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Notre Dame president argues bishops' statement not for Protestants like Obama
 Fr. John Jenkins CSC
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.- Fr. John Jenkins, the President of the University of Notre Dame, has written a letter to the school's board of trustees, defending the university’s invitation of President Obama to the school’s May commencement ceremony. Fr. Jenkins argues in his letter that while many have criticized the school’s move, canon lawyers and the USCCB document, “Catholics in Political Life,” both support his action. However, Jenkins explains, he interpreted the line to refer only to dissident Catholics, not Protestants such as President Obama. “Because the title of the document is ‘Catholics in Political Life,’ we understood this to refer to honoring Catholics whose actions are not in accord with our moral principles.” “This interpretation was supported by canon lawyers we consulted, who advised us that, by definition, only Catholics who implicitly recognize the authority of Church teaching can act in ‘defiance’ of it,” he continues. “Moreover, fellow university presidents have told me that their bishops have told them that in fact it is only Catholic politicians who are referred to in this document.” Fr. Jenkins does not address the close to 30 bishops who have interpreted the statement to include Protestants by condemning the Obama invite. In his letter, Fr. Jenkins moves on to the next sentence in the bishops’ document: “They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.” Fr. Jenkins defends his interpretation of the line by saying that in “every statement I have made about the invitation of President Obama and in every statement I will make, I express our disagreement with him on issues surrounding the protection of life, such as abortion and embryonic stem cell research. If we repeatedly and clearly state that we do not support the President on these issues, we cannot be understood to ‘suggest support.’" Finally, the document states that "we need to do more to persuade all people that human life is precious and human dignity must be defended. This requires more effective dialogue and engagement with all public officials... ." Fr. Jenkins notes that, “However misguided some might consider our actions, it is in the spirit of providing a basis for dialogue that we invited President Obama.” “On May 17 we will welcome the ninth President who will receive an honorary degree from Notre Dame,” the priest-president concludes. “It will be an important opportunity to bring the leader of our nation to Notre Dame, and, I hope, a joyful day for our graduates and their families.” Subscriber comments:
Published by: Anne
Troy/Michigan/USA 05/23/2009 06:28 PM EST
Dear fellow concerned Catholics,
In reference to this scandal caused by Rev. John Jenkins, I think of Luke 13: 34&35, "Salt is good; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is fit neither for the land nor for the dunghill; men throw it away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear." It is important for us lay Catholics to thoughtfully, and prayerfully, address our concerns to our Bishops, and proper Vatican officials. They will have ears to hear us ordinary lay Catholics, the salt of the earth. They have the proper authority to effectively address the issue,and therefore we have the obligation to speak our concerns to them.
Published by: patricia
st pau; mn.usa 04/30/2009 02:02 PM EST  Rate: Bad
Dear Fr. Greg.
I do no mean any disrespect to you or our catholic church, but priest abuse is a DISGRACE, not our president speaking at Notre Dame. Think about it and respond.
Published by: Father Greg
Chicago, IL 04/25/2009 10:56 AM EST Rate: Excellent
Mr. Paul M. Fitzgerald, Fr. Jenkins was required by canon law to first consult the bishop of South Bend before making this decision. No priest is a law(maker)unto himself, but must always act in accord with the bishop within the diocese he ministers. Fr. Jenkins deliberately ignored this mandate and has single-handedly foisted a grave scandal that involves a non-negotiable moral absolute that involves the worst of the worst child abuse that has been fully supported by the current president; and even as a senator in Illinois, favored the killing of failed abortions, "lest that lead to the weakening of abortion laws."
Published by: Spiro Spero
South Bend, IN 04/17/2009 03:19 PM EST
Fr. Jenkins: "Golly gee, I was sure that the bishops' constaints applied ONLY to how universities should screen CATHOLICS who might be honored. Quite proudly we've already booked speaking appearances and degrees for the godless Grand Dragon of the Klan, a panel of Protestant slave-owners, a virulently anti-Semitic Muslim, and, the real prize, Satan himself who swears like the devil that he's no Catholic."
Published by: Delia M. Quinain
Chicago/IL/USA 04/16/2009 09:50 PM EST
Along with Obama, why not also invite Fr. Pfleger and Minister Wright? Fr. Jenkins should not run ND, he should become a lawyer and a thick face, politician.
Published by: Dorothy Swingle
Zanesville, Ohio 04/16/2009 07:12 PM EST
Jenkins needs REMOVED
Published by: Nancy Heise
Parkland, FL, USA 04/16/2009 11:40 AM EST
Fr. Jenkins, you made a serious mistake and you still have time to correct it. I do not think your defensive statements do anything but prove to all that Notre Dame needs serious regime change immediately.
Published by: norbertscanlan
Stroudsburg, PA USA 04/16/2009 09:29 AM EST
Fr. Jenkins, may I request you reread Matt 23 : 27 - "woe to you. . .You are like whitewashed tombs, beautiful to look at on the outside, but inside full of filth and dead men's bones. Thus you present to view a holy exterior while hypocrisy and evil fill you within." Further in verse 31 a word is used that aptly refers to those who advocate the destruction of innocents and embryos for stem cell research - ". . . murderers." Just what does our supreme leader and followers believe?
Published by: Patrick McCaffery
South Bend, Indiana 04/16/2009 09:23 AM EST
This is truly a sad situation! I am embarressed for the University of Notre Dame and pray for Father Jenkin's to repeal his decision here. Thank you Bishop D'Arcy for boycotting this commencement!
Published by: Paul Michael Phelan
Bridgewater, VA, USA 04/15/2009 11:20 PM EST
This Administration has gone overboard in reversing Right to Life Legislation, selecting Freedom of Choice candidates for offices, and even the Speaker of the House was told by Pope Benedict, that her stand on Free Choice was against the moral teachings of the Church. Notre Dame has watered down its stand on the lives of millions of unborn babies to rubber stamp the President's choices and how will the citizens of this country see it? We pray for the President and Government officials to change their voting on abortion and select the Right to Life stand, the correct moral stand God wants us to practice. Amen.
Published by: Joseph
Chicago, IL 04/15/2009 11:19 PM EST
Where is Bishop Jenky's response to this scandal? Why is this member of the Notre Dame Board of Trustees missing in action?
Published by: James
Tampa/FL 04/15/2009 08:16 PM EST
To Sam the man from Dallas,
What are you talking about? Have you not read any of the churches documents and the Bible. We need to be patient with men like you who argue over serious matters and throw out a phony argument about our frustration with President Obama and how it has to be with the color of his skin. What a laugh and bunch of hooey! This is about life, love and the message of Christ about all, ALL, life being sacred! Black or not, life should be protected by the top person in our nations justice department!. I would give Obama all the support in the world if he could value life. To date, he claims it is above his pay grade to determine what is a biological fact of life. A baby in the womb is a human being, human person. Please, read the decalogue- THE TEN COMMANDMENTS - and re-see the Lord's commandment against murder. A baby in the womb is a person and Mr. Obama has no problem breaking this commandment and he is enshrining laws for all Americans forcing murder down our throats. Stop the garbage and focus on the problem! Leave color out of it, clearly the majority of Americans have done so, why can't you?
Published by: michael
pelham,alabama,alabama 04/15/2009 04:04 PM EST
I notice one of the writers stated that it was understandable why Obama speaking at ND would be opposed because of racism.That in itself is a statement of prejudice and apparently a pro-abortionist who does not understand killing the unborn is a mortal sin.
Pray for his soul.
Published by: Bill Sr.
Jacksonville, FL 04/15/2009 02:37 PM EST
My goodness, the narrowness of some peoples vision and perspectives. You wonder if they even have the faculties to construct an objective thought or evaluation. Just stop for a minute being liberal or conservative, democrat or republican, a Bush or Obama basher and consider this.
This is long but stay focused: To dare decry the success of bipartisan congressionally approved military actions designed and implemented to free millions of oppressed people and end the regime of a terrorist supporting tyrant who had not conformed to U.N. sanctions from the first Gulf War and would not allow U. N. weapons inspectors to do their job, with it’s resulting free elections, reopening schools and hospitals, little girls being educated, women voting, and the end of torture and imprisonment of dissidents at the cost of thousands of American soldiers lives calling this evil invented by “rabid hate filled rightwing extremists” and praise in comparison all the good intentions of a man to be honored by a Catholic university (not a president, not a black man, not a reformer, just as a man with his own conscience) who promotes an agenda totally opposite of what the Holy Father seeks as the Culture of Life and actually voted three times to assure that surviving children of a failed abortion be allowed to die if that be the desire of the mother…is nothing short of insanity. What devil deception has been loosed upon us?
Published by: Robert
Muncie, IN USA 04/15/2009 01:19 PM EST
And it only took 25 days for Fr. Jenkins and his legal advisors to come up with that concocted rationalization of this heretic plan? Baloney!!
Published by: Joe Robinson
Fairfax, VA, USA 04/15/2009 12:40 PM EST
"However, Jenkins explains, he interpreted the line to refer only to dissident Catholics, not Protestants such as President Obama. “Because the title of the document is ‘Catholics in Political Life,’ we understood this to refer to honoring Catholics whose actions are not in accord with our moral principles.”"
This interpretation defies logic. When the bishops wrote that document, it was concerned with the interaction between Catholics and the political realm. It was specifically designed to teach Catholics how to faithfully live with regard to that realm. Which is to say: the document was and is emphatically not a document that treats upon only with the internal workings of the Church. The latter is precisely the flawed interpretation Fr. Jenkins is now claiming as the correct one, saying that the teachings of that document apply only to Catholics and "not Protestants such as President Obama." Given the nature and purpose of the Bishops' publication, Fr. Jenkins' statement is nonsense.
Published by: c phelps
il 04/15/2009 12:31 PM EST
Fr. Jenkins,
I think its time for you to resign from your position. You clearly use wordsmithing in order to secure your rational but unrealistic conclusion. I suppose it would have been OK to have Hitler give a speech as well, given your argument. You clearly have lost sight of the point. Having a person speak because they are not Catholic but are in deed responsible for a million deaths, in your mind, is OK. Sorry you must go and perhaps the leder of your order or hopefully the Pope, will let you go.
Published by: Bob
Brooklyn 04/15/2009 10:54 AM EST
Fr. Jenkins seems to be grasping at straws (legalistic ones at that) in order to justify his error in inviting the President to speak. Do truth and morality apply only to Catholics? Would the bishops' prohibition not apply to "Catholics" who do not "implicitly recognize the authority of Church teaching" and, therefor, would not be acting in defiance of it by taking a contrary stance?
Yes, we should have "dialogue" with those who hold aberrant positions, in order to educate them as to the Truth. The sign of the Catholicity of an institution should be more than the crucifix that may remain in front of the classroom. Perhaps it's time for our bishops to find some unity, present orthodox teaching in their roles as members of the Magisterium and stop confusing the People of God with nuances and conflicting opinions of what the Church may or may not mean in its teachings. The Truth -- and, therefore, its proclamation by the Church -- should not vary from diocese to diocese. There is no need to give Mr. Obama or any other like-minded politician an honorary degree from any Catholic institution. It's time for Fr. Jenkins and his consultants to recognize that a mistake has been made and to withdraw the invitation. Mr. Obama, for his part, should recognize the gravity of his position and gracefully withdraw from participating in this exercise. Anything less will only deepen the scandal.
Published by: Michael
Nashville/TN/USA 04/15/2009 06:27 AM EST
Fr. Jenkins is trying to observe "the letter of the law" but overlooking its spirit. The obvious fact remains that ND is not engaging in dialog, but rather giving an honor to someone who is openly promoting mortal sin, whether they are a Catholic or not. It is amazing how something so morally obvious and clear can seem cloudy and complicated to those in academe.
Published by: Bill Sr.
Jacksonville FL 04/15/2009 06:16 AM EST
With this response to the bishops, the trustees, and the catholic faithful in general it is abundantly clear that Fr. Jenkins has gone over the edge and must be replaced if we still want ND to be recognized as one of if not the leading "Catholic" university in the country.
Using Fr. Jenkins own "secular" logic the catholic community in America has no other choice or else we will join him on the slippery slide into heresy. It's that simple!
Published by: John
Pittsburgh, PA 04/15/2009 05:55 AM EST
Fr. Jenkins is sounding like Nancy Pelosi, with his lame attempt to rationalize away his decisions. To almost anyone, the Bishops directive was self explanatory. For Jenkins to consult canon lawyers seems to me that he was looking for an excuse. sort of like Henry VIII, who also found canon lawyers to support his compromise. His comments also show a distinct lack of courage, to rationalize rather than simply state the obvious. Our Lady deserves a better leader than that.
Published by: C.J. Seeker
PA. / USA 04/15/2009 01:23 AM EST
"Fr." John Jenkins' lame explanations as to why he felt it acceptable to invite the most anti-life, pro-abort president we've ever had to a campus named after "Our Lady", the protectress of the unborn, are all the more offensive because this poor excuse for a priest doesn't even have the guts to own up to his own decisions. Rather, he argues semantics with regard to canonical statements, saying he thought they only applied to non-Catholics. If this man can't even interpret a simple Church document with more discernment and wisdom than he has shown in this case, then how is it he came to be head of this university? And what kind of board of directors allows him to continue there? He should be removed from his position immediately. He brings scandal to the university and to the church. I, for one, will never visit this campus again as long as it provides refuge to anti-Christ's such as Jenkins. You are either for Christ or against Him, there is no middle ground. Shame on Jenkins and all who support him. I feel for the students who have had their graduation day turned into a mockery. This should have been a joyous day for them, not an embarrassing fiasco. How many more times will the John Jenkins' of this world crucify Christ. Notre Dame, "Our Lady" must surely be shedding copious tears; this university does not deserve to have her name.
Published by: sam
dallas 04/15/2009 01:16 AM EST Rate: Bad
Kudos to Fr. Jenkins,,the people against Obama,have nothing apart from rabid hatred for the country's first black prez.Its politics as usual disguised as fight for life.Where were these critics when we had a prez who started wars that have killed and maimed thousands? Thankfully many people,and a vast majority of catholics, live in the real world where we interact and live with people from all walks of life, political and religious persuations with peace ,love and harmony. Increasingly,its becoming apparent that those opposed to Obama in campus are from a certain extreme group that actually has political motives. Most of these clergy spewing hate ought to concentrate on finding ways of working with Obama to look for a way to ease the reality of abortion.In any case Obama did not invent Roe V. wade and Notre dame is not a seminary or a madrassa where religious dogma is indoctrinated. The extremist rightwingers opposed to the invite should also spend some energy in trying to attract more parishioners and repairing the tarnished image of our dear church as a result of pedophile priests who have bankrupted many parishes in this country. We would fare better as a church than this dishonest Obama bashing circus.
Published by: David Larsen
Scituate Mass 04/15/2009 01:15 AM EST
If the Catholic Church says thou shalt not kill but a non-Catholic thinks it okay as in the example of Abortion,then if he be President of the USA than all is well and due to his statis he gets honorary recognition and a honorary degree? Heaven help us all!
Published by: Clarence Knutsen
Stockton, CA USA 04/14/2009 11:15 PM EST
If Fr. Jenkins had to go to "canon lawyers" for guidance on his pastoral obligations, God help ND. He had to know he was on questionable ground to begin with. (Was one of the lawyers a man named Kmiec?)
As a lawyer I find it breath taking to watch Fr. justify his reliance on lawyers in the face of JPII, Benedict, VII, etc. etc. who have made the Church's position clear: Obama is contra human rights and civil rights on this fundamental issue. This is the kind of language and thought parsing that gives even lawyers a bad name. I hoped for more from the head of "Our Lady's" University. Mother of Mercy, pray for us!
Published by: bill
Toledo, Ohio 04/14/2009 10:42 PM EST
Let me get this straight: a president of a premier catholic university was not sure how to interpret the USCCB document? And so he had to go to a canon lawyer?
Little secret: if it is obvious you know something is wrong, just don't do it. It appears he knew there was a problem inviting Obama in the first place - thus he went out for an attorney's opinion. Another little secret: I deal with attorneys everyday. I want them to tell me what a document says from the angle of its true intent. I do not want to hear a way to argue alternative interpretations. I want to know the intent. I want to know the truth. Otherwise you will get yourself, your company or your institution in trouble. Always follow the truth. I leave it to politicians, some lawyers and now so-called Catholic university presidents to articulate contrary interpretations from easy to interpret documents. No wonder ND does not get the mandatum.
Published by: Wally
Enfield/CT/USA 04/14/2009 09:49 PM EST
President Jenkins talks from two sides of his mouth, and his comments are lacking in intellectual honesty. Jenkins puts human respect for Pesident Obama over respect for Jesus Christ and the unchangeable teachings
of the Catholic Church on the Natural Moral Law.
Published by: E Hearn
Phila/Pa/USA 04/14/2009 09:19 PM EST
You are a disgrace to the priesthood and the Catholic religion. I hope Rome excommunicates you
Published by: Leslie S
Genoa NE USA 04/14/2009 08:56 PM EST
With that line of thinking, he could invite the Devil!! The Devil isn't Catholic. He's pro-abortion and for embryonic stem cell research. He wouldn't even need a telepromter for his speech.
(Please see if you can get this comment forwarded to Fr. Jenkins. Thanks!)
Published by: ed
Milford, NH 04/14/2009 08:39 PM EST
The USCCB document doesn't point at President Obama.
It points directly to Notre Dame President Fr. Jenkins. It is Fr. Jenkins that has brought scandal to the Church. The question is "Should Fr. Jenkins be dis-invited?
Published by: Ron Pichlik
Battle Creek, MI USA 04/14/2009 08:14 PM EST
You are still a Catholic priest in charge of a Catholic institution of higher learning. You have a responsibility to not promote scandal; you can spin it however you want you are permitting the most high-profile, pro-death politician/president we have ever had to take the stage and speak. This effectively gives the stamp of the imprimataur to his positions. You are furthering this scandal by rewarding this man and his views with an honorary degree from a Catholic university. The Church may not run the Catholic universities in this country any more, (mores the pity), but your bishop is still in charge of you; why he hasn't reassigned you to some place where you can do little to no harm is a mystery to me. Further, I've read the bishop's letter also; and it seems pretty clear that we are suppose to be supporting PRO-LIFE issues and candidates first and foremost. It would appear to me that you have engaged in the same hair-splitting cowardice that 54% of the so-called Catholics did during this past election. Your fortunate that someone like myself is not your bishop; you'd be talked to charitably and if that didn't get the message thru you'd find yourself assigned to missionary work in the Sudan.
Published by: Paul M. Fitzgerald
Plymouth 04/14/2009 08:05 PM EST
Agree with Fr. Jenkins and support the decision to have Obama speak at Notre Dame.
Published by: Kevin Donovan
Elmhurst, IL 04/14/2009 07:49 PM EST
Father Jenkins seems oblivious to the fact that what is at issue here is not a political position, but rather an absolute moral truth. The latter cannot be sacrificed to accommodate the former.
Published by: Harry Dierken
Gaithersburg, MD. USA 04/14/2009 07:46 PM EST
When you find it necessary to ask
lawyers to parse the statements of the Bishops Conference you are admitting that you are wrong.
Published by: Robert Lockwood
Lafayette, CA 04/14/2009 07:34 PM EST
It is really very simple - Father(?) Jenkins should not be in any office of authority. His statements, and need to check with lawyers, only serve to show his intent to find a loophole to justify his warped thinking.
Published by: James
Tampa/FL 04/14/2009 07:01 PM EST
What in God's name is Father Jenkin's on? IN THE SPIRIT OF ENGAGING IN AN EFFECTIVE DIALOGUE, HAVE OBAMA COME TO THE UNIVERSITY TO PROVE THAT HE RESPECTS ALL LIFE; HAVE HIM DO IT IN THE FORM OF A LECTURE IN A LECTURE SERIES THAT HAS FATHER CORAPI GIVE A FOLLOW UP; BUT DO NOT OFFER HIM AN HONORARY LAW DEGREE!!!!!!
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