My teachers....

**Oradi** · 03-25-09, 08:08 AM

Really need to have their email privileges revoked. They send this stuff all the time to the whole class.

From a priest in charge of campus minstry: MASS IS FUN!!!!!!!

This is all that was in the email. At 7:55 in the morning trying to get people to go to daily mass.

Dear Friends,

For many years, the University of Notre Dame has held a standing invitation to the President of the United States to speak at their commencement ceremony. This year has been no exception and last Friday it was announced that President Obama has accepted and will be the speaker on May 17th.

The president, as you well know, is vehemently opposed to the Catholic position on abortion, contraception, embryonic stem cell research, conscience rights for health care providers, and the definition and protection of marriage. Thus it is a clear contradiction for Notre Dame, one of the premier Catholic Institutions in this country, to host such a person as a speaker and furthermore to award him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree (as is planned). This is a clear violation of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops 2004 mandate “Catholics in Political Life” which was cited by Bishop Trautman several times in the past year’s presidential race:

“The Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.”

Please consider signing this petition created by the Cardinal Newman society and CatholicVote.org and please, please pray for the conversion of our president and all politicians to who do not embrace life in all of its forms.

http://www.notredamescandal.com

This is from the music teacher whos really faith-based serious tough guy, and also a vegetarian.

**triggerhappy2005** · 03-25-09, 08:17 AM

The conversion part is funny. It sounds kinda like Osama bin Laden saying he wants all the infidels to convert to Islam, or else.

**JBMCW2010** · 03-25-09, 09:18 AM

honestly...it is people like your music teacher and like minded folk that PUSH EVERYONE away from religion and it sucks something bad for those of us involved in a catholic campus ministry that is just trying to get folks involved not to shove religion down their throats but get them involved in humanitarian things such as tutoring inner city kids, city clean up, Alternative Spring Break

it really sucks that they do this

**dex71** · 03-25-09, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by JBMCW2010

honestly...it is people like your music teacher and like minded folk that PUSH EVERYONE away from religion and it sucks something bad for those of us involved in a catholic campus ministry that is just trying to get folks involved not to shove religion down their throats but get them involved in humanitarian things such as tutoring inner city kids, city clean up, Alternative Spring Break

it really sucks that they do this

Sorry Jb,but I have to disagree. I say kudos to the music teacher. He is obviously a strong,conservative Catholic,and is firm in his beliefs. He is also abiding by the rules set forth by the Conference of Catholic Bishops mandate,even if his employer isn't. Should a Jewish school give awards to a neo-nazi skinhead,if that skinhead also taught kids to read on the side? No-one is shoving anything down anyones throat here,in fact,its the other way around. The University,which is supposed to be Catholic,is giving someone an award who's beliefs and actions completely contradict the teachings of the church.

**Menoske** · 03-25-09, 10:55 AM

They made a standing invitation the to President to come speak at the college.

It looks to me like they just happened to get a President who was against their thoughts who took them up on their offer. If they backed out of it now, they would still have egg on their face for inviting him and then turning him down.

I mean seriously, do you invite someone to an event and then say, yeah you don't think like me so I'm gonna have to tell you to go away.

Either way the institution is gonna catch flak, either for having him come speak (and get an honorary degree) or for backing out and telling him nevermind.

**Oradi** · 03-25-09, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by Menoske

They made a standing invitation the to President to come speak at the college.

It looks to me like they just happened to get a President who was against their thoughts who took them up on their offer. If they backed out of it now, they would still have egg on their face for inviting him and then turning him down.

I mean seriously, do you invite someone to an event and then say, yeah you don't think like me so I'm gonna have to tell you to go away.

Either way the institution is gonna catch flak, either for having him come speak (and get an honorary degree) or for backing out and telling him nevermind.

As long as he doesnt make his speech about his stances i dont see a problem with it.

We had that happen when hillary clinton came to town. She went to a local college which is catholic based and the bishop said he would not attend the graduations of the kids if they let her come.

**~~hawgballs~~** · 03-25-09, 02:43 PM

Originally Posted by dex71

Sorry Jb,but I have to disagree. I say kudos to the music teacher. He is obviously a strong,conservative Catholic,and is firm in his beliefs. He is also abiding by the rules set forth by the Conference of Catholic Bishops mandate,even if his employer isn't. Should a Jewish school give awards to a neo-nazi skinhead,if that skinhead also taught kids to read on the side?

Sorry dex, but I agree with JB.(Surprised?) Your analogy of Jewish schools giving awards to neo-nazi skinheads, while it might sound good to you, is wrong from the word "go". There is a silent majority to the catholic faith that don't agree with the church's hard-line against any type of family planning (be it abortion or condoms). So you are basically equating them, with "neo nazi skinheads"(who are intolerant of anyone that thinks otherwise). Whereas it seems those that take such a hard-line against those who support "choice" seem to be the intolerant of anyone else's views.

Do non catholics attend the University as well? Is there a social/religious litmus test that is applied for student enrollment? There is more to being catholic that what side of the abortion argument you are on...... I think the school, and anyone complaining, ought to keep in mind that, although the president and the church might not be on the same side in regards to abortion, but they are indeed on the same side in countless other issues. Furthermore, you also are equating the president of being a neo-nazi skinhead. As if he is making this speech in order to destroy that catholic institution.

Originally Posted by dex71

No-one is shoving anything down anyones throat here,in fact,its the other way around.

So please do tell, who is shoving what down the the university's throat? They invited him to speak, he accepted. If anyone is shoving anything down anyone's throat, it is the music teacher doing the shoving. How many of his students are actually practicing catholics? How many agree with his argument? Now how many gave him permission to solicit them during their time, on their e-mail, for something that has nothing to do with music?

Originally Posted by dex71

The University,which is supposed to be Catholic,is giving someone an award who's beliefs and actions completely contradict the teachings of the church

They are giving him an honorary "Doctor of Laws" degree, which he somehow doesn't deserve? "I think abortion should be legal, but rare" doesn't necessarily "contradict the teachings of the church". The "teachings of the church are not solely about abortion, I don't think it is .01% of the "teachings of the church". Besides, it is a University, not a church. You would have a point if the president were to speak in St Peter's basilic on the anniversary of Roe v.Wade, but alas, he is speaking at an institution of learning, where critical freethinking is supposed to be encouraged

**33knight33** · 03-25-09, 03:05 PM

I hated catholic school.

it certainly turned me away from the church.

I received all sacraments but marriage and holy orders, without ever being asked if it was what I WANTED to do.

(kind of ironic because the more I was taught about the roman catholic church, the less I wanted to be involved in it)

**Langrad** · 03-25-09, 04:27 PM

Theres this little principle that America was founded on that seems to have been lost recently... Separation of church and state. Is he comming to the school to talk about contraceptives and abortion? No? Well then the music teachers argument is defeated. Did those bishopy guys say "You cant have anyone who dislikes our way of thinking sully your mind with his presence"?

Im am methodist and an avid churchgoer. I spend prettymuch my whole sunday at church or helping out with the youth group. I think this teacher needs to learn that because someone doesn't agree with your religion you cant go all crazy.

**dex71** · 03-25-09, 05:17 PM

Originally Posted by hawgballs

Originally Posted by dex71

Sorry Jb,but I have to disagree. I say kudos to the music teacher. He is obviously a strong,conservative Catholic,and is firm in his beliefs. He is also abiding by the rules set forth by the Conference of Catholic Bishops mandate,even if his employer isn't. Should a Jewish school give awards to a neo-nazi skinhead,if that skinhead also taught kids to read on the side?

Sorry dex, but I agree with JB.(Surprised?) Your analogy of Jewish schools giving awards to neo-nazi skinheads, while it might sound good to you, is wrong from the word "go". There is a silent majority to the catholic faith that don't agree with the church's hard-line against any type of family planning (be it abortion or condoms). So you are basically equating them, with "neo nazi skinheads"(who are intolerant of anyone that thinks otherwise). Whereas it seems those that take such a hard-line against those who support "choice" seem to be the intolerant of anyone else's views.

Do non catholics attend the University as well? Is there a social/religious litmus test that is applied for student enrollment? There is more to being catholic that what side of the abortion argument you are on...... I think the school, and anyone complaining, ought to keep in mind that, although the president and the church might not be on the same side in regards to abortion, but they are indeed on the same side in countless other issues. Furthermore, you also are equating the president of being a neo-nazi skinhead. As if he is making this speech in order to destroy that catholic institution.

Originally Posted by dex71

No-one is shoving anything down anyones throat here,in fact,its the other way around.

So please do tell, who is shoving what down the the university's throat? They invited him to speak, he accepted. If anyone is shoving anything down anyone's throat, it is the music teacher doing the shoving. How many of his students are actually practicing catholics? How many agree with his argument? Now how many gave him permission to solicit them during their time, on their e-mail, for something that has nothing to do with music?

Originally Posted by dex71

The University,which is supposed to be Catholic,is giving someone an award who's beliefs and actions completely contradict the teachings of the church

They are giving him an honorary "Doctor of Laws" degree, which he somehow doesn't deserve? "I think abortion should be legal, but rare" doesn't necessarily "contradict the teachings of the church". The "teachings of the church are not solely about abortion, I don't think it is .01% of the "teachings of the church". Besides, it is a University, not a church. You would have a point if the president were to speak in St Peter's basilic on the anniversary of Roe v.Wade, but alas, he is speaking at an institution of learning, where critical freethinking is supposed to be encouraged

You don't agree with it,tough shit Hawg,don't be a Catholic then. The University is supposed to be Catholic,yet they are going against the doctrine the church has put forth. They have a name for people who pick and choose what parts of the religion they want to follow,they are called "Cafeteria Catholics".It is the views of the Catholic Church we are talking about,not a popularity contest,and not open for debate,so they don't have to be tolerant of anyone else s views,least of which the University's,who has used the Church to help with enrollment numbers.Catholic families send their kids there to get a Catholic education,and inviting someone who goes against their beliefs,betrays that.

And calm down with me equating Barry with skinheads,you are smart enough to know that isn't what i was saying(although i got a chuckle out of it,cuz i know you well enough to know that you did too

). The music teacher is just echoing what the Bishops have put forth as the rules.And as far as I know,the Catholic Church is against abortion...period.To have someone speak,who voted in favor of late-term abortions directly goes against the teachings of the church.It would be much different if ND was a public school,but it isn't.

I don't pretend to be the most fervent Catholic out there,but I can see why people are upset. A private(and expensive)University has invited someone to speak,who is diametrically opposed to one of their core beliefs,that all life is sacred.I don't blame Obama in any way,his beliefs are his beliefs. They just don't jibe with the beliefs that the University is supposed to be upholding.As for the non-Catholics who may go there....c'mon.....give me a break....If they don't agree with the teachings of the Catholic church,there are many other fine public institutions they could attend.The fact is,they chose to go to a Catholic school,they probably shouldn't act shocked when they are taught Catholic doctrine.