Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Fargo bishop going on national TV to denounce Obama at Notre Dame

.

Fargo's Roman Catholic bishop is taking a national television platform to denounce President Obama's prominent role in the University of Notre Dame's commencement this weekend.

Bishop Samuel J. Aquila will appear Thursday at about 9:30 p.m. on FOX News' "On the Record, with Greta Van Susteren." Aquila will be interviewed for about five minutes while he is in Chicago for a conference on spirituality, said Fargo Diocese spokeswoman Tanya Watterud.

Aquila joined others in opposition to Obama speaking at Sunday's commencement and receiving an honorary doctorate degree when he wrote a letter early last month to the Rev. John Jenkins, Notre Dame's president.

In that letter, Aquila said the invitation to Obama "diminishes the reputation of Notre Dame and makes one wonder what its mission truly is."

The letter to Jenkins continued: "Even though President Obama is not Catholic, he clearly rejects the truth about human dignity through his constant support of a so called 'right to abortion.' He also tolerates the inexcusable act of letting aborted children die who are born alive. He promotes an intrinsic evil which must always be resisted by a just and civil society."

At least 55 bishops have publicly denounced or questioned Notre Dame's invitation to Obama in recent weeks.

The nation's flagship Catholic university's honoring of a politician whose abortion rights record clashes with a fundamental church teaching has triggered a reaction among the nation's Catholic bishops that is remarkable in scope and tone, church observers say. Star Tribune


2 comments:

Fr. Andrew said...

Bishop Aquila appreciates prayers through the intercession of St. Bartholomew, on whose feast he was ordained a bishop. What an important opportunity to clarify the Church's position in love. And on the feast of another Apostle, Matthias!

Unknown said...

Thanks, Father.

Today is indeed a good day for Bishop Aquila's appearance.

Unfortunately, I dropped my cable TV subscription when I began my internet "addiction."

But I'll turn on Channel 9 tonight at 9:30; maybe they will carry the interview.