IDENTITY: WHO ARE YOU?

The notion of Catholic identity recently became a topic of active discussion when Notre Dame University invited pro-abortion President Barack Obama to deliver its commencement address and to present him with an honorary law degree.  Notre Dame, of course, is a premier Catholic institution of higher learning with a national reputation.  It was expected to know better than to provide a platform of honor for a high visibility pro-abortion advocate with apparent disdain for essential Catholic moral teaching.  Bishop John D’Arcy, the local bishop, responded to the invitation by stating he would boycott graduation ceremonies and that by inviting Obama Notre Dame was guilty of picking “prestige over truth.”

Notre Dame’s president, Father John Jenkins, mistakenly and ineptly tried to defend the Obama invitation.  This brought forth support for Bishop D’Arcy from his fellow bishops who reminded Father Jenkins of a 2004 statement of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) titled “Catholics in Political Life.”  It stated, 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.”  Before it was over, more than eighty bishops made public statements criticizing Notre Dame and Father Jenkins for their serious error.  Rarely have we seen such a large number of bishops react vigorously and cohesively to correct a Catholic college/university.

Pro Vita Advisors applauds the bishops’ reaction to Notre Dame’s desertion of their Catholic identity.  What was Notre Dame thinking?  Did they not understand that sanctity of human life is a fundamental moral principle?  Did they somehow miss the fact that Obama’s actions and policies were pro-abortion and defied Catholic moral teaching?  Did they arrogantly believe the bishops’ statement didn’t apply to them?  Did they not consider the invitation would confuse pro-life graduates and the student body in general?    

We think Bishop D’Arcy’s explanation of Notre Dame’s error is probably the best.  There is, however, a larger question that goes beyond the Notre Dame-Obama situation.  It is the question of “Catholic identity” and what “Catholic identity” looks like.

Broadly speaking, it seems to us the answer to identity starts by acknowledging “Who you are is what you do.”  Accordingly, we believe behavior reveals the true identity of an institution or person.  Also, consistency of behavior over time and in varying circumstances are key factors to establishing identity.  Using Notre Dame as an example, we see at least three ways in which they failed the Catholic identity test.  Firstly, they failed to observe the fundamental Catholic principle of sanctity of life by inviting and honoring a well-known, aggressive, and influential pro-abort to speak at their commencement; secondly, they ignored the standing instructions of the USCCB not to provide a platform of honor for people with Obama’s intransigent pro-abort record; and thirdly, they ignored their local bishop and his pastoral authority.

Although there are many markers for Catholic identity, the pro-life marker is indisputable, and applies to both institutions and individuals.  Pro-life markers may take many forms, but it certainly is not sufficient to merely pay lip-service to a moral conviction of this importance.  For high visibility institutions like dioceses, religious orders, and schools; avoiding scandal related to life issues is of primary importance.  For individuals, participating in a Life-Chain or similar event, voting for pro-life candidates, and contributing time or money to pro-life organizations are just a few possible actions that demonstrate pro-life convictions and support for a culture of life.

Sadly, subsequent actions by Father Jenkins and Notre Dame have failed to end the Obama scandal.  After arresting and charging pro-life protesters on the Notre Dame campus, Father Jenkins, even to this day, refuses to assist the protesters by urging dismissal of charges.  Known as the ND88, these pro-life heroes remain in a legal limbo.   Rather than end this disgusting episode and attempt to restore some degree of Catholic identity, Father Jenkins has chosen to obstinately continue Notre Dame’s scandal.    

Pro Vita Advisors includes Morally Responsible Investing (MRI) as another identity marker.  By practicing MRI, Catholic institutional and individual investors avoid profiting from the investment securities of companies involved in abortion, human embryonic stem cell experimentation, pornography, and support of homosexual lifestyles.  Pro Vita Advisors exists to provide Screening Lists for the MRI process and to challenge morally objectionable corporate behavior through shareholder activism.  For twenty years, this has been our identity, what we do, and who we are.