Want some chills? Read this LTTE from Pres. of the ND Alum Assoc. re:Obama address

((Good ones, that is!))

My commentary:

The Catholic Church has myriad problems.

And because of such, sometimes Catholics can get a really, really bad rap on here at DU.

Please take the time to read this Letter to the Editor (of the school newspaper) by the President of the Alumni Association at Notre Dame.

It gave me the chills and really conveys a voice that I think millions and millions of American Catholics would echo:

THE LTTE:

"In my role as the current president of the Notre Dame Alumni Association, many concerned alumni have called and written me about the upcoming visit of President Obama to Notre Dame as Commencement speaker. While I don't speak for the Alumni Association or its Board of Directors, I do have a unique window on this controversy that has given me cause for reflection. Those who object to the visit cite the grave differences between Mr. Obama and Notre Dame regarding abortion rights because our Catholic faith unequivocally opposes abortion. However, we must also be mindful of Catholic teaching in other areas pertaining to human dignity in which we have a good deal in common with the president.

*snip*

The passages above resonate deeply with issues of human dignity in Catholic Social Teaching that President Obama is addressing courageously, including: abolishing the "arbitrary imprisonment" and "torments inflicted on the body or mind" at Guantanamo, prioritizing education, jobs and housing and boldly reforming our economic system to ensure that working people are not "mere tools for profit." He is tackling health care reform, environmental stewardship and economic security, all of which raise the possibility of a more dignified life for even the least among us.

In this season of Lent, we are reminded that we are all sinners; our world is complex and imperfect; and only God can reconcile our deepest contradictions and heal our most painful wounds. Although we disagree with Mr. Obama on some core issues, we must not condemn. We must be like the elders who laid down their stones and walked away from the adulterous woman when Jesus challenged them by saying, "He that has not sinned may cast the first stone." None of us is pure in our adherence to our Catholic principles, and each of us falls short in some way of living up to our Notre Dame ideals.

President Obama was elected in a free and fair election and is Commander-in-Chief of our nation's military that includes many Notre Dame alumni and students. Notre Dame has a tradition of inviting Presidents to be Commencement speakers. President Obama has been invited and he will come to Notre Dame on May 17. When he does, we would do well to heed another of the precepts of "Gaudium et Spes:"

"Respect and love ought to be extended also to those who think or act differently than we do in social, political and even religious matters. In fact, the more deeply we come to understand their ways of thinking through such courtesy and love, the more easily will we be able to enter into dialogue with them."

*snip*

http://www.ndsmcobserver.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticlePrinterFriendly&uStory_id=ee0fca7c-d9c0-4078-8567-7175ee7cbda3

I really wanted to post the whole thing, as it is beautifully written, but didn't know if copywright rules apply to LTTEs or not. I hope all will go to the link and read the entire letter.

I think we are getting so much information about those protesting the invitation. But there are many, many more Catholics, who believe it is an honor to have the President do the commencement address.

anywhere else.

Great letter.

their association's president make this statement.

It is unfortunate that many of these saner voices get drowned out by the religious right's sycophantic cacophony.

Thanks for the post.

of this wonderful letter...

and of so many others. None more hypocrical than Evangelicals, although Catholism runs a very close second with their "hide the pedophiles among us and feign ignorance to the scandal" actions.

"He that has not sinned may cast the first stone." None of us is pure in our adherence to our Catholic principles, and each of us falls short in some way of living up to our Notre Dame ideals.

Yeah, right. When hell freezes over, we'll see the most religious among us withhold judgement.

I posted this in order to show the DU community that there are many other voices in and around Notre Dame besides the small, fanatical minority that are protesting the invitation.

What this woman wrote had nothing to do with the Pope or the church hierarchy and everything to do with reminding us of the moral teachings of the Church -- a reminder that both the Pope himself and and the church hierarchy could also benefit from.

"...understand their ways of thinking through such courtesy and love..."

Something we here DU would do well to consider. Just saying.

Nice letter and thank you for posting. I was raised Catholic and this gentleman sounds more like the people I knew growing up than the noisy rabid ones in the news lately - and I include our Chicago Archbishop in that last category.