Father Jenkins praises graduating seniors’ response to Obama controversy

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University of Notre Dame President Rev. John I. Jenkins

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South Bend, Ind., May 13, 2009 / 05:04 pm (CNA).- University of Notre Dame President Rev. John I. Jenkins has written to the Graduating Class of 2009, praising their conduct over recent weeks in the debate over the school’s commencement invitation to President Obama. Defending the university’s commitment to the sanctity of life, he argued President Obama’s invitation would help cultural engagement.

Fr. Jenkins, noting that he took office at the same time the upcoming graduates arrived at Notre Dame, said he felt a "special kinship" with them.

"During your years here we have endeavored to train you in the various disciplines and urged you to ask the larger questions – discussing not only the technical and practical but also the ethical and spiritual dimensions of pressing issues. I have been proud of you as you’ve grappled with intellectual, political, and spiritual questions. But I have never been more proud than I have been watching the way you’ve conducted yourselves over the past several weeks."

Acknowledging that the invitation of President Obama has triggered debate, he said in some cases the dispute has grown "heated" even among those who "agree completely" on Church teaching about the sanctity of human life.

"You have discussed this issue with each other while being observed, interviewed, and evaluated by people who are interested in this story. You engaged each other with passion, intelligence and respect. And I saw no sign that your differences led to division.

"You inspire me. We need the wider society to be more like you; it is good that we are sending you into that world on Sunday."

Fr. Jenkins said he was "saddened" that friends of the university have suggested the invitation to Obama indicates ambiguity about the school’s devotion to Catholic teaching.

"The University and I are unequivocally committed to the sanctity of human life and to its protection from conception to natural death," he said.

Fr. Jenkins said the university has a "long custom" of conferring honorary degrees on the sitting U.S. president.

However, he did not mention that the university did not invite President Bill Clinton, who like President Obama was a supporter of permissive abortion laws.

The honorary degree "has never been a political statement or an endorsement of policy," Fr. Jenkins continued. "It is the University’s expression of respect for the leader of the nation and the Office of the President."

He alluded to I Peter 2:17’s admonition to honor the leader of the secular order. He said Catholic university has "a special obligation" to "engage the culture."

"The President’s visit to Notre Dame can help lead to broader engagement on issues of importance to the country and of deep significance to Catholics," Fr. Jenkins continued. "Ultimately, I hope that the conversations and the good will that come from this day will contribute to closer relations between Catholics and public officials who make decisions on matters of human life and human dignity."

There was "much to admire and celebrate" in the work of President Obama, Fr. Jenkins said, listing his policies on immigration, health care, poverty, and foreign policy.

"As the first African-American holder of this office, he has accelerated our country’s progress in overcoming the painful legacy of slavery and segregation. He is a remarkable figure in American history, and I look forward to welcoming him to Notre Dame."

Fr. Jenkins’ letter closed by reminding graduates that commencement is "your day."

"My fervent prayer is that May 17 will be a joyous day for you and your family. You are the ones we celebrate and applaud. Congratulations, and may God bless you," he said.

Seeking comment, CNA contacted ND Response, a student group coalition opposed to President Obama’s invitation to the school, but did not receive a response by press time.

Comments: 17

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Judy C. Mason
Burlington,Ks, USA 05/15/2009 08:15 PM EST

To ND alummi, What these gratuates are doing is showing that they actually believe in the teachings of their faith and God and it will bring honor to God in Heaven. They are Not staying silent in the face of evil and God will bless them richly and that is who they have to answer to in the end, not you or the liberal media.

Published by: ND alum
Dayton/Ohio/USA 05/15/2009 12:12 PM EST

To Incredulous:

I'm incredulous too. People honestly think Obama will come to preach hateful things to an audience of simpleton sheep who are going to accept everything he says. No one can think that just maybe, Obama might have something good to say on graduation day. We have Catholics making sites like "replacejenkins.com", proud to ask the question: how much money will it cost to buy him out? Similar things have been done about football coaches. They are willing to spend millions of dollars to fire someone and yet all that money... can you imagine how many people that would feed? Are they not ASHAMED of themselves, this arrogant work? Money talks!

And people still think it is OK to disrespect us who welcome Obama to Notre Dame. Honoring a leader does NOT equate with ignoring Catholic identity in the process. I have to laugh at those getting a moral power-trip by casting stones at Jenkins. This is not about seeking understanding, as it should be. This is about plugging your fingers in your ears, saying "la la la I can't hear you/don't want to hear you/going to walk out on you unless you agree completely with me!"

Do not apologize for my "horrible and erroneous" education. I learned the valuable lesson of just how ethnocentric and uncompromising people are in a world that needs to be listening. They are so swept away in the righteousness of it all they even praise it as Good. Listening doesn't mean accepting everything. How mature are we?

Published by: Incredulous
Nebraska 05/14/2009 11:16 PM EST

Dear ND alum from Ohio and Niles from San Franciso: I'd like to apologize on behalf of the Church for the horrible and erroneous "Catholic" teaching you received.
I'd suggest praying for a desire to learn the truth - what the Catholic Church REALLY teaches. This will enable you to discern when wolves in sheeps clothing are speaking lies about the church, AND it will enable you to see the real enemies of the Catholic church. You'll finally understand that those boycotting their graduation aren't the ones who are arrogant - they are standing up for the true Catholic faith and the Blessed Mother. Niles, that does not mean that they would not like everything George W. Bush did. He did some anti-Catholic things, too. That said, you seem to misunderstand the clear directives of the Catechism that teaches that abortion and euthanasia are INTRINSICALLY EVIL - meaning always and everywhere/all the time. No kidding, the catechism does NOT say that about war. The last two Popes and MANY of our bishops have taught this. If you don't believe, read the catechism, google papal encylicals on line and read what the Popes have had to say for the last 200 years. Read the Fathers of the church AND don't forget St. Thomas Aquinas. Don't let progressive, modernist (liberal) theories hijack your faith. Obama is protested by Catholics who know their faith because almost everything he's done is anti-Catholics. AND that's not being hateful or racist - It's stating the truth!

Published by: ND alum
Dayton/Ohio/USA 05/14/2009 07:34 PM EST

To David F and Cindy who have addressed their comments to me:

I daresay that I did not vote for Obama in the presidential election, nor am I throwing the word "socialist" or "liberal" around like some political sledgehammer trying to score points. If anything is hypocritical, it is those Catholics who didn't blink an eye to those past speakers at odds with other Catholic issues too.
Even Father Hesburgh, bless him, is wise enough to see that understanding comes without being holier-than-thou and has supported the university's invitation to the president. Even Jenkins said that he is saddened by the people who assume that "the invitation to Obama indicates ambiguity about the school's devotion to Catholic teaching." Me too! Like I said in my first comment: how naive! Just like your quote "What Fr. Jenkins is inviting to occur is an indoctrination session to a captive audience." Naive! Do you really think the graduates, or Obama, are that stupid?

This whole fiasco is narrow-minded, spiteful, and being done in a completely bigoted way. A complete circus. Free speech sure, but graphic pictures of babies drenched with painted blood on other people's lawns? Grow up!

Published by: Rev. Deacon Avaletalia M Hunkin
Diocese of Samoa-Pago Pago, American Samoa USA 05/14/2009 04:53 PM EST

There is a big difference between respecting civil authorities and obedience to the Will of God. And who is representing Jesus Christ on earth other than the Catholic Church who stands for the Will of God.
The Word of God also instructed mankind not to listen to man and princes but God alone.
The issue is "thou shall not kill" and that is the Will of God. Why against it?

Published by: question
Virginia 05/14/2009 03:02 PM EST

Did Father Jenkins ever meet fae to face with the ND Response campus group?

Published by: Augustine
Austin, TX 05/14/2009 02:25 PM EST

The Lord Jesus did sit with sinners, but He never allowed them to preach to His flock nor did He paid them honors. On the contrary, when Our Lord found them usurping His courts, He whipped them away.

Published by: Niles
San Francisco CA 05/14/2009 01:43 PM EST

To ND alum: Bravo! I could not agree w/you more! If I still
lived in Chicago, I'd be @
ND in heart-beat to hear
our President speak!
As an American of Irish
heritage, just hearing
"Notre Dame" has always
instilled a huge amount of
pride & ND alum, you should
be proud that your alma mater
taught you civility & critical
thinking skills !
I don't recall such malicious
attacks on George W Bush,
who as TX governor was responsible for more executions than any Gov
in US history! Oh, & what about that war he started in Iraq that the US Bishops & Pope condemned??? To my fellow Catholics, you can NOT
be "selectively" pro-life!
May God Bless President
Obama, Father Jenkins &
the entire ND community !
+May Our Blessed Mother
pray for us all!

Published by: Cindy
Missouri 05/14/2009 01:23 PM EST

To ND alum: I thought we lived in a free society with free speech. You seem very upset that anyone would be against the great Obama. I would say you are definitely a liberal and that is the most important thing to you. Maybe these Senior protesters feel that being pro-life is more important than any other issue. If President Obama had any morals himself, he would have stepped down gracefully so as not to ruin commencement day for many who only are standing up for what they believe as a very important issue.

Published by: fernanda
los gatos 05/14/2009 12:45 PM EST

A graduation is nothing compare to all the babies are killed in this country. Thinking about graduation is so selfish. As catholic you must care about others than yourself.
The good things that Mr Obama is doing(?) is nothing compare to the tragedy of supporting abortion up to 9m of pregnancy.
A little bite of good sense would help you on that or the teaching of the Chusrch about "matters of sin"

Published by: David F
Coeur d'Alene, ID 05/14/2009 12:31 PM EST

The fact that ND Alum praises this as good for the graduates shows how deeply rooted this hypocrisy and socialist indoctrination is within our Catholic university system.

The big point that everyone is missing is that Fr. Jenkins is acting alone, without consent from his diocesan Bishop, and with overwhelming condemnation from over 50 American Catholic Bishops, and at least 360,000 other Catholics who disapprove of these actions.

Fr. Jenkins continuing to say this invitation to speak will promote dialog is absurd. President Obama is not coming to the university to dialog, he is coming to address the graduates who have no choice but to listen to him without redress or question. What Fr. Jenkins is inviting to occur is an indoctrination session to a captive audience.

The only choice that graduating seniors have at this point is to refrain from attending if they disagree. The mere invitation is political because President Obama is a politician. Do not think for one minute that his speech will not be political in nature.

As far as honoring him with a Law Degree just for being the President smacks of devaluing the true work of those students who have worked hard and earned it on their own. President Obama already his degrees, he doesn't need to be honored by a Catholic university for his work in promoting Anti-Catholicism.

Maybe the local Bishop should suspend Fr. Jenkins' priestly faculties until he repents and performs according to the Bishop's teaching.

Published by: James Maher
Ireland 05/14/2009 12:25 PM EST

Shame, Shame, shame, Fr Jenkins!

Never before has it been so important that all Catholics and Christians stand together on this most fundimental of issues - Life itself!

I'm in Ireland and all over the world pro-life people are watching to see how Americans react to this most pro-abortion of your Presidents.

This is not a shilly-shally issue. It's time to stand up and be counted for moral and ethical standards.

Any ambiguity would be interpreted as affirmation by pro-abortion forces. Just look at partial-birth abortion. How could anyone in their right mind countenance that!

How could anyone face their Maker with any ambiguity on their conscience?

Published by: Dr. W. Luckey
Front Royal, VA 05/14/2009 09:58 AM EST

What Father Jenkins misses in his remarks, and this is strange for a theologically trained person, is the nature of symbol. To just stick to the idea that "we always invite the sitting president" is a cop-out, especially in these times of degenerating morality. The symbolic message that Notre Dame is giving is that the most pro-abortion president in our history is welcome to speak to a captive audience and it tells the country that Notre Dame is ambiguous on supporting the Catholic teaching on life, despite what Father Jenkins says. This is no debate, as Father Jenkins implies. Also, notice how Father Jenkins praises Obama's other policies that are plainly socialist and will actually end up doing much more harm than good. Is this a university or a kindergarten?

Published by: Xavier Romero
Woodstock, GA USA 05/13/2009 11:01 PM EST

Father Jenkins' disingenuous, rationalist, humanist view of how to delusionally engage in "dialogue" by allowing Obama to deliver a monologue to a captive audience is flatly ridiculous. Honoring Obama by conferring an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree is a major contradiction on its face. So far, this Notre Dame administration has done nothing but engage in one falsification after another regarding Church Law and Church teaching. This childish, arrogant behavior is nothing more than an extension of the 1967 Land O'Lakes, Wisconsin conference manifesto where Notre Dame and other major "Catholic" schools declared their autonomy from all clerical and lay authority in the name of "academic freedom". Unfortunately, this has only resulted in autonomy of academic freedom for those who oppose the Catholic Church's teachings, like heretic Fr. McBrien who was formerly the Chairman of the ND Theology Dept. until he finally stepped down several years ago.

Obama is relishing this opportunity so speak and be honored at a high-profile "Catholic" university to promote is pro-abortion agenda to persecute men and women of conscience who refuse to engage in the killing of other human beings, while proclaiming that by reversing the Mexico City Policy almost immediately after his inauguration, to "put and end to this futile debate" on abortion. Thanks, Father Jenkins. You have chosen to annoint someone who has all the trappings of becoming the first persecutor of the U.S. Catholic Church.

Published by: Robert Matzinger
Taylor/Michigan/USA 05/13/2009 08:35 PM EST

Father Jenkins says the invitation to Obama is about cultural engagement. So a "supposedly" Catholic university's president has decided to engage the culture of abortion. So we put aside our Catholic beliefs to culturally enage abortion? And according to Father Jenkins how wonderful it will be to send our students off with this is mind! I just don't get it! What has a happened to Our Ladys University? Where are the Fathers of the Holy Cross?

Published by: Francis Xavier T
Washington, D.C. 05/13/2009 07:04 PM EST

Reverend John Jenkins, your behavior prompted 360,000 thousands of signatures of petition to contest your invitation. Yet you stated that you saw no sign of that our differences led to division among the Catholics. You are truly a father of lies. What else do you want to see to satisfy you? Wars between the Catholics that would split the Church? How dare you?

Published by: ND alum
Dayton/Ohio/USA 05/13/2009 06:31 PM EST

Rate: Good

I am a Notre Dame alum. To you ND seniors who are boycotting your own graduation - what an absolute SHAME. To be so childishly defiant and hard-headed as to even let go of your own graduation because of this.

Just how arrogant do you have to be that you cannot even welcome the well-meaning President of the United States at your campus? Did Jesus not dine with the sinners? Have people not realized there have been speakers in the past that differed with other Catholic issues? How hypocritical to say anything for ONLY Obama and ONLY abortion? I am EMBARRASSED for my university and for your parents!

And to the protesting crowd who will be showing up at ND's doorstep on graduation day: this shouldn't be about politics. Stop imposing whatever side you're on and let the graduates have their well-deserved graduation. It is not about your issues - it is about THEM. How selfish to use their graduation as a political stunt!

To the rest of you: how immature do you have to be to assume the worst in our president, whoever he may be? How naive do you have to be to assume that inviting Obama to speak means unequivocally accepting whatever immoral spin you've decided it should be to dehumanize him today? Words cannot express how disgusted I am.

For the hundreds of us who need also be heard: WE SUPPORT YOU, NOTRE DAME AND FR. JENKINS!

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