FR. FRANK PAVONE AT NOTRE DAME

Fr. Frank Pavone at Notre Dame
In pursuit of the truth – www.cinopsbegone.com – Monday, May 18, 2009

Sunday was a great day for Priests for Life at Notre Dame. At the same time the President spoke and was honored by the University, I was speaking to and honoring the seniors who refused to attend their commencement ceremony, and instead invited me to lead them in the CLASS OF 2009 VIGIL FOR LIFE.
My reflections on the day are below, and we are preparing audio and video clips to post on our website.

The students are asking that you continue praying rosaries of reparation. You can show solidarity with these students by signing up: www.PrayerCampaign.org .
Also, did you hear about the Gallup poll showing more Americans than ever (and more than half) saying they are pro-life? See www.priestsforlife.org /statistics.
Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director, Priests for Life

MY DAY AT NOTRE DAME:

There was an eerie stillness and silence across the Notre Dame campus as my colleagues, a few of the seniors & I walked across the campus very early on the morning of Commencement Day. It was a calm before the storm of what we knew was an historic day.

I started with a National Foxnews interview along with Fr. Richard McBrien. We were asked our views on the Commencement. My message was. Everyone can imagine people they would protest speaking at a commencement: an avowed racist, anti-Semite, or advocate of terrorism. So the failure to object to one who is unwilling to call for an end to abortion is the failure to see that abortion is as bad or worse than those other evils. We have to stop trivializing abortion.

Moreover, the university gave the President an honorary law degree. Law exists to protect human rights; but this president has admitted that he doesn’t know when a child receives human rights. HOW CAN HE DEFEND HUMAN RIGHTS WHEN HE DOESN’T KNOW WHO HAS THEM?

After speaking to various media, I greeted people on campus who were coming from all over the country to stand with the courageous students who boycotted their own commencement and invited me to lead them in an alternate ceremony.

After I greeted and blessed the demonstrations who were at the campus entrance, and concelebrated a special Mass for Life, I led the class of 2009 Vigil for Life. We meditated on the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary, on the victory of life over death, and on the fact that Jesus is King over every nation, over the courts, the Congress, and the White House. As I gave the students and their families reflections on these truths, the current occupant of the White House was calling the graduates to have “open minds, open hearts” and a spirit of dialogue.

Now dialogue with our opponents on this issue is something we at Priest for Life specialize in. I maintain friendships with abortion advocates and practicing abortionists. The clarity of our own convictions never means we despise, demonize, or shut out other people. And yes, we are willing to collaborate with others in morally legitimate ways to reduce the numbers of abortions.

But the President’s remarks had a glaring omission. While willing to dialogue and to promote adoption, he GAVE NO INDICATION OF ANY WILLINGNESS TO PROTECT THE CHILDREN IN THE WOMB. … Find this column on line:
www.priestsforlife.org /columns2009/09-05-18-notre-dame.htm

George H. Kubeck