President Obama and Notre Dame

President Barack Obama will be the principal speaker and the recipient of an honorary doctor of laws degree at the University of Notre Dame’s 164th University Commencement Ceremony at 2 p.m. May 17 (Sunday) in the Joyce Center on campus.

Mr. Obama will be the ninth U.S. president to be awarded an honorary degree by the University and the sixth to be the Commencement speaker. -

Posted April 2, 2009 - updated May 20, 2009

Links to statements of bishops who have thus far responded directly to Notre Dame's giving honor to President Obama.

Monday, May 18, 2009
Bishop Finn Interviewed on Notre Dame Commencement
Kansas City - St. Joseph Bishop Robert W. Finn agreed to an interview today with Catholic Key Editor Jack Smith on the subject of yesterday's Commencement exercises at Notre Dame. Click here for the full text.

Text of Obama's Notre Dame speech, By The Associated Press, Washington Post Link, Sunday, May 17, 2009; 5:10 PM

San Francisco Abp. Emeritus Issues Letter of Support to Obama amid ND Scandal: Text of Obama honorary degree leaked

79: More Bishops Condemn Obama Honor in Final Days before ND's "Day of Shame"

List of Bishops Opposing the Notre Dame Invitation and Award to President Obama

SOUTH BEND, Indiana, May 6, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Following is an alphabetical list of bishops who have so far expressed disapproval of the University of Notre Dame's invitation to President Obama to give the commencement speech and receive an honorary law degree May 17. Included are links to the original source as well as LifeSiteNews.com coverage.
Current count: 79 bishops

Bishop Joseph V. Adamec - Altoona-Johnstown, PA
Statement: http://www.ajdiocese.org/documents//April_8__2009_-_Notre_Dame_University.pdf
LSN http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09050718.html

Bishop John D'Arcy - Fort Wayne-South Bend, IN
Statement: http://www.diocesefwsb.org/COMMUNICATIONS/obama.htm
LSN Report: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09032408.html

Bishop Samuel Aquila - Fargo, ND
Statement: http://www.fargodiocese.org/Bishop/Homilies/StatementNotreDameLtr4-5-09.pdf
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040906.html

Bishop Gregory Aymond - Austin, TX
Statement: http://www.austindiocese.org/newsletter_issue_view.php?id=211
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09032707.html

Bishop Robert Baker - Birmingham, AL
Statement: http://www.ewtn.com/library/BISHOPS/bpbakernd.HTM
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040807.html

Bishop Gerald Barbarito - Palm Beach, FL
Statement: http://www.diocesepb.org/bishop/Acrobat_files/Bishop
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09041406.html

Bishop Leonard Blair - Toledo, OH
Statement: http://proecclesia.blogspot.com/2009/04/bishop-blair-responds-to-notre-dame.html
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042003.html

Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua (Archbishop Emeritus) - Philadelphia, PA
Statement: http://patricknovecosky.wordpress.com/2009/05/04/cardinal-bevilacqua-addresses-notre-dame-controversy/
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09050509.html

Bishop Lawrence Brandt - Greensburg, PA
Statement: http://www.dioceseofgreensburg.org/DH/Pages/NotreDamestatement.aspx
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09050509.html

Archbishop Daniel Buechlein - Indianapolis, IN
Statement: http://www.archindy.org/criterion/local/2009/04-10/notredame.html
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040807.html

Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz - Lincoln, NE
Statement: http://www.cardinalnewmansociety.org/News/tabid/54/ctl/Details/mid/452/ItemID/495/Default.aspx
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040906.html

Archbishop Eusebius Beltran - Oklahoma City, OK
Statement: http://newsok.com/speech-by-obama-faces-catholic-foes/article/3357948
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040204.html

Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Cantú - San Antonio, TX
Statement: http://www.archdiosa.org/txtfiles/attachment_153.pdf
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040704.html

Archbishop-Elect Robert Carlson - St. Louis
Statement: http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/religion/story/5C2E18FE76B5941C862575B7000DBD0A?OpenDocument
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09051515.html

Archbishop Charles Chaput - Denver, CO
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042905.html

Bishop Paul Coakley - Salina, KS
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042003.html

Bishop James Conley - Denver
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09050815.html

Bishop Edward Cullen - Allentown, PA
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09050403.html

Bishop Frank J. Dewane - Venice
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09051408.html

Bishop Nicholas Di Marzio - Brooklyn, NY
Statement: http://thetablet.org/05092009/columns_bishop.html
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09050718.html

Cardinal Daniel DiNardo - Houston, TX
Statement: http://www.texascatholicherald.org/columnists.html
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09032717.html

Archbishop Timothy Dolan - New York, NY
Statement: http://www.620wtmj.com/podcasts/charliesykes/sundayinsight/42081097.html?video=pop&t=a
http://www.620wtmj.com/news/local/42079952.html
http://www.620wtmj.com/shows/charliesykes/42081487.html

Bishop Thomas Doran - Rockford, IL
Statement: http://www.cardinalnewmansociety.org/CardinalNewmanSociety/tabid/36/ctl/Details/mid/435/ItemID/470/Default.aspx
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040204.html

Auxiliary Bishop John Dougherty - Scranton, PA
Statement: http://www.dioceseofscranton.org/News/ScrantonBishopsProtestNotreDameDecisionApril2,2009.asp
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040302.html

Bishop Robert Finn - Kansas City-St. Joseph, MO
Statement: http://catholickey.blogspot.com/2009/04/we-are-at-war-bishop-finns-gospel-of.html
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042003.html

Bishop Joseph Galante - Camden, NJ
Statement: http://www.camdendiocese.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1282:catholic-a-mere-label&catid=33:press-releases-a-latest-news
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042807.html

Bishop Victor Galeone - St. Augustine, FL
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042211.html

Bishop John Gaydos - Jefferson City
Statement: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09050814.html
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09050815.html

Cardinal Francis George - Chicago, IL; President, USCCB
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09033106.html

Bishop Gerald Gettelfinger - Evansville, IN
Statement: http://www.themessageonline.org/local/2009/04-17/bishop.html
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042003.html

Archbishop José Gomez - San Antonio, TX
Statement: http://www.archdiosa.org/txtfiles/attachment_153.pdf
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040704.html

Auxiliary Bishop Roger Gries - Cleveland, Ohio
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09051101.html

Bishop Bernard Harrington - Winona, MN
Statement: http://www.dow.org/documents/09mayweb.pdf
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09043004.html

Bishop Robert Hermann - St. Louis, MO
Statement: http://stlouisreview.com/article/2009-04-30/i-thought-you-should-know
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09050403.html

Bishop William Higi - Lafayette, IN
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040704.html

Archbishop Alfred Hughes - New Orleans, LA
Statement: http://blog.nola.com/elections_impact/2009/04/Hughes%20letter.pdf
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040704.html

Bishop Michael O. Jackels - Wichita, KS
Statement: http://cdowk.org/advanceonline/2009/04/09/bishop-jackels-letter-to-notre-dame/
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09050105.html

Bishop Sam Jacobs - Houma-Thibodaux, LA
Statement: http://www.htdiocese.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=hUtmQlVJbos%3d&tabid=565
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09050815.html

Bishop James V. Johnston - Springfield-Cape Girardeau, MO
http://home.catholicweb.com/diocspfdcape/index.cfm/NewsItem?id=263157
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09043004.html

Bishop Peter Jugis - Charlotte, NC
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042807.html

Bishop Joseph Latino - Jackson, MS
Statement: http://nems360.com/pages/full_story?page_label=news&id=2300764-Mississippi+bishop+opposes+Obama+commencement+speech&widget=push&article-Mississippi%20bishop%20opposes%20Obama%20commencement%20speech
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042003.html

Bishop John LeVoir - New Ulm, MN
Statement: http://www.dnu.org/bishop/041309statement.html
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042302.html

Bishop Jerome Listecki - La Crosse, WI
Statement: http://www.dioceseoflacrosse.com/ministry_resources/ministries/resources/Notre%20Dame%20Invitation.pdf
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040711.html

Bishop William E. Lori - Bridgeport, CT
Statement: http://www.bridgeportdiocese.com/folder_bridgedocs/FCC%204-4-09.pdf
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040704.html

Bishop Paul Loverde - Arlington, VA
Statement: http://www.cardinalnewmansociety.org/CardinalNewmanSociety/tabid/36/ctl/Details/mid/435/ItemID/522/Default.aspx
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042302.html

Bishop George Lucas - Springfield, IL
Statement:http://www.dio.org/bishop-lucas-weekly-column/from-east-to-west-we-must-witness-...
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042003.html

Bishop Robert Lynch - St. Petersburg, FL
Statement: http://bishopsblog.dosp.org/2009/03/27/week-end-update/
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09033103.html

Bishop Joseph Martino - Scranton, PA
http://www.dioceseofscranton.org/News/ScrantonBishopsProtestNotreDameDecisionApril2,2009.asp
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040302.html

Bishop John McCormack - Manchester, NH
Statement: http://www.catholicnh.org/public-issues/fcn-archive/und/
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09043004.html

Bishop Robert Morlino - Madison, WI
Statement: http://www.catholiccitizens.org/views/contentview.asp?c=49889
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09033103.html

Bishop William Murphy - Rockville Centre, NY
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09050105.html

Bishop George Murry - Youngstown, OH
Statement: http://cathexpo.org/articledetails.aspx?articleid=240
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040704.html

Archbishop John J. Myers - Newark, NJ
Statement: http://www.rcan.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=feature.display&feature_ID=1299
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040106.html

Archbishop Joseph Naumann - Kansas City, KS
http://www.theleaven.com/columnist/archbishop_column.html
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042709.html

Bishop R. Walker Nickless - Sioux City, IA
Statement: http://www.catholic.org/politics/story.php?id=32936
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040106.html

Archbishop John C. Nienstedt - St. Paul-Minneapolis, MN
Statement: http://www.cardinalnewmansociety.org/CardinalNewmanSociety/tabid/36/ctl/Details/mid/435/ItemID/460/Default.aspx
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09033103.html

Archbishop Edwin O'Brien - Baltimore, MD
Statement: http://www.catholicreview.org/subpages/storyarchnew.aspx?action=5978
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040807.html

Bishop Thomas Olmsted - Phoenix, AZ
Statement: http://www.americanpapist.com/2009/03/exclusive-bp-olmsted-tells-nd.html
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09032605.html

Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk - Cincinnati, OH
Statement: http://www.cardinalnewmansociety.org/CardinalNewmanSociety/tabid/36/ctl/Details/mid/435/ItemID/514/Default.aspx
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042003.html

Bishop Reymundo Pena - Brownsville, TX
http://www.cdob.org/bishop/column/2009/4-24-09.htm
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09050403.html

Bishop Glen Provost - Lake Charles, LA
Statement: http://live.lcdiocese.org/bishop-provost/writings/285-bishop-provost-comments-on-notre-dame-university-decision.html
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042807.html

Bishop David Ricken - Green Bay, WI
Statement: http://www.thecompassnews.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=345:notre-dames-quandary
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09050509.html

Cardinal Justin Rigali - Philadelphia, PA; Chairman, USCCB Pro-Life Committee
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042803.html

Bishop Kevin Rhoades - Harrisburg, PA
Statement:http://www.catholic.org/politics/story.php?id=33146
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040106.html

Bishop Alexander Sample - Marquette, MI
Statement: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=15630
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040807.html

Bishop Michael Sheridan - Colorado Springs, CO
Statement: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09051513.html
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09051515.html

Bishop Edward J. Slattery - Tulsa, OK
Statement: http://www.dioceseoftulsa.org/article.asp?nID=907
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040106.html

Bishop John Smith - Trenton, NJ
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09051101.html

Bishop Richard Stika - Knoxville, TN
Statement:http://www.dioceseofknoxville.org/?news=3585&menu=1462&level=1
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09041406.html

Bishop Anthony Taylor - Little Rock, AR
Statement: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/note.php?note_id=66338251686
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040704.html

Bishop George Thomas - Helena, MT
Statement: http://www.diocesehelena.org/thomas/050109%20letter.pdf
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09050509.html

Bishop Donald Trautman - Erie, PA
Statement: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09051512.html
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09051515.html

Bishop Robert Vasa - Baker, OR
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042003.html

Bishop Michael Warfel - Great Falls-Billings, MT
Statement: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200905011500/NEWS01/...
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09043009.html

Bishop Thomas Wenski - Orlando, FL
Statement: http://www.orlandodiocese.org/who_we_are/bishop_wenski/columns/200904_und.php
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042003.html

Archbishop Donald Wuerl - Washington, D.C.
Statement: http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/godingovernment/2009/04/dc_archbishop_nips_georgetown_for_biden_event.html
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042709.html

Bishop Emeritus John Yanta - Amarillo, TX
Statement: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09051407.html
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09051408.html

Bishop David Zubick - Pittsburgh, PA
Statement: http://www.pittsburghcatholic.org/newsarticles_more.phtml?id=2466
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042302.html

List of Bishops Opposing the Notre Dame Invitation and Award to President Obama,
Current count: 74 bishops

Bishop Joseph V. Adamec - Altoona-Johnstown, PA
Statement: http://www.ajdiocese.org/documents//April_8__2009_-_Notre_Dame_University.pdf
LSN http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09050718.html

Bishop John D'Arcy - Fort Wayne-South Bend, IN
Statement: http://www.diocesefwsb.org/COMMUNICATIONS/obama.htm
LSN Report: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09032408.html

Bishop Samuel Aquila - Fargo, ND
Statement: http://www.fargodiocese.org/Bishop/Homilies/StatementNotreDameLtr4-5-09.pdf
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040906.html

Bishop Gregory Aymond - Austin, TX
Statement: http://www.austindiocese.org/newsletter_issue_view.php?id=211
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09032707.html

Bishop Robert Baker - Birmingham, AL
Statement: http://www.ewtn.com/library/BISHOPS/bpbakernd.HTM
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040807.html

Bishop Gerald Barbarito - Palm Beach, FL
Statement: http://www.diocesepb.org/bishop/Acrobat_files/Bishop
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09041406.html

Bishop Leonard Blair - Toledo, OH
Statement: http://proecclesia.blogspot.com/2009/04/bishop-blair-responds-to-notre-dame.html
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042003.html

Bishop Lawrence Brandt - Greensburg, PA
Statement: http://www.dioceseofgreensburg.org/DH/Pages/NotreDamestatement.aspx
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09050509.html

Archbishop Daniel Buechlein - Indianapolis, IN
Statement: http://www.archindy.org/criterion/local/2009/04-10/notredame.html
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040807.html

Archbishop Eusebius Beltran - Oklahoma City, OK
Statement: http://newsok.com/speech-by-obama-faces-catholic-foes/article/3357948
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040204.html

Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Cantú - San Antonio, TX
Statement: http://www.archdiosa.org/txtfiles/attachment_153.pdf
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040704.html

Archbishop Charles Chaput - Denver, CO
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042905.html

Bishop Paul Coakley - Salina, KS
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042003.html

Bishop James Conley - Denver
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09050815.html

Bishop Edward Cullen - Allentown, PA
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09050403.html

Bishop Nicholas Di Marzio - Brooklyn, NY
Statement: http://thetablet.org/05092009/columns_bishop.html
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09050718.html

Cardinal Daniel DiNardo - Houston, TX
Statement: http://www.texascatholicherald.org/columnists.html
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09032717.html

Bishop Victor Galeone - St. Augustine, FL
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042211.html

Bishop John Gaydos - Jefferson City
Statement: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09050814.html
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09050815.html

Cardinal Francis George - Chicago, IL; President, USCCB
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09033106.html

Bishop Gerald Gettelfinger - Evansville, IN
Statement: http://www.themessageonline.org/local/2009/04-17/bishop.html
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042003.html

Archbishop José Gomez - San Antonio, TX
Statement: http://www.archdiosa.org/txtfiles/attachment_153.pdf
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040704.html

Auxiliary Bishop Roger Gries - Cleveland, Ohio
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09051101.html

Bishop Bernard Harrington - Winona, MN
Statement: http://www.dow.org/documents/09mayweb.pdf
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09043004.html

Bishop Robert Hermann - St. Louis, MO
Statement: http://stlouisreview.com/article/2009-04-30/i-thought-you-should-know
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09050403.html

Bishop William Higi - Lafayette, IN
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040704.html

Archbishop Alfred Hughes - New Orleans, LA
Statement: http://blog.nola.com/elections_impact/2009/04/Hughes%20letter.pdf
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040704.html

Bishop Michael O. Jackels - Wichita, KS
Statement: http://cdowk.org/advanceonline/2009/04/09/bishop-jackels-letter-to-notre-dame/
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09050105.html

Bishop Sam Jacobs - Houma-Thibodaux, LA
Statement: http://www.htdiocese.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=hUtmQlVJbos%3d&tabid=565
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09050815.html

Bishop James V. Johnston - Springfield-Cape Girardeau, MO
http://home.catholicweb.com/diocspfdcape/index.cfm/NewsItem?id=263157
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09043004.html

Bishop Peter Jugis - Charlotte, NC
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042807.html

Bishop John LeVoir - New Ulm, MN
Statement: http://www.dnu.org/bishop/041309statement.html
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042302.html

Bishop William E. Lori - Bridgeport, CT
Statement: http://www.bridgeportdiocese.com/folder_bridgedocs/FCC%204-4-09.pdf
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040704.html

Bishop George Lucas - Springfield, IL
Statement:http://www.dio.org/bishop-lucas-weekly-column/from-east-to-west-we-must-witness-...
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042003.html

Bishop Robert Lynch - St. Petersburg, FL
Statement: http://bishopsblog.dosp.org/2009/03/27/week-end-update/
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09033103.html

Bishop Joseph Martino - Scranton, PA
http://www.dioceseofscranton.org/News/ScrantonBishopsProtestNotreDameDecisionApril2,2009.asp
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040302.html

Bishop John McCormack - Manchester, NH
Statement: http://www.catholicnh.org/public-issues/fcn-archive/und/
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09043004.html

Bishop Robert Morlino - Madison, WI
Statement: http://www.catholiccitizens.org/views/contentview.asp?c=49889
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09033103.html

Bishop William Murphy - Rockville Centre, NY
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09050105.html

Bishop George Murry - Youngstown, OH
Statement: http://cathexpo.org/articledetails.aspx?articleid=240
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040704.html

Archbishop John J. Myers - Newark, NJ
Statement: http://www.rcan.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=feature.display&feature_ID=1299
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040106.html

Archbishop Joseph Naumann - Kansas City, KS
http://www.theleaven.com/columnist/archbishop_column.html
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042709.html

Bishop R. Walker Nickless - Sioux City, IA
Statement: http://www.catholic.org/politics/story.php?id=32936
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040106.html

Archbishop Edwin O'Brien - Baltimore, MD
Statement: http://www.catholicreview.org/subpages/storyarchnew.aspx?action=5978
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040807.html

Bishop Thomas Olmsted - Phoenix, AZ
Statement: http://www.americanpapist.com/2009/03/exclusive-bp-olmsted-tells-nd.html
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09032605.html

Bishop Reymundo Pena - Brownsville, TX
http://www.cdob.org/bishop/column/2009/4-24-09.htm
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09050403.html

Cardinal Justin Rigali - Philadelphia, PA; Chairman, USCCB Pro-Life Committee
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042803.html

Bishop Kevin Rhoades - Harrisburg, PA
Statement:http://www.catholic.org/politics/story.php?id=33146
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040106.html

Bishop Alexander Sample - Marquette, MI
Statement: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=15630
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040807.html

Bishop Edward J. Slattery - Tulsa, OK
Statement: http://www.dioceseoftulsa.org/article.asp?nID=907
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040106.html

Bishop John Smith - Trenton, NJ
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09051101.html

Bishop Richard Stika - Knoxville, TN
Statement:http://www.dioceseofknoxville.org/?news=3585&menu=1462&level=1
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09041406.html

Bishop Anthony Taylor - Little Rock, AR
Statement: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/note.php?note_id=66338251686
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040704.html

Bishop George Thomas - Helena, MT
Statement: http://www.diocesehelena.org/thomas/050109%20letter.pdf
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09050509.html

Bishop Robert Vasa - Baker, OR
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042003.html

Bishop Thomas Wenski - Orlando, FL
Statement: http://www.orlandodiocese.org/who_we_are/bishop_wenski/columns/200904_und.php
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042003.html

Bishop David Zubick - Pittsburgh, PA
Statement: http://www.pittsburghcatholic.org/newsarticles_more.phtml?id=2466
LSN: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042302.html

From the Cardinal Newman Society: Florida Bishop Holds Mass of Reparation for Scandal Caused by Notre Dame’s Obama Honor: Protest of ND Scandal Grows to 68 Bishops, 353,000 Catholics

66: Bishops Decry "Toxic Residue" of Notre Dame Scandal
Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua expresses "great distress" at Obama invitation and calls for invitation to be rescinded -- May 5, 2009

The bishops who have so far expressed disapproval of Notre Dame's invitation to Obama (in alphabetical order) are:

1. Bishop John D'Arcy - Fort Wayne-South Bend, IN
2. Bishop Samuel Aquila - Fargo, ND
3. Bishop Gregory Aymond - Austin, TX
4. Bishop Gerald Barbarito - Palm Beach, FL
5. Bishop Leonard Blair - Toledo, OH
6. Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua (Archbishop Emeritus) - Philadelphia, PA
7. Bishop Lawrence Brandt - Greensburg, PA
8. Archbishop Daniel Buechlein - Indianapolis, IN
9. Bishop Robert Baker - Birmingham, AL
10. Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz - Lincoln, NE
11. Archbishop Eusebius Beltran - Oklahoma City, OK
12. Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Cantú - San Antonio, TX
13. Archbishop Charles Chaput - Denver, CO
14. Bishop Paul Coakley - Salina, KS
15. Bishop Edward Cullen - Allentown, PA
16. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo - Houston, TX
17. Archbishop Timothy Dolan - New York, NY
18. Bishop Thomas Doran - Rockford, IL
19. Auxiliary Bishop John Dougherty - Scranton, PA
20. Bishop Robert Finn - Kansas City-St. Joseph, MO
21. Bishop Joseph Galante - Camden, NJ
22. Bishop Victor Galeone - St. Augustine, FL
23. Cardinal Francis George - Chicago, IL; President, USCCB
24. Bishop Gerald Gettelfinger - Evansville, IN
25. Archbishop José Gomez - San Antonio, TX
26. Bishop Bernard Harrington - Winona, MN
27. Bishop Robert Hermann - St. Louis, MO
28. Bishop William Higi - Lafayette, IN
29. Archbishop Alfred Hughes - New Orleans, LA
30. Bishop Michael O. Jackels - Wichita, KS
31. Bishop James V. Johnston - Springfield-Cape Girardeau, MO
32. Bishop Peter Jugis - Charlotte, NC
33. Bishop Joseph Latino - Jackson, MS
34. Bishop John LeVoir - New Ulm, MN
35. Bishop Jerome Listecki - La Crosse, WI
36. Bishop William E. Lori - Bridgeport, CT
37. Bishop Paul Loverde - Arlington, VA
38. Bishop George Lucas - Springfield, IL
39. Bishop Robert Lynch - St. Petersburg, FL
40. Bishop Joseph Martino - Scranton, PA
41. Bishop John McCormack - Manchester, NH
42. Bishop Robert Morlino - Madison, WI
43. Bishop William Murphy - Rockville Centre, NY
44. Bishop George Murry - Youngstown, OH
45. Archbishop John J. Myers - Newark, NJ
46. Archbishop Joseph Naumann - Kansas City, KS
47. Bishop R. Walker Nickless - Sioux City, IA
48. Archbishop John C. Nienstedt - St. Paul-Minneapolis, MN
49. Archbishop Edwin O'Brien - Baltimore, MD
50. Bishop Thomas Olmsted - Phoenix, AZ
51. Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk - Cincinnati, OH
52. Bishop Reymundo Pena - Brownsville, TX
53. Bishop Glen Provost - Lake Charles, LA
54. Bishop David Ricken - Green Bay, WI
55. Cardinal Justin Rigali - Philadelphia, PA; Chairman, USCCB Pro-Life Committee
56. Bishop Kevin Rhoades - Harrisburg, PA
57. Bishop Alexander Sample - Marquette, MI
58. Bishop Edward J. Slattery - Tulsa, OK
59. Bishop Richard Stika - Knoxville, TN
60. Bishop Anthony Taylor - Little Rock, AR
61. Bishop George Thomas - Helena, MT
62. Bishop Robert Vasa - Baker, OR
63. Bishop Michael Warfel - Great Falls-Billings, MT
64. Bishop Thomas Wenski - Orlando, FL
65. Archbishop Donald Wuerl - Washington, D.C.
66. Bishop David Zubik - Pittsburgh, PA

Cardinal Rigali, More Bishops Address Notre Dame Scandal, Cardinal Newman Society Site, April 30, 2009

Wednesday April 29, 2009
Archbishop Chaput Criticizes "Creative Reasoning" Behind ND Defense of Obama Invitation: 53 Opposing Bishops

"The bishops who have so far expressed disapproval of Notre Dame's invitation to Obama (in alphabetical order) are:

1. Bishop John D'Arcy - Fort Wayne-South Bend, IN
2. Bishop Samuel Aquila - Fargo, ND
3. Bishop Gregory Aymond - Austin, TX
4. Bishop Gerald Barbarito - Palm Beach, FL
5. Bishop Leonard Blair - Toledo, OH
6. Archbishop Daniel Buechlein - Indianapolis, IN
7. Bishop Robert Baker - Birmingham, AL
8. Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz - Lincoln, NE
9. Archbishop Eusebius Beltran - Oklahoma City, OK
10. Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Cantú - San Antonio, TX
11. Archbishop Charles Chaput - Denver, CO
12. Bishop Paul Coakley - Salina, KS
13. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo - Houston, TX
14. Archbishop Timothy Dolan - New York, NY
15. Bishop Thomas Doran - Rockford, IL
16. Auxiliary Bishop John Dougherty - Scranton, PA
17. Bishop Robert Finn - Kansas City-St. Joseph, MO
18. Bishop Joseph Galante - Camden, NJ
19. Bishop Victor Galeone - St. Augustine, FL
20. Cardinal Francis George - Chicago, IL; President, USCCB
21. Bishop Gerald Gettelfinger - Evansville, IN
22. Archbishop José Gomez - San Antonio, TX
23. Bishop William Higi - Lafayette, IN
24. Archbishop Alfred Hughes - New Orleans, LA
25. Bishop Peter Jugis - Charlotte, NC
26. Bishop Joseph Latino - Jackson, MS
27. Bishop John LeVoir - New Ulm, MN
28. Bishop Jerome Listecki - La Crosse, WI
29. Bishop William E. Lori - Bridgeport, CT
30. Bishop Paul Loverde - Arlington, VA
31. Bishop George Lucas - Springfield, IL
32. Bishop Robert Lynch - St. Petersburg, FL
33. Bishop Joseph Martino - Scranton, PA
34. Bishop Robert Morlino - Madison, WI
35. Bishop George Murry - Youngstown, OH
36. Archbishop John J. Myers - Newark, NJ
37. Archbishop Joseph Naumann - Kansas City, KS
38. Bishop R. Walker Nickless - Sioux City, IA
39. Archbishop John C. Nienstedt - St. Paul-Minneapolis, MN
40. Archbishop Edwin O'Brien - Baltimore, MD
41. Bishop Thomas Olmsted - Phoenix, AZ
42. Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk - Cincinnati, OH
43. Bishop Glen Provost - Lake Charles, LA
44. Cardinal Justin Rigali - Philadelphia, PA; Chairman, USCCB Pro-Life Committee
45. Bishop Kevin Rhoades - Harrisburg, PA
46. Bishop Alexander Sample - Marquette, MI
47. Bishop Edward J. Slattery - Tulsa, OK
48. Bishop Richard Stika - Knoxville, TN
49. Bishop Anthony Taylor - Little Rock, AR
50. Bishop Robert Vasa - Baker, OR
51. Bishop Thomas Wenski - Orlando, FL
52. Archbishop Donald Wuerl - Washington, D.C.
53. Bishop David Zubick - Pittsburgh, PA

Declining Notre Dame: A Letter from Mary Ann Glendon
http://www.firstthings.com/blog/2009/04/27/declining-notre-dame-a-letter-from-mary-ann-glendon/

By Mary Ann Glendon
Monday, April 27, 2009, 9:32 AM

April 27, 2009
The Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.
President
University of Notre Dame

Dear Father Jenkins,

When you informed me in December 2008 that I had been selected to receive Notre Dame’s Laetare Medal, I was profoundly moved. I treasure the memory of receiving an honorary degree from Notre Dame in 1996, and I have always felt honored that the commencement speech I gave that year was included in the anthology of Notre Dame’s most memorable commencement speeches. So I immediately began working on an acceptance speech that I hoped would be worthy of the occasion, of the honor of the medal, and of your students and faculty.

Last month, when you called to tell me that the commencement speech was to be given by President Obama, I mentioned to you that I would have to rewrite my speech. Over the ensuing weeks, the task that once seemed so delightful has been complicated by a number of factors.

First, as a longtime consultant to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, I could not help but be dismayed by the news that Notre Dame also planned to award the president an honorary degree. This, as you must know, was in disregard of the U.S. bishops’ express request of 2004 that Catholic institutions “should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles” and that such persons “should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.” That request, which in no way seeks to control or interfere with an institution’s freedom to invite and engage in serious debate with whomever it wishes, seems to me so reasonable that I am at a loss to understand why a Catholic university should disrespect it.

Then I learned that “talking points” issued by Notre Dame in response to widespread criticism of its decision included two statements implying that my acceptance speech would somehow balance the event:

• “President Obama won’t be doing all the talking. Mary Ann Glendon, the former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, will be speaking as the recipient of the Laetare Medal.”

• “We think having the president come to Notre Dame, see our graduates, meet our leaders, and hear a talk from Mary Ann Glendon is a good thing for the president and for the causes we care about.”

A commencement, however, is supposed to be a joyous day for the graduates and their families. It is not the right place, nor is a brief acceptance speech the right vehicle, for engagement with the very serious problems raised by Notre Dame’s decision—in disregard of the settled position of the U.S. bishops—to honor a prominent and uncompromising opponent of the Church’s position on issues involving fundamental principles of justice.

Finally, with recent news reports that other Catholic schools are similarly choosing to disregard the bishops’ guidelines, I am concerned that Notre Dame’s example could have an unfortunate ripple effect.

It is with great sadness, therefore, that I have concluded that I cannot accept the Laetare Medal or participate in the May 17 graduation ceremony.

In order to avoid the inevitable speculation about the reasons for my decision, I will release this letter to the press, but I do not plan to make any further comment on the matter at this time.

Yours Very Truly,
Mary Ann Glendon

Mary Ann Glendon is Learned Hand Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. A member of the editorial and advisory board of First Things, she served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican from 2007 to 2009.

LifesiteNews.com - http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042302.html
Thursday April 23, 2009
Bishops Zubik, Loverde, LeVoir Make 46 Bishops Against ND Scandal
By Kathleen Gilbert

Bishop Finn's address "Warriors for the Victory of Life" April 18, 2009
http://catholickey.blogspot.com/2009/04/we-are-at-war-bishop-finns-gospel-of.html

"In my first U.S. Bishops’ Conference meeting – June of 2004 – the bishops passed what seemed to me to be a compromise statement as a result of our lengthy debate on politicians and Communion. There we stated that pro-choice leaders (and specifically, Catholic leaders were mentioned) should not be given public platforms or honors. As we all know the eminent American Catholic University, Notre Dame, is poised to bestow such an opportunity and honor on President Obama, who is, of course, not Catholic. But it doesn’t take another Bishops’ Conference statement to know this is wrong: scandalous, discouraging and confusing to many Catholics.

God knows what all motivates such a decision. 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. Notre Dame, instead, ought to give the honorary degree to Bishop John D’Arcy of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, who has supported and tried to guide the University, despite their too frequent waywardness, faithfully for 25 years."

Bishop Leonard Blair, Diocese of Toledo:

http://www.toledodiocese.org/content/view/1329/1/

RESPONSE OF BISHOP BLAIR TO CONCERNS RAISED ABOUT NOTRE DAME UNIVERSITY’S INVITATION TO PRESIDENT OBAMA TO DELIVER THE 2009 COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS AND RECEIVE AN HONORARY DOCTORATE

To concerned Catholics who have asked what I think about this matter, I would offer the following two paragraphs from one of my recent Catholic Chronicle articles as background before giving my response:

“There are many who argue that the call to holiness—including fundamental questions of justice based on right and wrong—has little or nothing to do with a Catholic’s daily life in the world. We should just mind our own business, they argue, and keep our beliefs on these matters to ourselves behind the closed doors of private devotion, personal virtue, and religious exercises. Yet when scoffers look back over two thousand years to discredit the Christian Faith, isn’t it precisely the historical failures of Christians both to denounce and renounce public injustices and evils in society that bolster the false claim that Christianity is either a failure or a fraud?”

“The Second Vatican Council clearly taught that holiness, as a call to the ‘perfection of love,’ is meant to foster ‘a more human manner of life…in earthly society.’ The pursuit of holiness involves not only ‘the evangelization and sanctification’ of human beings individually, but also a ‘transformation and perfecting of the temporal order through the spirit of the Gospel’ (cf. Apostolicam Actuositatem, no. 2).”

When it comes to “fundamental questions of justice based on right and wrong,” and “the transformation and perfecting of the temporal order through the spirit of the Gospel,” there is no more urgent moral task than the protection of innocent human life from conception until natural death.

In an effort to end the murder of unborn children by abortion, the United States Bishops have called for more effective dialogue and engagement with all public officials. This remains our priority at every level. However, it is not appropriate for Catholic institutions to give awards, honors or platforms to those who promote an abortion agenda. Doing so suggests that Catholics are not really serious about what the Church teaches regarding grave and immoral offenses against the life of the unborn.

President Obama is our elected President, and we should give him all the honor and respect due to his office. We should also pray for him, especially for a change of mind and heart on his part, away from abortion to protection of unborn human life. An invitation to speak and an honorary doctorate from a Catholic University go beyond the bounds of respect, and can only be a source of dismay.

Bishop Gettlefinger's Column on Notre Dame - Diocese of Toledo

http://www.themessageonline.org/local/2009/04-17/bishop.html

The Bishop's Forum

Notre Dame University

by Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger

Very recently I was giving a parish mission at St. Gabriel Parish in Cave Creek, Arizona. The pastor, a dear friend of mine, had invited me out to preach the mission.

Every evening after my talk, I opened the floor to questions about anything anyone wished to raise.

One evening after the news had broken that the president of the University of Notre Dame had invited President Barack Obama to deliver the commencement address, the question was posed: “Why don’t the bishops do something about that???!!” Another asked: “Why doesn’t the Holy Father close Notre Dame down as a Catholic University.” Yet another: “Why don’t the bishops write about the evils of abortion?” In short, they were unpleasantly excited about that bit of news.

President Obama has been very clear and consistent about his attitude toward abortion, both by his stated intent as a candidate and by his recent executive actions as President of the United States. In doing so he has pandered himself to the pro-choice movement, i.e. those who are anti life, while offering a deaf ear to the silent cries of the voiceless unborn and helpless elderly.

By their actions, President John Jenkins and the Board of Trustees of the University of Notre Dame are by affinity also pandering to the pro-choice movement, and in doing so, they are betraying their faithful alumni and supporters of this once great university.

Bishop John D’Arcy of Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese said it so very well in challenging President Jenkins about caving in to prestige at the expense of truth.

The irony of it all is that the university, by the vote of its trustees, will confer on President Obama an Honorary Degree of Law. Clearly that degree will not include the moral law. If so, then the honor is shallow — indeed empty — as God is the source from which all law is derived. God is truth. God is the author and guardian of all human life. God does not allow for selective obedience. Do Father Jenkins and the Board of Trustees by their decision see any disconnect of themselves from the Infinite Truth?

So, what can you do?

Neither you nor I participated in the election of the Board of Directors of the University of Notre Dame nor appointed its president. You and I are powerless to alter that reality. President Obama has accepted the university’s invitation to deliver the 2009 commencement address and to be granted an Honorary Degree of Laws, and we appear powerless to change the intent of either the university or of the president. The outcry from bishops, church leaders and faithful laity seems to be falling on deaf ears. The University of Notre Dame did not have to invite President Obama.

As for President Barack Obama, he has been duly elected as the President of the United States — by the electorate — including you and me. He is head of the Executive Branch of our government. Except by executive order, he is powerless to legislate, i.e., to make the laws. He is bound nonetheless to uphold the duly enacted laws of the Congress of the United States — or hide behind them. He cannot sign a law into effect unless it comes to his desk! Even his veto can be overridden by Congress.

As for members of our Congress, they too, are duly elected by their respective states. You and I voted for our representatives and senators. We have power to influence them by being proactive but we render ourselves powerless if we abdicate to their uninformed judgment and political expediency.

As for the Judges of the Supreme Court of the United States, they are powerless to enact laws. However, how often have you heard politicians, allegedly in defense of life, assert that the Roe vs. Wade decision in 1972 was bad law? Duh?? What legislative action have our political leaders taken — or are they now taking — to legislatively correct this so called “law enacted by the Supreme Court?”

The long and short of it is this: if you and I choose to wring our hands after the fact, then so be it. However, we are not powerless. If we wish to affect legislative and judicial decisions we must start by being alive, alert and active in the political process. We must never allow ourselves to depend on someone else to do it for us.

As for us bishops, God is witness to what we do and say, and we must answer to God who is TRUTH. TRUTH however does not sell well in the political realm, nor does TRUTH seem to carry much weight even in the lives of many Catholics who are pledged to be faithful to it.

Bishop George Lucas - Diocese of Springfield in Illnois:

http://www.dio.org/bishop-lucas-weekly-column/from-east-to-west-we-must-witness-to-the-truth.html

From east to west, we must witness to the truth

Written by Bishop Lucas

Sunday, 19 April 2009

In the third Eucharistic prayer of the Mass, poetic language is used to express the hope that the whole human family will give right worship to God through Jesus Christ: “From age to age you gather a people to yourself, so that from east to west a perfect offering may be made to the glory of your name.”

Our hope is founded in the power of the Lord’s death and resurrection. Until the Lord returns and final justice is established, it is the work of the church to worship God in the risen Christ on behalf of all humanity. In season and out, from east to west, we are called to witness to hope in the face of a culture that in important ways is not ordered to the justice of God.

During this Easter season here in Illinois, we have a couple of instances of the need for witness to God’s right ordering of things, as it happens, one to our east and the other to our west.

All are aware by now of the invitation given by the University of Notre Dame in Indiana to President Obama to speak at the commencement later this spring and to receive the honor of a ceremonial doctoral degree. Normally the graduation program of a university in another diocese and another state will not get much attention here. But many have told me how disturbed they are at the confusion caused by a Catholic university honoring a man who as an Illinois state senator and now as president has promoted an active role for government in the destruction of innocent human life and blocked reasonable qualifications on the practice of abortion.

I am disturbed, too, at this decision by Notre Dame to sow confusion where there is clarity in Catholic teaching on the sanctity of human life and the evil of abortion. For some this may be one political issue among many. For Catholics it is a matter of worshiping God by the proclamation of the truth. Many students and faculty at Notre Dame know this. The university’s administration thinks it knows better. It is hard to imagine the university honoring someone, no matter his office, who had consistently spoken against the value of football. We are not being unreasonable when we expect the value of human life to be a central focus of a Catholic university.

To our west, the Supreme Court in Iowa recently nullified the age-old understanding in law of marriage as a union of one man and one woman. The court’s decision has opened the door to the legal practice in Iowa of so-called same-sex marriage. We are reminded again of the importance of the appointment of good judges at all levels of the court system. We see clearly the need for witness to the right ordering that God has inscribed in the nature of human persons and relationships. No matter what human laws say about what is permissible, our neighbors need to hear from us, as well as see in our actions, the path that offers true hope for a rightly ordered life with God, that is eternal life.

The nature and purposes of marriage have been established by God. Marriage is regulated by civil laws and church laws, but it did not originate from the church or the state, but from God. So neither the church nor the state has the jurisdiction over marriage to alter its meaning and purpose. It is proper for the church, for Catholics, to articulate and support the true nature of this union designed by God.

Only a union of male and female can express the sexual complementarity willed by God for marriage. The permanent and exclusive commitment of marriage is the necessary context for the expression of sexual love intended by God both to serve the transmission of life and to build up the bond between husband and wife. (See the Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1639-40.) By proclaiming this truth and by the lived witness of faithful marriages, the church participates in the just ordering of the human family and helps consecrate the world in worship of God.

Bishop Gerald Barbarito, Palm Beach April 3 letter - link to pdf letter on
Palm Beach site: http://www.diocesepb.org/bishop/statements.htm

Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz, Lincoln
Posted on Cdl Newman Society site:
http://www.cardinalnewmansociety.org/CardinalNewmanSociety/tabid/36/ctl/Details/mid/435/ItemID/495/Default.aspx

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 wrong-doing represented by your support for the obscenity called “The Vagina Monologues” and your absolute indifference to the murderous abortion program and beliefs of this President of the United States. The fact that you have some sort of past connection with the State of Nebraska makes it all the more painful that the Catholic people here have to see your betrayal of the moral teachings of the Catholic Church.

I can assure you of my prayers for your conversion, and for the conversion of your formerly Catholic University. I am

Sincerely yours in Christ Jesus,

The Most Reverend Fabian W. Bruskewitz
Bishop of Lincoln

Round-up: Bishops respond to Notre Dame's invitation to Obama, Catholic World Report List:

- Bishop John D’Arcy, Fort Wayne-South Bend
- Cardinal Francis George, Chicago
- Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, Galveston-Houston
- Archbishop Timothy Dolan, Milwaukee
- Archbishop John Nienstedt, St. Paul-Minneapolis
- Archbishop Eusebius Beltran, Oklahoma City
- Bishop Edward Slattery, Tulsa
- Archbishop John Myers, Newark
- Archbishop Alfred Hughes, New Orleans
- Bishop Joseph Martino and Auxiliary Bishop John Dougherty, Scranton
- Bishop Thomas Doran, Rockford, Ill.
- Bishop Thomas Olmsted, Phoenix
- Bishop Gregory Aymond, Austin
- Bishop Robert Lynch, St. Petersburg
- Bishop R. Walker Nickless, Sioux City
- (Paul Schenck, on behalf of) Bishop Kevin Rhoades, Harrisburg, Pa.
- Bishop William Lori, Bridgeport, Conn.
- Bishop George Murry, S.J., Youngstown, Ohio
- Bishop Anthony Basil Taylor, Little Rock
- Archbishop Jose Gomez and Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Cantu, San Antonio
- Bishop Alexander Sample, Marquette, Mich.
- Bishop Jerome Listecki, LaCrosse, Wis.
- Bishop William Higi, Lafayette, Ind.
- Bishop Samuel Aquila, Fargo, ND UPDATED
- Archbishop Edwin O'Brien, Baltimore UPDATED
- Archbishop Daniel Buechlein, Indianapolis UPDATED
- Bishop Robert Baker, Birmingham, Ala. UPDATED

There are links to some bishops’ statements on the Cdl. Newman society web site. http://www.notredamescandal.com/NewsResources/tabid/461/Default.aspx

Here is a link to the USCCB 2004 statement on their own web site: http://www.usccb.org/bishops/catholicsinpoliticallife.shtml

Bishop Thomas Doran, Rockford, sent a letter to ND Pres. Jenkins March 31, now posted on the Cdl. Newman Society web site: http://www.cardinalnewmansociety.org/CardinalNewmanSociety/tabid/36/ctl/Details/mid/435/ItemID/470/Default.aspx

March 27, Cardinal Danile DiNardo, Galveston-Houston

Reported in Texas Catholic Herald (via "whispers in the loggia") quote: "The Bishops of the United States published a document a few years ago asking all Catholic universities to avoid giving a platform or an award to those politicians or public figures who promote the taking of unborn human life. Even given the dignity of the Office of the President, this offer is still providing a platform and an award to a public figure who has been candid on his pro-abortion views. Particularly troubling is the Honorary Law Degree since it recognizes that the person is a "Teacher," in this case of the Law. I think that this decision requires charitable but vigorous critique." http://diogh.org/BishopPastorals/bishops_dinardo_recent.asp_

March 27 - Bishop Gregory Aymond, Austin, TX -
http://www.austindiocese.org/newsletter_issue_view.php?id=211

March 25 - Bishop Thomas Olmsted, Phoenix (e-mail to ND president)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3625/3388016068_53193dd228_o.png

Quote: "It is a public act of disobedience to the Bishops of the United
States."

"I pray that you come to see the grave mistake of your decision, and the
way it undercuts the Church's proclamation of the Gospel of Life in our
day."

March 24 - Bishop John M. D'Arcy, South Bend:
http://www.diocesefwsb.org/COMMUNICATIONS/statements.htm

Bishop Edward Slattery, Tulsa – Letter to Pres. Jenkins online: http://www.dioceseoftulsa.org/article.asp?nID=907

Abp Eusebius Beltran, Okla City
From News OK - http://newsok.com/speech-by-obama-faces-catholic-foes/article/3357948

Beltran said he sent a similar letter.
"President Obama, by word and action, has approved of abortion and other atrocities against human life. Therefore he deserves no recognition at a Catholic institution,” Beltran said in a statement.

Beltran said his comments on the matter will be included in the April 5 edition of the Sooner Catholic, the archdiocese’s official news journal.

Abp John Quinn (emeritus San Francisco)
His March 30 article in America magazine: http://www.americamagazine.org/content/article.cfm?article_id=11559
A Critical Moment: Barack Obama, Notre Dame, and the Future of the American Church

Quote: “We must weigh very seriously the consequences if the American bishops are seen as the agents of the public embarrassment of the newly elected president by forcing him to withdraw from an appearance at a distinguished Catholic university. The bishops and the president serve the same citizens of the same country. It is in the interests of both the church and the nation if both work together in civility, honesty and friendship for the common good, even where there are grave divisions, as there are on abortion.

“But it does not improve the likelihood of making progress on this and other issues of common concern if we adopt the clenched fist approach, […]”

Bishop Robert Lynch – St. Petersburg
His “For His Friends” blog - http://bishopsblog.dosp.org/2009/03/27/week-end-update/

Excerpt (emphasis added):
Finally, Notre Dame University has created quite a stir by announcing that at the Spring Commencement ceremony they have invited President Barack Obama to give the graduation address and receive an honorary doctor of laws degree. It is a very prestigious platform to offer a President who is leading the battle for an expansion of abortion rights which may ultimately end up being unparalleled in recent history. Early “markers” are not encouraging in this regard but hope needs to spring eternal and while Notre Dame may have acted way too early and too generously, I am more alarmed that the rhetoric being employed is so uncivil and venomous that it weakens the case we place before our fellow citizens, alienates young college-age students who believe the older generation is behaving like an angry child and they do not wish to be any part of that, and ill-serves the cause of life. Notre Dame has in the past and continues to give this local Church fine, professional and very Catholic women and men who both know and live out their faith. Most of them I know are ardently pro-life and like myself are probably disappointed with their alma mater. They and I will choose to convey our sadness to the Board of Trustees and Administration in a calm and dignified manner. I am especially sad for Bishop John D’Arcy, bishop of the diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend in which Notre Dame is located. For almost two decades he has supported the University and loved the University, even when he felt it necessary to correct the University privately which I can assure you he did. Now in the waning days of his tenure as bishop there, he is told of the invitation shortly before its public announcement and in words clearly laced with pain has had to announce that he will choose not attend the final commencement of his time as bishop. What sadness for this good man as well. I see Father Ted Hesburgh quoted as saying that “visits to campus of leaders has never changed the campus but has often changed the visitor.” One can only hope and pray for this outcome.

Bishop Lynch’s column said “while Notre Dame may have acted way too early and too generously, I am more alarmed that the rhetoric being employed is so uncivil and venomous that it weakens the case we place before our fellow citizens” http://bishopsblog.dosp.org/2009/03/27/week-end-update/