An Open Letter to Notre Dame

In a 2005 WSJ article Gendon wrote about the dangers of citing foreign law because it struck down a decision to use the death penalty for someone under 18:

The Breyer view may sound sweetly reasonable; but when one looks at the cases where foreign law has figured prominently, it is evident that the practice is more problematic than proponents have let on. Earlier this year, in Roper v. Simmons, a 5-4 majority struck down the death penalty as it applied to persons over 15 and under 18. Justice Anthony Kennedy stated for the court that "the overwhelming weight of international opinion [is] against the juvenile death penalty," and that "the opinion of the world community, while "not controlling our outcome, does provide respected and significant confirmation for our own conclusions." In its effort to delegitimate state laws in question, the Roper majority, including Justice Breyer, not only reached out to "international opinion," but selectively cited various social science materials."

True Catholics should take note. It is Obama who should object to sharing the stage.

In 4 pages of comments, Catholic sanctioned evil wasmentioned a dozen times in regard to the molesting priests, and 5 times in regard to Catholic sponsored child raping in Brasil. One Catholic bothered to even recognize the issue and that one seems to think it's OK because some victims were paid! Whether you believe in God or not, the Catholic Church has lost all credibility as a moral authority, unless to serve as an example of Evil at it's most clever

In 4 pages of comments, Catholic sanctioned evil wasmentioned a dozen times in regard to the molesting priests, and 5 times in regard to Catholic sponsored child raping in Brasil. One Catholic bothered to even recognize the issue and that one seems to think it's OK because some victims were paid! Whether you believe in God or not, the Catholic Church has lost all credibility as a moral authority, unless to serve as an example of Evil at it's most clever

The hypocrisy of those accusing Glendon of hyporcist is laughable. The argument goes that because Glendon [supposedly] failed to reject Bush on Iraq and the death penalty her position with respect to abortion, Obama and Notre Dame is somehow hypocritical.

Yet, these critics have no sense of their own hypocrisy. The left cannot bear the thought of a terrorist inconvenienced by a day without a Koran, or a police murderer executed, have no problem whatsoever with foetus being partially delivered, having its skull punctured and its brains vacuumed out or with a baby born alive after an attempted abortion being left to freeze and starve to death or with a Democratic President dropping killing civilians in Palkistan with Predator drones.

Where is the greater inconsistency?

Ms. Glendon was ambassador to the Vatican in the final year of President George W. Bush's administration. How curious that despite the Bush administration's support of the use of torture, responsibility for the loss of thousands upon thousands of Iraqi and American lives, not to mention the trampling of our Constitution, none of these actions apparently rose to the level of defying Ms. Glendon's "fundamental moral principles" enough for her to refuse her services to Mr. Bush, whereas support for a women's right to choose apparently crosses that moral line. I find that a curious set of moral priorities which provokes in me more revulsion than admiration.
The brouhaha about Obama speaking at Notre Dame exemplifies for me the reason for the loss of respect many have for established religion nowadays. In the era of civil rights, many churches led the way in a struggle for a more just world, and gained the admiration of many outside of established religion; as well as, I expect, more members in the process. In the last 8 years, however, religious leaders in the news have been mostly fundamentalists marching in close step with the Bush administration, in blatant disregard of the morality of its actions. I know that many religious leaders were not in accord with those actions, but countervailing voices were sorely missing from the public arena. Whether that was primarily because they did not press the issue sufficiently, or because the media was not interested in any but the most simplistic and sensationalistic remarks from religious leaders, I will leave for others to determine. In any case, the consequences of that moral vacuum is now apparent in the vain struggles of institutions such as the Catholic church to regain the moral high ground they abandoned so long ago. As long as they continue to sidestep any of the more pressing social concerns such as of those victimized by bad economic or environmental policy or practices, by domestic abuse, by poor education or other forms of rights deprivation; of immigrants; of victims of American military and economic policy-- they will continue to find themselves more and more marginalized as a force within society.

So Mary Ann, what is your position on the death penalty? Wasn't that you who wrote that article in the WSJ on 9/16/05 entitled Judicial Tourism. Shame that the death penalty cannot be applied to minors under 18, huh? Is this consistent with Catholic Church teachings?

Bravo Mary Ann Glendon!
With faith under siege and the reverence for life in all its stages fading in the face of convenient living, this is a great example of defending the faith. How did we, as a nation, end up with Pro-life getting associated with a radical point of view, or with defending the integrity of our religious / educational institutions with terrorism? Freedom , these days , seems to be more about how anything goes if it is popular or politically correct, or if it plays well on CNN. No one wants to hear: ???No, Stop, or You should not???, least of all ??? ???It is a sin???. We used to be one nation under God. Now we do not pray in school, pledge allegiance to our flag, or wish people Merry Christmas any more. We are also close to being un-governable as a nation due to everyone wanting to be ???something ??? ie: African-American, Jewish-American, Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual, undecided, Rep, Dem, Goth, etc.) anything but a ???god fearing American???. Here is some food for thought. Is the only criteria for a great president now to be based on how the economy is doing and how few morals he defends?

Bravo Mary Ann Glendon!
With faith under siege and the reverence for life in all its stages fading in the face of convenient living, this is a great example of defending the faith. How did we, as a nation, end up with Pro-life getting associated with a radical point of view, or with defending the integrity of our religious / educational institutions with terrorism? Freedom , these days , seems to be more about how anything goes if it is popular or politically correct, or if it plays well on CNN. No one wants to hear: ???No, Stop, or You should not???, least of all ??? ???It is a sin???. We used to be one nation under God. Now we do not pray in school, pledge allegiance to our flag, or wish people Merry Christmas any more. We are also close to being un-governable as a nation due to everyone wanting to be ???something ??? ie: African-American, Jewish-American, Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual, undecided, Rep, Dem, Goth, etc.) anything but a ???god fearing American???. Here is some food for thought. Is the only criteria for a great president now to be based on how the economy is doing and how few morals he defends?

...The ghosts of your past are obviously still haunting you. Your anger helps them keep you chained in your dark, unhappy cell. By attacking, you cause more pain...mostly to yourself. Why are you responding to this news story? Discover the motive that lies behind your words, and only then will you be able to free yourself from your ghosts and the anger. ...IAWL

Yet, another thought....why would Ms. Glendon step down from the opportunity to profess her beliefs in one of the most publicized speeches??!!....is she simply another "believer" by mouth alone...& not a true believer?? If her "life"...or perhaps the life of her beliefs & followers depended upon her..."stepping up" to the plate to make a statement would seem a small part...in the big picture. It appears Ms. Glendon would rather not confront the "opposition"...a true shame...she has made herself into a "mouthpiece" only....let, someone else take her place...someone with moxie & backbone...because, Ms. Glendon would rather quietlycomplain than expose herself to debate...a weak character indeed...

"And Jesus don't like killing, no matter what the reasons for
And your flag decal won't get you into heaven anymore"
J.P. 1972
"Help the poor, love your neighbor and forgive your enemies"
J.C. circa 30

Open letter to Mary Ann Glendon,


Dear Ms. Glendon,

Your level of hypocracy betrays you claims to an honest concern for life. Under George W. Bush you were perfectly fine with the whole scale murder of hundreds of thousands of Iraqi and Afghani peoples. When it comes to bombing living human beings with families, the poor, the elderly, orphaned children and the handicap with 5,000 ton bombs being dropped out of transport planes, you are a supporter of mass murder.

Your claims to righteousness are false and an embarrassment to any thoughtful catholic.

Would you please explain "honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles" in relation to the church's position of publically humiliating and excommuicating a 9 year old girl and her family in Brazil for their decision to allow the 9 year old girl who had been raped by her step-father and left pregant with twins that would have killed her if she decided against the abortion? The cardinal in Brazil publically tortured this family in front of the whole country rather than offer them comfort and support during a very difficult decision.

Perhaps your self righteous notion of "honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles" would be more open to going back to those good old days when girls in my neighborhood had to use coat-hangers to perform abortions on themselves in public restrooms or cross borders to get abortions in Tia Juana by untrained men pretending to be doctors, leaving some young teenaged girls damaged for life or even dead from the infections or from hemoraging from internal wounds.

This medal needs to be awarded to those of greater moral principles than your own. And Notre Dame should be ashamed of offering it to someone such as yourself. YOU DON"T DESERVE IT. So thanks for turning it down.

A devout Catholic and church employee

Open letter to Mary Ann Glendon,


Dear Ms. Glendon,

Your level of hypocracy betrays you claims to an honest concern for life. Under George W. Bush you were perfectly fine with the whole scale murder of hundreds of thousands of Iraqi and Afghani peoples. When it comes to bombing living human beings with families, the poor, the elderly, orphaned children and the handicap with 5,000 ton bombs being dropped out of transport planes, you are a supporter of mass murder.

Your claims to righteousness are false and an embarrassment to any thoughtful catholic.

Would you please explain "honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles" in relation to the church's position of publically humiliating and excommuicating a 9 year old girl and her family in Brazil for their decision to allow the 9 year old girl who had been raped by her step-father and left pregant with twins that would have killed her if she decided against the abortion? The cardinal in Brazil publically tortured this family in front of the whole country rather than offer them comfort and support during a very difficult decision.

Perhaps your self righteous notion of "honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles" would be more open to going back to those good old days when girls in my neighborhood had to use coat-hangers to perform abortions on themselves in public restrooms or cross borders to get abortions in Tia Juana by untrained men pretending to be doctors, leaving some young teenaged girls damaged for life or even dead from the infections or from hemoraging from internal wounds.

This medal needs to be awarded to those of greater moral principles than your own. And Notre Dame should be ashamed of offering it to someone such as yourself. YOU DON"T DESERVE IT. So thanks for turning it down.

A devout Catholic and church employee

Why limit the "screening process" to just abortion? How about the death penalty, euthanasia, and of course, contraceptives. I'm not going unless the speaker is on the record as being anti-condom and pro rhythm method! Oh wait, I wasn't going anyway. Maybe Mary Ann Glendon would be more comfortable with Bishop Richard Williamson giving a commencement address about the holocaust?

Would this same person stand on principle if this was a president who endorsed the death penalty? Not exactly a pro-life stance. How about someone who was divorced? There are plenty of catholics, I know of, who practice various forms of birth control, including vasectomies. Is this a case of, selectively, taking a stand on which sin you choose to protest? I would hope the Church would be against that. In my personal life, I have chosen to quietly protest or boycott that with which I disagree. She has the same option. One has to ask "why now?"

Ask yourself, "Why am I so troubled by this? The true answer to that has nothing to do with Mary Ann Glendon...as many of your remarks reveal.......................Gnothi Seauton.

Another thought....why would Mary Ann Glendon refuse to speak.... this does seem to be the absolute PERFECT MOMENT...for her to voice her strong beliefs??!! The news coverage will be from..."here to Kingdom come"....if she truly wants to make a statement & be heard....why didn't...doesn't she stand up & be "strong"...for her beliefs....rather, than back down...as a "meely mouth"...who is afraid?!! She makes the whole situation appear as if....she is upstaged...but, would a true believer belly-up?....I would not think so...but, I think her actions point more towards a lack of faith...than true faith....I continue to contemplate this....I am getting the "feeling" that arrogance is a play in this situation...hmmmm........

"The flap over Obama's appearance grows as a prominent Roman Catholic leader bows out."...

I get it if"the right to choose" is upheld it could result in less children for the catholic priests to molest. I see their dilemma...Yes Roman Catholic leader "Bow Out" you have such moral ground on which to stand.