Comments on: Georgetown’s Thomas Reese weighs in on Barack Obama-Notre Dame kerfuffle

By: Ken Frank

Ken Frank — Sat, 16 May 2009 20:35:37 +0000

Tell the REV. Reese to go molest some kids and leave us Catholics alone.

By: Chalane Wride

Chalane Wride — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:58:58 +0000

I am reminded of an opinion that certain groups in history have held towards other groups for which they held distain. Hitler said “the only good Jew is a dead Jew” (of course jew was not capitalized). It seems to me that the only good Catholic is a pro-abortion Catholic. I remember how the leftist media gushed over democrat Tim Russert’s deep and abiding Catholic faith. If he had been an anti-abortion Catholic, he never breathed a word of it in his lifetime. Otherwise his religion would not have been a virtue to them, but rather a reasonable condition for his never having acquired the MTP spot in the first place.

Such as sad commentary on the state of our nation.

By: Barry

Barry — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 02:16:39 +0000

We’ve got similar problems here in Australia with our new administration overturning the previous ban on overseas aid funding abortions. Our foreign minister is a catholic and our PM, born a catholic but now an Anglican, allowed the change without a struggle. Our PM is an admirer of Lutheran pastor Bonheiffer, murdered by the Nazis during WW2. Bonheiffer was unapologetically pro life. You figure it out, I can’t.
There are too many prelates and politicians who are products of the age; captured by the zeitgist where popularity is more important than principle.
It always reminds me of an incident in the 50’s during the reign of the great Archbishop of Melbourne, Daniel Mannix. He was sitting at the dais waiting for the commencement of proceedings to open a new Catholic school when he saw the local Labor Party politician approaching. She was vocally pro abortion. “What’s she doing here”? asked Danny. “As the local member, she’s been invited to participate,” was the reply. “If she comes up here, I’m going”, said Danny. The wimps who invited her had to suffer the self inflicted humiliation of telling her she wasn’t welcome. She left. Danny opened the school.
That was in the fifties at a time of rampant bigotry, when not too many years before catholics couldn’t get jobs in the government because of the Masonic influence and control. Danny came from Ireland and knew all about bigotry. He fought fire with fire; broght orders of nuns, priests and brothers from Ireland, established novitiates and seminaries to produce Australian clergy and the Catholic population flourished.
In the seventies, the labor gov’t brought in gov’t funding for private schools. The Catholic ed’ system became addicted to the gov’t teat and muted its criticism of rampant secularism. Coupled with the explosive impact of the sexual revolution, Catholicism went into decline. Today catholic schools are a pale shadow of the

By: Joseph A. Apicella

Joseph A. Apicella — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 17:02:20 +0000

God bless Notre Dame for upholding academic freedom. Ideas are powerful,let us here all of them.

By: Bill Bridge, F'70, L'74

Bill Bridge, F'70, L'74 — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 11:42:54 +0000

A graduate’s comment above inspires me to make one too.
First, the Woodstock Center is affiliated with Georgetown, so it’s fair to claim Tom Reese, and we should be proud to do so.
Second, his mention of Cardinal Egan’s invitation (and warm treatment) of then-Senator Obama to the Al Smith Dinner is very apt. Good enough to continue a tradition (plus raising money for a good cause, and getting a lot of face time for the New York Catholic church), then why not good enough to give a commencement speech, especially since Senator Obama is now President Obama. By the way, Senators Schumer and Clinton were also honored Al Smith Dinner guests. And, Senator McCain’s position on stem cell research is the same as President Obama.
Catholic events are going to be bereft of interesting and prominent speakers if we apply the litmus test of submission to the teaching of the hierarchy.
The bishops are political actors as well as religious ones — this invitation is a golden opportunity to cry wolf, to raise consciousness on their issues, and to raise money. They love stuff like this — it creates teachable moments.

By: Molly Redden

Molly Redden — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:17:46 +0000

We do make note of the fact that he’s from Georgetown’s Theological Center. I think it’s only fair to associate him with Georgetown, though, the same way main campus loosely identifies with the law center and medical center researchers—it does independent research but Georgetown founded the center.

By: gto

gto — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:09:35 +0000

As an alum with a child at GU, this issue is of great concern. An exchange of interpretations with a theologian may be one thing, but to elevate this man (Pres Obama) and his ideas for contemplatation over the word of Jesus is absurd.

If all men are created equal – the fact of his being the first black president is now irrelevant. Get the job done. Keep us safe, competitive and help us provide opportunity to all.

I sincerely pray that GU has the distinction of not inviting Barak Obama to speak at such an important occasion.

Also, it is my understanding that Fr. Reese is associated with the Woodstock Theological Center. Do not honor him by tying him directly to the University.

By: David Zizik

David Zizik — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 11:41:36 +0000

Hoya, I believe this is the main point that objecting Catholics are making: ND is a Catholic university. As a Catholic institution, ND first and foremost should be concerned with teaching and promoting authentically Catholic Christian principles. Otherwise, calling itself “Catholic” has no meaning. A Catholic institution should not grant an honor or “prize” to one who leads others toward engaging in conduct that is not only completely inconsistent with core Catholic values, but which, if followed, would lead to grave sin. Inviting the President to a forum where his views would be discussed, or to make a speech in which he would explain those views so that the university community can understand and debate them, would be a different story. But what ND is doing is placing the President in a place of honor, awarding him an honorary degree, featuring him as main speaker, which says to the public, in effect, ND believes that what this person stands for is worth emulating. For a Catholic institution to convey such a message about President Obama in light of the policies he is pursuing as president is misleading because it is demonstrably untrue. Having learned that Fr. Jenkins made this decision without prior consultation with his diocesan bishop demonstrates that ND views itself first as a secular institution, and only secondarily as a teacher and promoter of Catholic values. This is extremely sad. I pray that Georgetown, Boston College, and other Catholic institutions will not make the same mistake. But if they feel they must do so, the truthful alternative would be for them to recognize that their secular teaching mission cannot be squared with their obligations as a Catholic institution, and to make a formal break with the Church and operate as a purely secular institution. This has been done by certain institutions in the south that were formerly tied to the Baptist Convention (e.g., Wake Forest University), and could be done by ND, BS, GU, etc. That would be a sad result, indeed, but one which would at least be intellectually honest. Perhaps then institutions such as ND could sponsor affiliated schools of theology which can operate independently, consistent with Catholic teaching. As for students who are not Catholic, why would they attend a Catholic school if they object to being taught in the tradition of that institution, and consistent with its values? A Catholic institution has no obligation to compromise core Catholic teachings because certain members of its academic community may disagree with some (or all) of them. One is free to accept or reject Catholic teachings, but for a “Catholic” school to water them down in the hopes that the institution will thus appear more acceptable within secular culture is just plain wrong. In fact, it is precisely the opposite of what such institutions should and must do if they are to be “Catholic.”

By: Hoya

Hoya — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 20:27:46 +0000

IF ND doesn’t want the POTUS, then Georgetown will take him.

I simply don’t understand how supposedly well-educated students at a school of nation prominence would turn down the opportunity to hear the words of one of the most important individuals in history.

I am 100% sure that ND graduates individuals that do not hold Catholic doctrine as truth. Are they any less important as students? As alumni? I would say no – they enrich the student body and have important things to give to the University.

The same goes for Obama. While he might not see eye to eye on Catholic doctrine (fair considering he is NOT catholic), I believe that he has valuable ideas to share. He is no less wise because he believes in stem-cell research. He is not being asked to share his reasoning behind his person ethics, he is being asked to share his experiences with students at a turning point in their lives. Experiences and advice that millions would love to hear.

Shame on ND.

By: Tom P.

Tom P. — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:37:33 +0000

This just in:

The University doesn’t like “Obama”; and the University doesn’t like the word “suckz”; but the University did approve “Obama suckz”.