Archbishop Naumann: ND Leadership Either "Incredibly Naïve" ...

Monday April 27, 2009

Archbishop Naumann: Notre Dame Leadership Either "Incredibly Naïve" or "Doesn't Care" about Unborn Children

By Kathleen Gilbert

NOTRE DAME, Indiana, April 27, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Two more archbishops have expressed disapproval of the University of Notre Dame's invitation to President Obama to offer the commencement address and receive an honorary law degree May 17.

In his column in The Leaven, the Kansas City diocesan newspaper, Archbishop Joseph Naumann said he was "dismayed" to learn of the honor, saying he does "not fault the president for accepting this invitation, but the university for offering it."

"Notre Dame's action is inconsistent with its Catholic identity and harmful to the efforts of the church to advocate for the protection of innocent, preborn human life," wrote Naumann. The archbishop cited the 2004 directive by the U.S. Bishops Conference (USCCB) forbidding Catholic institutions from honoring pro-abortion politicians.

"Notre Dame's invitation to President Obama reveals that the leadership of the university is either incredibly naïve or just does not care about the impact of its actions on the church's efforts to protect the lives of innocent, vulnerable unborn children," he said.

"Father John Jenkins, CSC, the president of Notre Dame, has attempted to posture Notre Dame's honoring President Obama as a vehicle for engaging the president in dialogue. In reality, Notre Dame's invitation signals to President Obama that there is no need to dialogue. Why should the president feel a need to dialogue when he is honored by our nation's most prestigious Catholic university no matter how extreme his policies and actions supporting legalized abortion?"

Citing Obama's "abysmal" pro-abortion record, Naumann said: "Perhaps, if President Obama's record on legalized abortion was somewhat mixed or he was showing some evidence, since becoming president, of moderating his radical pro-abortion position, one could understand the university's mistaken judgment. Yet, this is certainly not the case with President Obama."

Archbishop Naumann noted Obama's long list of staunchly anti-life appointments, including the "particularly offensive" choice of pro-abortion Catholics such as Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius. Naumann, who is Sebelius' bishop, instructed the governor to cease presenting herself for Communion last year based on her consistent hostility to laws protecting the unborn.

"Seeking out pro-abortion Catholics to preside over the implementation of this administration's policy on embryonic stem-cell research and its proposed health care reform was compared by one commentator to finding a renegade rabbi to bless the pork at a banquet," noted Naumann.

"It goes without saying that the Catholic community must be willing to work with the president and this administration for the good of our country," said Naumann. "Yet, a Catholic university should not honor this president and provide him with the backdrop of a Catholic institution to make appear palatable his radical agenda in support of legalized abortion."

Naumann encouraged scandalized Catholics to write to Fr. Jenkins to express disapproval of the University for ignoring the USCCB policy.

(To see Archbishop Naumann's original column in the Leaven: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042003.html)

In the archdiocese of Washington, spokeswoman Susan Gibbs said Archbishop Donald Wuerl has expressed disapproval of Notre Dame's invitation to President Obama. However, Gibbs said the archbishop was not in favor of rescinding the invitation.

The bishops who have so far expressed disapproval of Notre Dame's invitation to Obama (in alphabetical order) are:

1. Bishop John D'Arcy - Fort Wayne-South Bend, IN
2. Bishop Samuel Aquila - Fargo, ND
3. Bishop Gregory Aymond - Austin, TX
4. Bishop Gerald Barbarito - Palm Beach, FL
5. Bishop Leonard Blair - Toledo, OH
6. Archbishop Daniel Buechlein - Indianapolis, IN
7. Bishop Robert Baker - Birmingham, AL
8. Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz - Lincoln, NE

9. Archbishop Eusebius Beltran - Oklahoma City, OK
10. Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Cantú - San Antonio, TX
11. Bishop Paul Coakley - Salina, KS
12. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo - Houston, TX
13. Archbishop Timothy Dolan - New York, NY
14. Bishop Thomas Doran - Rockford, IL
15. Auxiliary Bishop John Dougherty - Scranton, PA
16. Bishop Robert Finn - Kansas City-St. Joseph, MO
17. Bishop Victor Galeone - St. Augustine, FL

18. Cardinal Francis George - Chicago, IL; President, USCCB
19. Bishop Gerald Gettelfinger - Evansville, IN
20. Archbishop José Gomez - San Antonio, TX
21. Bishop William Higi - Lafayette, IN
22. Archbishop Alfred Hughs - New Orleans, LA
23. Bishop Joseph Latino - Jackson, MS
24. Bishop John LeVoir - New Ulm, MN
25. Bishop Jerome Listecki - La Crosse, WI
26. Bishop William E. Lori - Bridgeport, CT

27. Bishop Paul Loverde - Arlington, VA
28. Bishop George Lucas - Springfield, IL
29. Bishop Robert Lynch - St. Petersburg, FL
30. Bishop Joseph Martino - Scranton, PA
31. Bishop Charles Morlino - Madison, WI
32. Bishop George Murry - Youngstown, OH
33. Archbishop John J. Myers - Newark, NJ
34. Archbishop Joseph Naumann - Kansas City, KS
35. Bishop R. Walker Nickless - Sioux City, IA

36. Archbishop John C. Nienstedt - St. Paul-Minneapolis, MN
37. Archbishop Edwin O'Brien - Baltimore, MD
38. Bishop Thomas Olmsted - Phoenix, AZ
39. Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk - Cincinnati, OH
40. Bishop Kevin Rhoades - Harrisburg, PA
41. Bishop Alexander Sample - Marquette, MI
42. Bishop Edward J. Slattery - Tulsa, OK
43. Bishop Richard Stika - Knoxville, TN
44. Bishop Anthony Taylor - Little Rock, AR

45. Bishop Robert Vasa - Baker, OR
46. Bishop Thomas Wenski - Orlando, FL
47. Archbishop Donald Wuerl - Washington, D.C.
48. Bishop David Zubick - Pittsburgh, PA

For a list of contact information regarding the Notre Dame scandal, go to: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09032706.html

See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:

Bishops Zubik, Loverde, LeVoir Make 46 Bishops Against ND Scandal
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042302.html

"Fr. Jenkins Will Probably Lose His Job": Nine More Bishops Make 42 against ND Scandal
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042003.html

URL: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042709.html

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Full Title:

Archbishop Naumann: Notre Dame Leadership Either "Incredibly Naïve" or "Doesn't Care" about Unborn Children

1 posted on 04/27/2009 3:23:45 PM PDT by topher

To: Salvation; Mrs. Don-o

Now we have at least 48 Bishops, Archbishops and Cardinals speaking out against Father Jenkins and his decision to invite Obama...

The Archbishop of Washington, DC speaks out on a day when a former Vatican Ambassador declines to be on the same stage as Obama... And news that Notre Dame University is losing millions of dollars in donations...

2 posted on 04/27/2009 3:25:58 PM PDT by topher (Let us return to old-fashioned morality - morality that has stood the test of time...)

Let’s see . . . over 50 bishops have condemned this creep for invited “His Abortionist” to the ND campus, one recipient has refused to be awarded a medal, millions of dollars of donations have been lost . . . just when the hell is this fool going to be fired and His Royal Obortionist have his invite uninvited??? What the hell are they waiting for??? Howz’ ‘bout the Pope interfere right now and excommunicate the fool?

I don’t understand what the delay in firing and excommunicating this fool is!

3 posted on 04/27/2009 3:27:35 PM PDT by laweeks

Naumann is Archbishop of Kansas City. For some reason when I saw Archbishop Wuerl’s name, I associated with this article...

4 posted on 04/27/2009 3:28:34 PM PDT by topher (Let us return to old-fashioned morality - morality that has stood the test of time...)

>The Archbishop of Washington, DC speaks out on a day when a former Vatican Ambassador declines to be on the same stage as Obama... And news that Notre Dame University is losing millions of dollars in donations...

This is good news.

5 posted on 04/27/2009 3:30:02 PM PDT by OneWingedShark (Q: Why am I here? A: To do Justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God.)

Still not enough. Contact your bishops!

Bishops listed by Diocese

Bishops by Name

Bishops listed by state

6 posted on 04/27/2009 3:30:49 PM PDT by Salvation ( Â†With God all things are possible.Â†)

The Papal Annuncio in Washington, DC was notified last week (or before). That means that the Vatican and Pope Benedict are in the loop on this one...

Father Jenkins (ND President) went to Washington, DC last week. I don't know if the Papal Annuncio requested a visit or if Father Jenkins was asked to stop the USCCB offices in Washington, DC.

There is a meeting of the full Board of Trustees this Friday, May 1. I am sure this meeting will discuss not if but when Father Jenkins resigns as ND President...

7 posted on 04/27/2009 3:36:03 PM PDT by topher (Let us return to old-fashioned morality - morality that has stood the test of time...)

Liberal Catholics care about socialism and the deconstruction of Western Civilization. Everything else is window dressing.

8 posted on 04/27/2009 3:40:24 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler ("Mr. President, I support you but not your mission. I'm showing my patriotism through dissent.")

Academics love mincturating on the morals of those who have them. It makes them feel significant.

Most firebugs do their thing for the same reason.

9 posted on 04/27/2009 3:42:59 PM PDT by Steely Tom (RKBA: last line of defense against vote fraud)

I think the local bishop of ND, bishop D’Arcy, should forbid the mass. So that will be the commencement without the mass. That’s the least bishop D’Arcy could do. He shouldn’t pass the buck.

10 posted on 04/27/2009 3:43:00 PM PDT by m4629

Bishop D'Arcy did not pass the buck!

The bishops who have so far expressed disapproval of Notre Dame's invitation to Obama (in alphabetical order) are:

1. Bishop John D'Arcy - Fort Wayne-South Bend, IN
2. Bishop Samuel Aquila - Fargo, ND
3. Bishop Gregory Aymond - Austin, TX
4. Bishop Gerald Barbarito - Palm Beach, FL
5. Bishop Leonard Blair - Toledo, OH
6. Archbishop Daniel Buechlein - Indianapolis, IN
7. Bishop Robert Baker - Birmingham, AL
8. Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz - Lincoln, NE

45. Bishop Robert Vasa - Baker, OR
46. Bishop Thomas Wenski - Orlando, FL
47. Archbishop Donald Wuerl - Washington, D.C.
48. Bishop David Zubick - Pittsburgh, PA

For a list of contact information regarding the Notre Dame scandal, go to: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09032706.html

11 posted on 04/27/2009 3:49:31 PM PDT by Salvation ( Â†With God all things are possible.Â†)

I’m sorry to disagree.

Lip service is not nearly enough, as most bishops do just that. Plenty of talking over the past 50 years got us where we are.

Bishop D’Arcy should ban the commencement mass, thereby dissociating the pathetic event with our most sacred celebration. Let people know it’s not a catholic commencement at a once catholic university. That’s the least he could do. Anything less is simply cowardice on his part.

12 posted on 04/27/2009 4:04:08 PM PDT by m4629

Pinged from Terri Dailies

13 posted on 04/27/2009 4:42:27 PM PDT by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)

Lip service is not nearly enough, as most bishops do just that. Plenty of talking over the past 50 years got us where we are.

I humbly agree.

Now if 48/48 bishops showed up for the commencement at Notre Dame, sat together in the cheap seats, and in unison rose and terned their backs on Father President Jenkins - that would be more than lip service.

then, 48 bishops walking out of the commensement auditorium as President Obama is introduced would be faith in action.

14 posted on 04/27/2009 5:01:34 PM PDT by delacoert (imperat animus corpori, et paretur statim; imperat animus sibi, et resistitur -- Augustini)

Micturate— I looked it up— thank you very much for the new word!

15 posted on 04/27/2009 5:02:41 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o (Whisper sweet words of epistemology in your ear and speak of the pompitous of love. SteveMillerBand)

Academics love mincturating on the morals of those who have them. It makes them feel significant.

<sigh> Which do you despise more, contemplatives or academicians?

16 posted on 04/27/2009 5:14:13 PM PDT by delacoert (imperat animus corpori, et paretur statim; imperat animus sibi, et resistitur -- Augustini)

then, 48 bishops walking out of the commensement auditorium as President Obama is introduced would be faith in action

That would be the moment of the Year wouldn't it? But we know chances of that happening is remote, and much less likely than say ...... a ND graduate receiving his/her diploma on stage, with cameras rolling from everywhere, promptly rip up the diploma as a strong message of his/her disapproval of her alma mater.

17 posted on 04/27/2009 6:00:09 PM PDT by m4629

Yes, but I actually hold a vision of American Catholic bishops in unified action in my heart.

I believe that more prayer (e.g., Chaplet of Devine Mercy) should be directed for the bishops to unite and act, than for Jenkins or Obama to repent. <tears in my eyes>

18 posted on 04/27/2009 6:15:12 PM PDT by delacoert (imperat animus corpori, et paretur statim; imperat animus sibi, et resistitur -- Augustini)

Do you think that a few unworthy Catholics (I cannot even receive communion) could pray for American Catholic bishops to stand together?

By standing together I mean to believe in Christ and his power above all else. Standing together about the sanctity of the life of the unborn seems like one thing that believers could stand together about.

19 posted on 04/27/2009 6:23:15 PM PDT by delacoert (imperat animus corpori, et paretur statim; imperat animus sibi, et resistitur -- Augustini)

We are all unworthy, as in “Lord, I’m not worthy to receive you, but only say the word, and I shall be healed”. At the same time, we could make ourselves less unworthy, relatively speaking.

At mass, we always pray for the Pope and the local bishop. However, as you suggested, we could do more and pray harder for the bishops.

In all honesty, with very few exception, I have very little faith in the company men, ahem, bishops. They are playing the manipulation game, and have been doing so for way too long. We have no priest shortage, we have an artificial priest shortage. Digging deeper, we have a “parishioner shortage”. Ah, but to admit that will put themselves to shame, which they are not willing to accept. So they call it a priest shortage and put the blame on us.

I could go on and on and on, but you get the gist of it.

Prayers is the way to go, they never go to waste, not that I expect to see great results in my lifetime.

20 posted on 04/27/2009 6:36:46 PM PDT by m4629

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