Dear
e-link
Subscriber,
The OSM has some very good news. Rachel's Hope, a
Catholic after-abortion healing ministry based in San Diego and
directed by Rosemary Benefield, has re-launched its web site
with a totally new look, one designed to better appeal to women
and men seeking healing following abortion experiences. Visit:
www.RachelsHope.org to
see the web site and to watch a video developed for the site by
the OSM.
As always, we remind current members and inform new members that
past e-link bulletins and this current bulletin can be viewed at
www.osmelink.org.
God Bless!
     
Wednesday, May 6, 2009 OSM e-link
Bulletin #77
Table of Contents
Remarks from Kent Peters on Judge John T.
Noonan taking Mary Ann Glendon's place at the Notre
Dame Commencement Celebration on May 17, 2009
Key
Upcoming
Culture-of-Life Gatherings/Projects (please join us)
1. (Second Notice) Join the San Diego Chapter of Friends
of Fair Trade for
"A Fair Trade Open Market Celebrating World
Fair Trade Day" on
Saturday, May 9, 2009, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
at Christ Lutheran
Church on 4761 Cass St. in Pacific Beach -
music, food, shopping, films,
and loads of fun!
2. Mother’s Day “Thank-You-for-My-LIFE" Rosary
set for Saturday,
May 9th, 2008, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at North Harbor
Dr. & Grape St.,
North of the County Administration Bldg. (Across from
and North of the
Star of India)
3. Stand up for life on Sunday,
May 17, 2009, at 1:00 p.m. at a "Choose
Life Rally" at the San Diego County
Administration Bldg., 1600 Pacific
Coast Highway (West side of building - metered parking
is free on
Sundays) Sponsored by lay pro-life activists in San
Diego County
4. Join Culture of Life Family Services at its
"Pasta Feast for Life"
on Friday, May 29, 2009, 6:00 p.m. at the
Resurrection Parish Hall -
Enjoy Fr. Ken Del Priore's famous pasta
Short Reports on Office for Social
Ministry Related Issues/Events
1. National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) "NAMIWALK"
was a great
success, breaking attendance and fundraising records
2. Good Friday Pro-life Station of the Cross
drew more than 150 participants
to Downtown San Diego as a Christian witness for the
unborn
Web and
e-mail-based Resources
- Please visit the re-launched web site of Rachel's Hope
After-Abortion
Healing Ministry:
www.rachelshope.org
Local and Regional
Events/Gatherings/Projects
1. Attend the San Diego Friends of Fair Trade
monthly meeting on Wednesday,
June 10, at 6:30 p.m. at the Open Door
Book Store in Pacific Beach
2. "Get Acquainted with Detention Ministry"
monthly information/training
session offered by Deacon Walsh at the Pastoral Center
- The next
training session will be offered on Tuesday,
May 19, 2009, from
6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
3. North County prayer witness at the
Carlsbad Planned Parenthood Clinic
scheduled for every third Monday of the month from
10:00 to 10:30 a.m.
4. Prayerful witness for life at two locations in
San Diego County - every
Saturday and Wednesday at 7340 Miramar Road, just East
of the Pyramid
Building, adjacent to Carroll Road and the second
Saturday of every
month at 15546 Pomerado Road in Poway
5. St. Dismas Guild sponsors two weekly hours of
prayer for the unborn
in front of the North County Women's Medical Clinic on
Craven Way
6. St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Carlsbad
also supports the St. Dismas
Guild prayer ministry in front of the North County
Women's Medical
Clinic on Craven Way
7. St. John the Evangelist Parish in Encinitas
Pro-Life Mass and Rosary held
on the first Monday of each month
8. Prayer Vigil at
Planned Parenthood - First and Grape Street, San Diego, on
Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
9. Most Precious Blood Parish in Chula Vista
Rosary Prayer Vigils held every
Wednesday at 8:45 a.m.
10. Prayer partners are needed at 1079 Third Ave.,
suite 3, in Chula
Vista - abortions are performed at this facility - Meet
each Wednesday
from 8:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
11. Join neighbors and friends to pray in front of
the new Planned
Parenthood facility in El Cajon on Fridays
and Saturdays
12. The Goretti Group is offering a chastity prayer
gathering and a speaker
training monthly along with a Mass to celebrate
chastity
Article/Statement for May 6, 2009
- Letter of Mary Ann Glendon to Fr. John I.
Jenkins, C.S.C., President of the University of
Notre Dame, rescinding both the prior willingness to accept the
Laetare Medal and the prior agreement to participation in the
May 17 graduation ceremony at Notre Dame - Mary Ann is
Professor of Law at Harvard Law School and was U.S.
Ambassador to the Vatican from 2007 to 2009
Remarks from Kent Peters
The University of Notre Dame... a truly "Unusual" Institution of
Higher Learning
From the Catholic News Service (CNS) - in a
story on Judge John T. Noonan's acceptance of Notre Dame's
invitation offered by Fr. Jenkins, its President, to "fill in"
for Mary Ann Glendon, following her rescission decision
regarding the Notre Dame's Latare Medal...
In an April 30 statement Father Jenkins said Judge
Noonan was an “ideal choice” because he could bring “a
compelling voice, a passion for dialogue, great intellectual
stature, and a deep commitment to Catholic values,” especially
in “these unusual circumstances.”
Let it be said that only an "unusual" Catholic institution
could create such "unusual circumstances." And this use of the
word "unusual," understandably penned by Fr. Jenkins to deflect
responsibility or divert attention, should not be interpreted in
a complimentary fashion. How about stating things as they
really are? Wouldn't adjectives such as "untenable" or
"unforgivable" provide a more accurate description of these
"circumstances?" The phrase, "Self-inflicted wound," also comes
to mind.
Let's be honest. Fr. Jenkins should have said that Noonan was
an "ideal choice" because he would bring a "lack of
commitment to Catholic Values" to the situation. It was
wishy-washiness in regard to Catholic values that led Fr.
Jenkins to make such a poor decision in the first place. The
moral here? When digging a hole, stop when you are no longer
able to pitch a shovel-full of dirt over the edge and out of the
hole. Any effort past that point is a waste of everyone's
time. Stop trying to convince the public that "Catholic values"
had anything to do with the original decision. This unfortunate
episode was all about the most prominent Catholic university in
the United States both displaying and increasing its prestige.
Having the courage to rescind the invitation to President
Obama... Now, that would go a long way to filling up that hole.
The CNS story also indicated that "Noonan's scholarly work has
promoted dissent from the Church's teaching on contraception."
In the past, I've noticed that those who do not understand the
violation of human dignity involved in the use of artificial
contraception seem to lack clarity, compassion, and passion in
the arena of re-establishing respect for pre-born human life in
our culture. This observation shouldn't come as a surprise.
When fertility is viewed as an evil or a disease that must be
eliminated or suppressed, it takes effort and a real change of
heart to view "fertility-having-won-the-battle" i.e., an
unplanned/unwanted child forming in the womb, as a infinitely
valuable gift from God. It's easier to press on with an
attitude of suppression or elimination. Attacking fertility?
Attack its natural result, the child. I don't think it's an
accident that Planned Parenthood is the nation's premier
purveyor of both contraception and abortion.
I will pray for Notre Dame's Board of Directors, its President,
and President Obama, that they will embrace authentic Catholic
values and basic human values. I will pray that Notre Dame
becomes a truly "unusual" university, one that is competent
in championing, as is stated in Matthew 25: 45, the "least of
these" in every facet of the school's mission. Please join me
in that prayer.
Thank you and God bless!
To view the CNS article on this issue go to:
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=15836 |
Key
Upcoming Culture-of-Life
Gatherings/Projects
Number 1:
(Second Notice) Join the San
Diego Chapter of Friends of Fair Trade for an
"Open Market Celebration of World Fair Trade Day" on
Saturday, May 9, 2009, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Christ
Lutheran Church, 4761 Cass Street. in Pacific Beach - Lunch
available - Free parking on site - World's Largest Coffee Break,
too!
Hear great music, taste wine and chocolate,
have lunch, and shop Fair Trade items till you drop! Also, the day
will offer fair trade films, vendors, and special kids activites.
Come and enjoy learning about how you
can make Fair Trade work for your church or place of business - You
can Reach Across the World!
What is Fair Trade? It’s about justice. Fair Trade
provides an alternative trade model which insures healthy working
conditions and a living wage for farmers. Fair Trade aims to improve
living conditions in producing communities. Membership guidelines
and regulations for Fair Trade are managed by the non-profit
certification group, TransfairUSA. For more information on Fair
Trade, go to
www.transfairusa.org.
More information at:
www.fairtradesd.org or 858-274-0587
To download and print the 11" by 17" Pdf poster below for
placement in your parish or institution, go to:
http://www.osmelink.org/messages2005/FariTradeOpenMarketPoster5.10.09pdf.pdf
The Fair Trade Open Market is sponsored by:
- San Diego Friends of Fair Trade,
- Café MOTO,
- Karma Market,
- Office for Social Ministry,
the Diocese of San Diego,
- Open Door Books,
- Christ Lutheran Church, and the
- Interfaith Committee For Worker
Justice of San Diego County
Fair Trade Open Market - Celebrating World Fair Trade Day
Saturday, May 9, 2009, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Christ Lutheran Church - Next to St. Brigid Parish
4761 Cass Street
Pacific Beach, CA, 92109
More information at:
www.fairtradesd.org
Number 2:
Mother’s Day “Thank-You-for-My-Life"
Rosary set for Saturday, May 9th, 2008, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at
North Harbor Dr. & Grape St., North of the County Administration
Bldg. (Across from and North of the Star of India)
 Please
join the Helpers of God's Precious Infants as members pray the
Rosary in honor of Our Mother in heaven and our mothers on
earth. At this event, those who attend will also ask for Mother
Mary's intercession for an end to abortion. In addition, they will
provide public witness to highlight the choice of motherhood!
Signs will be provided. No graphic signs, please. Ample metered
parking is available in lots nearby.
This Mother’s Day “Thank-you-for-my-LIFE" Prayer Gathering is a
peaceful and legal expression of our First Amendment rights. And
smile, your mother chose LIFE!
For more info contact: Roger Lopez 619-990-1341 or
sandiegohelpers@earthlink.net
Number 3:
Stand up for life on Sunday, May 17,
2009, at 1:00 p.m. at a "Choose Life Rally" at the San Diego County
Administration Bldg., 1600 Pacific Coast Highway (West side
of building - metered parking is free on Sundays) Sponsored by lay
pro-life activits in San Diego County
Incredible speakers, powerful pro-life messages!
This rally will coincide with the Commencement Speech given by
President Obama to the University of Notre Dame Graduating Class of
2009. Come seize this moment in history to boldly articulate the
importance of preserving human life from conception to natural
death.
Did you know?
- 1 baby's life is terminated by abortion in the U.S. every 14
seconds
- That's 3,315 babies dying every day
- 138 babies dying every hour
Speakers will include Pastor Jim Garlow of Skyline Church, Thomas
McKenna of the St. Gianna Physician's Guild, among others.
Choose Life Rally
Sunday, May 17, 2009
1:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.
County Adminisration Building
1600 Pacific Coast Highway (West side of building)
Number 4:
Join supporters of Culture of Life
Family Services at the "Pasta Feast for Life" on Friday, May 29,
2009, at the Resurrection Parish Hall, 1445 Conway in Escondido -
Enjoy Fr. Ken Kel Priore's famous pasta recipe
On Friday, May 29, the Knight of Columbus and Culture of Life Family
Services will combine Pro Life Ministry with a passion for Father
Ken Del Priore’s pasta recipe.
Among the fabulous raffle baskets and auction items
 Coordinator
Dave Baker of Resurrection Parish has gathered are: an autographed
football, a Chargers jersey courtesy of Philip Rivers, and the
hosting of 20 of your friends at a private baseball condo at The
Legends overlooking Petco Park, compliments of Vickie and Steve
Beuerle.
Tickets are $15.00 and available at all Escondido Parishes, at
either COLFS office, on line at
www.colfs.org or at the door on May 29th.
Come and join the Fun on Friday, May 29th at 6:00 p.m. at
Church of the Resurrection Parish Hall (1445 Conway, Escondido).
For more information contact Dot Harms at 619-692-4401
Dot Harms
Director
Culture of Life Family Services
619-692-4401
harmsdot@colfs.org
Short
Reports on OSM Related Issues/Events
Number 1:
Record number of walkers make the 2009
NAMI San Diego Walk a success for all residents of San Diego - Visit
the NAMI San Diego web site for more information
www.namisandiego.org
SAN DIEGO – More than 2,000 walkers pounded the pavement for mental
health on April 18, 2009 at the annual National Alliance on Mental
Illness (NAMI) San Diego County Walk for the Mind of
America.
“This is a record
number of walkers and it shows how many people are interested in
breaking the stigma of mental illness and making a difference with
their presence in this
 event,”
said NAMI San Diego County Walk Manager Shannon Jaccard.
The NAMI San Diego
2/5K walk/run helps raise money and awareness about our city’s and
our country's need for a world-class treatment and recovery system
for people with mental illness. So far, $112,000 has been raised
from the 2009 walk.
To put it in
perspective, more than 244,000 people are living with mental illness
in San Diego alone. In the state of California, 600,000 children,
adults and elderly are in need of mental health services that
 aren’t
readily available. In our nation, one in five people will suffer
from a serious mental illness in their lifetime.
NAMI is a non-profit
organization that provides education, support services and advocacy
to improve the lives of everyone affected by mental illnesses. The
walk is its biggest fundraiser and is what enables NAMI to provide a
variety of outreach services at no charge. With the downturn in the
economy, symptoms of mental illness are on the rise. Now is the
time that NAMI services are needed more than ever before. Sheriff
Bill Kolender
 was
the Honorary Chair of the walk and spoke at the event. Over the
years, the Sheriff has set a precedent for mental health advocacy
throughout the department and is a proponent of a mental health
court in our community. The walk also featured a health resource
fair with over 50 booths and an area for kids’ activities.
While April 17, 2010
seems far away, the planning committee for the next NAMI San Diego
walk will start meeting in June, 2009.
If you are interested in participating contact Shannon Jaccard at
shannonjaccard@namisd.org
or call (619) 584-5564.
Shannon is a Disability Advocate serving in the Diocese of
San Diego.
Congratulations, Shannon, on a successful NAMI Walk!
Number 2:
Helpers of God's Precious
Infants raises profile of the marginalized unborn at Pro-Life
Stations of the Cross in Downtown San Diego on Good Friday
Four years ago, Sue Lopez, who passed
away on November 23, 2008, wanted to do
 something
extra for Good Friday. She wanted to bring the meaning of Good
Friday back to the streets of San Diego, to remind people that Jesus
died for our sins, and that the most evil sin of our day is the
slaughter of the innocent unborn. So she organized a pro-life
Stations of the Cross in front of the Federal Building downtown.
Several dozen people showed up to pray. The following year it
rained heavily on Good Friday, and nearly twice as many people
attended. This past year, Sue took it a step further and added a
procession from St. Joseph's Cathedral to Horton Plaza, with two
priests, a deacon, and well over 100 people in attendance.
On Good Friday of this year, the
Helpers of Gods Precious Infants of San Diego, a pro-life group
started by Sue, organized the same procession and pro-life Stations
of the
Cross in her memory. Over 150 people attended this year, led by 10
Knights of Columbus, 5 altar boys, and Father Joseph Tabigue from
Our Lady of the Rosary parish. People gathered outside St. Joseph’s
Cathedral at noon, and processed 6 blocks south to Horton Plaza at
the center of downtown, while praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet and
carrying white crosses and signs that read “Stop Killing the
Innocent Unborn”. Participants spanned the entire block, lining up
in front of Horton Plaza around a full size image of Our Lady of
Guadalupe. Large banners that read “We are praying for an end to
abortion”, and “Life is Precious” gave a clear witness to the
hundreds of cars that passed by. Father Joseph prayed a special
pro-life stations of the cross, while altar boys carried the large
wooden cross to each station. Noticeably absent from the passing
cars were any shouts,
 cursing,
or blaring horns often heard in opposition to the pro-life message.
Most participants were thankful for
the opportunity to give public witness for the sanctity of life, and
for the chance to bring prayer outside of the walls of the church in
an increasingly secular world. Next year’s fifth annual pro-life
Stations of the Cross will no doubt draw an even larger group of
Catholics who will proudly follow the way of the cross into the
streets of San Diego.
For more information on Helpers of
God’s Precious Infants of San Diego, contact Luis Mendoza at
619-259-3906 or Roger Lopez at 619-276-7525.
Web and
e-mail-based Resources
In San
Diego, since 1995, more than 530 women and 70 men have participated
in Rachel's Hope after-abortion healing retreats in both English and
Spanish.
On Friday, May 1st, Rachel's Hope unveiled a new version of its web
site with a look more likely to attract and inform women and men
seeking emotional healing and reconciliation with God.
Take a look at the new web site:
www.rachelshope.org
The name, "Rachel's Hope" originates from the scripture reference in
Jeremiah 31:15-17, where Jeremiah says “Rachel mourns her children,
she refuses to be consoled because her children are no more. Thus
says the Lord: Cease your cries of mourning. Wipe the tears from
your eyes. The sorrow you have shown shall have its reward. There is
hope for your future.”
Please send the Rachel's Hope web site link to anyone in your
community responsible for outreach ministry and to anyone coping
with a past abortion decision who is ready to hear words of
consolation and healing.
You may want to send Rosemary Benefield, Director of Rachel's Hope,
a congratulatory note. Look for her e-mail address at the bottom of
each of the web site's pages.
Thank you Rosemary and Jim Benefield for sharing your
hearts with those in need of healing. You are a duo-blessing to our
region!
May the new web site flourish and help bring countless individuals
to healing and joy, where Jesus is present in every facet of their
lives.
God Bless,
The Office for Social Ministry,
Kent, Linda, and Deacon Jim
New
Local/Regional Events and
Gatherings
If you are planning an event that falls within the mission of social
ministry, send the particulars four to five weeks in advance to the
Office for Social Ministry via e-mail,
osmelink@diocese-sdiego.org. The OSM reserves the right to
publish or not to publish any proposed event information. We hope
this will assist your local efforts to re-build a culture of life.
1. Attend the San Diego "Friends of Fair Trade" monthly
meeting
San Diego Friends of Fair Trade is a coalition of non-profit
organizations and congregations attempting to advance the cause of
fair trade. They work to insure that all individuals who toil, both
at home and around the world, to provide consumers with commodities
are paid a living wage, one that can sustain a life with dignity.
Notice - No chapter meeting in May due to the May 9th Fair
Trade Festival
The next SD Friends of Fair Trade meeting will be on
Wednesday, June 10, 2009, at 6:30 p.m. at the Open Door
Book Store on 4761 Cass St., Pacific Beach - For more information
please contact Carolyn Lief at
fairtradesandiego@gmail.com
2. Get Acquainted with Detention Ministry in the Diocese
of San Diego
Join Deacon Jim Walsh each month for an Information and Training
Seminar on detention ministry and restorative justice at
the Diocesan Pastoral Center, 3888 Paducah Drive, San Diego, 92117
For the month of May...
The next Information and Training Seminar will take place on
Tuesday, May 19, 2009, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the
Pastoral Center - Visit the web site for more information:
www.diocese-sdiego.org/restore
Sorry, no walk-ins. Contact Deacon Jim Walsh for reservations or
questions: 858-490-8375 or e-mail Deacon Jim
jwalsh@diocese-sdiego.org
3. North-County prayer witness at the Carlsbad Planned
Parenthood Clinic
North County parishioners meet the third Monday of every month
from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m. to peacefully pray the rosary in front of
the Carlsbad Planned Parenthood Clinic. The clinic is located at
1820 Marron Rd. (in the shopping center just west of Plaza Camino
Real Mall). For more information contact Jahna White of St.
Margaret Parish at 760-586-6356.
4. Prayerful witness for life at two locations (7340 Miramar
Road in San Diego and 15546 Pomerado Road in Poway) in San Diego
County
Helpers of God’s Precious Infants weekly rosary prayer vigil from
8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. every Saturday and Wednesday at 7340 Miramar
Road, directly above Metro Flooring in the complex with the Pyramid
Building, adjacent to Carroll Road. Prayer warriors also needed as
early as 7:30 a.m.
Call Roger Lopez 619/990-1341 for more information.
Second Saturday of the month: 20 decades of the Rosary are prayed
in procession past 4 clinics following the 7:30 a.m. Mass, 15546
Pomerado Road, Poway. For more information, call 858-748-2109.
5. St. Dismas Guild sponsors two weekly hours of prayer for
the unborn in North County
Join members of St. Dismas Guild for a rosary picket at North
County Women's Medical Clinic, 120 S. Craven Way, San Marcos,
(across from Cal State San Marcos), Tuesdays, 9-10 a.m.
The Guild also sponsors prayer (the rosary) in front of PayLess
at Mission Avenue and Escondido Blvd. 347 W. Mission on Thursdays,
10:30-11:30 a.m. For information on these prayer vigils, call
760-751-8541.
6. St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Carlsbad has a tri-weekly
prayer ministry in front of the North County Women's Medical Clinic
on Craven Way - San Marcos on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays
Please join the St. Elizabeth Seton "Life Matters" Culture of Life
prayer vigils at 10:00 a.m. to Noon every Tuesday, Thursday, and
Friday morning at "North County Women's Medical Clinic": 120 Craven
Road, San Marcos -
http://www.womensmedicalclinic.com/. Those interested can
carpool from St. Elizabeth Seton's upper parking lot at 9:30
a.m.. Those who do not want to carpool, please feel free to meet us
at the Abortion Center at 10:00 a.m. or at any time between 10:00
a.m. and Noon. These vigils are not confrontational. We give
witness by being present in prayer and entrust our message to the
Blessed Mother. Contact Gene:
ejzoval@yahoo.com or 760-804-9656 for more information.
7. St. John the Evangelist Parish in Encinitas Pro-Life Mass
and Rosary held on the first Monday of each month
The first Monday of every month is designated Pro-Life
Monday at St. John the Evangelist Church, 1001 Encinitas Blvd,
Encinitas. The 8:00 a.m. Mass will be followed by a Rosary for
Life.
8. Prayer Vigil at Planned Parenthood - First and
Grape Street, San Diego – Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Prayer vigil contacts: Luis Mendoza 619-259-3906 or Roger Lopez
619-276-7525. Rosary processions the first Saturday of every month
from Our Lady of the Rosary, Date & State St. after the 7:30 am
Mass.
9. Most Precious Blood Parish Rosary Prayer Vigils held on
Wednesdays each week
The Pro-Life Prayer Group from Most Precious Blood sponsors a
Rosary Prayer Vigil in front of "A Womans Choice" Clinic abortion
facility at 1550 Broadway, Chula Vista every Wednesday at 8:45 a.m.
For more information, please call Shirley Henry at 619-420-7096 or
Luis Mendoza at 619-259-3906.
10. Prayer partners are needed at the office of Feliciano
Rios M.D., 1079 Third Ave., suite 3, in Chula Vista - Dr. Rios
performs abortions at his medical facility - Meet each Wednesday
from 8:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Please contact Luis Mendoza, a Missionary of The Gospel of Life
Lay Associate, at 619-259-3906, with questions or to share interest
in this prayer ministry.
11. Pray in front of the Planned Parenthood facility located
at 1685 East Main, just off the Greenfield Drive exit in El Cajon -
join friends and neighbors
According to the PP website, chemical (RU-486) abortions
only are done at this location - not surgical abortions. They do
refer women for abortions to their surgical center on First Ave.
Join the group each Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and Saturday
from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Contact:
mfowler@nethere.com
12. The Goretti Group offers chastity prayer and speaker
training monthly
Every First Friday of the month the Goretti Group
will Celebrate a St. Maria Goretti Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary,
1654 State Street, at 6:15 p.m.
Every Second Monday of the month: ChasteMasters Meeting at Our
Lady of the Rosary, Giovanni Room, 7:00 p.m. - Please join us in
prayer, a roundtable discussion, and providing feedback as chastity
speakers refine their talks.
For more info please visit:
www.thegorettigroup.org or call David at: 619-733-8439
Watch for OSM e-link bulletin
#78 around Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Article/Statement for May 6, 2009
Mary Ann Glendon
Out of all the statements made concerning the controversy over Notre
Dame's decision to invite President Barack Obama to both give the
Commencement Address at Notre Dame's Graduation Ceremony and receive
an honorary doctorate, the following letter, written by Mary Ann
Glendon to Fr. John Jenkins, President of Notre Dame, displays the
most gracious, thoughtful, yet firm response to an extremely
distressing situation involving an undeniable violation of
"fundamental principles of justice."
We hope Mary Ann's letter will help readers come to a clearer
understanding of the moral obligation placed on all citizens to
oppose injustice in all its forms, especially when the most
vulnerable in our midst are discarded with such abandon and
complicity.
Would you like to sign a petition to oppose Notre Dame's decision to
have President Obama give the commencement speech and receive an
honorary doctorate degree?
http://notredamescandal.com/
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. |
