of this, it is good to see that there are courageous ND students who still hold sacred their Catholic values. Any student who boycotts the graduation for which they worked so hard to achieve in order to defend their Catholic beliefs is deserving of respect. This shows great character and gives hope and inspiration to others. May God bless and guide all ND students. And may all people support and thank those who do what is right, even at a high personal cost. [story here] [5/5]