Wednesday, April 29, 2009

A Woman of Substance


As we all know by now, Professor, and former Ambassador, Mary Ann Glendon has politely declined to accept the 'Laetare Medal' which she was to have received at the same time as Julian Felsenburgh was being feted at Notre Dame University. Her short letter, published on the 'First Things' website, is the work of a Catholic statesman (there is no such thing as a 'stateswoman'). St. Thomas More, the Patron of Statesmen, would be proud of her. In a world where political expediency and "political correctness" seem to be the prerequisite for success, Ambassador Glendon has served the Catholic community well. Apparently Notre Dame and its increasingly embarrassing President are going to "give the award to someone else." How demeaning to received a second-hand award, rather like the bargains one finds in a supermarket with the "sell-by date" already expired.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...
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the owl of the remove said...

Tibot - if you read Ambassador Glendon's letter you will see that she was given the medal long before the speaker was announced. She had accepted - then Notre Dame threw the curve ball. She studied the Bishop's own document about speakers at Catholic universities and decided she could not accept. Bishop D'Arcy did not order her to speak - she obviously (read HER words) did not feel this was a moment for her to "teach." At some point tibot, you are going to have to realize where this is going - and it isn't going to be pretty for loyal Catholics - where will you be? (cf: latest "hate crime" legislation in the US Senate)

the owl of the remove said...

p.s. "advice' can be ignored/ accepted - obedience to a direct order from a Bishop - I will readily accept is a different matter... she received "advice" .... and then read the Bishop's document. Keep praying - we need it.

Anonymous said...
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the owl of the remove said...

Read the article on Politics Daily yesterday by Elizabeth Lev - it takes the snide stuff about the "month" to task - how about prayer and discernement - or is that not heterodox enough?

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gemoftheocean said...

I hope all self respecting catholics refuse this "award" until an apology is rendered to the Catholic community at large...and Jenkins is kicked out.

gemoftheocean said...

tbot:

Also consider: It's highly possible Glendon was considering appearing on the dais, and then to draw maximum embarrasment to ND and 0ero, refused the Laetare Medal as they tried to give it to her. "Thanks, but no thanks, in inviting 0ero, you people have whored yourselves and I hope no Catholic ever again sends their sons and daughters until you issue a formal apology, and you, Jenkins, are GONE."

Well, the WH and ND would have had a hard time brushing that aside. 2 weeks is a lonnnng time in the nedia cycle. By then the secular press will be saying "Laetare Medal, What's that?"

But I suspect she didn't want to "spoil" the graduate's day by focusing on 0ero, the obamination, more than he was aleady the center of attention.

the owl of the remove said...

Tibot - I think the fumes from the Undercroft are getting a little too strong! Perhaps your new invitee - only blog could be called "Fumes From The Undercroft" - take a deep beath (in the fresh air) - insulting Professor Glendon (she needed help to make her decision) - and your never ending problem with "the sheep" (how do you deal with the constant references of Christ to us as "the sheep"?) - what I don't understand is why you are not in your natural home in the Episcopal Church - you can have your faith any way you want it - don't worry about any Magisterium/Tradition - make it up as you go along? Or maybe those fumes from the Undercroft are still a little too Catholic.....? Keep praying!

the owl of the remove said...

p.s. I just don't get the defence of the most anti-life President this country has ever known - sorry? And there is no place for "dialogue" at a Graduation ceremony- it must be, to quote someone else, "above my pay grade," - I just don't get it!

GOR said...

Reading Professor Glendon’s letter I was struck by how she worded it: clear, concise, straightforward and to the point. This was no knee-jerk reaction but a measured, reflective and well thought out response.

Commencement ceremonies are not debates, discussions or philosophical engagements. Fr. Jenkins’ efforts to extricate himself from this scurrilous incident - of his own making - was ludicrous and self serving. Trying to cast this as a ‘dialogue’ with Glendon providing ‘balance’ was lame. Glendon saw through it and refused to be used.

Good for her! Would that we had more like her - willing to stand up for principle and Catholic Orthodoxy. And Elizabeth Lev is no slouch either! But would we have expected anything less from the daughter of Mary Ann Glendon...?

gemoftheocean said...

I really was teed off at ND's response: "But we always invite all presidents.." yada-yada.

Typically all members of the Supreme court attend every Jan State of the Union address too. But the year after Bill Clinton was impeached, they DID NOT. Not a single one of them. Most notable.

ND didn't "have" to invite Zero, "tradition" or no. They knew what he is. It was a blatant "in your face" to prolife and the Catholic Church. They are saying "we're too big to mess with, and you can't make us do anything."

Oh yeah? We'll see about that.

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Paul Stilwell said...

Dialogue, dialogue, dialogue:

A mirage on the far horizon of the Sahara.

the owl of the remove said...

Let's pray for each other!