I am a Catholic convert. The main issue that brought me to the church was the protection of innocent lives in the womb. Now a college that is Catholic invites a president who is the most pro choice ever to make a speech and receive an award. This is very sad. In my opinion the protection of innocent babies in the womb is the most important issue there is. How many innocent children have to die?
Wayne Rileyof TX12:29PM May 16, 2009
There certainly were a good number of Catholics who attend Mass weekly or more often, pro-life, usually conservative who voted for Obama if only as a last ditch stand against an illegal and immoral war and eight years of criminal torture of people we designated as 'terrorists'. Not to mention the social and economic tragedies rapidly destroying the country, or the fact that more than 75% of the abortions in the U.S. since 1973 were either sponsored or ignored by the Republicans.I think it is as appropriate to say that the 'good' Catholics who supported those travesties can be thrown into the 'self-identified' barrel since they speak out only when their political interests are at stake.
Jeffof CO7:22PM April 22, 2009
Where was all of this 'zeal' from the Bishops and the American Catholic Church when the Vatican voiced its outrage over the invasion of Iraq. Oh yes, war is not intrinsically evil, or at least, not an American instigated war. Now this uproar about a sinner speaking at Notre Dame. I would guess that all of the good Catholics who are protesting so vehemently are without sin and have plenty of rocks to throw. What a great way to display our inclusive nature. Frankly, as a Roman Catholic (I think American Catholic values are shaky), the majority of the protests represent a sour grapes political reaction which the Church should be ashamed of.
Jeffof CO7:07PM April 22, 2009
Number 1. Please Note there is so much Catholic and Ecumenical Help for the 100’s of 1,000's of women, couples, families and communities that are suffering because of a past abortion. Please check in your local area. The church is reaching out to these people and of course women facing an unexpected blessing (pregnancy). Lookup “Abortion Alternative” in your area.
Thank You to all the Bishops, Cardinals, Notre Dame student’s and faculty that are sticking by the catholic churches teaching’s, logic and nature by defending LIFE and speaking out against Notre Dame inviting the President to speak. It is more than sad that the commencement speech, a time to inspire students is being offered to a strongly Pro-Abortion and Abortion Promoting President. This is simply WRONG and DAMAGING.
President Obama’s Abortion promoting actions so far- Overturning of the Mexico City Policy, which had prohibited U.S. funds from being used to promote or provide abortions overseas, FOCA, Working to overturn conscience protections for healthcare workers concerning Abortion, past votes against an Infinite Born Alive Protection Bill (while in state senate) and much, much more.
Thank You,
Colleen Elizabeth Barry
Proudly Pro-Life
Colleen Barryof NY8:09PM April 20, 2009
Number 1. Please Note there is so much Catholic and Ecumenical Help for the 100’s of 1,000's of women, couples, families and communities that are suffering because of a past abortion. Please check in your local area. The church is reaching out to these people and of course women facing an unexpected blessing (pregnancy). Lookup “Abortion Alternative” in your area.
Thank You to all the Bishops, Cardinals, Notre Dame student’s and faculty that are sticking by the catholic churches teaching’s, logic and nature by defending LIFE and speaking out against Notre Dame inviting the President to speak. It is more than sad that the commencement speech, a time to inspire students is being offered to a strongly Pro-Abortion and Abortion Promoting President. This is simply WRONG and DAMAGING.
President Obama’s Abortion promoting actions so far- Overturning of the Mexico City Policy, which had prohibited U.S. funds from being used to promote or provide abortions overseas, FOCA, Working to overturn conscience protections for healthcare workers concerning Abortion, past votes against an Infinite Born Alive Protection Bill (while in state senate) and much, much more.
Thank You,
Colleen Elizabeth Barry
Proudly Pro-Life
Colleen Elizabeth Barryof NY8:06PM April 20, 2009
Notre Dame is a great university! It is standing tall against the forces of ignorance , anti-intellectualism and education. From the beginning of western civilization, catholic educators were the people that advanced knowledge in science, philosophy, medicine and art . During the last Two- hundred years the catholic church has been losing ground academically and in religion. Once upon a time,catholic institutions were at the vanguard of education and human intellectual development.Alas,the ignorant unwashed took over the Catholic institutions(the papacy included.) Consequently, there are only three Catholic schools in the United States( Notre Dame, Georgetown, and Holy Cross) that are comparable to the top tier secular universities such as Harvard, Yale,and Princeton. To Rev. Jenkins, the enlightened faculty members and students of Notre Dame,rest assured that the majority of educated people in these United States support you .P.S. I submit that Jenkins stature is with that of Hesburgh,Berrigan, Pope Jean Paul and other persecuted saints.
Charlesof CA1:59AM April 18, 2009
Marko, Thanks for this one:
As George Gipp once said:
Sometime, when the team is up against it, and the breaks are beating the boys, tell 'em to go out there with all they got and win just one for the Culture of Life.
Tom of Michiganof MI12:39PM April 17, 2009
Trust your meeting with Stein Roe went well. Got a email from one of my nutty classmates to sign a letter to remove Jenkins. Do you have a copy of McCarthy's email to him
Wm Jay Sennottof IL9:17AM April 17, 2009
This absurd tempest in a teapot is rising to the level of a full blow Witch Hunt. This is beyond embarrassing for the Catholic Church to have such a public virulent reaction by a small, unrepresentative minority. To want to push ND's President out over this is beyond absurd and to just look at things through one, very highly spun political issue. Catholic Social Teachings GO BEYOND ABORTION. I fully support President Jenkins and I welcome Obama at Notre Dame. I am a cradle Catholic and I feel all of this is nonsense. I would be honored if Obama was invited to any regional Catholic colleges and Universities in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Charlesof MN7:07PM April 16, 2009
Rick Renzi suggests that "a majority" of "average Catholics in the pews" voted for Obama. I'd like to know what that assertion is based on. According to the Pew Forum (no pun intended), Obama won the vote of those voters who self-identified as Catholic by 52 to 45 percent - so a modest majority. But that does not mean that a majority of "average Catholics in the pews" voted for Obama. A not-inconsiderable number of them (as is true of virtually every constituency) did not vote at all. And if only 52% of *self-identified* Catholic voters voted for Obama, the percentage of regular churchgoing Catholic voters - that is, the ones actually "in the pews", in Rick Renzi's phrase, and who actually voted - who cast their vote for Obama was almost certainly a minority.
Reader Comments
Back to blog
Wayne Riley of TX 12:29PM May 16, 2009
Jeff of CO 7:22PM April 22, 2009
Jeff of CO 7:07PM April 22, 2009
Colleen Barry of NY 8:09PM April 20, 2009
Colleen Elizabeth Barry of NY 8:06PM April 20, 2009
Charles of CA 1:59AM April 18, 2009
Tom of Michigan of MI 12:39PM April 17, 2009
Wm Jay Sennott of IL 9:17AM April 17, 2009
Charles of MN 7:07PM April 16, 2009
Climacus of DC 6:31PM April 16, 2009