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Archbishop Chaput on Notre Dame and the issues that remain
Archdiocese of Denver ^ | May 18, 2009 | Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.

Posted on 05/19/2009 8:26:48 AM PDT by annalex

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To: annalex; HerrBlucher; NoRedTape; Salvation

Obama Norte Dame Appearance

Like most males I have the ability to compartmentalize. Among the compartments I do not like to open any more are the many understandings I have about the rise to political domination of Communism and National Socialism and most recently the Bolivarian revolution. The following incident should be admired for its elegance, but is hardly unique. It fits the tried and true formula of successful despots. Here is quote from William Shirer’s The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich about the Catholic Trade Unions.

“For half a century May Day had been the traditional day of celebration for the German and European worker. To lull the workers and their leaders before it struck, the Nazi government (60 days in power) proclaimed May Day 1933, as a national holiday, officially named it the “Day of National Labor” and prepared to celebrate it as it had never been celebrated before. The trade union leaders were taken in by this surprise display of friendliness toward the working class by the Nazi’s and enthusiastically co-operated with the government and the party in making the day a success. Labor leaders were flown to Berlin from all parts of Germany, thousands of banners were unfurled acclaiming the Nazi regime’s solidarity with the worker, and out at Tempelhof Field Goebbels prepared to stage the greatest mass demonstration Germany had ever seen. Before the massive rally, Hitler himself received the workers’ delegates, declaring, ‘You will see how untrue and unjust is the statement that the revolution is directed against the German workers. On the contrary.’ Later in his speech to more than 100,000 workers at the field Hitler pronounced the motto, “Honor work and respect the worker!” and promised that May Day would be celebrated in honor of German labor ‘throughout the centuries’.

Late that night Goebbels, after describing in his most purple prose the tremendous enthusiasm of the workers for this May Day celebration which he had so brilliantly staged, added a curious sentence in his diary: ‘Tomorrow we shall occupy the trade-union buildings. There will be little resistance’.

That is what happened. On May 2 the trade-union headquarters throughout the country were occupied, union funds confiscated, the unions dissolved and the leaders arrested. Many were beaten and lodged in concentration camps”.

The drama of Barrack Obama’s appearance at Notre Dame and his speech were not a statement of personal position and a call to dialogue. What we saw was the too often repeated and predicable performance of an attractive, aspiring despot. Pay attention to what happens in Washington and at the U.N. and not what he says at Norte Dame.


21 posted on 05/19/2009 10:28:05 AM PDT by Retain Mike
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To: Retain Mike
Pay attention to what happens in Washington and at the U.N. and not what he says at Norte Dame

That's easy; Obama didn't say anything worth paying attention to at Notre Dame.

22 posted on 05/19/2009 11:03:36 AM PDT by annalex (http://www.catecheticsonline.com/CatenaAurea.php)
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To: annalex
Here's my letter to Bishop Daniel Jenky, CSC (Peoria, IL)
communications@cdop.org


May 19, 2009

Dear Bishop Jenky,

I am writing to express my gratitude to you for your commitment to the Sanctity of Life, which you have demonstrated at many points --- and for your love of the Church, which is and always will be the Bride of Christ.

Some of us have kept your reputation as a "Good Shepherd" in mind as we have tried (and, though beaten and discouraged, are still trying) to protect the souls of Notre Dame students and rescue the University's Catholic identity.

Now that the Obama controversy has come and gone (or, "more or less" gone), is there not still a "terrible breach" between Notre Dame and the Church? Without making a judgment about anyone's personal motivations, shouldn't we look at more objectively verifiable things like Notre Dame's financial links and institutional affiliations?

Controversy has focused a light of inquiry upon the network of money and influence represented by the Notre Dame Board of Trustees.

If you simply Google

"Notre Dame" trustees "stem cell" millennium abortion fraud

you'll get about 1500 results, an unsettling set of indications that the problem isn't just that "Notre Dame partners with Obama," but that the Board itself is influenced by members whose policies and practices are disturbing.

The main ones which have come to light so far:

Trustee Justice Ann Claire Williams, U.S. Court of Appeals 7th District. Blocked the enforcement on the ban on partial-birth abortions by ruling that the Department of Justice could not subpoena hospital abortion records. She is reportedly being considered by President Obama for a seat on he Supreme Court.

Trustee Philip B. Rooney, wealthy Chicago businessman, was indicted by the SEC in a massive fraud case. Seven years ago, in a multi-million-dollar settlement, the SEC barred Rooney permanently from being an officer in any public company. He retains his board position at Notre Dame to this day.

Trustee Douglas Tong Hsu, chairman of a 32-billion dollar Chinese conglomerate with strong political connections both in Taiwan and mainland China. He was indicted for breach of trust and forgery in 2006, the same year he and Jenkins travelled to Beijing to develop partner programs for the university in communist China.

Trustee Dr. Mary Anne Fox, Chancellor of UC Davis, which recently opened a new research facility for human embryonic stem cell experimentation. Their bio-engineering department has also established a partnership with Tsinghua University in China, to further their research, which destroys human beings in their most vulnerable stage of life.

Trustee Raymond G. Chambers, is the co-founder of anti-poverty organization Millenium Promise, which (among othr things) provides "contraceptive services" in African villages, including "Male and female condoms; Pharmacologic contraceptives including oral, transdermal, intramuscular, and implanted methods; and IUDs." The handbook for their project, "Millennium Villages," also advocates that "In countries where abortion is legal, safe abortion services in controlled settings by skilled practitioners should be established."

Not only is Chambers on Notre Dame's board; Fr. John Jenkins is also in the Millennium Promise Board. This, of course, constitutes direct cooperation with intrinsic evil.

You know all these people very well, surely, and peraps you feel protective of them simply on the basis of long and cordial association. That is to be expected. But it should not obscure the fact that there is a pattern here which suggests scores of unanswered questions.

To whom can we, the laity, go to seek redress for such a repugnant situation? Many of us feel ourselves to be scandalized, discouraged, and --- worst of all --- leaderless. As Our Lord said, "Like sheep without a shepherd."

Yet I take hope from some of Notre Dame's past struggles: the (as far as I know) permanent suspension of what had been an annual Gay Film Festival, the cancellation of the 2009 Vagina Monologues: these are good signs.

So I struggle between despair and hope.

Now it looks as if Notre Dame is helping President Obama in his "perpetual campaign" to rally young people to the support of his programs. An essential element of this is deception: to put it plainly, saying one thing and doing another.

Obama says he wants us to respect each others' consciences, yet for the first time in decades the government will compel pro-life citizens to actually finance--- pay for --- the extermination of unborn babies through their tax dollars. Fine. We respect Obama, and he kills babies. He respects us, and he makes us pay for it. Do you see what's wrong here?

Notre Dame says it's all for dialog, communication, and engagement, and then when an elderly pro-life priest comes on campus to protest Obama, nonviolently singing hymns and carrying a cross, he is arrested, handcuffed, and put in jail. Do you see what's wrong here?

Fr. Jenkins says that voluntary service in fighting the evils of racism and poverty is what makes Notre Dame great, and then he serves on a Board of Millennium Promise, which contracepts, sterilizes, and aborts Africans. Is this an example for Notre Dame students? Is this going to become one of their voluntary service options? Do you see what's wrong here?

I beg your prayers and words of counsel. I am heartsick and discouraged and don't know what to do, but I still trust that you, a Successor to the Apostles, will surely stop these dreadful offenses.

Please pray for me.

Most respectfully in the heart of Jesus,

[signed]

23 posted on 05/19/2009 12:03:10 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o ("The first duty of intelligent men of our day is the restatement of the obvious. " - George Orwell)
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To: Retain Mike

An excellent account.

I don’t think Obama is going to attack the unions, but he probably will attack the Church at some point. He has split off the “good” Catholics (the ones who love him) from the “bad,” “divisive” Catholics (the ones who adhere to Catholic doctrine). I think he’ll probably whip up a little more anger against the latter group and then make his move. As usual, the bishops will be napping.


24 posted on 05/19/2009 12:25:20 PM PDT by livius
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To: Mrs. Don-o
Excellent letter. Why won't you post it as a separate thread, since it is intended as an open letter?

the government will compel pro-life citizens to actually finance--- pay for --- the extermination of unborn babies through their tax dollars

And that's just the rescinding of the Mexico City policy. With Obama health care, -- whatever shape it takes, -- EVERY abortion on American soil will be paid for by tax money.

25 posted on 05/19/2009 12:51:24 PM PDT by annalex (http://www.catecheticsonline.com/CatenaAurea.php)
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To: annalex

That is so true.


26 posted on 05/19/2009 12:54:15 PM PDT by Retain Mike
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To: livius

The speech and the story are examples of executing a continuously successful formula. Few people attempt to climb the learning curve, but behave like spiders on a ceiling. The spider does not attempt to craul away, but as defense always falls into your tissue where it is crushed.


27 posted on 05/19/2009 1:05:55 PM PDT by Retain Mike
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To: Mrs. Don-o

Fact-check before mailing. Marye Anne Fox is the
Chancellor, University of California San Diego


28 posted on 05/19/2009 1:07:58 PM PDT by omega4412
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To: omega4412
Eek! And I typed "Davis" --geez, I hate it when I do stuff like that.

Thank you. (I need a smiley with a sheepish look...)

29 posted on 05/19/2009 1:21:43 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o ("The first duty of intelligent men of our day is the restatement of the obvious. " - George Orwell)
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To: Salvation

I pray the Vatican will take steps to rein in those in the US Catholic Church who while claiming the title of Catholic are doing everything to destroy His Church.


30 posted on 05/19/2009 8:57:27 PM PDT by Brytani (No Taxation Without Birth Certification)
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To: Mrs. Don-o
More Info on the ND board of trustees

Lots of Chicago powerbrokers. Those who left Chicago to protest at ND should consider how to dislodge or reform them. That's where Obama the politician came from, after all.

31 posted on 05/20/2009 5:22:16 PM PDT by Dumb_Ox (http://kevinjjones.blogspot.com)
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To: Dumb_Ox

Thanks for the info.


32 posted on 05/20/2009 6:31:04 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o ("Every system is perfectly designed to get the results it gets." - Isaac Asimov)
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