On Pilgrimage

From Those who were There at Notre Dame

I’m going to post some comments from the pro-life rally at Notre Dame from those who were there, since it seems there was a major lack of mainstream media coverage, compared to what was given to Obama’s speech.

Crowds at Notre Dame rally

Estimates of the crowd at the Mass and rally ranged were about 1,000-2,000 people, and another 1,000 or so watching the rally on TV in the South Quad. A number of graduating seniors, sporting the cross and baby feet on their mortarboards, boycotted graduation to attend the rally, as did about 50 Notre Dame professors — in full academic regalia!

Graduating seniors protest at Notre Dame rally

(Both photos courtesy of the South Bend Tribune)

Here’s an on-the-spot report, by Deirdre Mundy, taken from Red Cardigan’s (Erin Manning) “And Sometimes Tea” blog:

The speakers at the rally weren’t terribly famous, but they were all very good. Father Wilson Miscamble, a Holy Cross father and a professor at Notre Dame, gave a great barn-burner to start things off, calling out the administration on their cowardice, and praising the students for having the courage to stand up for the truth, even when it was inconvenient. Also, he’s Australian, so he has a great accent, and he made Lord of the Rings references!

After Father Miscamble was done speaking, Bishop D’Arcy arrived. He said he hadn’t been planning on coming, because he hadn’t seen what he could possibly contribute, but that he realized the night before at Adoration that while D’Arcy the man wasn’t that important, the office of the Bishop was, and so it was his job to be there and let the protesting students know that the church stood with them. Very short remarks, but much appreciated.

. . . the next speaker, Father John Raphael SSJ, was awesome. He talked about abolition, civil rights, and abortion. He also had some great, snarky comments about the fact that Obama’s supporters called anyone who didn’t want him to get a degree from Notre Dame a racist, and well, what does that make Father Raphael? And then he ripped into Obama for being racist by promoting abortion for poor and minority women, and acting like a black mother on welfare can’t love her child as well as a white woman in the suburbs. HUGE reaction from the crowd, a really great speech. A reporter from the local Fox affiliate was there for some of it, but he seemed to be filming the crowd, not the speaker…..

The final speaker, Professor David Solomon, was joined on stage by about 50 professors in full academic regalia—they were all boycotting the commencement and supporting the ND Response kids instead. My husband pointed out that, sadly, it didn’t look like there were many younger faculty members with them—I don’t know if this is because the young faculty unanimously approve of honoring pro-choice speakers, or if they’re just afraid to speak out before they have tenure. Solomon’s talk was more about speaking the Truth even when it’s inconvenient, and fighting to make Notre Dame Catholic again.

I’ll be back with more and possibly videos as they go up. Notre Dame Response has said they might have some soon.

Update May 18: Superb article by David Freddoso, from the National Review Online, with more details from the Baccalaureate Mass, and Bishop D’Arcy’s homily, as well as the rally.

Another photo, this one of Fr. Frank Pavone leading prayer with Notre Dame students:

From History Professor Fr. Wilson Miscamble’s speech:

But what matters for us here is less what President Obama says, but rather what the day will mean for Notre Dame and its place in American Catholic life. The truth is this: This painful episode has damaged the ethos and spirit of Notre Dame. But there is another truth that we must also remember: IT IS NOT THE END OF THE STORY!

Some among the administration of Notre Dame will want the issue to “go away” quickly. It may even be likely that there are some among them who genuinely understand the evil of abortion, and who are inwardly troubled by these recent events whatever their outward bravado. –They will have a chance to show through future deeds and in very practical ways Notre Dame’s commitment to the prolife cause. Let us hope and pray that they take up that opportunity.

But we cannot rely on them. As we have seen, on their own, their commitment will never be more than tepid.

Instead, let us link ourselves with those Holy Cross religious over the generations who never gave up – whatever the set-backs … whatever the trials … whatever the personal cost. In some ways, the task before us today is tougher than theirs. In those early days, the problems were clear – but so too was the mission.

Now we are engaged in a more intellectual and spiritual struggle. Will we be true to the founding vision? Can we resist the subtle and not so subtle temptations to surrender our distinct religious identity –and conform to the reigning and rather barren secular paradigm of what a university should be?

The Obama visit suggests that the University’s leadership has succumbed to this temptation. Yet when we look back on these days, I have a sense that what will stand out is how a group of dedicated prolife students, wonderful alumni, and ordinary Catholics who cherish this place refused to acquiesce in the Administration’s willingness to wink at its most fundamental values in exchange for the public relations coup that attends a presidential visit.

The people who refuse to give up – and I speak especially of you students —have taken on the role of teachers here. While the administration and many of the faculty sold out easily for the photo-ops etc, you and some of your alumni sisters and brothers showed the benefits of your Notre Dame education. You held firm to the foundational principles of respect for life and for the dignity of every person. You are the ones who have understood what really matters. You refuse to just go along. You have made your voice heard and led the way to a better future.

You represent the very best of Notre Dame.

Read the whole thing at Pewsitter:

Update: Tuesday, May 19:

The text and videos of all the speeches is up at ND Response:

Plus this video:

Great description of the day by a faculty member who was present:

Last, a great detailed article from the Catholic News Agency:

Monday, May 18th, 2009, by Lori and is filed under "Abortion, Catholic Social Teaching, Church issues, Life Issues ". Both comments and pings are currently closed.