Editor:

However, the clerical failures and misinterpretations, post-Vatican II, produced a generation of Catholics who gradually lost their Catholic identity and passed their unfortunate ignorance on to their children.  This Catholic evolution allowed for Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden, Ted Kennedy, Kathleen Sebelius, and a host of others to misrepresent Catholic belief in political and public life.

Moreover, this evolution opened the door for the election of Barack Obama who, as a presidential candidate, was notably the most liberal pro-abortion senator in the Congress.  His unwavering acceptance of partial-birth abortion, even after a congressional viewing of a shockingly vivid video, was all too telling.

The confirmation of Kathleen Sebelius for Secretary of Health and Human Services is a continuing indication that his pro-abortion agenda is evident and massive. Ms. Sebelius’ pro-abortion track record as governor of Kansas, and her questionable close ties with Dr. Tiller are clear indications as to how she will run the Department of Health and Human Services.

The Obama administration, based on its anti-Christian, socialist agenda and departmental leadership selections, is an obvious enemy of the Catholic Church. So called Catholic institutions, weakened by fifty years of ignorance and secularism evolution, are now being manipulated by this ominously cunning and charismatic leader in an effort to deliver his ultimate coup de grace. Georgetown University, while hosting an Obama “political” speech, easily caved-in when Obama requested all religious symbols in the background be covered. Georgetown obviously had no problem disassociating itself from the Catholic Church to please this president; and now Notre Dame is going to honor him knowing all that they know about him and his stand on abortion.

Mary Ann Glendon, Former U. S. ambassador to the Holy See, courageously declined receiving Notre Dame’s Laetare Medal in protest of Barack Obama’s being honored; Bishop John D’Arcy, Notre Dame’s home bishop declined to attend the commencement; 50 other bishops have publically opposed this dishonorable honor; and 350,000 concerned Catholics have signed a petition in protest.

These people, by their actions, have drawn a line in the sand.  Notre Dame should no longer be considered a Catholic institution, and should relinquish all the rights and benefits granted to it under the Catholic Church.

William Melville

Editor:

The unChristian action of many Catholics who show such holy hate because Notre Dame invited the president is not the way of Christ. A greater sin is looking the other way when children throughout this world are enduring sexual, physical, emotional, and spiritual abuse, abandonment, murder, and waking up every morning with only hunger in their bellies and tears of hopelessness and despair in their eyes. How shameful and sinful for Catholics to say an invitation to President Barack Obama is more of a scandal.

Refusing to attend the commencement is showing disrespect and dishonor to the president, faculty, students and their families of Notre Dame. Remember, “He who is without sin, cast the first stone.” So many Catholics will be getting their stones back on judgment day.

I do not believe in abortion but words in a law will not stop abortion. The saving of the unborn is the call of the church and not politicians.

Satan knows the Gospel, the Scripture, and the Bible word for word, that does not make him a good Catholic. Hate, racism, bigotry, and hypocrisy in the political world has filtered into the religious world.

All Catholics need to ask themselves, how do Christ and our Blessed Mother feel about those who use his name to extend hate and false Christianity?

Chandler S. Vincent

Editor:

They say God works in mysterious ways. Maybe Notre Dame’s invitation to President Barack Obama to be its commencement speaker will give the president more insight on catholic beliefs. We all know the president and his family is looking for a new religion to embrace. I believe the Obamas worshipped at an Episcopal Church not long ago, so maybe they will visit a Catholic Church next.

Washington, D.C., has one of the largest black Catholic parishes in the Unites States and their priest says that the noon Mass on Sunday has something for everyone. It could be that the Notre Dame invitation to its commencement is a blessing in disguise.

Melvin Rivers

 

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Editor:

 

My response is to the letter from Mary C. Zipter of Lexington published on May 7. I applaud her.

It is time that all Catholics stand up and let their voices be heard and their numbers counted. But, we need our church’s voice to be heard as well for it is far stronger than ours.

The church needs to tell its parishioners that you do not leave your religious beliefs in a box when you vote.

Adelaide L. Leavens

Editor:

 

As a pro-life, black Catholic and a 1978 Notre Dame graduate, I want to speak out in support of Notre Dame’s invitation to President [Barack] Obama to be the commencement speaker. There is no scandal in Notre Dame’s invitation to the president. The scandal is in the attacks against Notre Dame by the Catholic media and other individuals for having extended the invitation.   

In Acts 11, when Peter is confronted by circumcised believers for eating with uncircumcised people, he explained to them the vision from God that had guided him. After hearing his explanation, the circumcised believers stopped objecting and glorified God. 

Father Jenkins, the president of Notre Dame, has explained the vision behind inviting President Obama. We should accept his explanation and stop all this Obama hate-mongering. To paraphrase Gamaliel’s warning to the Sanhedrin in Acts 6:39, if this invitation comes from God, you will not be able to revoke it; you may even find yourselves fighting against God in opposing it.

Deborah T. Gourdin

Editor:

 

The uproar in the Catholic Church resulting from the University of Notre Dame’s invitation to the president to speak at its commencement calls to mind a quote I recently read, attributed to the late Sir Laurens van der Post.

He said, “Human beings are perhaps never more frightening than when they are convinced beyond doubt that they are right.” To be rude and disrespectful toward the president because his sincerely-held beliefs differ from our own seems to me to be arrogant and un-Christian.

I think the example set for us by Christ himself dictates that we should approach those with whom we disagree with charity and humility, not with pride and arrogance.

Bob Kappler