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Notre Dame Students to Protest, Boycott Obama Speech, Confront on Abortion
Life News ^ | 5/4/09 | Steven Ertelt

Posted on 05/04/2009 4:13:55 PM PDT by wagglebee

South Bend, IN (LifeNews.com) -- The collection of pro-life student groups at the University of Notre Dame who have led much of the response to the Obama graduation invitation have announced their plans for commencement. Notre Dame Response will hold a peaceful protest when President Barack Obama speaks at the Catholic college.

The invitation from Father John Jenkins to the pro-abortion president to both give the graduation address and receive an honorary degree has prompted national outrage.

An ad hoc coalition of several pro-life students groups has led the official protest from UND students to the decision.

Today, the groups announced their plans for the May 17 event, saying, "ND Response has received official permission to hold a prayerful and constructive demonstration on the South Quad of the University of Notre Dame between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. 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," the group added.

ND Response informed LifeNews.com that a subcommittee it facilitated of 2009 graduates has concluded their discussion of the best way to respond and it appears a large percentage of Notre Dame students will boycott the graduation event.

Other students may also confront Obama over his pro-abortion record during the event.

"It certainly appears obvious from these announced plans that a large or perhaps the sole focus of that response is a boycott," ND Response indicated in a statement. "There also may be other small groups or individuals amongst the 2009 graduates and their guests who have their own ideas about raising the pro-life issue to Mr. Obama inside the Joyce Center."

The students say they want a focus on peaceful and respectful opposition, especially in light of some of the more in-your-face opposition appearing at their campus in recent days along with the arrest of some pro-life advocates.

The schedule includes time with Bishop D'Arcy, who has said he would boycott the official ceremony because of Obama's presence. He will celebrate Mass the evening prior to the graduation event and will pray with families.

ND Response says that it hopes some of the Catholic priests who have objected to Notre Dame's decision will appear on Saturday for a pre-graduation Mass.

The group planned for a Mass at the same time as the graduation ceremony, but, after consulting with Bishop D'Arcy, the group has decided not to turn a Mass into a protest event.

During commencement, Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life will speak at a rally on the other side of campus.

Related web sites:
Notre Dame response - http://www.ndresponse.com



TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Indiana
KEYWORDS: abortion; bhoabortion; catholic; moralabsolutes; notredame; notredamescandal; obamatruthfile; prolife
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To: Mrs. Don-o

Oh my Lord, yes. I pray that nobody will get away with associating the name of Jesus Christ with this blasphemous practice of abortion in the eyes of God and the church watching public, and especially that it not happen through this ungodly association between Notre Dame University and Obama.

Randall Terry is certainly used to getting a hard time for this kind of issue, and God bless him such that he is undeterred as would be the Bishop and the graduating students who refuse to honor a blasphemous arrangement with their presence.


21 posted on 05/04/2009 6:43:24 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Beat a better path, and the world will build a mousetrap at your door.)
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To: livius

I would only pray he sees the hell fire this side of eternity and turns away from the evil so that he won’t see any on the other side. I wish that kind of end on nobody.


22 posted on 05/04/2009 6:47:16 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Beat a better path, and the world will build a mousetrap at your door.)
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To: TheBigJ

What brand of cigarette does 0 smoke. I want to buy some stock in that.


23 posted on 05/04/2009 6:51:12 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Beat a better path, and the world will build a mousetrap at your door.)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

What ZERO HUSSEN can’t stand is open disagreement with his Messiah Complex. The probability of Open Protests in the Audience will cause ZERO to find a diversionary reason to have to cancel for “other pressing obligations.” Its certainly a sorry day in Our History of America!


24 posted on 05/04/2009 6:53:16 PM PDT by True Republican Patriot (GOD BLESS AMERICA and Our Last Great President George W. Bush)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

Has anyone heard anything as to any statements from the ND trustees’ meeting last Friday?


25 posted on 05/04/2009 6:54:48 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall ("I will not compromise on life" - what Steele should have said.)
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To: sojourner

Well? Dont You already know the answer to your question?? :-(


26 posted on 05/04/2009 6:57:06 PM PDT by True Republican Patriot (GOD BLESS AMERICA and Our Last Great President George W. Bush)
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To: wagglebee

Other people have suggested — and I think it’s a great idea — for attendees to turn their backs at Zero during the speech. I wish it wouldn’t come to that, but if Notre Dame wants to mock decency, then indecency is justifiably mocked in return.

A mass walkout would have an even greater impact, though Secret Service will likely lock everything down.


27 posted on 05/04/2009 7:01:29 PM PDT by Tex_GOP_Cruz
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To: wagglebee
My guess is that Jenkins will do everything in his power to prevent this.

It would be good for students to have lots of video cameras to record the peacefulness of their protest, and be able to identify any disruptors who show up.

28 posted on 05/04/2009 7:06:26 PM PDT by PapaBear3625 (The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money -- Thatcher)
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To: TheBigJ
So let’s get the usurper and affirmative action candidate riled up to the point he ACTS ON EMOTION. HE WILL OVERSTEP HIS BOUNDS. HE WILL MAKE A MAJOR BLUNDER.

Obama is a narcissistic sociopath. He will react badly to people openly opposing him.

29 posted on 05/04/2009 7:08:49 PM PDT by PapaBear3625 (The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money -- Thatcher)
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To: Mrs. Don-o
God knows who speaks up for the holy innocents and who does not. God knows a lot. God knows everything.

For those politicians who wash their hands, who justify the killing with the Constitution, there will come a day.

30 posted on 05/04/2009 7:14:51 PM PDT by Sender (It's never too late to be who you could have been.)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

Whatever it takes...however it happens, I hope that Zero is
not allowed to sully a Christian institution!


31 posted on 05/04/2009 7:34:08 PM PDT by luvie (Zero is dumb as a rock (dangerously so))
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To: wagglebee

I just got a letter from Randall Terry enclosing some petition postcards.

They quote from Matthew 25: “Whatsoever you do to the least of these, you do unto Me.”

And they go on to point out that what Fr. Jenkins has done by inviting Obama to be honored at Notre Dame is equivalent to inviting Pontius Pilate to be so honored, AFTER he had condemned Jesus to death.

Pretty strong stuff. And right on the mark.


32 posted on 05/04/2009 7:35:37 PM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: LUV W

ZERO is NOT a Christian!
The Muslim World knows Who Obama IS!


33 posted on 05/04/2009 7:51:18 PM PDT by True Republican Patriot (GOD BLESS AMERICA and Our Last Great President George W. Bush)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

Good for them...

Hope its a big protest...


34 posted on 05/04/2009 7:56:02 PM PDT by Tennessee Nana
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To: True Republican Patriot

Exactly why he shouldn’t be at a Christian institution
spreading his ungodly poison!


35 posted on 05/04/2009 8:03:36 PM PDT by luvie (Zero is dumb as a rock (dangerously so))
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To: sojourner

“It strikes me that if Obama had any decency, he would simply quietly decline the invitation”

BWAHAHHAAAHAA!!!

Ahhh...thanks for that, I needed a good laugh.

Obama - decency (snicker snicker)


36 posted on 05/04/2009 8:17:23 PM PDT by Scotswife
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To: Mrs. Don-o; stylecouncilor

Thanks so much Mrs.Don-o.

s, ping!


37 posted on 05/04/2009 8:46:46 PM PDT by onedoug
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To: wagglebee

I’m not Catholic... but If my pastor were to allow Obama to speak at our church, I would not protest... I would just leave the church.


38 posted on 05/04/2009 9:46:19 PM PDT by Safrguns
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To: laweeks
What the hell is stopping the church from canning his ass and getting him the hell off the campus? Why is this still an issue?

Notre Dame is a PRIVATE college, and is run by a Board of Trustees. It's not owned by "The Church".

39 posted on 05/04/2009 10:05:24 PM PDT by SuziQ
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To: livius

I agree with your analysis. Obama is a very arrogant man, and he knows from his contacts with Catholic pols in the Democratic Party that the Church is divided, and that this includes many clerics, even bishops. He wants to expand the number of Americanists he recuited last year, so he will have a sizaeable and reliable cadre wotking for him.


40 posted on 05/04/2009 10:11:23 PM PDT by RobbyS (ECCE homo)
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