November 5, 2010 12:51 PM
Pray for Declan Sullivan
HT: Judy
I guess like RINOs (Republican In Name Only), we have CINOs (Catholic In Name Only). Wish we could vote them out of office too!
Keep praying - and pointing out that the Catholic Church is not a cafeteria. RealCatholicTV is a great resource. You can subscribe to their daily video and pass on to your friends and family
Posted in Catholicism | Permalink
Comments
I liked the point of this video very much, but I do have to say that there were a couple of things that I think could have done better. First of all, the graphics were kind of annoying, and I didn't feel added anything to the presentation, but more than that, and I'm not saying this to start a fight or anything, but the presenter talked the whole time about how prayers for the dead are a "Catholic" tradition, and Catholic this and that, which, I suppose is fine if your audience is only Catholic. However, prayers for the dead began from the beginning of Christianity, and so not only do the Orthodox, for example, do them too, but they also do them congregationally at certain intervals, (typically the 3rd, 9th, and 40th days, and then yearly anniversaries of someone's passing) and so insinuating that commemorating the dead is only a Catholic thing is mildly offensive from my point of view. I agree wholeheartedly that Notre Dame should have publicly offered prayers for the soul of Declan, but as we know, teaching the Christian faith handed down from the beginning is not ND's top priority.
Posted by: Katja | November 6, 2010 5:48 PM
Maybe I'm just sensitive as an ND alum, but I don't think so -- I really didn't like this video. The presenter seemed more interested in using the terribly sad, accidental death of this student as a hammer to bash the school than in expressing genuine concern for him. (The graphics certainly contributed to my impression of this.) Contrary to what you might infer from seeing this, there was in fact a campuswide Mass said for Declan and attended by thousands. It just wasn't part of the football broadcast.
I was probably more upset than most by the president being honored by ND -- completely inappropriate and a stain on the university -- and certainly there is an ongoing battle being fought for the school's soul and identity, but ND is far from a lost cause or CINO school. Catholicism is vibrant and flourishing there in so many ways. This presentation struck me as misguided.
Posted by: Kim | November 9, 2010 10:22 PM
Thanks, Kim. Your insights mean a lot.
Michael Vorhis does have a strong point of view and is often too harsh for people to stomach - which is why I don't run his analysis often. I'm sorry for the aspect of his seizing on this tragedy to continue the point he has dedicated his life to making: that we in the church need to be bold - and true - in our witness.
I really appreciate your concerns.
Posted by: Barbara | November 10, 2010 5:26 AM
