Three Years Later, Notre Dame finally gets it

If you remember the controversy in the spring of 2009 involving Barack Obama being invited to give the Notre Dame commencement speech, you might remember the ND88. It was a group of pro-life supporters, which included a priest, who were arrested on the orders of the University's president, John Jenkins for peacefully praying in protest on school property over Obama's invite.

In a classic "oops" moment, prominent members of the Notre Dame faculty are now speaking out against the contraceptive mandate, essentially vindicating the ND88. The signature of the man whose name should be at the very top of the signatory list - Jenkins - is conspicuously absent, however.

Via CNS News:

Twenty-five Notre Dame faculty members--led by the university’s top ethics expert, and including some of the school’s most eminent scholars--have signed a statement declaring that President Barack Obama’s latest version of his administration’s mandate that all health insurance plans in the United States must cover sterilizations and all FDA-approved contraceptives, including those that cause abortions, is “a grave violation of religious freedom and cannot stand."

The statement—put out on the letterhead of the University of Notre Dame Law School--is also signed by leading scholars from other major American colleges and universities, including Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, Georgetown, Brigham Young, Yeshiva and Wheaton College.

Prof. Carter Snead, a professor of law at Notre Dame, was one of the lead organizers of the statement, which was published on his official law school letterhead. Notre Dame's top ethics expert, Snead serves as director of the university's Center for Ethics and Culture, a position to which he was appointed by Father John Jenkins, the president of Notre Dame.

Ironically, Jenkins also awarded Obama an honorary law degree. Now, Obama is essentially going around Congress to tell universities like Notre Dame they must violate their consciences, which means he has no respect for the law, the first amendment in particular.

When Obama received his honorary degree at Notre Dame's May 17, 2009, commencement, he vowed to respect the conscience rights of those who believe abortion is wrong. 

“Let's honor the conscience of those who disagree with abortion, and draft a sensible conscience clause, and make sure that all of our health care policies are grounded not only in sound science, but also in clear ethics, as well as respect for the equality of women,” said Obama. “Those are things we can do.”

Once again, another provable lie.

HERE is a copy of the statement.

NOTRE DAME PRESIDENT TOPS HIMSELF

We all remember the controversy surrounding the invitation of Barack Obama to give the Notre Dame commencement speech last spring. President John Jenkins refused to capitulate and at times seemed to oogle over the notion of having our Pro-abort & Chief speak on his campus.

Now we learn that Jenkins has sent a letter to Notre Dame alumni announcing his plans to join the annual March for Live in Washington, D.C.

Each year on January 22, the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision, the March for Life is held in Washington D.C. to call on the nation to defend the right to life. I plan to participate in that march. I invite other members of the Notre Dame Family to join me and I hope we can gather for a Mass for Life at that event. We will announce details as that date approaches.

Kinda rings hollow, doesn't it?

Well, there's more. A website in support of the NOTRE DAME 88, a group that was arrested on the orders of Jenkins, who has refused to drop charges. The group also includes Norma McCorvey, who was the actual Roe.

Apparently the irony was lost on Jenkins that while he will be preparing to protest against Roe v. Wade, the actual Roe, Norma McCorvey, will be preparing for her criminal trial for protesting at Notre Dame after she was arrested under orders from Father Jenkins who has, so far, refused to drop the charges brought against McCorvey and the rest of the "ND 88", the dozens of pro-life protestors arrested last spring for "crimes" such as saying the rosary and wearing pro-life t-shirts.

If you could go back in time to 1973 and tell people that one day Jane Roe would be a pro-life activist arrested on the orders of the University of Notre Dame president for trespassing on the campus during a commencement speech being given by a Pro-abort president, it wouldn't matter what looks you'd get. You'd be right.

I'm waiting for a group to start a movement to make the January 22nd march the first ever One Man March (Jenkins).

Be sure to read the ENTIRE STORY and JENKINS' LETTER.