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The Spectacle Blog
For those who have been following the uproar the University of Notre Dame’s decision to honor Pres. Obama by giving him the commencement podium and an honorary degree despite his extreme anti-life record, here’s new information. At Off the Record, Phil Lawler (my dad) is passing along a report that he has from a reliable source: ND President Fr. John Jenkins is in Washington, D.C. today for an unannounced meeting at the White House. This is still merely a rumor, but indeed FlightAware shows the ND jet flying to Dulles this morning.
What could they be talking about? We can only speculate. Last weekend Bishop Robert W. Finn of Kansas City joined 42 American bishops who have spoken out against Obama’s invitation by claiming “I suspect that, since Notre Dame will need a scapegoat for this debacle, and Fr. Jenkins will probably lose his job, at this point perhaps he ought to determine to lose it for doing something right instead of something wrong. He ought to disinvite the President, who I believe would graciously accept the decision…”
That Fr. Jenkins would rescind the invitation seems unlikely given that on Saturday Fr. Jenkins reaffirmed his invitation to a crowd celebrating black student-athletes at Notre Dame that “shook down the thunder” with applause. But then what could they be talking about? If there is any change in the status of Obama’s invitation, it’s big news.
View all comments (65) | Leave a comment
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Pingback| 4.21.09 @ 5:00PM
Obama at ND Update | But As For Me links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Dan| 4.21.09 @ 5:29PM
Are the black students at Notre Dame even Catholic?
If they're like those at Villanova, most likely not.
MOST, and I do mean MOST are NOT Catholic, and thus don't get or understand why Roman Catholics are concerned about this invitation, and very much SHOULD be concerned.
Notre Dame needs to extend far more importance to whether or not their actions are consistent with Catholic doctrine and tradition, instead of the applause of some alumni, who probably never should have attended Notre Dame in the first place.
Their "thunderous" applause for Jenkins' behavior clearly indicates their strained relationship with what Notre Dame stands for, and what Roman and American Catholicism stands for.
It doesn't do to gain the whole world at the expense of one's soul, it sure as hell doesn't do to merely gain some temporary kudos from an establishment, and establishment media that is WHOLEHEARTEDLY opposed to just about everything Notre Dame stands for.
Lily| 4.21.09 @ 6:04PM
Well, now we know what is really important to Father Jenkins: Notre Dame athletics. Nice priorities, Father.
Aldrich| 4.21.09 @ 6:08PM
Dan, there are many black Catholic students at Notre Dame who are equally concerned about the moral and academic direction of our University. In fact, last night the Black Cultural Arts Council held the first forum on campus over the controversy, albeit "an affirmative academic forum in support of the invitation."
It's rather hypocritical that although he defends this decision as an opportunity for a healthy debate, Fr. Jenkins has denied every request from students who wish to speak with him, much less debate among ourselves. On top of that, our "student" government leaders refused to hold a campus-wide forum to reevaluate our Catholic identity. (Funny though, former student body president Bob Reish attended BCAC's forum when he was among those in COR who wanted the focus to "be redirected back to the class of 2009." http://tr.im/jmKv Playing politician, alright.)
Smitty| 4.21.09 @ 6:12PM
I hope Jenkins is fired; he deserves it. I'm so tired of arrogant errant priests.
Jeremiah| 4.21.09 @ 6:13PM
I'm sorry for the good folks at Notre Dame.
Hope Eternal| 4.21.09 @ 7:26PM
There is a very important part that everyone is missing. Fr. Jenkins decision to honor Obama ought to be considered racist based on the Great Dr. Martin Luther King. He said judge me by the content of my character not by the color of my skin. ND is honoring a many based on the color of his skin unless they do think his presidential executive orders show his character ,which actions President Jenkins is claiming he does not agree with. Franky he has not done much more than give a bunch of really good sounding speeches. President Jenkins actions are out right racist and if we think otherwise we have so much more to worry about. All children are children of God and it is what we do and not the form that we came here (earthly) that matters.
Anon| 4.21.09 @ 8:05PM
I cannot believe the racism coming out of these posts. You all call yourselves Christians?
michael loehrer | 4.21.09 @ 8:15PM
To Anon: Can't you read? It's about Catholic dogma. It's about the Roman Catholic Church. Get with it, read and try to comprehend.
smokehouse| 4.21.09 @ 8:16PM
"Wake up the echoes." What a joke the Irish have become, especially Jenkins who made a first class blunder and should correct it but he will not. And the racist black athletes (remember 98% blacks voted for the black Kenyan) "shook down the thunder" with applause only shows their immaturity.
c'est moi| 4.21.09 @ 8:33PM
At the risk of offending the delicate flower Anon, I suggest the black student-athletes at Notre Dame might like to transfer to Georgetown.
At Georgetown they hide their Catholic identity when honoring scandal-ridden celebrities.
And, ya know Anon - I'm freakin' offended by phony racist strawman comments.
George Bedway| 4.21.09 @ 9:01PM
The first refuge of a scoundrel these days is to cry "racism." Anon is another one of those "useful idiots" that Lenin spoke of. The issue is not Obama's color, it's that he now rivals King Herod, indeed exceding his body count. Abortion is wrong as is anyone who furthers it.
Red Phillips | 4.21.09 @ 9:06PM
"Fr. Jenkins decision to honor Obama ought to be considered racist based on the Great Dr. Martin Luther King. He said judge me by the content of my character not by the color of my skin."
Hope Eternal, are you really so naive to believe that MLK meant that in the same way you are using it? The PC Cultural Marxist game has always been the same. White folks are not allowed to consider race, but blacks and other minorities are expected to. MLK supported preferences, affirmative action (a term which was not used then) and reparations and was anything but color blind. I don’t know if you consider yourself a conservative, but the attempt to remake King into some kind of proponent of color blind conservatism is historically illiterate. King was a liberal’s liberal and a fellow traveler. And the conservatives of his day knew it. Read what National Review, for example, had to say about King at the time.
Remaking King in the way the modern “right” often does contributes to the atmosphere that allows opposition to Obama the baby killer’s invite to automatically be characterized as racist. It does not further color blindness.
74Domer| 4.21.09 @ 9:11PM
As an ND alum {a Protestant at that }I voiced my disapproval to Fr Jenkins . In addition to abortion, I sighted his racist chuch and Pastor.
I also sighted his association with terrorists {Ayers}. Indeed there is a plethora of reasons ,apart from abortion ,to deny this character a degree.
Nonnie Mouse| 4.21.09 @ 9:25PM
While we know that he was born without it (wherever that was), surely cultivated none during his life, he should have the grace to withdraw rather than cause this kind of disruption to a Catholic university where the student body and alumna do not wish to present him with an honorary degree or sit through just another self righteous speech from this classless soul.
ManicEditor| 4.21.09 @ 9:43PM
Points for your sentiments, 74Domer, and for good use of "plethora." You must have been hanging out on the South Side of Chicago when you caught sight of Barry's racist church and pastor and Barry associating with terrorist Ayers -- the sightings you cited in your post.
gokart-mozart| 4.21.09 @ 9:51PM
"What could they be talking about?"
Obama: Who is this Jesus? Are you one of his men? And, anyway, what IS truth?
Jenkins: I am not. I was never with Him. I don't know Him!
Angel| 4.21.09 @ 9:52PM
lol. Bugged me, too.
Lily| 4.21.09 @ 9:58PM
What is Father Judas' 30 pieces of silver? Liberal approval? Shame on him.
Lily| 4.21.09 @ 9:59PM
What is Father Judas' 30 pieces of silver? Liberal approval? Shame on him.
Salt5792| 4.21.09 @ 10:28PM
I wish the CCB would get its collective act together and instruct faithful Catholics that attending the ND commencement would be a mortal sin.
jim| 4.21.09 @ 10:37PM
ManicEditor. 74Domer merely misspelled 'cited' - his sentiments are very appropos.
Paul Camarata | 4.21.09 @ 10:39PM
Interesting that Fr. Jenkins chooses to meet with a group of student athletes, but refuses to talk with NDResponse, a coalition of student groups concerned about the Obama invite http://ndresponse.com/press.html
Lily| 4.21.09 @ 10:42PM
Jim, I don't mind if someone corrects me, if it's done nicely. I'd rather be corrected than repeat the error all over the place. No biggie.
Chuck| 4.21.09 @ 11:38PM
One can only hope the supposition (that Obama will be disinvited) is true. If so, let it be a reminder that we are all human, fallible, that we make mistakes, but that we are also capable of correcting them. Let it also remind that institutional standards and principles are, or should be, just that -- standards and principles -- things to live by, abide in, hold true, not some nebulous set of notions attuned to pop culture and current political fashion.
Pray that Jenkins will disinvite Obama, or at least inform him that the university will not be conferring an honorary degree. Obama may or may not take a one- or two-day political hit. On the other hand his popular standing may rise as a result. Who knows? But no matter. The important thing will be that a premier Catholic institution of higher learning came to its senses, grabbed hold of its gut, and said to hell with the political niceties and the media fallout -- we now understand that we just can't do this, and that it was a gross mistake to even consider it in the first place.
Chuck
P.S. Again, if the supposition proves to be true, then I really don't give a rat's behind how it plays politically nationally or even internationally. The story will be over and done before two news cycles elapse, so in that sense it would be largely irrelevant, especially against the all the other problems our country faces. But oh, what a boost, what a shot in the arm it would be for America's practicing Catholics! What a way to say: Yeah, we're still here, we still care, we still believe, and we still are not inclined to give up and turn the world over to the relativists.
Ed Hern| 4.22.09 @ 12:18AM
No matter what happens. Fr( and I am reluctant to call him this title) Jenkins, needs to be transfered to some remote area where he can never do this kind of damage to any Catholic institute. He has shown he is pro-abortion.He is a digrace to the Church
mark| 4.22.09 @ 12:26AM
History will look back upon abortion just as it now looks back upon slavery and the Holocaust. And Catholics will be justly criticized once again for not speaking up against and ending these atrocities sooner.
Angel| 4.22.09 @ 12:59AM
All of us are responsible for the abortion holocaust.
Imogene| 4.22.09 @ 1:01AM
Mr. Lawler, I wish you would do a little digging into the Father Hesburgh angle in this story. I have very, very deep personal history with ND and it is my belief that this commencement was designed as a tribute to Father Ted's work in the area of civil rights. It was to be his "victory lap" as he's nearing (or may even be past) his 90th birthday. Notre Dame excels in the area of self-congratulation. What better way to pat themselves on the back than with Father Ted standing side by side with our country's first black president, implicitly taking credit for Obama's shattering of the last glass ceiling. ND seems to have a pathological need to be accepted in "polite" society. Maybe it's a throwback to "Irish need not apply," I don't know. That they seem completely oblivious to the sad, surreal and ironic spectacle of honoring a man whose wife's ancestors were once considered 3/5th a person while he himself is using the powers of his office to deny personhood to the unborn, shows how far they're willing to go to be accepted. "Polite" society, indeed. And, for the record, I'm with the Bishop from KC -- Father Jenkins will be fired if he doesn't get ND out of this gracefully.
Patrick| 4.22.09 @ 2:05AM
Imogene,
Fr. Jenkins should be fired regardless.
Gary | 4.22.09 @ 2:51AM
Since when is Notre Dame really a Catholic college?
Michael| 4.22.09 @ 7:23AM
To Imogene:
Fr. Ted as you refer to Hesburgh (and I am wary of using Fr. here with him also) is one of the main reasons were in this fix right now. Hesburgh was the organizer and main proponent of the 1967 Land 'O Lakes Statement which eventually allowed the Catholic Universities to break away from the "DIRECT" control of the Church. This was done under the guise of "Academic Freedom" and has resulted in the invasion of our Catholic Universities by Leftist-Marxist "professors" administrators and trustees who have a totally godless agenda. You won't find them at Mass on Sunday or any church for that matter......
Just look at what has happened over the last 2-3 weeks at Georgetown, Lyola and now ND...The Leftist-Marxists , and not just understanding liberals, but real hardcore Leftists, have raised their heads above the "muck" and really shown the Catholic Church how far their Universities had plummeted...Unlike what the MSM (mainstream media) wants to portray, this is not a "Rightwing" untraconsertive group protesting the invitation, its regular mainline run of the mill Catholics who as someone stated "Have shook down the thunder from the sky".....
This does not stop with the disinvite...This needs to be seen as a 'war" if you will, against the Leftist-Marxists who have taken hold of our universities (both secular and religious) and the first time serious gains will be made in removing them from the Universities..When an agenda is more important than education we have a big problem...
The bishops need to take back control and "Shake Down the Thunder"....Themselves..A good start would be to relieve Jenkins imediatly from his responsibilities , just as the board of visitors at William & Mary University did last year when their president allowed the "Sexworkers Art Show" to be performed in the name of 'academic freedom"...They gave him 48 hrs to remove himself and his family from the presidents home and his office, and told him not to even look back..This was the first time every that a universities board has risen up against the Leftist-Marxists and they kicked him out.....
All of our Catholic universities have to do this also..
get rid of the Marxists (not just liberals) and retake control of our universities education..All the so called diversity programs are not really diversity at all, but a way to cover agendas and metanaritavies of the Leftists....Totally wasted time in education......
I'll get down off my soapbox now, but people listen to me and others as we 'reveal the truth" about our Higher Education..This was not an isolated incident..This was not "accidental" . This was a orginized attempt to spread BHO and the extreme Leftist-Marxists agenda PERIOD...
Pax....
bloggerist| 4.22.09 @ 7:26AM
Maybe there will be a compromise where the President speaks, but does not receive and honorary degree.
Robert de Jong| 4.22.09 @ 8:00AM
Michael,
From your mouth to GOD's ear.
From a "rabid" anti abortionist and non Catholic
tony| 4.22.09 @ 9:00AM
Celebrated black atheletes at ND????
What atheletes??
In case no one has noticed, their football program has gone the way of their Catholic identity.
Becky| 4.22.09 @ 10:33AM
I think Arizona State is inviting the president as a commencement speaker also, but will not be giving him a degree because he has not accomplished enough. I personally think the president is on tv everyday lecturing, telling us what to believe, that to personally have to spend the money and time giving these speeches is a waste of his time and taxpayer's money. Can't they find someone who doesn't cost $60,000 per hour of time (Air Force 1, I've read), who has something interesting to say? How about an airline or boat captain?
Cavallodifiero| 4.22.09 @ 10:33AM
Hey ANON the old racism card doesn't work anymore you are blowing smoke. It's about the BLACK man being a baby killer not about being BLACK. Save your bigot and race comments for your socialist friends.
Alie| 4.22.09 @ 11:51AM
Becky, Arizona IS going to give O a degree - they got death threats from the Obots so now he is getting one.
Pingback| 4.22.09 @ 12:08PM
Hail Colombia & other things | The Anchoress links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Joy| 4.22.09 @ 1:52PM
I wish that everyone will go there on May 17th and take their rosaries (the weapon of choice) and pray at the Commencement, just like we do at the abortion mills. Our Lady of the Rosary has her power from God.
Robert| 4.22.09 @ 2:42PM
While the issue of racial equality is very important to our nation and on our college campuses, we are dealing with a much bigger issue, the sanctity of life and our need to defend that sanctity, and that is what Notre Dame President Fr. Jenkins is bringing into doubt. Words are great, and very powerful, but ACTION is what matters. Action changes lives, action by prayerful people is what saves countless babies from a terrible mistake, action is what we need in our country from those who would see right prevail. Fr. Jenkins is not taking that action, and further, he is allowing the words of Satan to be preached, and Satan's actions, defended by Sen. Obama, will be raised on a pedestal. Congratulations that Sen. Obama is our first partially-black president, but that is not the most important issue here. Let's focus on the lives we are losing, and the real change America needs. And I agree that this is a huge boost to our nation's practicing Catholics. If Fr. Jenkins is influenced by our concern and prayers, it truly shows that we are not some dead and bygone church, but alive, vibrant, prayerful, and totally on fire with the Holy Spirit!
Praise the Blessed Trinity
TimJ| 4.22.09 @ 4:20PM
No matter what arguments you post here with the hope of getting Father Jenkins to disinvite Obama to the Obama graduation ceremonies, be assured that Obama will attend the ceremonies and will be given an honorary degee from ND. Let me suggest to the posters that there is much value and great power in promoting the idea to encourage all potential contributors to Notre Dame to give their donations to a Catholic college that upholds Catholic teachings and Catholic values. This won't get Father Jenkins' attention, but it will definitely get the attention of the Board of Directors of Notre Dame.
Pingback| 4.22.09 @ 4:22PM
Topics about Gampling » Archive » The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : Obama at ND U links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Jocon307| 4.22.09 @ 4:37PM
"What atheletes??"
LOL! This is probably the best comment I've seen on this entire sorry subject.
Joseph James| 4.22.09 @ 6:21PM
Just another scandal in the long line of institutional disappointments. The Church is about to lose her liberty.
Joseph James| 4.22.09 @ 6:21PM
Just another scandal in the long line of institutional disappointments. The Church is about to lose her liberty.
Mary Myers| 4.22.09 @ 7:04PM
Could it be that Fr. Jenkins is being offered the post of Ambassador to the Vatican?
Ed| 4.22.09 @ 9:23PM
Could be he is doing that Mary
He already sold his soul
74Domer| 4.23.09 @ 9:47AM
www.replacejenkins.com....This is a sight ,primarily ND Alumni based that are tallying the cost of retaining Father Jenkins at ND.
With the exception of specified prolife ND groups., these donors {alumni and non alumni}will refrain from contributing as long as Jenkins is at the helm.
Apologize for misusing the word cite by using the word sight.
I remember reading an article on George Washington discussing his cultivation of hemp. Washington was discussing plants from" Silesia".
The author rightly pointed out that this was a region in Central Europe[mineral rich].
Washington was a bad speller and my theory is that he was discussing plants from "Cilicia"located in Asia Minor in present day Turkey.
Just thought I would "cite" another misuse of "s" and "c"
74Domer| 4.23.09 @ 9:48AM
Sorry "site"
Cobra | 5.9.09 @ 2:03PM
Aren't Catholics supposed to be against the Death Penalty, War, Divorce and Artificial Birth Control?
Which of the Presidents who spoke there and received honorary degrees get a pass on those four? Hmmm?
W? George H.W.? Reagan? Nixon?
Come on. God is NOT mocked.
This is about RACE. Don't fool yourself. Just embrace the fact that in 30 or so years, Whites will NO LONGER be the majority in America.
I'm smiling right now about that.
--Cobra
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