Thomas Brejcha's blog

Michael Sean Winters: Is Jenkins News an Unfolding Plot or Just Backpedaling in Wake of Alumni Hostility to Obama Invite

Anent Michael Sean Winters' plaudits for Notre Dame's president, Fr. John I. Jenkins C.S.C., on America magazine's group blog In All Things, we too were somewhat encouraged by Fr. Jenkins' emailed message from the day before yesterday which he addressed to "members of the Notre Dame family." Yes, it is a very good thing that Fr. Jenkins is now outlining "ways for Notre Dame to become more involved in the pro-life effort," as Winters puts it. But contrary to Winters' jaunty and flippant dismissal of last Spring's protest themes -- that "President Obama's commencement address ...

An open letter to Notre Dame's president to release abortion protestors



Dear Father Jenkins:


I’m writing you, as president of Notre Dame, my alma mater, with an urgent plea that you drop the criminal trespass charges that have been pending against the many defendants – most of whom are faithful, fervent pro-life Catholics – who “dared” to venture onto Notre Dame’s campus last Spring, 2009, to bear peaceful, prayerful witness to the sanctity of all human life, from conception to natural death.
 
Among them were at least one priest and several nuns, Norma McCorvey, the “Jane Roe” of Roe v. Wade, former presidential candidate Alan Keyes, two ladies – Jane Brennan, author of Motherhood Interrupted (2008), and Laura Rohling – who preach about healing and hope after abortion in the Archdiocese of Denver, Colorado, and many other non-violent participants in America’s pro-life movement.
 
Many were praying the rosary or singing religious hymns. The priest – Fr. Norman Weslin, who regularly prays and counsels abortion-bound women about live-saving alternatives outside the Omaha, Nebraska abortion facility of late-term abortionist, Dr. Leroy Carhart – carried a heavy wooden cross and a rosary.