The controversial invitation to President Obama to deliver the commencement address to the graduating class of the University of Notre Dame and to bestow upon him an honorary doctor of laws degree, continues to draw attention from pro life and pro abortion groups from around the country. There now are 62 high ranking Catholic clergy who have signed the petition to ask either Obama to decline the invitation or for Father Jenkins ( Pres. of ND ) to rescind it.
Below is an excerpt of an article posted on FreeRepublic that details the latest news on the controversy.
~~John Cronin~~
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2244015/posts
SOUTH BEND, Indiana, March 4, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A
total of 62 bishops have publicly condemned the Notre Dame scandal, with three
more bishops expressing solidarity with Notre Dame's Bishop John D'Arcy and U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) policy against honoring pro-abortion
politicians.
The University of Notre Dame has invited President Obama to give the
commencement address and receive an honorary law degree May 17.
Bishop Reymundo Pena of Brownsville, TX has published an
April 24 letter addressed to both President Obama and University President Fr.
John Jenkins condemning the scandal.
(http://www.cdob.org/bishop/column/2009/4-24-09.htm)Citing
USCCB policy, Pena told Fr. Jenkins: "The prestige that the president will lend
to your commencement is not sufficient reason to disregard these principles.
There are numerous prominent public figures distinguished for their moral
rectitude and record of public service from which you could have drawn."
Bishop Pena pointed to the dozens of bishops and over 350,000 petitioning
Catholics who have expressed outrage at the invitation. "Surely their
collective voice has made it clear that they consider your action to be
scandalously inconsistent with Notre Dame's symbolic mission to showcase how
Catholic faith can positively influence modern life and culture," the bishop
wrote.
"Why have you refused to meet with twelve university student groups, who
have asked to talk with you about your choice? "I join my voice to this growing
chorus of protesters, and I encourage Valley Catholics to express what is in
their hearts to you, Father Jenkins."
In the portion addressed to President Obama, the bishop lauded the
president's personal accomplishments, but acknowledged the "deep divide between
you and the majority of Americans on the paramount moral issue of our time: the
right to life vs. the claimed right to abortion."
"Mr. President, less than 18 months ago, Pope Benedict XVI canceled a
speaking engagement at La Sapienza University in Rome, simply because some of
the students reacted negatively to the announcement of his coming," wrote Bishop
Pena. "Rather than risk throwing the university into turmoil, the pope
humbly withdrew. "I respectfully ask you to consider freely withdrawing
your commitment to speak at Notre Dame University, for the same
reason."
Read more at www.freerepublic.com..........
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