Looking for a Catholic University

Let me state upfront that I’m a Catholic; life long, practicing, serious. I love my Church, its doctrines, and its history. Tragically, especially in America today, there are a lot of nominal Catholics that leave many of us scratching our head in wonder.

Take for example Fr. John I. Jenkins, the President of Notre Dame. Jenkins sparked a national scandal by inviting Barack Obama to deliver the 2009 commencement speech and receive an honorary degree at the once proud symbol of Catholic higher education.

Obama has already reversed federal policies on human embryo research and taxpayer funded abortions. Further, the administration is exploring rescission of the “conscience clause” which allows doctors, nurses, and hospitals the option of not doing medical procedures they find morally objectionable, such as abortions. Obama has repeatedly stated his support for the so called Freedom of Choice Act that would override state law and dramatically expand abortion on demand in America. This month Obama appointed Harry Knox to his Advisory Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Knox is a gay activist who called Pope Benedict XVI and certain Catholic Bishops “discredited leaders” because of their opposition to same-sex marriage.

Denver Archbishop Charles J. Chaput correctly identified Barack Obama as the "most committed" abortion-rights candidate from a major party in 35 years. Further, Chaput labeled the Democrat Party platform adopted in Denver when Obama was officially nominated as “clearly anti-life.” The outspoken bishop blasted Catholics and Catholic groups who supported Obama for having "done a disservice to the Church, (and) confused the natural priorities of Catholic social teaching.”

U.S. Archbishop Raymond L. Burke, prefect of the Vatican's highest court, said the Democratic Party "risks transforming itself definitively into a 'party of death." A survey by InsideCatholic.com identified more than 80 U.S. bishops that said “abortion and life” were defining issues in the 2008 election.

Announcement of the Obama commencement speech at Notre Dame immediately set off national outrage. As of this writing, over 315,000 people have signed the petition at requesting Jenkins withdraw the invitation. Pat Buchanan, former Presidential Candidate and Catholic, in a widely published op-ed asked the question on the mind of many of us, “Is Notre Dame still Catholic?” Sadly, at least as of this writing, Notre Dame and Jenkins have given no indication of reversing the invitation or even expressing regret in having extended the offer.

And, then there’s Georgetown University where Obama delivered an economic policy speech on April 14 in regal Gaston Hall. Georgetown is operated by the Jesuits, the Catholic religious order founded by St. Ignatius of Loyola and formally known as the Society of Jesus. In 1541, St. Ignatius adopted as his seal IHS, a monogram of ancient Greek origin symbolizing “the holy name of Jesus” and it has served as the Jesuits emblem for five centuries. Not surprisingly IHS is prominently displayed on the Georgetown campus including within Gaston Hall. Barack Obama apparently didn’t want any competition from Jesus for the undivided attention of his adoring public during his speech.

The White House requested that Georgetown cover up the IHS inscribed in the wall of the ornate stage immediately above the spot where Obama would speak – and, Georgetown complied! A black piece of plywood was tacked over the Jesuit’s official emblem, the name of Jesus.

According to a Georgetown spokesperson, the White House staff ordered all “signage and symbols behind Gaston Hall stage” to be covered. “The White House wanted a simple backdrop of flags and pipe and drape for the speech, consistent with what they’ve done for other policy speeches.”

Then, what was the reason for coming to Georgetown to make the speech if Obama didn’t want it to look like he was at Georgetown?

He didn’t cover the statue of Lincoln when he spoke in front of the Lincoln Memorial. He didn’t even cover the Bronco at Invesco Field when he spoke during the Democrat’s Convention in 2008. What’s his problem with Jesus?

And, why on earth did Georgetown and the Jesuits comply with a most inappropriate request? Catholics and far too many other people of faith are willingly forsaking the right granted each of us in the First Amendment to the “free expression” of our religious beliefs. Would that all Catholics and all people of faith had the conviction of Archbishop Chaput to be honest about their beliefs, to willingly defend them, and to denounce morally unacceptable ideology?

If Obama wanted to deliver a policy speech in a secular setting he had endless options. Why did he choose to secularize a private religious university, and why did they submit? Why?