The Vatican and Notre Dame (beliefnet.com)

[Leo 9]

The Vatican and Notre Dame
Friday April 3, 2009

What has Rome said about the Notre Dame controversy over the Obama invitation? Nothing. And that's the useful point that CNS's Vatican buro chief, John Thavis, makes in this blog commentary.

There's been no Vatican statement, and the Vatican newspaper and Vatican Radio have yet to mention the controversy. When Catholic News Service requested reaction from Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, head of the Congregation for Catholic Education (which, of course, deals with Catholic universities), we received a polite "no comment."

Based on conversations with Roman Curia officials, I have no doubt that the Obama-Notre Dame question is on the minds of U.S. priests and bishops working at the Vatican. With statements pouring in on one side or another back home, how could it be otherwise?

But non-Americans at the Vatican tend to see the issue in a different light, I think.

For one thing, they seem more comfortable with the idea of accommodating dignitaries and civil authorities in a church setting, even when their political positions aren't in line with the church's teaching. I emphasize that these were casual conversations, not a comprehensive survey of opinions.

But two episodes in particular have been mentioned to me by Vatican officials over the last week. One was that French President Nicholas Sarkozy received the title of honorary canon of the Basilica of St. John Lateran during his visit to Rome in 2007, a tradition that goes back centuries. Sarkozy, who also met Pope Benedict, supports legal abortion. The Vatican and the Diocese of Rome seemed to have no problem with honoring the twice-divorced Sarkozy, who says he is a Catholic.

snip

http://blog.beliefnet.com/pontifications/2009/04/the-vatican-and-notre-dame.html

[Drunken Irishman]

1. American Catholics are an embarrassment to the Church.

Well at least a few.

[Peregrine Took]

3. Ya, its those "orhodox/militant ones" that are the bullies. I wish they would

crawl back into their respective holes as they are giving the whole church a bad name - even worse than they've had.

[pinto]

2. Notre Dame's president of their alumni association looks to put things in perspective -

Her LTTE -

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8332010&mesg_id=8332010