We can not blame President Obama for accepting the the invitation to give a commencement speech at Notre Dame this week. The people responsible for creating this mess at the institution are the president of Notre Dame, Father John Jenkins, and the university's trustees who went along with it; not President Obama, or the dozens of outraged bishops across the country.
A few years back the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement which states, in part: "The Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions." This was a rare mandate but given the score of awards and other honorary certificates bestowed on those with beliefs other than what the church stands for it was rightful.
Many can understand that President Obama's admirers want to try and shield him from the embarrassment of controversy. Then they try to impose politics on the Catholic Church, and demand that reverence to President Obama take precedent over preserving the Catholic identity of Notre Dame, they only succeed in revealing their own biases. There is nothing political about it. It is all about preserving Christianity.
Obama speaks about bringing people together, and the plurality of religious practices that make a great nation, it's some of those who oppose him who use religion to divide. Maybe you need to understand what many people forget – religion is something created by man as an excuse to find a way to heaven – Christianity is what God has given to us in the words of the Bible to guide us to heaven. Christianity is not manmade, it is God given and is offered to each and every one of us. We can be saved if we believe in God and that Jesus Christ was born and died on Calvery’s cross to save us all from eternal damnation. Those who preach religion, using man’s tool do not understand this and I pity them.
Obama said "Is it possible for us to join hands in common effort?" As citizens of a vibrant and varied democracy, how do we engage in vigorous debate? How does each of us remain firm in our principles, and fight for what we consider right, without demonizing those with just as strongly held convictions on the other side?" Maybe we never do, this has been argued for ages, but it is a fact that only one side can be correct. If we are true Christians we can ourselves read the Bible and see for ourselves what Jesus has offered to us.
Do not condemn President Obama for accepting this opportunity. Scold those who offered it to him. Do not condemn President Obama for his beliefs – for those who have not sinned may throw the first stone. Do not condemn President Obama – do not judge unless ye to be judged. For with Judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged (Matt 7:1).
I express these things here not as a Catholic – for some in the Catholic Church have done me wrong – but as a Christian. My faith in the Catholic Church was destroyed many years ago, but my Christianity has remained. What does this great nation suffer from – it suffers from the lack of Christianity – this nation was founded on Christianity. We try and deny it, but look around, look at the writings of our forefathers at the inscriptions on out government buildings and on our money – It is in God we Trust. Respect we give is for the Presidential position, not the man. We can pray that God does truly guide the person in the position as we all should. Trust in your Christianity, not in Religion, that God will guide us through these turmoils and guide the man in the position. It is our lack of Christianity that has moved this country in the wrong direction. Put your faith where it belongs – not with man – but with Jesus Christ. This is my Explosion of Thought!
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