Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has clarified his recent remark that “Notre Dame didn't understand what it means to be Catholic” when the university decided to award President Barack Obama an honorary degree. Saying that his earlier comments were not intended for public dissemination, Cardinal George nonetheless again encouraged the lay faithful to continue to contact the university: “Take your responsibility at hand and write to them (the University of Notre Dame), not to us (the bishops). The bishops do not control Notre Dame.” He continued, “Now unfortunately those discussions are complicated because of the publicity given, but the principle is true: no university, no bishop, no parish can take a decision unilaterally and be surprised by the reaction by everyone else who calls himself or herself Catholic might make to it, especially around a profoundly deeply divisive issue such as the protection of human life within mothers’ wombs.”
Keep the Pressure on Notre Dame says Cardinal George
Catholic World News Daily
April 07, 2009
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This past Friday, Cardinal Francis George, Archbishop of Chicago and President of the USCCB, addressed his critique of Notre Dame's invitation to have President Obama speak at its commencement ceremony, and repeated that the university was wrong to make such a unilateral decision. Speaking at a March 28 conference on human life, Cardinal George had said that “Notre Dame does not understand what it means to be Catholic.”
The comments, first released by the pro-life news agency LifesiteNews, further fueled the controversy over whether the Catholic university should have invited the president to speak, especially considering his extreme views on abortion.
Last Friday, at a conference at DePaul university, noting the presence of journalists, Cardinal George explained that his previous comments were made as an answer to a question and not for the wider public dissemination they have received.
The USCCB President stood at a podium at DePaul University and in an “attempt to put a cast on it that I hope will be respected,” he said, “I thought that was the only context in which my response would be understood.”
The Archbishop of Chicago explained that the first point he tried to make then, was that the Catholic laity should take the matter into their own hands and act.
“Take your responsibility at hand and write to them (the University of Notre Dame,) not to us (the Bishops.) The bishops do not control Notre Dame,” he said.
The Cardinal then explained that his second point was that the Catholic church is one body, and all are affected by decision like the one taken by Notre Dame.
He said he hoped his discussions with the university would remain private. “Now unfortunately those discussions are complicated because of the publicity given, but the principle is true: no university, no bishop, no parish can take a decision unilaterally and be surprised by the reaction by everyone else who calls himself or herself Catholic might make to it, especially around a profoundly deeply divisive issue such as the protection of human life within mothers’ wombs.”
“In Catholic community, whatever anyone does affects anybody else,” he said. “We can think of scandals. We can think of problems. Therefore, no institution that calls itself Catholic can be unilateral.”
“So the decision in a sense corroborates our theology.” “What one of us does in Catholicism affects us all and I think that’s the question that has to be discussed.”
On the same day, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley defended the invite in a Chicago Sun-Times article “as the father of a Notre Dame alum and as a Roman Catholic who happens to be pro-choice.” The Democrat mayor wrote that he has “no problem” with the university’s decision to make President Obama its commencement speaker.
But Cardinal George sees things differently.
“I have great respect for Mr. Obama and especially for his office and he knows that,” the cardinal said, also acknowledging that he and Obama agree on many issues. On other things, particularly on this issue, he has his own principles that are well thought out and I and many others, not only because of Catholic teaching but for other reasons as well, even outside the Catholic communion, think that it is a crime to kill an innocent human being even though if he or she is not yet born.”
“That division, which is a very profound one, will continue and there is no reason why its terms of engagement should be changed now,” the Cardinal concluded.
Cardinal George’s statement at DePaul can be viewed at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBAWvRL83Os
CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY
Apr 6, 2009
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“Presidents from both parties have come to Notre Dame for decades to speak to our graduates – and to our nation and world – about a wide range of pressing issues – from foreign policy to poverty, from societal transformation to social service. We are delighted that President Obama will follow in this long tradition of speaking from Notre Dame on issues of substance and significance.
We will honor Mr. Obama as an inspiring leader who faces many challenges – the economy, two wars, and health care, immigration and education reform – and is addressing them with intelligence, courage and honesty. It is of special significance that we will hear from our first African-American president, a person who has spoken eloquently and movingly about race in this nation. Racial prejudice has been a deep wound in America, and Mr. Obama has been a healer.
Of course, this does not mean we support all of his positions. The invitation to President Obama to be our Commencement speaker should not be taken as condoning or endorsing his positions on specific issues regarding the protection of human life, including abortion and embryonic stem cell research. Yet, we see his visit as a basis for further positive engagement."
Reverend John I. Jenkins, President of Notre Dame University
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Leo Rugiens says, what Father Jenkins does not address is the fact that by inviting Barack Hussein Obama, the Usurper, to be honored by Notre Dame University, at a time when the Obama Administration has launched a full-scale attack on the Catholic Church he gives a completely false impression of support for that attack to everyone. In recent weeks Obama has fulfilled his campaign promises to:
Overturn the “Mexico City Policy” prohibiting the use of US tax dollars to pay for abortions in foreign countries.
Urged Congress to pass, so he could sign, the FOCA bill which would remove ALL restrictions on abortion in ALL of the states.
Filled his cabinet with pro-abortion, pro-same-sex-marriage, officials.
Removed restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research.
Pushed Congress to pass the bill removing the conscience clause
from health care legislation which protects Catholic doctors and nurses
from prosecution should they refuse to perform abortions.
So, following Jenkins big mistake in approving the play The Vagina Monologues to be staged on campus,, Notre Dame University has now become a major source of scandal to all Catholics and to the world. It has truly ceased to be a “Catholic University.”
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Catholic University of America President Rev. David M. O’Connell has joined Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport, chairman of the university’s board of trustees and chairman of the USCCB Committee on Doctrine, in criticizing the University of Notre Dame’s decision to award President Barack Obama an honorary degree. “Notre Dame extended this invitation unilaterally, seemingly without regard for the consequences for the mission of the Catholic Church in the United States,” Bishop Lori said. “It is contrary to the efforts of bishops, parish priests, and laity to resist the anti-life decisions, policies, and legislation promoted by the Obama administration.”
CATHOLIC CULTURE. ORG
07 April 09
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On Tuesday, April 7, scores of Catholics will hold Protests at Notre Dame Board of Fellows business offices. These are: Richard C. Notebaert, Board of Fellows, and Chairman of the Notre Dame Board of Trustees; Arthur R. Velasquez, Board of Fellows.
Background: Notre Dame by-laws state that the Board of Trustees is charged to “Ensure that the University maintains its essential character as a Catholic institution of higher learning…”
Messrs Notebaert and Velasquez are duty bound to stop the betrayal of Catholic orthodoxy inherent in President Obama’s invitation to the University.
Protests are organized by Randall Terry, Operation Rescue Founder, and other pro-life leaders.
Mr. Terry states:
“Tuesday marks the beginning of coordinated vigils and protests at the churches, businesses, and homes of Notre Dame Board of Fellows members and Board of Trustees members concerning President Obama speaking at Notre Dame’s commencement.
“Our first protest is where it should be: the office of the Notre Dame Fellow and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Richard C. Notebaert; our second protest is at the office of Arthur R. Velasquez, also a member of the elite ‘Board of Fellows.’ Our message to them is simple: Cancel President Obama, Dismiss President Jenkins.
“Inviting President Obama flagrantly violates the ‘essential character’ of a ‘Catholic institution.’ Obama’s policies cause the death of the innocent across the world; Notre Dame’s invitation betrays those that are being killed, as well as Catholic orthodoxy. This may be the largest scandal since WWII.
“Prior to the election, we heard that Senator Obama was a ‘community organizer’ like Jesus, and that Governor Palin was like ‘Pilate.’ We evidently got our historical figures crossed.
“Protestors will hold banners, including a large banner stating: ‘Would you invite Pilate after he condemned Christ?’ and ‘Would you invite Herod after the slaughter in Bethlehem?’ And in case anyone is wondering – yes – we are comparing Obama to Pilate and Herod…as we believe history will.
Details:
11:00 am- 12:30 pm, office of Richard C. Notebaert, Chairman, Notre Dame Board of Trustees; Boardroom Consultants, 200 W. Madison, Suite 2800; Chicago, IL 60606.
1:30 – 2:00 pm, office of Arthur R. Velasquez, Board of Fellows, Azteca Foods, 5005 S. Nagle, Chicago IL 60638.
www.stopobamanotredame.com for more details.
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Barack Hussein Obama aka Barry Soetoro
is a usurper
because he is not eligible to be President of the United States
because he is not a Natural Born Citizen
as required by Article Two, Section One, Clause Five
of the United States Constitution regardless of
where he was born (Mombassa, Hawaii, Chicago, or Mars)
because he was not born of TWO PARENTS
BOTH OF WHOM WERE UNITED STATES CITIZENS
at the time of his birth. His father was a subject/ciitizen
of Kenya/Great Britain
and his mother was too young to pass on her citizenship
according to the law in effect when he was born.
Check it out:
http://www.TheObamaFile.com/ObamaNaturalBorn.htm
His usurpation cannot be corrected by Congress,
it can only be corrected by his removal
or
by an amendment to the Constitution.
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