...Cardinal George prefaced his remarks by noting that although he is the president of the USCCB, he does not have jurisdiction or authority over other bishops. His role, he indicated, nonetheless has "some moral authority, without any kind of jurisdiction or any sort of real authority. As president of the U.S. bishops' conference I have to precisely speak for the bishops and not in my own name, as I could as Archbishop of Chicago," he added.
George said he had spoken with the administrative committee of the bishops' conference and corresponded with University president Fr. John Jenkins several times on the issue.
"That conversation will continue .... whether or not it will have some kind of consequence that will bring, I think, the University of Notre Dame to its [the USCCB's] understanding of what it means to be Catholic," said the Cardinal. "That is, when you're Catholic, everything you do changes the life of everybody else who calls himself a personal Catholic - it's a network of relationships.
"So quite apart from the president's own positions, which are well known, the problem is in that you have a Catholic university - the flagship Catholic university - do something that brought extreme embarrassment to many, many people who are Catholic," said the cardinal.
"So whatever else is clear, it is clear that Notre Dame didn't understand what it means to be Catholic when they issued this invitation, and didn't anticipate the kind of uproar that would be consequent to the decision, at least not to the extent that it has happened," said George.
The Cardinal urged concerned Catholics "to do what you are supposed to be doing: to call, to email, to write letters, to express what's in your heart about this: the embarrassment, the difficulties."...
(Download the brief video to view in Windows Media format - http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/video/CardinalGeorge.wmv - or QuickTime format - http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/video/CardinalGeorge.mov - allow time for the download to complete.)
6 comments:
"Notre Dame "Embarasses" US Catholics
So do Catholic priest.
Do you mean a particular priest?
The priesthood was established by Christ, and Catholics are not 'embarassed' by Catholic priests.
Sometimes priests, like other individuals, behave in ways unbecoming of their vocation. Sometimes in tragic ways, as the US has experienced recently. This does not reflect on the nature of the priesthood itself, nor on the vast majority of Catholic clerics.
Fr. Jenkins has embarassed' the Catholics by invited the 'icon for anti-life' to be honoured at a Catholic institution. Obama, if as intelligent as he is promoted to be, willingly participates in this public humiliation of Catholics.
Mark 2:15-17
15 And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.
16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?
17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Why is man so quick to judge, but Jesus Christ was not?
So those you consider sinners are not welcomed in your house? How do you then ever reach their hearts to help them find what God truly wants?
Whoever does not have your same beliefs you cast them out?
WHO IN GOD'S EYES THEN IS A SINNER?
Hmmm. I don't recall the passage in the Gospels where Jesus gave the publicans honours and held them up as people to be emulated. I'm pretty sure He didn't give them an Honorary Law degree. Didn't He actually call them to conversion? Wasn't that His very loving action that encouraged them to repent and follow Him?
Welcome, sure. Debate, sure. Honour, no way.
We are called to uphold the truth lovingly and love truthfully. It is a loving act , to put to Obama, and all his followers, as often and whenever possible, the horrible and soul killing ramifications of their personal choices and their public actions to promote the 'culture of death'. Just as we do for our own families, we should do for others. Keep telling them the truth.
Its not out of meanness that this fuss has resulted from the Notre Dame decision to honour Obama. Its out of Christian love for the unborn, for the Catholic church and its institutions, for the students at Notre Dame, for Fr. Jenkins himself, and even for the president. The same people who are writing letters and organizing protests sacrifice their weekends praying outside abortion clinics in the cold and offer up Masses for the conversion of Barack Obama.
Christian love is not easy . But the rewards for everyone are great.
I thought the point of him going there was to honor the graduates not himself. Of course he will get a lot of attention for who he is, but this has been a tradition at Notre Dame for long time now.
By the way, I am a Christian. I believe that all life is precious also. But I leave the judgments to GOD.
I have had a previous life of sin to where I can judge no man, and if others did the same to me I might not have ever come to know Christ.
Thank you for the respectful dialect.
GOD BLESS.
We're all sinners.
The fact remains that Notre Dame intends to Honour Obama with an Honorary Doctorate of Law.
Catholics must stand together strong on the side of life, or those with the power to legislate killing will not hear their voices.
Standing strong would include Catholic institutions not pandering to icons of the 'culture of death'. How can the students' Catholic identity, and moral and intellectual integrity, be honoured when such a symbol of disregard for human life is honoured on their behalf?
True that conversion will come through the Grace of God. I do not believe this means we should timidly wait while evil is done all around us. We must do what we can do, however little that may be. And pray. A lot.
pax
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