Fr. Jenkins, Notre Dame betrayed true goal of Catholic education, archbishop says

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Fr. Jenkins / Archbishop Chaput

Of Human Life - By Archbishop Charles J. Chaput
Of Human Life - Addendum some common questions – By Archbishop Charles J. Chaput
Meeting with a group of disadvantaged young people of the rehabilitation community of the University of Notre Dame in the Church of the Sacred Heart in Sydney
Archbishop Chaput’s statement on Supreme Court legalization of partial-birth abortion

Denver, Colo., May 18, 2009 / 04:50 pm (CNA).- In a strong statement released today, the Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap, blamed Fr. John Jenkins C.S.C and the University of Notre Dame for betraying the true, original goal of Catholic higher education, not only by conferring a degree on President Barack Obama despite his anti-life record, but for attempting a disingenuous justification for the invitation during his commencement speech on Sunday.

Quoting Fr. Jenkins when he said that "I have found that even among those who did not go to Notre Dame, even among those who do not share the Catholic faith, there is a special expectation, a special hope, for what Notre Dame can accomplish in the world;" Archbishop Chaput says that "most graduation speeches are a mix of piety and optimism designed to ease students smoothly into real life. The best have humor. Some genuinely inspire. But only a rare few manage to be pious, optimistic, evasive, sad and damaging all at the same time."

"Father John Jenkins, C.S.C., Notre Dame’s president, is a man of substantial intellect and ability. This makes his introductory comments to President Obama’s Notre Dame commencement speech on May 17 all the more embarrassing."

The Archbishop of Denver recalls in his statement that the debate over President Obama’s appearance at Notre Dame "was never about whether he is a good or bad man. The president is clearly a sincere and able man."

"By his own words, religion has had a major influence in his life. We owe him the respect Scripture calls us to show all public officials. We have a duty to pray for his wisdom and for the success of his service to the common good -- insofar as it is guided by right moral reasoning."

Nevertheless, Archbishop Chaput adds, "we also have the duty to oppose him when he’s wrong on foundational issues like abortion, embryonic stem cell research and similar matters. And we also 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," he says.

According to Archbishop Chaput, in doing so, Notre Dame ignored the U.S. bishops’ guidance in their 2004 statement, "Catholics in Political Life," ignored "the concerns of Ambassador Mary Ann Glendon, Notre Dame’s 2009 Laetare Medal honoree – who, unlike the president, certainly did deserve her award, but finally declined it in frustration with the university’s action. It ignored appeals from the university’s local bishop, the president of the U.S. Catholic bishops’ conference, more than 70 other bishops, many thousands of Notre Dame alumni and hundreds of thousands of other American Catholics."

"Even here in Colorado –Chaput says, - I’ve heard from too many to count."

The Archbishop of Denver claims that "there was no excuse – none, except intellectual vanity – for the university to persist in its course."

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

"These are hard words," he admits, "but they’re deserved precisely because of Father Jenkins’s own remarks on May 17: Until now, American Catholics have indeed had ‘a special expectation, a special hope for what Notre Dame can accomplish in the world.’ For many faithful Catholics – and not just a ‘small but vocal group’ described with such inexcusable disdain and ignorance in journals like Time magazine -- that changed Sunday."

Archbishop Chaput finds in the May 17 events "some fitting irony."

"Almost exactly 25 years ago, Notre Dame provided the forum for Gov. Mario Cuomo to outline the ‘Catholic’ case for ‘pro-choice’ public service."

"At the time, Cuomo’s speech was hailed in the media as a masterpiece of American Catholic legal and moral reasoning. In retrospect, it’s clearly adroit. It’s also, just as clearly, an illogical and intellectually shabby exercise in the manufacture of excuses."

The archbishop also notes that "Father Jenkins’ explanations, and President Obama’s honorary degree, are a fitting national bookend to a quarter century of softening Catholic witness in Catholic higher education."

"Together," he adds in his statement, "they’ve given the next generation of Catholic leadership all the excuses they need to baptize their personal conveniences and ignore what it really demands to be ‘Catholic’ in the public square."

According to Chaput, the "heart of the matter" is that "Notre Dame is hardly alone in its institutional confusion."

"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."

The Archbishop of Denver says also that "the 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."

"If that happens, Notre Dame’s failure may yet do some unintended good," he concludes.

Read the Archbishop’s full statement: http://www.archden.org/index.cfm/ID/2081

Comments: 61

Subscriber comments:

Published by: felix
ondo/ondo/nigeria 06/06/2009 07:03 AM EST

i do not know the way they do their things in US,here in nigeria,when an eminent person wants to pay a catholic institution a visit,he or she must inform the bishop were the instituition,it is the bishop that will give him or her the permission for the invitation.but,there in US,the case is different.that was why Fr.jekins had the gut to misbehave,he is not under the control of anybody.the US bishops should try and review something related to what i've just explained.our priests need to be controlled.it is the job of the bishops to do that.

Published by: Christian
Frankfort/KY/USA 05/30/2009 10:47 PM EST

To all those clamoring for excommunication:

The great majority of Bishops and the past 4 "popes" were put under interdict for forcing a new religion at Vatican II and the aftermath that followed.

You can't give what you don't have!
ct

Published by: Johannim
Brea California USA 05/25/2009 10:41 AM EST

WHEN WILL THE U.S. CATHOLIC CONFERENCE OF BISHOPS GET UP THE GUTS TO STRIP NOTRE DAME, GEORGETOWN AND BOSTON COLLEGE OF THEIR CATHOLIC TITLES??? WHEN WILL "PRIESTS" LIKE JENKINS, MAHONEY & BROWN BE DEFROCKED "LAISIZED"? WHERE WERE THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS WHEN THAT OLD PRIEST WAS BEING ARRESTED ON A SO-CALLED CATHOLIC CAMPUS RUN BY THE SO-CALLED CATHOLIC RELIGIOUS ORDER CALLED HOLY CROSS FATHERS FOR PROTESTING ARCHBISHOP CHAPUT OR CARDINAL GEORGE ON THE FRONTLINES IN HANDCUFFS FOR THEIR BELIEFS, JUST A POOR HOLY OLD PRIEST. WHEN WILL THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AGAIN HAVE LEADERS THAT HAVE THE GUTS TO FOLLOW HIM WHO THEY CLAIM TO WORSHIP, DIDN'T JESUS CHRIST MAKE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE? TALK IS CHEAP

Published by: NORA AND HANK
DANBURY/CT/USA 05/22/2009 01:24 PM EST

thoproughly disgustedwith "father" jenkins- why did not Bp. D'arcy lower the boom on him?

Our descendants will not attend Notre Dame until it again becomes a truly Catholic Christian University.

Published by: James Chang
Lahore 05/22/2009 12:36 AM EST

If Catholic Universities can make such blunders inviring people or appointing people to head the istitutions who do not follow church teaching and policies, they should invite Islamist to take the institutions over and that what is the requirements of the Islamist are to take over the west including the educational system to make it totally Islamic.

Published by: child of God
Mo USA 05/21/2009 02:14 PM EST

The Bishops of the U.S. need to take back our Church. After I saw the Preist arrested, I cried as my heart has been broken into pieces. I guess they would arest Jesus or Mother Mary if they showed up.

Published by: CHRISTINE
SOUTH AFRICA 05/21/2009 01:54 PM EST

* * * RUSSELL SNOW !!!* * * WELL SAID * * * no need for further words.!!! GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS AND ALL YOUR BISHOPS.* * * FROM CHRISTINE... SOUTH AFRICA...P.S. i read them all and YOU are the one who said it all...will be good to hear more from you .. * * *

Published by: Bruce Roeder
Atchsion/Kansas 05/21/2009 12:32 PM EST

As a graduate of Webster University (formerly Loretto College) I can -- sadly -- understand that colleges can and do depart from their Catholic identity. The saddest part of the Notre Dame -- and Georgetown, and others -- scandal is that they insist on clinging to a Catholic identity, yet obviously act to the contrary. My hope is the bishops find the courage to show they mean business and protect the identity "Catholic" by insisting it be removed from the institutions which are abusing it. It would not be surrender to tell the truth - it is surrender to deny it.

Published by: Disciple
Philadelphia, PA 05/20/2009 05:50 PM EST

Yes, we should be charitable towards those with which we disagree. And, yes, our Bishops have not always performed in the best interests of U.S. Catholics, but the Church's stand on abortion as an intrinsic evil is a core belief those who would rationalize it away should be called to task. Recently, another Catholic university, Sacred Heart, in Fairfield, CT, chose to honor Kerry Kennedy, who purports to be Catholic, yet is an active pro-choice advocate. The local Bishop was opposed and boycotted the event, as he should have done.

Published by: Tim
Washington, DC 05/20/2009 12:21 PM EST

Cory:

I am indeed a priest, ordained over twenty years ago.

I am also more than familiar not only with the most recent catechism, but also with the richness of Catholic thought, teaching, theology and study with which our over-two-thousand years of history abounds.

I'm saddened to red the reference to a "True Remnant of the Cathlolic Faith," as this sounds like a plot line from a Dan Brown novel or the writings of an end-times millennialist.

Also, I suspect our brothers and sisters who celebrate Easter Rite liturgies in languages such as Greek and Syrian (among others), and who are fully in communion with the See of Rome, would take issue with your equating the "Latin Mass" with "true" Catholicism.

I wish you well. Peace!

Published by: Marie
St. Francisville, LA 05/20/2009 11:35 AM EST

The event at Notre Dame has blown the cover of supposedly "Catholic" universities. For decades, these universities, which are governed by independent lay boards, not subject even to the local Bishop, have abandoned true Catholic teaching. Idols such as "respect for academic freedom" and "respect for diverse views" have replaced RESPECT FOR THE TRUTH. The concept of "objective truth" is a foundation of Catholic teaching. Our culture now worships at the altar of tolerance. It is moral relativism to think that all views must be respected as equally true - all persons need to be respected, but not all views are worthy of respect. Jesus loved and showed respect for persons, but NEVER for beliefs or behavior that were contrary to the Divine Will. Notre Dame has lost its way. It appears to be driven by intellectual pride and human respect. Jesus' heart must be breaking.

Published by: james & Anne Maher
Ireland 05/20/2009 05:44 AM EST

Well said, Archbishop Chaput.

Christians and Catholics, all over the world, cry out for unity and resolve against the liberal, secular, relativistic agenda.

Unity, unity, unity is what is needed. We don't equate the death penalty with the willful murder of defenceless, guiltless, most vulnerable, most dependent unborn babies.

They represent LIFE in its purest, most unblemished, completely innocent form.

Please think about these adjectives.

Published by: Robert Sledz
Elk Grove Village, IL, United States 05/20/2009 03:49 AM EST

Where was Archbishop Chaput and all those 70 when ordinary people were getting arrested? They should have been there! They are cowards! Words go so far. Not One Bishop Showed Up. Not a One. What say you, Archbishop Chaput? You mean well, and so did Rev. Jenkins in his own twisted way but both of you allowed the arrests of Christians to take place without a single voice in their defense.

Published by: Xavier Romero ND '80
Woodstock, GA USA 05/19/2009 10:57 PM EST

I agree wholeheartedly with the Archbishop Chaput.

But, what I'd like to know is when are any of the Bishops actually take any action of any kind, and exercise their authority as Bishops of the Catholic Church ?

The Bishops of the United States are out of control and refuse to govern themselves according to the Code of Canon Law of the Catholic Church.

So, as long as they don't enforce the Church's rules, who's going to obey any of them ?

Why do the Bishops hide behind the laity, when the laity has absolutely no authority whatsoever to maintain order in the church ?

The Bishops of the U.S. need to take back our Church.

Published by: Will Williams
Raleigh, NC USA 05/19/2009 09:20 PM EST

The commencement podium at Notre Dame was desecrated by Barack Obama by its use to further spread his lie that abortion is debatably evil.

B.O. sees the world from the perspective of opinions and vote gathering, but doesn't realize that voting that the world is flat will not flatten it, nor will votes and opinion make the dead and discarded babies any less an injustice and grave sin with grave consequences.

At Obama's signature he causes our people's taxes to be used to kill the fetus of mothers in foreign countries, and he has vowed to further open the floodgates of abortion here in the United States. He stands only with Hitler in promoting death and expects our people to keep quiet as did the Germans.

Barack Obama will bear no fruit because Isaiah condemned his actions centuries ago

“...For your hands are stained with blood, Your fingers with guilt; Your lips speak falsehood, And your tongue utters deceit” (Isaiah 59:3)

May God strike him from his pride and confront him with the words, ”Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.”

Published by: psalm
Detroit/MI 05/19/2009 08:47 PM EST

"Fr" Tim,

Jesus and his disciples were not always warm and fuzzy. And then there are the prophets. Talk about tell it like it is kinda guys! There's nothing uncharitable about confronting something as evil as abortion head on and with moral clarity. It would be uncharitable not to confront those who support this evil. The times being as morally confused as they are call for a bit more than a "let's just all get along" response from the faithful.

There is nothing charitable about tearing apart babies in a womb. There is something terribly wrong with honoring pro-abortion politicians. I can't seem to picture Jesus or his apostles taking part in such an event.

Published by: Chris
Allentown, PA 05/19/2009 08:45 PM EST

With all due respect to Fr. Tim I am very disturbed that as a priest you characterize Jesus Christ and His disciples the way that you do. If I am not mistaken (an dplease correct me Father) Jesus welcomed everyone but challenged them "to sin no more." He simply did not say "let bygones be bygones!" As you pray remember to pray for yourself as someone who has the responsibility as an ordained priest to teach the Truth whether it be easy or difficult.

Published by: Niles
San Francisco CA 05/19/2009 08:43 PM EST

To Fr Tim from WA DC:
You are a rare voice of
Christian charity & reason
here! And I'll thank Marie
from CT for her thorough
lack of Christian charity,
for I have absolutely nothing
in my solid Catholic faith
of which to be ashamed.
I've said it before & I'll
say it again, one can NOT be selectively pro-life
(ie anti abortion) and
be simultaneously pro- death penalty
as is George W Bush!
It just does not work that way, folks. Pro-life means
protecting the sanctity
of human life from
conception until
NATURAL death (ie
not murdering people in the
name of the state, whether
the "state" be Texas of
Saudi Arabia & not
murdering innocent people
in an un-just war, such as Iraq. +Our Lady of Mercy,
pray for us.

Published by: JLS
Riverside, CA, USA 05/19/2009 08:33 PM EST

Notre Dame University has now become Notre Delusion University.

Published by: Nancy
Parkland, FL, USA 05/19/2009 07:51 PM EST

I am praying for a proper outcome to the Notre Dame scandal caused by Fr. Jenkins. I am shocked at how easy it is for him to disobey the bishops and then rationalize an excuse to justify his action. This is bad fruit, this is a bad example for all those students in his care. He should not be in a position to influence our kids.

Published by: Dee
Fairfax Va USA 05/19/2009 07:39 PM EST

My heart broke when they bestowed that honorary degree on Mr. Obama. In my eyes, Notre Dame is now a secular college so, this institution does not require any support from the Catholic Church.

Published by: Paul M Hupf
Daly City CA, USA 05/19/2009 04:54 PM EST

My college years were at a Jesuit school in eastern USA just before WWII. If the Jesuit priests who taught us then, were today to walk on campus at ND or for that matter at most colleges identified as Catholic (Jesuit institutions included) they would not want any longer to be identified with the school they once so proudly and effectively administered as a Catholic institution. Our faith as Catholics means much more than "dialogue" or "good will to others." There is no room for debate on the subject of abortion.

Published by: Margaret
Baltimore MD USA 05/19/2009 04:53 PM EST

Father Jenkins should be removed and disiplined. Shame on him for doing this.He dishonored Our Mother Mary and Jesus.

Published by: Pat Buyce
Maple Valley, WA USA 05/19/2009 04:35 PM EST

I am so grateful to Archbishop Chaput, and the other faithful bishops, for their steadfast courage in the face of this evil - which is the culture of death. May I recommend a book for all Catholics to read which is "Lord of the World" by Robert Hugh Benson and pray that we keep the Faith in the midst of all that is in store for us. My prayers are with my Catholic brothers and sisters, Archbishop Chaput and with all the clergy. May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ turn the hearts of parents, all politicians and those in power, to seek first and foremost the protection of all "little children" born and unborn throughout the world.

Published by: jedesto
Chattanooga/TN/USA 05/19/2009 04:26 PM EST

The majority of US bishops had the good sense to hold their peace over the UND/Obama matter. All US bishops know that their credibility has not recovered from the real scandal of clerical sex abuse. Even so, however, the 70-odd bishops who took "scandal" over UND/Obama welcomed it as is a smoke screen to hide the real scandal; they are preaching to the choir!

Published by: Cory
Seattle/WA/USA 05/19/2009 04:18 PM EST

Tim:
If indeed you are a "priest" as you claim, than you should spend a bit more time with the catechism. The dignity of every human includes first and foremost the weakest in society, the unborn.

Moreover, your ad hominum attack against the "fundamentalist" Catholics is irrelevant.

Finally, It is precisely the Traditional Catholics and the Latin Mass that are the True Remnant of the Catholic Faith. Vatican II is filled with ambiguities that continue to cloud the Truth, leading once Catholic institutions to seek the aprobation of the World over the priase of Him who counts.

Published by: Tomasz
Clinton 05/19/2009 04:06 PM EST

To those who place abortion as more important than the death penalty or killing of innocent people in Iraq, you cannot morally or ethically justify one as being more important or more degrading as the other. In all cases, it is intentional killing of a human being, whether it is a baby in the womb, a family whose house was bombed, an elderly person in a nursing home or a man on a death row. The movement is pro-life, not pro-birth. We need to be consistent, if we are to be credible. It is true that more babies are aborted than people killed in wars or executed with death penalty. But it does not make one more important than the other. Remember: seamless garment metaphore of Cardinal Bernadin. Jesus was consistent all over the board. It would have been easier to stop invation in Iraq, than to abolish abortion, if the Bp. stood up and spoke up, they did not (the Pope did, but the bishop's did not listen). I do believe that we will win, and the truth will out, only if we are consistent in our pro-life efforts, if we are open to dialogue with those who disagree with us, and stop fighting with one another and call each other names. The truth is 99 percent of engaged catholics, no matter whether conservative or liberal, see abortion as evil and wish to do something about it.

Published by: russell snow
lords valley, PA 05/19/2009 03:44 PM EST

Tomasz: while I understand your hope to use dialogue to move the country away from the culture of death, dialogue presupposes good faith. There has never been a dialogue on abortion because those who support it have never admitted that what is being chosen is the destruction of a human being. Our Lord's patience with bad faith ended with his final dialogue with the Pharisees asked Him where is authority came from. Jesus said tell me from where did John the Baptist get his authority. They lied to him and said they did not know. He said neither will I tell you from whence my authority comes. Dialogue was ended. Our Lord refused to dialogue with those who were not interested in truth but only their understanding of reality. So we ask, is the fetus a human being or not? Obama answered that he did not know. Dialogue is not possible, because only the willfully ignorant can claim that the fetus in not human.

Published by: Jack Angelo Territo
Buffalo,ny,U.S.A. 05/19/2009 03:01 PM EST

People, of all i"ve read about Notre Dame, pro-abortion,pro-homosexuality Catholics and reporters NO ONE has bothered ,to ask, what does the Pope think about LUKEWARM Catholics??? Where is The Pope ???

Published by: Ursula Huber Rea
Danville, CA 05/19/2009 01:49 PM EST

I support our Bishop and need an assurance that we can combat the pro life presence at all levels. Our lives are infused with evil and the fewer principles we have visible, the less our younger generation will abide by them. I remember when I was young, I felt it was an honorable thing to be open to all ideas! Of course, that is ridiculous and totally naive. The 10 Commandments say it all. Thou shalt not kill!
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and especially our Holy Mother. The irony is that she is the patron of this university - and to have to listen to a pro choice president must have made her cry many tears. She is, after all, our mother, too!!!
In Christ, Ursula

Published by: John Micallef
Malta 05/19/2009 01:14 PM EST

Whatever happened to dialogue when the President signed in favour of funding overseas abortion? What dialogue took place at ND last Sunday?

Published by: Anthony
orefield, pa. 05/19/2009 01:07 PM EST

We need more bishops like Charles Chaput O.f.M. he is not affarid to speak the truth. As for N.D. and their liberal faculty, God will have the last word on their fate as a Catholic University.

Published by: ED
CALIFORNIA 05/19/2009 01:05 PM EST

Why is Father jenkins still at Notre Dame ,the Pope should send him to the poorest of the poor to learn some humility.Until that is done this scandal remains unsolved!

Published by: Mike Johnson
Southwest Washington, USA 05/19/2009 12:45 PM EST

If Archbishop Chaput is so strongly convicted, which I believe he is, then he should put his beliefs and leadership into action. Where was he, and the rest of the "spiritual leaders" of the flock, when the flock was protesting and subjecting themselves to arrest? (Alan Keyes for example) Actions always speak louder than words. We all are called to live the gospel values, and if the majority of the Catholics in this country were led by "good and faithful shepherds", things would change quickly. The government, currently led by President Obama, could not fund their anti-life policies if people refused to give them the taxes they extract to carry out this intrinsic evil. If the priests, bishops, cardinals and Pope won't stand up on this fundamental issue in leadership, then they too do not deserve the basic funds to cloth and feed themselves,from a floundering and more and more confused flock. Our Lord and the faithful in Heaven, must be deeply sad by all of our actions and inactions. As John Paul II so eloquently and simply stated, Americans and their freedom call them to do what they OUGHT, not what they want.

Published by: Peter Hart
Sturbridge 05/19/2009 12:18 PM EST

Such misinformation! Yes, some of the commenters are missing more than just something. They should read the CCC and statemants from the Pope and the bishops. Abortion, War, and Capital Punishment are NOT equatable. Please become an informed Catholic. Abortion - the taking of an innocent life, is NEVER justifiable. There is a "Just War Theory," and the state does have the right to execute a criminal although the late John Paul II did not think it necessary to exercize that right "today."

Published by: Jean-Pierre Chacon
Miami, FL, USA 05/19/2009 12:10 PM EST

Dear Niles:

Neither the death penalty or war are intrinsic evils as is the case with abortion. If they were, then God would be guilty of committing and or commanding evil acts as found in the Old Testament when he directs and aids the Israelites in war.

There is the concept of just war.

If you believe that Jesus' saying to turn the other cheek applies to someone whose duty it is to protect others, then you would have the teaching confused as do many (especially non-believers who throw things out there thinking they are contradictory and not knowing or wanting to know the Truth). As a Christian you are compelled to protect and defend those under your charge to the point of death.

On the death penalty, Pope John Paul II commented that in this day and age it can be argued that the death penalty may no longer be necessary to protect the people. This does not make the death penalty evil, just no longer necessary with the option of life in prison, etc. However, again if you go to the Bible, in Exodus, there are numerous instances in which God demands the death penalty, therefore the death penalty is not an intrinsic evil because God neither commits evil or commands evil to be committed.

The INTENTIONAL taking of an INNOCENT life is murder and therefore ALWAYS AND EVERYWHERE AN EVIL ACT.

In war, innocent people die as a result of collateral damage. We go through extreme pains to avoid such deaths unlike those we fight against who purposely hide behind them for propaganda.

Published by: Sister Mary Patrick
Libertyville, IL USA 05/19/2009 12:06 PM EST

I couldn't agree more with Archbishop Chaput - BUT, having gone to Notre Dame to protest with 3 other of my Sisters, I have to say in frustration that talk is cheap. When will action by the Church be taken on this issue? Strip Notre Dame of its "Catholic" identity which it has so often betrayed, and remove Fr. Jenkins. We faithful Catholics deserve that.

Published by: rita
Houston/Tx/USA 05/19/2009 11:48 AM EST

Rate: Excellent

The Archbishop is absolutely correct. Just as Notre Dame could not justify inviting an anti-Semite, promoter of terrorism, or acknowledged racist, neither can the university justify honoring the most pro death president in the history of the Republic.

Published by: Marie
Ledyard, CT 05/19/2009 11:40 AM EST

Niles: You are a misinformed Catholic,and a weak one as well. The death of the unborn cries out to the Lord. It is more haneous then the death penalty, or the Iraq war. Why don't you read the Catechism of the Catholic Church? Your implication that you won't be a real Catholic until the Church is in an ideal state makes me sick to my stomach as a practicing Catholic. You are exactly the type of person who would stand under the foot of the Cross and say, "well, if someone else does something first to save Christ from harms way, then I will step in, too. Your are the type of Catholic the Church does not need! And to invoke Our Lady after saying you liked what Fr Jenkins did?....You should be throughly ashamed of yourself!!!

Published by: Tom McLaughlin
Thousand Oaks, Ca 05/19/2009 11:38 AM EST

We have been called to love all of God's creation.
Let those who believe they are without sin continue to point out selected sin's they see in others. Perhaps their focus in the end will soften their hearts.

Published by: Maria Antonia
Bolingbrook, IL 05/19/2009 11:36 AM EST

Father Jenkins needs to be removed from his position. The difference in the number of people that die from the death penalty and abortion are in the millions. No comparison here with Bush. I was one of the few who was with the Vatican and the pope that was AGAINST the war in Iraq. However, the issue is not that he came to speak, but the award he was given. I'm ashamed that this happened. What I haven't heard from any news source is how Clinton was also never invited because of his pro-active pro-abortion views.

Published by: Tim
Washington, DC 05/19/2009 11:33 AM EST

Rate: Regular

What an embarrassment Chaput and other uncharitable fundamentalists are to Catholic Christianity!

Even more sad is the tone and tenor of some comments here -- comments that seek a dictatorial-style of Catholicism that would be foreign to Jesus, His early disciples, and those who throughout the centuries have sought the ways of justice, peace, charity and true discipleship.

As a priest, I pray for a new generation of Catholic leaders, faithful to the spirit of the Second Vatican Council, who recognize the fundamentl dignity of every human person -- including those with whom we disagree -- and the responsibility of Christians to engage the world constructively and fruitfully.

Published by: Tomasz
Clinton 05/19/2009 11:21 AM EST

Rate: Bad

Larry, the problem is the the bishops cannot replace the leadership at ND. They have no power and they have no case. I think that aggrivates them - or a least some of them. There is the whole group of bishops who supported Obama's presence at ND. ND is still catholic, it is still pro-life, and it takes its mission seriously. And what do you mean by "real leadership" - people who are not willing to talk to those who disagree with them, people who are so one-sided that they fail to see the goodness even in those they disagree with, people. Jesus dined at the house of Zaccheus, and that got a lot of people upset. But because he set with him, it changed his life. Abortion steals no money, it takes lives. But I rather follow the example of Jesus, than that of Pharisees. It seems to work better.

Published by: Tomasz
Clinton 05/19/2009 11:10 AM EST

I have to say that it puzzles me why intelligent people can't see that abortion is a destruction of human life. This debate is therefore so much more complex for the issue has become not simply moral issue, but also political and cultural. I don't believe that "demonizing" supporters of abortion will lead us anywhere. I believe we need to start a dialogue as difficult as it might be. For this I applaud ND. It was clear, in the words of Fr. Jenkin's that"ND opposes the pro-abortion policies and stem cell research. The President knows that too. But he still came and engaged in the dialogue. I think that Judge Noonan speech was excellent best of all. The truth will out - he said. But it will if we dialogue and not yell at each other. I do believe that the bishops need to be more consistent. They failed to oppose the war in Iraq. The day before US invaded Iraq, they were drafting a documment opposing the use of condomns. No bishop publicly spoke agaist it. And some of those bishops who have spoken against abortion so loudly and Obama's visit to ND, have actually supported the invation. If Iraq were to be bombed by condoms they, I suspect, would issue a document over night. WE NEED TO BE CONSISTENT if we are to be taken seriously. The truth will out...

Published by: Chris
Allentown, PA 05/19/2009 08:55 AM EST

In response to Niles comments in regard to the death penalty. Please familairize yourself with the moral difference between abortion, the death penalty and war. While all these issues are important they are certainly not the same. It is frustrating and damaging to see these issues conflated into one statement of "pro-life". It is ironic that you call Fr. Jenkin's leadership "fine" while invoking the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Published by: Mike
South Bend, In 05/19/2009 08:49 AM EST

Hey...were's the president? I'm still here at Notre Dame waiting for the dialog on abortion to begin.

Published by: GFM
St. Louis, MO 05/19/2009 08:24 AM EST

Yes Niles you have missed something. You have lost your ability to reason. Read Archbishop Chaput's statement again about foundational issues as seen through the light of faith.
By the way Helen Prejean is not consistently pro-life. She has difficulty being clear on the moral offensiveness of abortion and she like you is unable to distinguish between capital punishment and abortion.
As a Catholic, what would you fight for? Why are you Catholic? Do Catholic institutions have the right to uphold the teachings of the Church?

Published by: Andrew Nelson
Columbia, SC USA 05/19/2009 04:57 AM EST

Niles, the death penalty along with war is not always evil. Abortion for any reason is evil. Also, if you are so concerned about the innocent, there is not anyone more innocent than an unborn baby. Lastly, sometimes you have to confront evil, as Edmund Burke said, "all that is necessary for the truimph of evil is for good men to do nothing".

Published by: catherine kennedy
melbourne victoria AUSTRALIA 05/19/2009 02:45 AM EST

Rate: Excellent

Archbishop CHAPUT
MAGNIFICO! CHE BRAVO ENCORE! your brilliant defence of the innocent vioceless defenceless unborn shows that you always deliver for the ones that need your caring voice the most!
Now what you said above re Obama was fair gracious and just!
BUT, a USA president may serve eight years
but the average lifespan of an unborn carried to term goes way beyond that!

So people can drag up all the deflecting side issues they like
the bottom line is that all unborn have to be protected for society to prosper
It is heartwarming that the Catholic Church has archbishops like you that lead the way in protecting the unborn!
Think how many innocent lives are saved because of your actions!
but there is MORE to be done!
The momentum of the pro abortionists has to be thwarted!!!!!
Abortion does no one any good its such a waste of innocent human life
the way forward is for all to work relentlessly to save ALL unborn lives
the pro choice side should be dismantled
FINITO
simple as that!
The world has enough of abortion
time for renewal a pro life surge is what is needed
the pro abortion mindset that advocates the easy opt out of caring for an unborn has to be EXPUNGED forever!
Life is NEVER EVER just for the PRIVILEGED, THE PLANNED, THE PERFECT!
simple as that!

Published by: Roman
Woodland/CA/USA 05/19/2009 01:10 AM EST

Out of this unfortunate event, Catholics need to galvanize like they have throughout the centuries and ignite a new era of bold witnessing of our Catholic faith. As Archbishop Raymond Burke so eloquently put it the other day: "Today more than ever, our nation is in need of Catholics who know their faith deeply and express their faith, with integrity, by their daily living." God bless the many bishops who continue to be the lanterns that guide us in times of darkness. May your light shine always.

Published by: Megev
U.S.A. 05/19/2009 12:58 AM EST

He is absolutely right in his analysis of what has happened at the University of Notre Dame! Truly unbecoming of a Catholic university. If it were not such an event like this commencement exercies for graduation, such controversy would be greatly lessened. God have mercy on us all that it did. I support and pray for this courageous servant of God who is making aware of the need to witness the truth and life issues are one of the key dear and of the Gospel of Christ. Sadly, a revival/renewal/reform is needed to spur the other silent Catholic bishops and even parish priests into action! What has happened in an esteemed Catholic institution of higher learning is a sign for a Counter-Reformation II....the Vatican II has made progress, but by not vigorously checking on the abuses of opening "fresh air"-i.e. open-mindedness to unorthodox, distorted, and diverse ideologies, dialogue with other religions and our "separated bretheren" , and liberal thinking/socio-economic justice emphasis-we have had progress at the expense of lax Catholic teaching and a widespread acceptance/infiltration of relativism, along with secular humanism, including wholistic indifference to our responsiblity as Catholics and truly conscious and self-aware human beings. God bless this bishop and He bring down His justice on such defiant priests and laymen, within our Church, as the event of Notre Dame has made itself play out. The same time mercy and hope for a renewal of religious orthodoxy and committment.

Published by: David Larsen
Scituate Mass 05/19/2009 12:51 AM EST

Be proud to have faith in God. Faith is everything. Secular humanism is a fancy package with nothing in it. Beware of the secular humanist and their doctrine of compromise. This is the confusing rhetoric of our day. President Obama speaks like a "Secular Humanist"he is fancy sounding.I don't know what his core values are. I don't think he is Christian I think he is a Humanist. It would be nice to know for sure.

Published by: James Chang
Lahore 05/19/2009 12:40 AM EST

A lesson for the futrue. The church should appoint heads of catholic institutions who following teachings of the church and these heads should not invite chief guests who do not respect the teaching of the catholic church and institutions for which purpose they have been set up.This is a real shame and worst than a secular institute.

Published by: Larry
Arkansas 05/18/2009 09:22 PM EST

Rate: Excellent

In this release, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput has demonstrated the kind of courage we hoped to see in our Church leaders. I am proud of him and others who have taken a firm stand.
Next step, replace Fr. Jenkins and others at Notre Dame with real Catholic leadership.

Published by: Niles
San Francisco CA 05/18/2009 08:57 PM EST

Rate: Bad

If only Archbishop Chaput
and his brother bishops were as outspoken about the death penalty and Iraq war. Am I missing something here,
but George W Bush gave the
ND commencement address
8 years ago & he was one of the
most pro death-penalty
governors (TX) in the history
of the US, and as President
got us into a seemingly
un-ending war(Iraq) in which countless numbers of innocent
people, and our troops have been killed. I, like Sister
Helen Prejean am consistently pro-life, ie
anti-abortion, anti-euthanasia , anti-death penalty & anti-war. When my
brothers & sisters in the Catholic & Christian faith fully embrace the meaning of pro-life, I'll be the 1st to join in
protests an risk arrest.
In the meantime, I'm
proud of the whole ND community under the fine
leadership of Fr Jenkins &
very much enjoyed hearing
our President, Mr Obama's
speech. +Immaculate Heart
of Mary, pray for us &
Sacred Heart of Jesus,
have mercy on us.

Published by: albert marek
dallas tx USA 05/18/2009 08:55 PM EST

Rate: Very Good

The best thing Father can do is resign. The best thing Notre Dame can do is to remove Catholic from it's identification. I am totally embarrased.

Published by: Russell Snow
Lords Valley, PA 05/18/2009 08:53 PM EST

Rate: Excellent

It is good to know that there are bishops like this, including my own bishop in the Diocese of Scranton. On the verge of old age, I have watched and experienced the battle for the American Church unfold. I watched as Fordham U. appointed a man,I knew. as Chairman the its Communications Department whose field was pornographic films. I witnessed first hand the revolt of the Catholic intellectuals and noted how they learned from from the 16th c. academics how to create an alternate magisterium. I encountered many modernist priests and religious in my own academic and religious life and was astonished at how they misread the documents of Vatican II and disregarded the teaching of, perhaps, one of the greatest popes in centuries. Having studied the history of Holy Mother Church for many years, I have seen how the devil, so to speak, works both sides of the street: those who saw nothing good in Vatican II and those who cynically manipulated its documents to fit their modernist agendas. And so it has ever been down through the ages. So it will be until Our Lord returns to claim His Bride, the purified and spotless One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

Published by: Chuck
Quincy, MA 05/18/2009 08:49 PM EST

Rate: Very Good

Spot on, Archbishop Chaput. Your statemetn helped me through some of the white anger I felt abotu Fr. jenkins' smarmy and sancimonious attitude through all this. I questioned whether I wanted to even remain Catholic. After all, if a priest and a Catholic leader sacrifices our faith for acclaim, why the hell should the rest of us bother. Archbishop Chaput's words are my answer. God bless you for yoru courage and clarity.

Published by: Sharon M Hansen
Genoa 05/18/2009 08:24 PM EST

Rate: Very Good

To make a statement to faithful and cafeteria catholics, Father Jenkins needs to be removed from his position. He betrayed the our faith. I'm glad my child is going to the University of Dallas where I know the faith is followed.

Published by: kathy
chicago 05/18/2009 07:47 PM EST

Excellent statement! No mincing of words!

Published by: Mike Ference
Phoenix, AZ 05/18/2009 06:50 PM EST

Rate: Excellent

"But just as Jesus’ disciples did not sit in a corner doing nothing, neither can we allow ourselves to be pushed aside by those in our society today who would say that we should keep our faith only in our churches or in our homes" (Today's Homily of the Day).

The Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. speaks truth in his letter. However, how is the Catholic laity expected to be "authentic" Catholics when Church leaders don't go beyond words and take action to revoke the status of "Catholic" from Notre Dame, require that the University change its name so as not to dihonor Our Lady, or demand the resignation of Fr. Jenkins?

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