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ND Prez's Religious Superior Responds to Scandal, Criticizes Pro-Lifers
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| April 22, 2009
| By Kathleen Gilbert
Posted on 04/22/2009 9:26:14 PM PDT by topher
|
Wednesday April 22, 2009
ND Prez's Religious Superior Responds to Scandal, Criticizes Pro-Lifers for Condemning Obama
By Kathleen Gilbert SOUTH BEND, Indiana, April 22, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - LifeSiteNews.com has obtained an email written by Fr. Peter Jarrett of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, in response to a concerned Catholic regarding the school's decision to invite President Obama to give the commencement speech and receive an honorary degree May 17. Fr. Jarrett is the religious superior of University of Notre Dame President and Holy Cross priest Fr. John Jenkins. In the email, Fr. Jarrett emphasizes the event as an opportunity to "engage and possibly dialogue" with Obama on life issues. Jarrett also criticizes pro-life Catholics' negative reaction, saying that aiming "anger, hate, and vitriol" at the "wildly popular" president would only damage the pro-life movement.
Following is the full text of the email: Dear ________, I hope that you had a blessed Easter. I just wanted to write to say that I received your letter regarding the invitation of President Obama to speak at Commencement. While I am not personally part of the decision making process for Commencement, I know that this decision has caused pain for many people. My prayer is that the President's visit here will in the end result in some positive engagement on the issues surrounding the sanctity of life. While Commencement itself may not provide much of an opportunity, I hope that a positive experience at Notre Dame will allow us to be heard in the future on this vital issue. I do not think that President Obama was raised in a pro-life tradition, so the opportunity to engage and possibly dialogue with him on these issues in the years to come could be a positive outcome of this event. If I may say on a personal level, independent of the decision to invite the President - he is the president of the United States, and a majority of people - Catholics included - voted for him. So to use phrases like "a modern day Hitler" ends up insulting a lot of people, and in my opinion, does harm to the pro-life movement. It is hard for many to see a reasonable argument in saying a duly elected president who is wildly popular is worse than Hitler - most people will simply turn you off. I do not think he is out to get Catholics, nor do I think he is an evil man daring the Church to stop him. He doesn't believe life begins at conception - the issue isn't as important to him as it is to us. The question we struggle with is, how do we educate him and try and convince him of the truth? Anger, hate and vitriol won't work I do not think. We are not a sectarian religion - history has shown we do best when we engage the world - science, culture, politics, economics - all of it. That is why most bishops refrain from not giving communion to Catholic politicians. It is also why Catholic universities play such an important role - they are often the crossroads where all this can come together. Certainly mistakes can be made, but they are often done in good faith to try and engage the world. Notre Dame strongly opposed the President's view on abortion, and wants to help change it. Regarding Notre Dame, you can be assured that it remains a very Catholic place. If you could have seen the thousand-plus people waiting in line for each of the Triduum services here on campus, or the wonderful faith of our students and the work they and the University does daily for the poor, the unborn, the intellectual life of the Church. There is a lot more to Notre Dame and its vibrant Catholicism than who is invited to commencement.
In any event, my point in writing was not one of debate but the desire to acknowledge your e-mail and to thank you for taking the time to write. Please know of my prayers for a blessed remainder of the Easter Season. Fr. Pete See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage: Notre Dame's Bishop Rebukes Jenkins' Defense of Obama Honor
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042205.html Exclusive Interview: Head of Holy Cross Order on Sanctions against Notre Dame Pres., "That's Rather Extreme"
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040206.html ND President's Religious Superior Says Jenkins "Fulfilling Responsibilities" of President
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09032708.html |
URL: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042208.html
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TOPICS: Catholic
KEYWORDS: abortion; chairmanmaobama; frjenkins; maobama; notredame; notredamescandal; obama; prolife
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This is Father Peter Jarrett, CSC. Father Hugh Cleary is the Superior General in Rome, Italy...
1
posted on
04/22/2009 9:26:14 PM PDT
by
topher
To: Salvation; Mrs. Don-o
2
posted on
04/22/2009 9:26:41 PM PDT
by
topher
(Let us return to old-fashioned morality - morality that has stood the test of time...)
To: topher
“It is hard for many to see a reasonable argument in saying a duly elected president who is wildly popular is worse than Hitler.”
Wasn’t Hitler quite popular with the German people when he came into power?
To: topher
It’s the pro-life gift that keeps on giving.
“anger, hate, and vitriol” at the “wildly popular” president would only damage the pro-life movement.”
What planet are these morons on??
Galvanizing, not just Catholics but ALL pro-life Christians, on this issue has been the greatest blessing that we have seen since November of 2008!
To: ReformationFan
You wrote:
Wasn’t Hitler quite popular with the German people when he came into power?
Hitler was very popular.
And he did things for people.
He is the one who came up with the idea for the Volkswagen, or "folks wagon" -- a car that everyone can afford... He pretty much was behind the idea and helped to get it going...
But Father Jenkins has said it was a great honor to invite Obama because he was "black".
The question is then: If Adolf Hitler had been black, should we have honored him? And the answer is no, of course...
The President of Notre Dame, Father Jenkins, was quoted yesterday as saying that the reason Obama was invited was because he was black...
5
posted on
04/22/2009 9:37:54 PM PDT
by
topher
(Let us return to old-fashioned morality - morality that has stood the test of time...)
To: topher
WOW! This is the response of an elitist, dare I say, a fascist. He identifies more so with Mussolini than he does Pope Benedict!
This response basically castigated those who are angry with Notre Dame. He’s telling pro-lifers to SHUT UP and let the elitists teach them what the Catholic interest is.
America is saturated with gross incompetence at every level of our society. It’s plain unbelievable that Fr. Jarrett would respond like this. No wonder there are so many inactive Catholics in America!
6
posted on
04/22/2009 9:41:04 PM PDT
by
prismsinc
(A.K.A. "The Terminator"!)
To: topher
Fr Pete, dude, make sure it is 30 pieces of silver you are collecting. Don’t take a check or IOU.
7
posted on
04/22/2009 9:41:27 PM PDT
by
m4629
To: incredulous joe; topher
Note to Fr. Jarrett~
What will you say to God on your judgment day?
8
posted on
04/22/2009 9:42:50 PM PDT
by
Salvation
( †With God all things are possible.†)
To: topher
Father Peter Jarrett, CSC, is quoted as saying (in the letter):
Regarding Notre Dame, you can be assured that it remains a very Catholic place.
Father Jarrett forgets to mention how Father Jenkins has allowed the Vagina Monologues to go on at Notre Dame...
These Holy Cross priests really bother me... Back in the 1970's, we had two of them at Holy Cross Parish in Louisiana. One had a metal plate in his head; the other one (Father Mike) hung out at Gay Bars...
At least the Holy Cross priest with a steel plate in his head had a reason for his odd behavior.
The original priest at this parish (Father Weber) was a very good, older priest... God bless him. It is a shame that the parish lost him...
9
posted on
04/22/2009 9:43:47 PM PDT
by
topher
(Let us return to old-fashioned morality - morality that has stood the test of time...)
10
posted on
04/22/2009 9:44:05 PM PDT
by
Salvation
( †With God all things are possible.†)
To: ReformationFan
What a hot steaming pile! This guy is going to invalidate the opinion of pro-life Catholics because one or two have compared Barack the Baby Killer to Hitler.
Hello? Hello, Father Pete’s Communications Office?!?! You are supposed to read this tripe before it is released to the media!!
Like, Duh!!
To: topher
How about Idi Amine?
How about a Somali Pirate?
How about the Tutsi’s and the Hutu's?
Since when is “Black” enough of a reason to invite a scoundrel to speak, with honors, on a Catholic campus?
12
posted on
04/22/2009 9:45:26 PM PDT
by
Kansas58
To: topher
“At least the Holy Cross priest with a steel plate in his head had a reason for his odd behavior.”
Fr. Pete,
What’s your excuse??
Tell us. We are trying to get our piddly little petition up above a cool mil.
Feed us more classic quotes!!
http://notredamescandal.com
To: topher
I hope that a positive experience at Notre Dame will allow us to be heard in the future on this vital issue. Your opportunity to be heard is right now.
Instead you are deserting your religion and surrendering to the abortionists.
14
posted on
04/22/2009 9:52:23 PM PDT
by
RJL
To: topher
Wow. Make me wonder why this guy is still Catholic.
15
posted on
04/22/2009 9:52:45 PM PDT
by
reaganaut
( Ex-Mormon, now Christian "I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see")
To: topher
In the email, Fr. Jarrett emphasizes the event as an opportunity to "engage and possibly dialogue" with Obama on life issues.This is a deliberate and willful lie. This man knows full well he has sold out and that there will be no "opportunity to engage and dialog" with the baby killer. Does he really think the soul-dead Obama will waste time listening to some mewling obsequious "priest?" Why a "Catholic" priest would choose knowingly to kill the Christ this way is a mystery to me.
To: topher
While Commencement itself may not provide much of an opportunity, I hope that a positive experience at Notre Dame will allow us to be heard in the future on this vital issue. How exactly does he imagine "we" will be heard in the future because of the Obama's honorary degree? Fr. Pavone will be honored in the White House? Sebelius nomination be withdrawn? Hillary will be told to zip it regarding "reproductive health"? Or?
17
posted on
04/22/2009 9:58:05 PM PDT
by
annalex
(http://www.catecheticsonline.com/CatenaAurea.php)
To: hinckley buzzard
We all know its a lie.
They can’t cover with the “engage and dialogue” bit anymore.
Fr. Pete is a moron for thinking he could get away with it.
To: topher
These people are the bastard progeny of the Vatican II "
aggiornamento" movement which virtually wrecked the Church..
They care nothing for the Church, or even the Faith. Many do not even believe in the divinity of Christ.
To: topher
engage and possibly dialogue with President ObamaOh shut up.
20
posted on
04/22/2009 10:03:14 PM PDT
by
exist
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