Judge in “ND 88″ Case Asked to Recuse Herself

by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist

The controversy surrounding the prosecution of 88 pro-life demonstrators who were arrested on the campus of Notre Dame (ND) last spring intensified when it was discovered that the judge assigned to the case is married to a prominent pro-abortion ND professor.

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Notre Dame’s President Announces Pro Life Initiatives

By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist

The president of the University of Notre Dame has issued a letter announcing a series of pro-life initiatives to be undertaken on-campus, saying these decisions came “out of the vigorous discussions surrounding President Obama’s visit last Spring . . .”

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Notre Dame Priest Calls Eucharistic Adoration “Backward”

By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Writer

In an article appearing in the National Catholic Reporter, Fr. Richard P. McBrien of the University of Notre Dame said that in earlier times when Catholics were less educated in the faith, Eucharistic adoration had its place. But continuing this practice today is “is a doctrinal, theological, and spiritual step backward.”

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Catholic Colleges Lobby Bishops to Withdraw Policy Banning Pro-Abortion Speakers

By Susan Brinkmann, OCS
Staff Writer

In the wake of the Notre Dame commencement scandal, Catholic college leaders representing some of the worst violators of the U.S. bishops’ 2004 ban on honoring public opponents of Catholic teachings are lobbying the bishops to withdraw their policy.

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Archbishop Burke on Life After the Notre Dame Scandal

By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Writer
 
During a recent interview, Archbishop Raymond Burke, Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, said the recent Notre Dame scandal of inviting pro-abortion President Barack Obama to speak at its 2009 commencement has served to sensitize people to the shame of abortion and to realize how dangerous it is for Catholic institutions to pursue prestige in the secular world at the expense of fidelity to Christ.

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Bishops Receive More than 700,000 Prayers of Thanks

By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Writer

The 83 bishops who publicly opposed the Notre Dame commencement invitation to President Barack Obama have begun to receive Spiritual Bouquet Certificates consisting of thousands of prayers offered by the faithful in thanksgiving for their “inspiring witness to the importance of Catholic identity.”

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Cardinal Arinze Sets the Record Straight on Catholic Higher Education

By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Writer

In the wake of the Notre Dame scandal, Francis Cardinal Arinze delivered a commencement speech at The Thomas More College of Liberal Arts in New Hampshire on May 10 in which he stressed the need for authentic Catholic education, asking, “ . . . what does it profit us if a student is an intellectual giant but a moral baby?”

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White House Misrepresents Facts About Notre Dame Protests

By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Writer

During a press briefing at the White House yesterday, press secretary Robert Gibbs used inaccurate facts to diminish the scope of the protest being waged against Notre Dame’s invitation to pro-abortion president Barack Obama to speak and receive an honorary law degree at this Sunday’s commencement.

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Notre Dame Students Plan Prayer Vigil During Commencement

By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Writer

Notre Dame seniors who refuse to attend this weekend’s commencement where pro-abortion president Barack Obama will be honored are planning to hold a prayer vigil at the same time as the official ceremonies. Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, will attend the vigil.

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