Where did the “Q” come from? And what letter will be tacked on next year—another “T” for “Thinking about questioning”?

[The local bishop blesses sodomy at Our Lady’s University]

Diocese gives Notre Dame gay support its blessing

WSBT-TV Report
December 7, 2012

http://www.wsbt.com/news/wsbt-diocese-gives-notre-dame-gay-support-its-blessing-20121207,0,4246992.story

The Fort Wayne-South Bend Catholic Diocese is giving its blessing on Notre Dame’s decision to expand support programs for gay students and recognize a gay student organization on campus.

Notre Dame announced the decision this week after years of rejecting similar proposals.

In a statement, Bishop Kevin Rhoades writes that the “university plan” clearly affirms Notre Dame’s ties to the church, by teaching that men and women who have homosexual tendencies must be accepted with respect and compassion.

The full statement is as follows:

“One of the essential characteristics of a Catholic university is “fidelity to the Christian message as it comes to us from the Church” (Pope John Paul II, Excorde ecclesiae). In its recently released Pastoral Plan, the University of Notre Dame clearly affirms its fidelity to Catholic Church teaching on human sexuality by affirming that “sexuality is ordered to the conjugal love of man and woman” and that “the deliberate use of the sexual faculty, for whatever reason, outside of marriage is essentially contrary to its purpose.” It affirms the teachings of the Church on the commandment and vocation of love, the virtue of chastity and its expression in friendship, the importance of self-mastery, and the call to holiness. The Planaffirms Catholic teaching that men and women who have homosexual tendencies “must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity.”

“It is vitally important that the Foundations of the Pastoral Plan, which express Notre Dame’s fidelity to Catholic teaching, inform and guide the implementation of the Plan, including the vision, programs and activities of the new student organization that is being formed. The Pastoral Plan states that “the organization’s purpose arises directly from the University’s Catholic mission and its aspiration to create a community where all may flourish and feel welcome, where we aspire to an even deeper understanding and appreciation of Catholic teaching, and where the human dignity of each Notre Dame student is valued.” It is my hope and prayer that the rich Catholic teaching on sexuality, teaching that serves the true good and happiness of the human person, will be embraced by the students and all involved in the implementation of the Pastoral Plan. I hope that the organization will be helpful in providing support for the students, thus preventing the experience of isolation and alienation which are “risk factors for an unhealthy life, including unchaste behaviors” (USCCB, Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination). I also hope that the Pastoral Plan will be of support to all students at Notre Dame in living a chaste and holy life according to the teachings of Jesus and His Church.”

If this were an organization that really intends to operate within the boundaries of the Magisterium, it would be a good thing. Unfortunately, Notre Dame’s record as an *authentically* Catholic university is, to put it charitably, less than stellar. Parents contemplating a *real* Catholic education should consider one of the many fine schools listed by the Cardinal Newman Society instead of CINO institutions that actively or passively permit their Catholic identity to be stripped away and graduate generation after generation of young adults who lose their faith as part of their education.

It might be easier in the future to identify which Catholic colleges DON’t have these types of organizations - most Jesuit institutions do (it’s almost a given, especially when you hear the term “Jesuit Catholic).  If the Church is going to really fight for Catholic Identity (and not just pay lip service to it), then the only way is to educate students in the true Faith.  The bishops are afraid (or don’t want to), so it’s up to REAL Catholic schools to fill the void for the next generation-for this one seems lost.

Why would any Catholic send their kids to Notre Dame?  I wish St. Nicholas was around to set them straight or slap them silly. (Read an article yesterday about how St. Nicholas slapped a heretic. Still LOL)

Mother Mary, please pray for us!  Jesus, please save us, the Church, and Church institutions from being conquered by lust, sins of the flesh, and Asmodeus!

The “b” in this abbreviation means relations with more than one person. So any Catholic who supports this better support other instances of adults with more than one partner: adultery, wife-swapping parties, group marriages, polygamy and incest between and/or among consenting adults. No surprise this happens at a school which invited a candidate supported by Catholic democrats who believes he is right and God is wrong as to what constitutes marriage. He calls marriage what God calls an abomination. He also thinks it should be legal to kill girls and boys outside of their mom’s womb even after they survived the attempt to kill them in the womb. He also continues his immoral and unprovoked war against the Church under the guise of health care.

My husband is currently a grad student at ND. There are certainly some very unsavory contingents within the University and very maddening things that happen there (like this), but the school also has a lot to recommend it, including some outstanding, very faithful, very orthodox Catholic professors. The only way to salvage the school in the LONG run (and, yes, I do have the personal experience with the school to say that it is possible and desirable—it’s not Georgetown—yet) is to send our capable Catholic children there. Not the ones with weak faith that can be swayed, but ones who are going to be strong in their Faith, because we have raised them to be. The ones who are going to seek out the on-campus Latin Mass and the faithful professors and the Center for Ethics and Culture. It is not a secular university, yet.  As Catholics, we do NOT have another university of this caliber. Please, let’s work on leaning on those in charge while we still can and save ND, not consign her to the rubbish bin because the darkness is creeping in. There is still a chance for her and there are still pockets within the university where the faith of your sons and daughters can be nourished. And, while I’m on the topic, there are still (large) pockets within schools like FUS (my alma mater) that your children can find and go astray. Orthodoxy in the classroom does not necessarily mean you’ll find personal morality among all the students. I am just finding out now about all the folks I knew there who were gay then and have since rejected the Church. Many sent their children to turn them around. Sometimes it happened, sometimes their kids turned the good kids around. I also know a number of TAC and Thomas More grads who began their drinking problems while in college with their friends. the chaplain at Wyoming Catholic College was just dismissed for inappropriate behavior. Some times your soul is in the most danger where you think you’re “safe.” There is no “safe” guarantee anywhere for the human soul.

Why would any Catholic send their kids to Notre Dame?

Football. But to be fair, there are good, orthodox people at ND. Too bad they get undermined by the administration.

I’m confused as to why the bishop is left “hoping” that the university plan as implemented will comport with Catholic teaching.  Is this an example of “soft” authority being exercised, or does he really have no authority or say in the matter?

Why don’t you read the proposal: http://friendsandallies.nd.edu/
before you start blasting away, TG, Julie and Warren. I was skeptical…and am still waiting with bated breath to see how this will develop, but so far I like what I am seeing. Bishop Rhoades is no pushover, and if he is supporting this so far, then you should trust his judgment until he’s proven otherwise.  There sure are a lot of parallel magisteriums out there for many of you. I think many of you would rather the university say nothing to her SSA students. If they think the Church hates them and the response is to say NOTHING to correct that tragic perception, no wonder they leave the church and teach others to hate it as well.

Tired of hearing how this or that group “undermines” this or that teaching.  If our beliefs, our faith, our principles are so weak that they can be “undermined” by dissenting opinions, intellectual debate, and alternative lifestyles then perhaps our beliefs, our faith, and our principles weren’t that strong to begin with.

Has anyone taken a look at the title of the article at WSBT now?  The title has been changed to “Diocese Responds to Notre Dame Gay Support Plan”?

http://www.wsbt.com/news/wsbt-diocese-gives-notre-dame-gay-support-its-blessing-20121207,0,4246992.story

It seems clear that Bishop Rhoades and the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend contacted WSBT and objected to the original title that characterized His Excellency as giving his “blessing.”  And if you read Bishop Rhoades’ actual statement, it’s clear that he did not give such a blessing.

Bishop Rhoades acknowledged and praised the many positive, faithful elements of the “pastoral plan” and gently exhorted the creators of the group envisioned by the plan to remain equally faithful to the teaching of the Church.  I see nothing in the plan itself or in Bishop Rhoades’ statement that is unfaithful to Catholic teaching.

I think some have perhaps made the mistake of too readily believing a headline in a secular outlet without looking more carefully and charitably at the facts.  I know that some of us have been understandably disappointed and frustrated at times by some in the hierarchy in regard to issues related to homosexuality, but I think we have to be careful not to believe such headlines and characterizations too readily because they coincide with our suspicions - especially when those headlines and characterizations originate from sources that may be less than friendly to the Church.

It seems to me that the aims and philosophy enumerated in the “pastoral plan” are similar to those of Courage (http://couragerc.net/Our_Five_Goals.html) rather than DignityUSA (http://www.dignityusa.org/purpose).  As one who has some experience with those who have same sex attractions, I think it’s unfortunate that so many of those who struggle to remain faithful Catholics with SSA are left feeling isolated, with no place to turn for support and encouragement.  I’m hopeful that this group will provide faithful, effective guidance and support for those with SSA who really need it.  And in light of the manner in which Bishop Rhoades has handled certain difficult pastoral situations in the past, I think Catholics can be confident that faithfulness will not be sacrificed for the sake of misguided pastoral charity.  Or as another commenter put it, he’s no pushover.  In fact, his motto is “veritatem in caritate” - truth in charity.

Go Irish…go think with the mind of the Church!

Bishops supported Obamacare - how is that working out?

Bishops supports violating the ‘rule of law’ in support of illegal immigration. Second highest group having kids out of wedlock - this is about social justice? no its about social programs paid for by American hard working families (anyway those still employed).

Now a supposedly catholic university is allowing and giving acceptance of personal behavior that is moving aggressively in its assault to diminish marriage and families. Does not the leaders of the Church understand its one of the last barriers of America becoming a secular country.

If the bishops are getting back to the basics (not eating meat on Fridays) then lets start with protecting marriage and family by denouncing and not accepting the personal behavior of gays or providethem a platform withing the Catholic community.

Understand wwhat the above statements will result in the typical responses of a bigot, hateful, homophobic, etc….  They will get my tolerance & respect when they respect my views and beliefs.

Then you wonder why some of us have a problem coming back into the Church.

As someone who respects Father Jenkins and Bishop Rhoades, I believe that what Notre Dame is trying to do, is to address this difficult situation while providing faithful guidance to help men and women learn to develop healthy and Holy relationships and friendships that are grounded in authentic Love. In this period of time in History, when the contraception mentality has led to the promotion of promiscuity, and the sexual objectification of the human person, we, who believe in the inherent Dignity of the human person, and thus respect the personal and relational essence of the human person, created in The Image of God to reflect Love, as we live our lives in communion with God as husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters…, have a difficult road ahead of us. Let us begin with the realization that we have not been created by God as objects of sexual desire, heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, transexual…but rather as male and female, adopted sons and daughters, called to Holiness, and communion with God.

It is important to note that if Notre Dame desires to guide their students so that the sons and daughters of Notre Dame can learn to develop healthy and Holy relationships and friendships grounded in authentic Love, they should not look towards the erroneous Always Our Children, which makes it appear as if our sexual inclinations are immutable, but rather to the newest version of the CCC, including CCC 2359, which corrects the erroneous statement that our sexual inclinations are given, and thus immutable. I have personally contacted the U.S.C.C.B., about four years ago regarding the erroneous Always Our Children, was told that the document was soon to be removed, and still it remains on the website causing confusion in regards to the actual teaching of The Catholic Church.

http://www.3ogiorni.it/articoli_id_9790_13.htm
http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c2a6.htm

Where are the homosexuals the media talk about. Only aware of one homosexual and that is ellen digenerous.on the ellen tv show which the show is to stupid to watch like most tv shows are too stupid to watch.

It’s about time somebody in our Church doesn’t just sweep these people with same-sex attraction under a rug and ignore the issue at hand. No wonder so many have abandoned the Church. Notre Dame is NOT promoting the gay lifestyle, but rather acknowledging that there ARE Church members who ARE gay. Including these people into our Church under guidance that they the Catholic faith is thoroughly taught in the club is what the message of the Church should be.

“To put this in a ‘Well, you can do this; you can’t do that’ [category] is to distort the issue,” the university president said.

Only an educator could say something so foolish. Catholic teaching is all about explicitly saying you CAN’T do “that.”  I gues snot the Redefined Catholicism Jenkins wishes for ND. As for the Bishop. there aren’t too many who are good at reading the signs of the times, are there?

HOuND

In a booming voice, Fr Jenkins, President of Notre Dame, announced yesterday that he had accepted the Office of Student Affairs’ recommendation to “expand and enhance the support and services for students who identify as heterosexual.”  He added “Many of our students suffer from opposite-sex attraction and feel compelled to act upon that deep-seated drive even though they are not married.” He assured the ND community that ” ND will now openly and with compassion foster acceptance and understanding of these souls who some labeled as ‘fornicators’  .”  Attempts to confess the “sin of heterosexuality” will be prohibited in all confessionals on campus.

The recommendation includes the creation of a university-recognized student heterosexuality organization.  New rules that heterosexuals, or those who say they are, will be prohibited from engaging in heterosexual acts on campus have already been challenged as discriminatory since no such rule has been announced in the past for any other sexual act on campus.

Critics say the new organization is “way too astonishingly extensive” and provides a potential venue for heterosexual activists to undermine ND teaching that all non-hetero intercourse and all non-hetero acts are moral if in the context of a loving relationship with another human being or object.  Many who now promote homosexual activities on campus are critical of the new rules and say this is the camel’s nose under the tent to return to the dark ages of heterosexual discrimination against those who say they are non-hetero.

Father Jenkins, still a priest of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, said the goal is “to create and sustain a welcome and inclusive environment for all students” and “I am confident that this multifaceted, pastoral approach represents the next step in advancing our efforts toward this aspiration for our hetero students.”.  He also said that the University is considering legal action against the Obamastration to require that contraception, privacy, and mattresses be provided as necessary “health care” to avowed heterosexuals.

The student-affairs office issued a plan that involves the creation of a support and service organization for “hetero students, their parents,  and their allies,” whose sexual activities the university says will be “consistent with Notre Dame’s Catholic allegiance and commitments .” Those who say they are hetero will be issued special ID badges so that the ND community at large can be sensitive to their presence, few as they may be. Notre Dame said it will hire a full-time staff member to oversee the organization’s “awareness and education programs” aimed at advancing “inclusion” and sharing Catholic teaching.  “Amazingly”, said an anonymous ND spokesperson, ” a long time ago the Catholic Church taught that heterosxuality was not against nature and, even more amazing, that monogamy within marriage was the moral norm.”

The university’s pastoral plan said it will support “hetero students or those troubled with the possibilty of a hetero orientation.”  Sociobiologists at the university have said they have no idea why this hetero trait has not been “evolved out” of the human genome. But when pressed, they did admit that there is absolutely no difference between the normal human genome and the genomes of those who say they are hetero.

Unfortunately a small group of loud aggressive students who say they are hetero, calling themselves HOuND -Heteros Out Notre Dame-staged a gross, some said disgusting, kiss-in at the main chapel last Sunday during Mass at the kiss of peace.

On a much more important note, Fr Jenkins asked for prayers for the Fightin’ Irish’s upcoming Nat’l Championship Football game.

This is not just a Notre Dame issue but true of other Catholic colleges such as Georgetown, Santa Clara, Gonzaga and USF.  A lot us have grown annoyed with the body of liberal Catholic academia elites who promote sensitivity toward homosexuals while their true mission has been to change the culture.  They have succeeded in that Gen Y now sees nothing immoral with what God’s word calls sin.  The fact that many Catholic priests are homosexual is indicative that what was once sought only that we be tolerant has become that we must now celebrate sinful behavior.  Where is the orthodoxy of faith?  The topic of sin has disappeared from homilies and even from the Vatican.  The increasing emphasis on the “Socialism Gospel” by the church has moved us closer to *works* as a primary means to obtain salvation and has diverted the church way off course.  Apparently, the grace of God through repentence, the shed blood of Christ and falling on one’s face at the cross over sin is no longer popular in Catholic lexicon.  It’s no wonder many Catholics are leaving the church and refuse to send their students to Catholic universities.  But since money is always the driver for universities, the progressives don’t worry because admitting foreign students (at higher tuition cost) will pick up the slack.

If one is worshipping The God Who desires that we overcome our disordered inclinations including our disordered sinful inclinations so that we can “Go and sin no more”, one is worshiping The True God, The God of Salvation. At this Hour it is late, but not too late for those who desire to be transformed through God’s Grace and Mercy, and those who desire Salvation for their beloved.

“Love one another as I have Loved you.” - The Word of God, The Way, The Truth, The Life ( Light) of Love, Jesus The Christ

Nancy, not even the Church calls these disordered inclinations “sinful”. Let’s not make up our own doctrine here, okay?

With all due respect, although The Church recognizes that there are some who suffer with a disordered sexual inclination due to an emotional or developmental issue and thus may not be fully responsible for their disorder, according to Christ, lustful thoughts of any nature are still a violation of God’s own Commandment regarding lust and the sin of adultery. This does not change the fact that we learn how to develop healthy and Holy relationships and friendships by learning how to respect ourselves and respect others as God intended.