Notre Dame is in trouble.
This latest incident concerning The Vagina Monologues and The Queer Film Festival highlight some real problems. If we do not act now to remedy them, I fear our alma mater will be lost. You may ask, to whom would it be lost? It will be lost to secularism, to the culture at large, to the enemies of Roman Catholicism.
One of the most troubling aspects of the events of the last three months has been to see such disrespect for the Roman Catholic Faith and such virulent contempt for the Roman Catholic character of Our Lady’s University coming from --- the faculty. One observer to all of this has characterized many in the faculty as possessing a “visceral anti-Catholicism”.
Ex Corde Ecclesiae (ECE) is Church law – Catholics have to follow it. Ex Corde Ecclesiae requires “Catholic members of the university community are also called to a personal fidelity to the Church with all that this implies. Non-Catholic members are required to respect the Catholic character of the University while the University in turn respects their religious liberty.” (ECE, I, 29) It is clear from the events of the last three months that this is not the case. A well-organized number of faculty wield real power at the University, and they use this power to attack Roman Catholicism.
We must return Notre Dame to Roman Catholicism—fidelity to the Faith. As one alumnus put it, we have to cultivate and strengthen the faith of students who attend Our Lady’s University. The Faith is the best way to live, and is necessary for salvation.
To teach and protect our children, we need a leader at the University
to set things right. The current President, John Jenkins,
He does not have a proper understanding of the concept of academic freedom at Catholic universities. You see, his definition of academic freedom was announced in January of this year when he said: “Academic freedom is essential to a university. It ensures that faculty have the ability to research, create, teach, and express themselves in accord with their own best judgment.” This means faculty can do whatever they want.
The Church’s definition of academic freedom, a definition Catholics are bound to accept, especially priests, is set forth in Ex Corde Ecclesiae I, A, 3, 29: “The Church, accepting the legitimate autonomy of human culture and especially of the sciences,’ recognizes the academic freedom of scholars in each discipline in accordance with its own principles and proper methods, and within the confines of the truth and the common good.” Teaching, and research, can only occur within the confines of the Roman Catholic Faith—not whatever the professor wants to do. This gross misunderstanding of Roman Catholic teaching calls into question Fr. Jenkins’ knowledge of, and commitment to, advancing the Faith.
Second, last year, it is my understanding that Fr. Jenkins told some, and indicated to others, that he would end the presentation of these two productions and take steps to strengthen Notre Dame’s Catholic character. With the events of the last several months, in particular, it appears he has reneged on these assurances. This calls into question his sincerity and his courage to do the right thing.
Third, as other alums have pointed out, there is a strong homosexual subculture on the University. This subculture is encouraged by people high up in the administration – people who should be disciplined by the University President for their subversion of faith and morals. Please allow me to refer to you the provisions of our Roman Catholic Faith that speak directly against this glorification and acceptance of the homosexual “identity/orientation”. Section 2333 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church clearly states:
“Everyone, man and woman, should acknowledge and accept his
sexual identity. Physical, moral, and spiritual difference and complementarity are oriented toward the goods of marriage and the flourishing of family life. The harmony of the couple and of society depends in part on the way in which the complementarity, needs, and mutual support between the sexes are lived out.”
Add to this the provision of Section 2358 which comments on homosexuality. It states “This inclination…is objectively disordered….”
Fourth, as you review Jenkins’ closing statement issued earlier this month, as well as in his opening address, you will see that “issues of social concern” weighed in his decision to allow the two productions to continue. This implies that he is allowing, and will allow, the classroom to be used to advance anti-Catholic social ideologies (i.e., “brainwash”), and not to educate, the students. Under any understanding of these statements, he has admitted that the “right” social message will be a guiding principle in the education of our young. And who determines what the “right” social message is? Well, it is an anti-Catholic faculty.
Finally, even if Fr. Jenkins were to reverse himself, or the Trustees were to reverse him, he would become a “lame duck”. He would be viewed as weak by the faculty and administration and would not be able to enforce the Church’s policies, or any policies for that matter. We know the reality of such a turn of events from our own experiences in life.
So, it is for these reasons that I call for the removal or resignation of Fr. Jenkins. Of course, true to our Faith, he should repent of his errors, his sins. I suggest he do so publicly.
This is just the beginning. We have to lobby for, and support, a strong Roman Catholic priest to lead the University after Jenkins. So, to that end, let’s do the following:
1) Let the Trustees know of the need to return Notre Dame to the Faith and the fold of the Church;
2) Support, and encourage, Bishop John D’Arcy in his efforts to defend the Roman Catholic character of Notre Dame (there is a good article in today’s Chicago Sun-Times);
3) Insist on, and have, the administration establish milestones and guidelines to ensure full compliance with Ex Corde Ecclesiae so as to make, and keep, Notre Dame Catholic especially by conforming the conduct of the faculty to respect and support the Catholic mission of the University; and
4) Consider creative use of our financial resources to advance the Roman Catholic elements of the University
On June 3, 2006, I am hosting a seminar entitled "What's Going On At Notre Dame? (An Update)" All of you reading this are invited. We are going to talk about all of this, hand out more information, and do a lot more.
We share a concern for Notre Dame. We share an appreciation of the Faith. We share a love of the Truth. Together, with His help, we can save Notre Dame.
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God