Posted on 05/12/2009 2:28:05 PM PDT by Moseley
WHAT IF ALL THE STUDENTS at Notre Dame WALKED OUT, leaving Barack Obama speaking to an empty auditorium? Notre Dame is a CATHOLIC, Pro-Life university. Students will BOYCOTT Obama's commencement address this weekend, May 16-17.
They have set up a website at: http://www.ndresponse.com/
and a stirring video at -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KUBdrrbF6o
Demonstration Confirmed ND Response has received official permission to hold a prayerful and constructive demonstration on the South Quad of the University of Notre Dame between 11am and 4pm on the day of Commencement. The students of this coalition would like to extend an invitation to all those interested in joining us on campus on May 17th as we respectfully give witness to Notre Dame's Catholic identity and pro-life principles.
About Us In defense of the unborn, we wish to express our deepest opposition to Reverend John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.’s invitation of President Barack Obama to be the University of Notre Dame’s principal commencement speaker and the recipient of an honorary degree. Our objection is not a matter of political partisanship, but of President Obama’s hostility to the Catholic Church’s teachings on the sanctity of human life at its earliest stages. Further, the University’s decision runs counter to the policy of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops against honoring pro-choice politicians. We cannot sit by idly while the University honors someone who believes that an entire class of human beings is undeserving of the most basic of all legal rights, the right to live.
Additionally, Fr. Jenkins has put some of his students into a position of moral dilemma as to whether they should attend their own graduation. Many pro-life seniors, along with their families, now feel personally conflicted about participating in the commencement. The lack of concern for these devoted sons and daughters of Notre Dame, who love this University and the Catholic principles on which it was built, is shameful.
An ad hoc committee sponsored by a coalition of University-sponsored student groups has been organized to lead student responses. These groups include:
Notre Dame Right to Life Notre Dame Knights of Columbus Council 1477 Jus Vitae (Notre Dame Law School Right to Life) The Irish Rover independent student newspaper Notre Dame College Republicans The University of Notre Dame Anscombe Society The Identity Project of Notre Dame Notre Dame Militia Immaculata Notre Dame Children of Mary The Orestes Brownson Council Notre Dame Law St. Thomas More Society
SATURDAY, MAY 16th 9:30 p.m.: Adoration Begins In On-Campus Chapel Location: Alumni Hall Chapel Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will take place throughout the night in an on-campus chapel. Students, parents, alumni, church groups, Catholic clubs, and pro-life organizations will be asked to sponsor an hour of prayer during this all-night vigil. Bishop D’Arcy has confirmed that he will be in attendance at the beginning of this vigil. If you or your group would like to sponsor an hour, please sign up online or email adore@nd.edu with your name, contact information, and preferred times. We will respond with a confirmation prior to the rally.
SUNDAY, MAY 17th 10:45 a.m.: Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament Location: Alumni Hall Chapel Those arriving on campus the morning of May 17th are encouraged to spend time before the Blessed Sacrament praying for the senior class, for the University of Notre Dame, and for a greater respect for life around the world. Eucharistic Adoration will come to an end with Benediction led by a Holy Cross priest.
11:15 a.m. : Sunday Mass Location: South Quad (near the Rockne Memorial) An outdoor Mass will be celebrated on-campus for all those who have traveled to Notre Dame for this weekend to stand alongside the University’s students. All priests, Bishops, and Cardinals who travel to Notre Dame for this weekend are invited to concelebrate this Mass. (If you are interested in concelebrating this Mass, please email NDResponse@gmail.com).
12:30 p.m.: Rally On The Quad Location: South Quad (near the Rockne Memorial) Following Sunday Mass, a rally affirming the uniquely Catholic and pro-life foundation of Notre Dame will take place on South Quad. This rally will feature speakers with strong connections to the University who embrace Notre Dame’s Catholic identity and hold it to a higher standard of conduct that demands defending the fundamental human right to life.
Speakers confirmed to address those gathered on South Quad include:
Rev. John J. Raphael, SSJ; ND ’89, Principal of St. Augustine High School in New Orleans, LA. Elizabeth Naquin Borger; ND ’78, Former Chairman of the Board of the Women’s Care Center. Dr. David Solomon; Associate Professor of Philosophy at University of Notre Dame; W.P. and H.B. White Director of the Notre Dame Center for Ethics & Culture; Chair of the steering committee for the Notre Dame Fund to Protect Human Life. Rev. Wilson Miscamble, CSC; ND ’77 (M.A.), ’80 (Ph.D.), ’87 (M.Div.), Professor of History at University of Notre Dame. Lacy Dodd, ND ’99; Room at the Inn, Board of Directors, Charlotte, NC. Chris Godfrey, ND Law ’93; Life Athletes (Founder and President), starting offensive guard for Super Bowl XXI Champion New York Giants. 2:00 p.m.: Class Of 2009 Vigil For Life Location: Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes At the conclusion of the Rally, those supporters in attendance will be urged to join seniors who have decided not to attend graduation at a prayer vigil on campus. Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, will be leading a Scriptural Rosary during this prayer vigil.
3:45 pm : Final Blessing And Departure of Travelers 6:00 p.m.: Post-Commencement Honor Ceremony and Party Location: State Theatre in downtown South Bend NDaffirmLife.org will host a post-commencement party at the State Theatre in downtown South Bend from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., to recognize the courageous students who stood for life and give them a send-off of support as they enter a new phase of their lives. Everyone is welcome to attend this family-friendly gathering.
Unable to be Here? Join us in Spirit. Those groups and individuals unable to travel to Notre Dame are encouraged to join us in spirit by conducting a prayerful vigil or rally at home. This can mirror our rally schedule as much as desired: 9:30pm Saturday - 10:45am Sunday: Eucharistic Adoration 10:45am Sunday: Benediction 11:15am Sunday: Mass 12:30pm Sunday: Spiritual or educational readings (such as William McGurn's talk, "A Notre Dame Witness for Life") 2:00pm Sunday: Rosary for the ND Response Rosary Campaign intentions 3:45pm Sunday: Closing prayer America's Prayer Campaign and the ND Response Million Rosaries Campaign would like to hear of your prayers on and leading up to commencement weekend. Our non-Catholic brothers and sisters are warmly encouraged to join us in prayer according to their own traditions.
Additional Details Directions: Directions to the University of Notre Dame and campus map
Accommodations: ND Response is unfortunately unable to provide lodging, but we encourage you to consider one of the many inns and hotels in the South Bend area. If you would like more information about lodging in South Bend, please email NDResponse@gmail.com.
They won’t all walk out. A majority of the students (for whom the teachings of the Church obviously mean little) support Obama.
I bet a lot of those youth think he is coolio
Wow, a new concept, show up to walk out.
If this happens, and it would be too cool if it does, I’d be very impressed.
Just stand up and turn back to him. Won’t miss the rest of the ceremony...
agree
but the ones who do walk out should leave baby booties on their seats for the “dialogue” with the infanticide endorser
If it happens, you’ll never hear about it from the MSM.
Dream on... He’ll get a standing O.....
If they all walked out, this non-Catholic would find a way to donate some $$ to their cause.
My heart would be warmed. To the max.
Best comment of this thread!
Won’t happen but if it did, David Shuster would call them racists.
yutes
The parents might walk out, the majority of the students will think he’s the best thing that ever happened to them.
I agree!!!! If every student left a pair of blue or pink baby booties on their chairs weighed with some CHANGE in the booties, what a statement that would make! Then the CHANGE could be given to a shelter for unwed moms! If I weren’t going to the NRA Annual Meeting, I would DRIVE from Arkansas to Indiana to join the protest and support those students who STAND for LIFE, LIBERTY and the PURSUIT of Happiness!
There should also be a pro-life contingent with large full-color posters of aborted babies hidden on their persons.
At a pre-designated time, they should rush up to the front of the assemblage, holding the posters high.
But they are and will.
It'll simply be minus the baby slaughterer zerO, that's all.
Or, is that tack problematic?
odumba is not going to give an address where there is even the slightest chance of being booed. [Not saying they will or they should, only saying there is a chance] Wondering if rent-a-crowd has been lined up?
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