Free Republic

by Sheri Urban Monday's horrific fire at the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris shocked viewers everywhere, as they witnessed the horrific destruction and collapse of its iconic spire, before firefighters were able to get it under control. While many prominent figures tweeted concern for the cathedral sacred to over a billion Catholics across the globe, controversial Muslim Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) put out a bizarre tweet that rubbed many the wrong way. "Art and architecture have a unique ability to help us connect across our differences and bring people together in important ways," posted Rep. Omar. "Thinking of the...

Notre Dame's three medieval stained-glass windows all survived last night's devastating fire, the Archbishop of Paris has said, as detectives probe the renovation work which may have led to the blaze. The first daylight pictures inside the wreckage of the Paris landmark today showed the roof destroyed, the 850-year-old church exposed to the elements and the floor covered in charred debris. However the three 'irreplaceable' Rose Windows, which date to the 13th century and were last night feared to have melted or exploded, are all still believed to be intact. Attention has now turned to what may have caused Notre...

Photos from inside Notre Dame show the central part of the historic Gothic cathedral still intact. Rows of wooden pews and much of the nave appears to have been saved, according to the images. “Only a small part of the vault collapsed. Interior seems relatively untouched. Hallelujah!” wrote @CathedralNotre.

A French priest who helped comfort the wounded after the worst terrorist attack on Paris this century and who survived an ambush in Afghanistan today also emerged as a hero of the Notre Dame fire. Jean-Marc Fournier, chaplain of the Paris Fire Brigade, saved the Blessed Sacrament and the Crown of Thorns from the blazing cathedral on Monday night. It was feared that both religious artefacts would be lost as flames engulfed the medieval building, but Father Fournier made sure they were taken to safety. Etienne Loraillere, an editor for France's KTO Catholic television network, said Father Fournier 'went with...

by Jenn Carter The media is circling the wagons over the Notre Dame fire, and even FoxNews has joined in the enforced groupthink. As I detailed in a prior article, the only explanation for Monday's monstrous fire and destruction of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is that it was a "construction accident." This, despite the fact that, as French police confirmed, there were no construction workers on-site at the time of the fire, and that there had been a series of arson attacks and desecration of other French churches in the past three months. But on all of...

by Jenn Carter On Monday, the world reacted in horror as the nearly 900-year old Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris was nearly completely destroyed by fire. Horrific flames quickly engulfed the entire core structure, and after 2 hours, the iconic spire collapsed, along with most of the roof and its 210 tons of lead. That's what we know. Here's what we don't: What caused it? Well the media seems to have focused on one reason, and one reason only: the cathedral was "under construction" -- a reported $7 million project lasting years, and scheduled to complete just this year. Therefore...

Jimmy Johnson's hair was a mess. I mean, it was all over the place, and he couldn't care less. This happened long before the perfectly groomed Jimmy joined Howie, Terry and Michael as NFL analysts for Fox, and he still was years away from winning Super Bowls while yelling, "How 'bout them Cowboys?" Instead, way back then, with no brush or comb in sight around the visitors' locker room at Notre Dame Stadium in October 1988, Johnson was the coach of the Miami Hurricanes, and you'd think he was just in the midst of one.

So, here are a few photos that have everyone chattering. First the setup… Seated is 18-year-old Justin Brent, a freshman wide receiver at Notre Dame. And on his lap is Lisa Ann, a well know adult movie star. (Safe for work link to IMDB.com). The two were spotted at New York City’s Madison Square Garden taking in a Knicks game:

Again the University of Notre Dame is under pressure to officially recognize a ‘Gay-Straight Alliance’ (GSA) club on campus.  Pro-homosexual activists are using the incremental, step-by-step approach to wear down Catholic resistance and boil the proverbial frog slowly. According to The Observer, the Office of Student Affairs is “currently reviewing a proposal to create an official gay-straight alliance (GSA) at Notre Dame.”  Although similar applications have been denied in the past, the student-run newspaper prints an ambiguous response from university president Fr. John Jenkins on the issue.  In a recent interview, he says:  “I think it’s time for a fresh...

Update: University spokesman sidesteps issue; pro-abortion professor calls TFP “monsters.” Confirmed: Some pro-abortion internships are funded by ND Gender Studies. The Department of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame currently lists the following menu option on its webpage: “How to Find a Summer Internship.”  When students click on that option they are sent to a page titled:  “Summer Internship Opportunities,” which provides live links to pro-abortion groups. (Link) Alerted about this fact, over 10,850 students and parents joined TFP Student Action in politely asking Fr. John I. Jenkins, president of Notre Dame, to have the website entries that...

Back in May 2009, during the controversy over Notre Dame’s decision to have President Obama as their commencement speaker and honorary degree recipient, I gave a short statement to the Boston Herald: “My favorite grandpa, Clem James Sheeran, was Catholic. Irish to the core, his favorite place (other than church) was Notre Dame. I can’t imagine what he would think as the university recognizes someone who contradicts the core values of the Catholic faith by promoting an anti-life agenda.” In his latest Washington Post column, Michael Gerson writes about the Obama administration’s war on Catholic institutions with President Obama's decision...

A silent video that explains the Notre Dame Scandal in 21 seconds.

The dictatorship of relativism is alive at the University of Notre Dame. While the 88 pro-lifers who peacefully prayed on campus during the 2009 commencement fiasco still face charges and possible jail time, the homosexual movement is welcomed. From April 12-16, Notre Dame plans to host a pro-homosexual "Stand Against Hate Week." According to the promotional flier, the events are being sponsored by various groups, including the Office of the President (Fr. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.), the Office of Student Affairs, the Core Council for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Questioning Students, the Feminist Voice and Campus Ministry. Why should any...

Charlie Weis likes his team's chances of earning a Bowl Championship Series berth -- if No. 19 Notre Dame keeps winning. Gator Bowl president Rick Catlett does, too. Catlett said the Gator Bowl would love to have a Fighting Irish team that finishes 10-2, but can't imagine it happening.

Recent events at the University of Notre Dame are creating a great deal of moral confusion. Ever since the university decided to honor our pro-abortion president at its commencement ceremony earlier this year, it seems the institution is on a direct collision course with its long-standing Catholic identity. URGENT petition to Notre Dame: Please drop the chargesFor example: Notre Dame funded a student trip to the National Equality March in Washington, D.C, held on October 11. The pro-homosexual march demanded same-sex “marriage” and the abolition of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. Notre Dame’s Gender Relations Center announces troubling activities...

The 88 outspoken pro-lifers peacefully walked onto Notre Dame’s campus in May to be the voice of the unborn – when pro-abortion president Obama was honored there – and were arrested for trespassing.  Among those arrested were Fr. Norman Weslin, several Catholic nuns, Norma McCorvey, the “Jane Roe” of Roe v. Wade, and Ambassador Alan Keyes. Sign the “Drop the Charges” petition

The communications office of Bishop John Smith of Trenton, NJ told LifeSiteNews.com (LSN) Friday that he has pledged his support to Bishop D'Arcy, who has condemned the scandal and intends to boycott the ceremony. "Bishop Smith has written to Bishop John M. D'Arcy ... to express his support for the strong positions he has taken in defense of Church teaching, and the way that he has handled the matter concerning the Notre Dame commencement issue," stated communications director Rayanne Bennett. Auxiliary Bishop Roger Gries of Cleveland, Ohio told LSN today that he also opposes Notre Dame's decision. "I don't believe...

<p>Alan Keyes among 21 arrested at Notre Dame May 8, 2009 1:29 PM Former Illinois U.S. Senate candidate Alan Keyes and 20 other protesters were arrested this morning when they refused to leave the Notre Dame campus during a protest of President Obama's upcoming commencement address there, a university spokesman said.</p>

The effort of some Notre Dame alumni to discourage donors from supporting the university because of its commencement invitation to Barack Obama is bearing some fruit. The alumni leading the effort just sent out this release:

Many prolifers are embarrassed when fellow prolifers behave as if abortion is truly murder. And then there are those who behave and speak clearly on behalf of our unborn brothers and sisters: Below is the text of Bishop Bruskewitz’s letter to Notre Dame president Fr. John Jenkins. April 3, 2009 The Reverend John Jenkins, C.S.C President, University of Notre Dame 400 Main Building Notre Dame, IN 46556 Reverend and dear Father Jenkins, Permit me to add my name as well to the long list of Bishops of the Catholic Church who are utterly appalled at your dedication to immorality and...