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The Notre Dame Flap
Bishop Bernard Harrington
Bishop of Winona, MN
May 7, 2009
Like so many bishops of the United States, I have written to
Father John Jenkins, CSC, President of the University of Notre Dame, to express
my disbelief and disappointment that the administration of the University of
Notre Dame has invited President Obama to address the graduating class and then
to bestow an honorary degree upon him. President Obama has been blatantly
proabortion in the first few weeks of his new administration with the lifting of
the ban on federal funding of abortions and approving with federal funds
embryonic stem cell research. He is also “on record” that he approves the
“Freedom of Choice Act” (FOCA) and he is seriously considering lifting the
exemption of conscience clause from those in the medical field who oppose
abortion.
The Bishops of the United States in June 2004 asked Catholic universities and
other Catholic institutions not to give public honors or to permit pro-abortion
politicians a public platform. The University of Notre Dame, which has
considered itself a leading Catholic institution of higher learning, is choosing
to defy the bishops of the United States and turn its back on the Catholic
community in its continual defense of the right-to-life. The university’s stance
is similar to that of Catholic politicians who say that they are pro-life and
then support legislation and vote for programs that foster abortion. It is hard
to believe that the University of Notre Dame has chosen “political rightness”
over principle and truth.
Shortly after the election of Pope Benedict XVI, the president of the university
asked the Pope what the university could do for his papacy. I am sure that Pope
would now tell Father Jenkins the same thing that Pope Benedict XVI told Rep.
Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the House of Representatives.
Bishop John D’Arcy, bishop of Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend in which Notre
Dame is located, stated that he will not be present at this year’s graduation
for the first time since becoming the local bishop in 1985. He states very
clearly that if he attended the ceremony, he would be implicitly approving of
what President Obama has done and would certainly give scandal and bad example
to the Catholic community. I think that the University has to judge itself in
the same light of truth and justice.
No matter what the President of Notre Dame says, the invitation and bestowal of
an honorary degree upon President Obama is a “no-win situation” for the Catholic
Church of the United States and in particular, a losing situation for the
University of Notre Dame.
It might be a little too dramatic to say that Our Lady of the Golden Dome is
hanging her head in shame, but there is no question that hundreds of thousands
of “ loyal Irish” supporters are angered, dumbfounded and disappointed in this
administration’s decision.
Good Shepherd Sunday Sunday, May 3, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, is Good
Shepherd Sunday, a day of prayer for vocations. The annual World Day of Prayer
for Vocations, started by Pope Paul VI, is always celebrated on the 4th Sunday
of Easter. The day offers Catholic laity, religious and clergy an opportunity to
remember and to pray for those who have already responded to God’s call to
priesthood and consecrated life.
This year, Pope Benedict XVI invites the entire People of God to meditate on the
theme: “Faith in the divine initiative – the human response.” The Pope reminds
us to “Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his
harvest (Matt 9:38). ” I want to thank the many groups of faithful who remember
to pray for vocations daily, if not frequently. I encourage once again those who
come to Eucharistic adoration, either Perpetual Adoration or Parish Weekly
Adoration to pray for our seminarians and for an increase in religious and
priestly vocations in our diocese. I especially want to thank the members of the
four Diocese of Winona Serra clubs (Mankato, Owatonna, Rochester and Winona) and
the group that is forming in Austin for their support in fostering vocations. A
link to the Pope’s message can be found at www.dow.org. Be sure to include at
all Masses a special prayer for vocations.
Support Catholic Charities Appeal On Mother’s Day weekend, May 9-10, the annual
collection for support of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Winona will take
place in our parishes as a second collection. I ask that you continue to be
supportive of Catholic Charities in our Diocese.
Catholic Charities has offices located in Worthington, Mankato, Owatonna, Albert
Lea, Austin, Rochester and Winona. Last year, more than 4,700 persons residing
in 2,100 households in southern Minnesota were served by Catholic Charities
staff. Fortyseven percent of these families had annual incomes at or below
$25,000 – truly the poor in our diocese.
Many individuals of the diocese have been asked to support Catholic Charities
through the Catholic Charities Spirit Circle. I thank you for such generous
support. Now, I hope that all Catholics will join in and contribute to the
annual collection of Mother’s Day weekend.
These are difficult economic times. These are the times that Catholic Charities
especially reaches out to help so many who are in need of help. Help for unwed
mothers, families in crisis, isolated and frail senior citizens, refugee
families and the uninsured are just a few of those who come for help. Just last
week, Catholic Charities of Winona responded with food for the displaced people
of St. Charles at the time of the devastating fire. It is especially in times
like these that we need to support the work of Catholic Charities.
“As the Spirit Goes” – The End of the Road
For the past ten and one half years, I have been writing a monthly article for
the Courier “As the Spirit Goes.” This is my last official article for the
Courier as I “pass the crosier” to Bishop John Quinn this May. I believe that
only three times, twice because of hip surgeries and once because of studying
Spanish in Mexico, have I missed this monthly commitment. I am well aware of how
many of the faithful – clergy and laity – read this article monthly and I am
deeply humbled by that fact. I have had to struggle with some heavy topics: the
morality of the war in Iraq, embryonic stem cell research, the immigration
issue, and the intrinsic evilness of abortion and Catholic politicians. I have
been mindful that it is necessary to preach the gospel “in and out of season.”
On a lighter note, I have written about Ma Harrington’s Macaroni and Cheese, the
trimmings of the Rosary, and getting my own deer on I-90. I thank you for your
faithfulness and willingness to hear what the Bishop of the Diocese of Winona
has to say on everyday issues.
I pray that you will be supportive of Bishop Quinn in the years to come. Next to
my priesthood, it has been the greatest blessing in my life to be Bishop of the
Diocese of Winona. I am blessed to celebrate my fiftieth anniversary of
priesthood with a diocesan celebration on May 7 and bring to a close my time as
the seventh bishop of Winona.
I have been mindful of my time as your bishop that I bring “life that you may
have it more abundantly!” On the day of my Episcopal Installation in January of
1999, I facetiously referred to myself as “Bernie the Spirit” vs. “Jesse the
Body” who was also sworn in that same day. I have attempted to bring the Spirit,
both in Sacrament and Word, throughout the Diocese. There have been some great
laughs (especially in Confirmation ceremonies), some big disappointments and
momentous challenges. Through all this, it is still a blessing to be among your
midst and I look forward to coming and helping out in your parishes in the
months and years to come. My old Irish dad, Jack Harrington, would end each
visit with this simple blessing:
“Good Bye, Good Luck and God Bless!”
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