The book of Timothy tells us that whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task. In our world today, where it is plainer than ever that Catholics do not quite fit into the mold of cultural fashion, a bishop has kept his office noble, and has withdrawn himself from the undertow which could have pulled him into the ocean of false tolerance. Instead, Bishop John D'Arcy of South Bend, Indiana, stands sure footed on the rock of his Catholic heritage and has fulfilled his duty, as he puts it, to "teach the Catholic faith 'in season and out of season,'...not only by his words — but by his actions." The Bishop has stated through a public letter that he will not attend Notre Dame's commencement ceremonies - the 25th ceremony during his time as bishop - because of the University's decision to invite President Obama, who, according to our noble bishop, "has recently reaffirmed, and has now placed in public policy, his long-stated unwillingness to hold human life as sacred."
He notes, "My decision is not an attack on anyone, but is in defense of the truth about human life." These are the kinds of words that echo down the centuries. These are the kinds of words that give fuel to the fire of the Church, which burns brilliant still, now brighter as a noble bishop of Indiana has placed his own self, as a living sacrifice, as a burnt offering, into the fire which burns clear today with the truth of the faith: human life is sacred. Is the Church the only one left to affirm it?
To the students of Notre Dame the bishop's words may serve to be the true commencement address for the 2009 ceremonies. His suggestion that truth trumps prestige is the kind of message that the University has been sending to its graduates for decades. Has truth now been trumped by that cultural fashion and prestige that is carried by our nation's highest office? What of these graduates - these future lawyers, scientists, and scholars? What final message can be given them after they have grounded their academic pursuits in the foundation of the Catholic intellectual heritage held sacred at Our Lady's University? Is it the message that that foundation may be systematically sundered? Is it the message that a man of high office should be honored even though his principles, now made public and now funded by every American, contribute to the destruction of human life - a principle contrary to Catholicism?
What Bachelor of Science graduate sitting in the rank of students will not take this as the University's absolution of science without morals? What Juris Doctor will not be tempted to forget about the great wealth of Catholic history which established the modern day understanding of law and justice and replace it with a system based in activist litigation and the triumph of false rights? Won't there be a host of proud young Catholic students about to receive a diploma from Notre Dame that will be terribly confused by the University's decision to grant the President one too? What does a diploma from Notre Dame mean? Aren't we Catholic? Even here, on our last day at our treasured University, should we not pay respect to our University's heritage? To its founding? To its very patron - the Mother of God? Is it all meaningless?
Bishop D'Arcy will speak more profoundly to those graduates who don't think it all meaningless. His words, and his actions, count more than anything that President Obama will come up with in May. The President's words will be sweet, and sympathetic I am sure to what he may call "the controversial nature of the situation". He will speak with all smiles and he will claim to rise above it all. But he will remain in the ocean where the bishop refused to go. From the point of view of the ever ancient, ever new Catholic Church, the President's words will be drowned in that ocean - but the Bishop's words will be proclaimed from the shoreline for years to come.
"I have decided not to attend."
I beg to differ. The bishop is in attendance - not in the limelight of the University's graduation - but in the hallowed halls of the Church. He has, today, remained faithful to his office of bishop, and he is in good historical company. More importantly, countless invisible human lives had a father to protect them this week. For even if he cannot save their lives, he can give them dignity. And that he did.
To view the Bishop's letter, go here: http://www.diocesefwsb.org/COMMUNICATIONS/statements.htm
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