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PewSitter.com
Voice of the Catholic Lay Faithful
Notre Dame Switchboard Overwhelmed, Grads Condemn Obama Decision


Staff Writer
Pewsitter.com


Detroit/South Bend (March 20, 2009) - As of late Friday night, hundreds of callers had overwhelmed the switchboard at Notre Dame as news began to circulate that Obama had been invited to give the commencement address at Notre Dame on May 17th. Sources at Notre Dame as well as the White House late Friday afternoon confirmed the invitation had been extended and accepted.

ND operators said the calls simply became too much to handle. Voice mails of the University President, Vice-President, Provost, assistant-provost and PR director were all full by 10pm EST. Operators were suggesting that callers try again on Monday when university officials would be back in their offices.

All the calls were expressing outrage. None supported the decision.

Two Notre Dame alumni who own and operate the world’s first Catholic internet TV station www.realcatholictv.com both immediately denounced the university’s decision to award Barack Obama honors and give him a stage from which to speak.

Marc Brammer, ND Class of ’74 and MBA’76 and Michael Voris ’83 each called the move a disgrace and a smear on the University’s reputation of being a Catholic school.

Voris discovered the news while live on the air with Relevant Radio’s Drew Mariana while he was being interviewed about the week’s news. "While I was actually on the air with Drew", Voris said, "I shot off an email to Fr. Jenkins (ND President) expressing my deep anger that the carnage done to the Faith by Notre Dame is continuing."

Voris shared the text of his email – “It is beyond sinful that a University dedicated to the Mother of God, in whose womb the salvation of the world became incarnate, would give a platform to the biggest enemy of life in the womb this country has ever seen.”

"This is a direct slap in the face to all who venerate the Mother of God. To be honoring a man who continues to do everything in his power to destroy the fundamental essence of motherhood through abortion," said Brammer, "shows just how far the University has lost its moral bearings."

RealCatholicTV.com has pledged its support to encouraging protests and condemnation of the Obama visit.





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Comments received: 33
1.
Ed Says:
March 21, 2009 (Sat) at 09:58:10 AM
If these individuals are "so outraged," then why are they not DEMANDING that bishops deny Catholic politicians communion in accordance with Church teachings and the wish of the Holy See? A rare few bishops have done so, but most won't do it because they fear angering parishioners more than angering God.
2.
Grey Roco Says:
March 21, 2009 (Sat) at 10:17:46 AM
He's the president of the United States, you should be honored to have him speak at your university. He's not the disgrace, you are.
3.
Kevin Says:
March 21, 2009 (Sat) at 10:40:14 AM
What if they held a graduation and nobody came?
4.
M.Julia Regan Says:
March 21, 2009 (Sat) at 11:49:26 AM
My father graduated from Notre Dame in 1927 with both an undergraduate & law degree. My mother spent all of her educational years in private Catholic girl's schools. My parents were both very devoted to the Virgin Mary. My father went to Mass almost every day of his life and he died 1 week after his 84th birthday. He lived for 19 years after a massive stroke at 65 and during those last 19 years he might have to walk 5 miles to get to daily Mass but he did so faithfully to the point that his funeral Mass was consulabrated by 3 priests because of his devotional example.If I learned anything from my parents it was not to close your mind to other people but to learn what they have to offer and then act accoring to what you believe.Women's rights have always been a big topic in the Catholic Church. It sorrowfully is a Patriarical Instition with a bias that I don't,in my heart, think was God's plan.I don't like abortion but under cetain circumstances I think a "loving God" would accept it and forgive it more readily than the rape & slaughter of thousands on a daily basis under the guise of "WAR". So, I say let him speak and lets us learn what we can from him. He has come into his position of President of the United States through a "free" election and I certainly don't think "Abortion" is what he is about, nor do I think that it is his most important task as President in these times! P.S. My only living remaining brother ( I have lost 3 in recent past)graduated from ND in 1962 I beleive.
5.
WorldNomad Says:
March 21, 2009 (Sat) at 12:29:05 PM
As an alum of a Catholic university (not ND) I have become acustomed to the leaders of most of the so called Catholic universities in the US being more interested in currying favor with anti life politicians than defending the Catholic faith. This is just another tiresome example of how the leaders of the Catholic Church in the US have abandoned the Faith and the faithful. We need another Inquisition.
6.
Roland Newark Says:
March 21, 2009 (Sat) at 12:30:41 PM
A true sinful insult to the faith the university purports to represent.
7.
Bob Says:
March 21, 2009 (Sat) at 01:13:56 PM
Way to let one issue dictate who you are.
8.
laraine Says:
March 21, 2009 (Sat) at 01:23:47 PM
Great idea--let's separate politics and religion and have Obama be the president of those of us who are Americans. Those of you who place religion over country need to stop voting. And you most definitely need to stop criticizing a president who is trying to save our country. Where do you get off?
9.
Rocky Says:
March 21, 2009 (Sat) at 01:27:02 PM
Refusing to honor the good works or success of those who do not support or who believe differently from Catholic dogma and teachings implies that only that part of a person that reflects the principles of Catholicism is valid. The rest of the person is the equivalent of a non-believer. Other religions consider non-believers to be blasphemers who should be denied the right to personhood. Catholic leaders try to find accord with these religions, most of which deny the divinity of Christ. It appears that only the issue of abortion allows the leadership of the Church to turn a blind eye to this denial. The Catholic Church, as an institution, is so much like all those other religions, and certainly no better, as the leadership would like to believe. I too am a Catholic but I cannot support the Church's hypocrisy in cases such as this.
10.
Mary Ann Says:
March 21, 2009 (Sat) at 02:16:41 PM
This is an outrage! A university named after the Mother of God is to let one speak at her campus? This man would have made it possible for Jesus (and millions of others) to be murdered in the womb. Wow. I hope they catch plenty of "hell" for this....
11.
Louis Voren Says:
March 21, 2009 (Sat) at 07:08:02 PM
This is not the first time that a "catholic" university honored a pro-abortion politician. Mount St. Mary's College, founded by the Sisters of the Congregation of St. Joseph honored Gloria and Linda Sanchez, two outspoken pro-abortion politicians, at its 2002 commencement.
12.
Jonathan Says:
March 21, 2009 (Sat) at 09:09:53 PM
What a shame. Obama's opening act on becoming president was to declare his support for increasing abortion outside our shores, and shortly to support increasing it within our borders. It was a direct slap in the face of every pro-life individual and institution, and yet they invite him to speak at their commencement? How can they even pretend to be a Catholic school? It is one thing to acknowledge the virtues or 'personhood' of those who disagree with you, even those who blaspheme your religion. It's another to invite them to serve as an example and give blessing to your children. Boo. Notre Dame's administrators have no character.
13.
Christine Says:
March 21, 2009 (Sat) at 09:52:23 PM
What? Do you Obama supporters troll the internet for sites you can bash because you think you are in the majority? Back off the Catholics and Christians and any other religous or other groups that stand united in their decisions of their school. It IS obviously NOT your school and since you had your say when you voted in November about how you think this country should be run, you have absolutely NO right AT ALL telling these folks that they should do this or should not do that etc.... THIS does not concern you so back off. Don't you have some Christmas plans to wreck for the rest of us in 2009 you should be attending too? Judgemental and offensive you are - as usual.
14.
Windows User Says:
March 21, 2009 (Sat) at 10:01:25 PM
This article confirms the wisdom I had in leaving the Catholic Church several years ago. If Catholics are so outraged that the President of the United States is going to speak at the graduation ceremony, I wish they would express similar outrage for the legions of pedophile predators that have hurt thousands of families. Catholics bastardize the noble principles and teachings of Christ. I do agree that Obama should not speak at Notre Dame. Not because of his position on abortion, but because such an "educational" institution does not deserve the attention of a national political leader. A convicted pedophile would be a more appropriate choice.
15.
TJ Says:
March 21, 2009 (Sat) at 10:01:55 PM
I think it is abominable that the Catholic Church is using the Sacrament of Holy Communion, the Body and Blood of Christ, as a cheap, political weapon. The Catholic Church taught me as a child that those of us most in need of grace and forgiveness should frequent the sacraments, especially Holy Communion often and that God may love the "sinner" more than the "faithful". I do not believe it is sinful for any politician or any person to espouse Pro Choice, as that defends the woman's right to carry her pregnancy to term as well as not to. I especially do not understand and cannot reconcile how those who are Pro Life do not promote social policy to support and protect that life after it is brought into the world and how the Catholic Church who calls artificial contraception and pre marital sex a sin does nothing about the millions of teen pregnancies conceiving babies out of wedlock because contraception is wrong and so is abortion. The Catholic Church frowns upon factual sex education, as well. The Catholic Church cannot be credible as long as it denies the existence of the sexualality of a human being. Out of this context continued condemnation of those Catholics who are Pro Choice and work diligently to support and protect the dignity of all life will leave the Catholic Church with fanatic fundamentalists and the world needs not another organized group of fanatic fundamentalists condemning and alienating. The world needs someone to teach us about love, tolerance, understanding, and support of each other.
16.
evolution Says:
March 21, 2009 (Sat) at 10:04:29 PM
I grew up Catholic and as I grew older and read more I became more and more at odds with organized religion. Three things turned me away: 1. The violence (i.e. in the hymns, the history...) 2. The blatant hypocrisy and choosing passages from the bible to manipulate and justify one's self 3. The piety and lack of respect for others beliefs (You can't tell me the Tibetan monk is going to hell because of his religion) Though I do respect the students and alumni for their opinions as to why Obama should not speak, I think they need to reexamine their outrage and see how arbitrary it extends.
17.
Mel Says:
March 22, 2009 (Sun) at 12:19:05 AM
God bless the students at Notre Dame protesting President Obama's visit there to give the Commencement Speech. Keep Obama and all our Government leaders in your prayers before our country falls to communism and the loss of many souls to Heaven.
18.
Scott Says:
March 22, 2009 (Sun) at 07:16:07 AM
This is a free country, we can have differences of opinions on any given topic. However, this is a private university, based on the teachings of the Catholic Church. As such her bride-groom is our Lord Jesus, and the two are one. Allowing a person of such a high office to speak is an honor...but this would also bring scandal to not only the University but to the Church and therefore to Christ. Consider how many deaths due to war,poverty,etc. Now compare the 3000+ children that are murdered very day in this country thru abortion. The President supports the greater evil(aboration),and opposes a lesser evil(war).
19.
Ron Says:
March 22, 2009 (Sun) at 07:34:38 AM
I find it hard to believe that "no" calls were in favor of the president coming...Oh wait they forgot to add in the ticketmaster calls. Seriously though when journalist speak in absolutes like that it screams slant and in this case just plain old mistruths....
20.
Debbie Says:
March 22, 2009 (Sun) at 11:15:47 AM
To Laraine and others: While it's true that Catholics are taught to be Pro-Life, please do not make an ignorant comment like, "Those of you who place religion over country need to stop voting." Abortion is not a religious issue, it is a Human Rights issue. Did you know that Obama supports partial birth abortions, whereby a late term baby is pulled out of the mother, its skull is punctured, and its brain is sucked out until it dies? I don't really see anything "religious" about that - it is just cruelty. If you choose to turn a blind eye to it, then maybe you should be the one to stop voting. As a graduate of ND, I am embarrassed and ashamed that the school is giving a politician like Obama a platform. Shame on Father Jenkins.
21.
Helen Shaw Says:
March 22, 2009 (Sun) at 12:57:17 PM
Catholic Universities have an obligation to speak the Truth no matter what. President Obama is pro abortion therefore it negates any positive speech that he may have. Our Catholic institutions must promote the clear understanding of our deep moral convictions on an issue like abortion. I should like to comment to Julia, abortion is not a right it is a license to kill. There is nothing more important in this world than life itself. More babies are killed in one day in the USA than in any war. A nation who kills it babies is a nation without hope. If someone attends daily Mass and is not open to the Grace that is given at that Mass, than he remains the same and unchanged. If the Mass transforms you than you begin to think like God and strive to be more like God in your daily life and in your thoughts. God does not change with the times as we tend to do, He is the same and if God says that killing the unborn is a serious sin than it remains a serious sin, no matter what.
22.
Joe Says:
March 22, 2009 (Sun) at 11:16:33 PM
If Notre Dame doesn’t want to follow or finds it too hard to follow Catholic teachings, then it should just be honest and drop the “mission to be a Catholic university” and identify itself as a secular collage. As a secular university they can invite whoever they want to speak at any affair, and award an honorary doctor degree to anyone and it would not be a source of scandal for the Church. If they want be an actual Catholic university then they need to uphold Catholic theology and stand up for the faith.
23.
JD Says:
March 23, 2009 (Mon) at 12:40:36 AM
This "one issue" DOES dictate who we are! We are a country that permits the killing of its unborn children. That is who we are. If we stop doing that, everything will change overnight. But we don't care, cuz we like to kill our unwanted. It's "Choice"! M'mm good!
24.
Bernie Says:
March 23, 2009 (Mon) at 10:23:51 AM
It does not seem that those ND graduate who object to President Obama giving the commencement speech really understand what it means to be Catholic. They should go back to ND for a refresher course.
25.
Charles J. Raysich Says:
March 23, 2009 (Mon) at 11:11:56 AM
It is outragious and beyond belief that a great University like ND would extend an invitation to a man who is openly opposed to the sacredness of life and who otwardly professes his stand to defend abortion. PLEASE do not permit him to step foot on your stage.Mother Mary, pray that this decision will be reversed.
26.
Fr.Bruce Krebs Says:
March 23, 2009 (Mon) at 01:38:22 PM
Dear Father Jenkins, I disagree with the decision to invite President Obama to give the Graduation address at ND. His philosophy is contrary to church teaching on several moral issues and I do not think he is a good choice to be speaking at a Catholic college. Thank you for reading this.
27.
Kris Says:
March 23, 2009 (Mon) at 03:01:39 PM
To honor such a person who, when off the TOTUS (president teleprompter) permits the world to witness the real man - one with a seared conscious indeed (leaving babies to die in soiled hospital utility rooms; whose wife solicits funds for him from others without consciences, on the backs of victims of partial birth abortions - you know when they deliberately stick sharp objects in the skull and suck out the brains to prevent the child from being born alive - and uses other innocents as objects of jokes - special olympics - calls inconvenient babies, punishments, and who doesn't mind the cloning of human life for it to be experimented upon) - well, you've made an idol out of a high position without qualifications. This idol - for everyone, not only those true to their Catholic Faith -is being placed by you above God and His holy will. And to make sure such a man has a captive audience makes the authorities of this school complicit with such ideas - priest or not - and everyone of them should also be included in those who should confess before ever receiving holy communion again.
28.
Sean Says:
March 23, 2009 (Mon) at 04:12:50 PM
I'm impressed with M. Julia Regan, telling about her father's spirituality. The same with Bob, who sneers at one-issue politics. laraine thinks it best to separate religion and politics or keep people who put religion "over" the country from voting. Rocky, a Catholic he tells us, thinks the Catholic Church is no better than any other and is hypocritical to boot. Well, get this, M Julia: your father's holiness does not validate your stupidity regarding a nbortion and infanticide promoting president. Just because the Obamarama is president does not make him right and does grant him instant respect on issues in which he is absolutely morally wrong. Bob, one issue politics is correct. I don't want a Hitler running the US who will rebuild my country and make it prosperous at the cost of killing the children who, Jesus said, were so close to Him. If you have a problem with my logic, read the Gospels once more: What does it profit a man if he gain the whole world, and yet lose his own soul. Jesus said that. Take it up with the Him. laraine has the solution - keep religious people from voting. This is the fascism belived by the John Kerry and other far Left liberals. Their answer is always to take away the people's rights in order to prorect them. Stalin, Mussolini and your boy Adolf, all had the same idea, laraine. You obviously have no use for God. Or is it God's morality you despise? I hope you get to live in a country without God so you will find out how precious God and God's morality is one day. Western Europe is almost there - book a flight and let us know in 10 years when there is no morality and everyone can do what he wants. And Rocky thinks that Catholics should honor persons who spit on the Church's beliefs and cherish their hatred for the lives of the least defensible among us. Rocky - Read Matthew 18:1-10 wait a minute ... I'm sure your Bible is not handy so I'll do it for you: 1 At that time the disciples approached Jesus and said, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2 He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, "Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, 3 you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 4 And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. "Whoever causes one of these little ones 5 who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 6 Woe to the world because of things that cause sin! Such things must come, but woe to the one through whom they come! 8 If your hand or foot causes you to sin, 7 cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter into life maimed or crippled than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into fiery Gehenna. 10 "See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father. So Rocky - whoever does not receive one of the children refuses to receive Jesus. And if you think differently, get ready for that millstone. It is the harshest thing Jesus says about anyone, putting them in the same league as Judas. I really pity you guys. You don't know the Bible and you sure as hell don't know the Church as the Body of Christ. You only know warm-fuzzy Christianity that just wants us all to feel good - if we are allowed to be born. You all disgust me.
29.
Bee Thompson Says:
March 23, 2009 (Mon) at 06:05:10 PM
Every day there is something new and appalling about the person who calls himself "president"of the U.S. How dare Fr.Jenkins invide him and how dare he accept and spoil the day all of those hard working graduates have dreamed of. This news is despicable as well as appalling.
30.
Josephine Banner Says:
March 24, 2009 (Tue) at 05:41:16 PM
How could you do something like this and then go get Communion , don;t you listen to The Pope ,you should be ashamed of yourself....this is very sad day for Catholics everywhere ...
31.
Joan Cirillo Says:
March 26, 2009 (Thu) at 01:04:42 AM
I think it is an outrage!!! Shows how low this country is sinking. Sadly we are stuck with him and his low morals for another 3 years and 10 months. Hopefully all that elected him will wake up by the next election!!!! GOD BESS AMERCA.....
32.
richard Says:
March 26, 2009 (Thu) at 04:36:15 PM
All men are created equal in God's eyes. We have to love even those who are enemies as Jesus shows us from the cross "forgive them Father-they don't know what they're doing". The question is, how do we love someone who is trying to kill God and is blind to it? --- In today's scripture, Jesus says, if they will not accept life, then they will not have life in them. Mr.Obama is willful. Many of us are willful. He is called to greater responsibility and to greater accountability than we are. We must learn how to entreat, beg and go all out before God to cause God to convert Mr. Obama. We fail to see and fall into satan's hands when we're incited to sin / become angry and destroy someone. We need peace in us like Our Blessed Mother teaches us from Medjugorje. If we put more anger upon the earth than love, we're not doing God's will. Let's get on our knees, let's fast, let's beg God to help us and our government... to convert them from their intelligence to their heart... and how to use it properly. thank you for you response.
33.
WDC Says:
March 29, 2009 (Sun) at 02:54:40 AM
To honor the Abortionist in Chief is disgusting. The Catholics who voted for him cooperated in a terrible evil. That a Catholic school would honor this Führer of the Silent Holocaust going on in abortion mills around the country--let alone the example this sets for other nations is "NOTRE SHAME." Don't believe in what the church teaches--then quit. The Catholic Church does not need more liberals with heretical notions of what is good or right or just as the dumpsters fill up with the pieces of tiny babies vacuumed out of their mother's wombs.


 
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