Scranton Bishops Join Protest of Notre Dame Decision
To Honor President Obama
Most Reverend Joseph F. Martino, D.D., Hist. E.D.
Bishop of Scranton
Most Reverend John M. Dougherty, D.D., V.G.
Auxiliary Bishop of Scranton
Published on the Diocese of Scranton website (
www.dioceseofscranton.org )
Scranton, PA
April 1, 2009
Reverend John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.
President
University of Notre Dame
400 Main Building
Notre Dame, Indiana 46556
Dear Father Jenkins,
The numerous, repeated and extensive anti-life positions taken by President
Obama merit his recognition as an unequalled, prominent proponent of the
culture of death in our nation. Given her Catholic identity, the University
of Notre Dame’s receiving the President as the 2009 commencement speaker and
her bestowing on him an honorary doctorate are truly shameful, a scandal to
the Church and a major blow to hundreds of thousands who have sacrificed to
bring forth a culture of life in our midst.
As a Diocesan Bishop and his Auxiliary we cannot overstress our disapproval
of these actions by the University.
Through its President, His Eminence Cardinal George, the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops acted swiftly and consistently to engage
President Obama on human life issues. Your reported comment that “I think if
he is going to reconsider his views, I think Notre Dame is the best possible
place to begin that process” demeans, we believe, the intelligent urgency
exercised by the nation’s bishops in this matter.
Moreover, your argument that honoring President Obama by granting a degree
to him “is not intended to condone or endorse his position on specific
issues regarding life” is no more than a blatant rejection of United States
Bishops’ assessment of what Catholic institutions do when they so act. Their
2004 statement is absolutely clear. “The Catholic community and Catholic
institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental
moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which
would suggest support for their actions.”
“Bishops have a particular responsibility to promote Catholic universities,
and especially to promote and assist in the preservation and strengthening
of their Catholic identity, including the protection of their Catholic
identity in relation to civil authorities.” (Ex Corde Ecclesiae, no. 28) We
are convinced that Notre Dame will one day very much regret rebuffing not
only her own Bishop D’Arcy but also the USCCB’s efforts to fulfill their
responsibilities in her regard.
Praying this conviction will prove untrue and that Notre Dame will
immediately and resoundingly proclaim her Catholic identity in word and act,
we are,
Sincerely yours in Our Lord,
Most Reverend Joseph F. Martino, D.D., Hist. E.D.
Bishop of Scranton
Most Reverend John M. Dougherty, D.D., V.G.
Auxiliary Bishop of Scranton
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