Sunday, May 17, 2009

Silent No More

I came across this letter as I was reading an article in Newsday.

Interesting.


An Open Letter to Fr. John Jenkins President University of Notre Dame

Dear Fr. Jenkins,

We are writing this letter to you in hopes that you can clear something up for us.

We are two Catholic women who reside in the State of Colorado. We made tragic mistakes in our younger years by having abortions. We came to the University of Notre Dame last Friday, May 8, to witness to the harm caused to us by our “choice.” We held signs that say "I Regret My Abortion". We also gave our testimonies and prayed the Rosary with other Catholics who supported us.

We did this in hopes of saving young women years of pain, shame and guilt. We did this because college aged women have the most abortions. We did this because we wanted these young women to know that women deserve better than abortion and that women can achieve the things that they want without having their babies killed. We did this because we believe in the fundamental right to life of all human beings who are created in the image and likeness of God which is a dogmatic teaching of the Catholic Church.

We have both attended Project Rachel and Rachel’s Vineyard retreats – both Catholic healing programs for those suffering from abortion. We then joined "The Silent No More Awareness campaign", a program sponsored by a Catholic Priest – Fr. Frank Pavone.

In all of these programs we were taught about the acceptance and mercy of God and our fellow Catholics. Also, in these programs we were encouraged to seek the counsel of a Catholic Priest – that they would help us to find redemption in the sacrament of reconciliation. We were also encouraged to share our stories so that the Catholic community and the greater community at large could hear first hand of the devastating effects of abortion.

While speaking these truths on Friday we were issued a Trespass Notice by security officers hired by the University that in part states “The University has the right to tell us that we are not wanted on University property.”

Imagine our shock after receiving this notice and being barred from speaking further, we were arrested and thrown in jail. We spent the day in a holding cell until we posted a $250 bond. As we now understand things, we are awaiting news as to whether the charges against us will be misdemeanor trespassing or a felony. This happened all because we wanted the students to know through our stories how devastating abortion is to women.

We are confused, Fr. Jenkins. Why would a Catholic University bar Catholic women from speaking the truth about a fundamental Catholic teaching, under the signage of a healing program that is sponsored by a Catholic priest, while praying the Rosary? Yet, the University would welcome, honor and have a person speak at Commencement who is virulently opposed to this same fundamental Catholic teaching?

Fr. Jenkins can you please explain this to us?

We look forward to your response.

Jane Brennan, MS Laura Rohling Centennial, CO

Posted by at

2 comments:

Robert said...

What is your point? What is interesting about this letter?
You mention that you, “came across this letter [while you were] reading an article in Newsday.” Without further information, i.e., title, author, it appears as though you are insinuating that this letter is factual evidence that has been corroborated by Newsday and is a part of the unmentioned article. What it is, however, is merely a response from someone concerning Bart Jones’s Newsday article, “LI Catholics: A mixed reaction on Obama at Notre Dame.” http://www.newsday.com/news/local/nassau/ny-linotr1412762679may16,0,7879355.story

The letter, although not implicitly stated, appears to have been written by proponents of Motherhood Interrupted (MI); I can only make this assumption because they have attached MI’s website to their letter. http://www.motherhoodinterrupted.com.
Although the authors of the letter submit their names, who are they? Are their intentions honorable? Are they merely someone with a grudge who is using this format to try to make a point?
This letter is as relevant to Mr. Jones’s article as the comment made by Father Kiddie Fiddler of Huntington Station, NY, concerning Mr. Jones’s article, “Katlicks will believe anything the joos tell them to believe. Don't forget to send your choirboy to Mass with his own K-Y. May the spook in the sky bless you.”
What is my point?
If you have something to say, say it! If you do say something, substantiate it with fact. Other than Ms. Brennan and Ms. Centennial using the “letter” as a means to expound upon their political agenda, it has nothing to do with Mr. Jones’s article and is not endorsed by Newsday, as is insinuated by you.

8:50 AM
Wolf said...

I thought it was interesting that a Catholic School would give an honorary degree to a person who feels abortion is ok. The letter I posted simply was a request by this person to have the president of Note dam explain his position, and his actions. I saw many cases over the weekend where her statements were valid. Now I sited News Day because that is where I say this letter. That was all.

2:45 PM

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