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Notre Dame Arrests Obama Protesters
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| Former Presidential candidate Alan Keyes is handcuffed by a member of the University of Notre Dame police on Friday after protesting the school's decision to honor President Barack Obama. (Courtesy of Michael Chabot) |
Former Presidential Candidate Keyes Taken Away In Cuffs
By John Vennari, For The Bulletin
Former presidential candidate Alan Keyes was arrested Friday at the University of Notre Dame while protesting the university’s decision to honor President Barack Obama with a commencement speech and an honorary law degree on May 17.
He made his decision to protest on campus in the wake of the university’s recent arrest of pro-life leader Randall Terry and publicized his decision in advance of Friday’s arrest.
Dr. Keyes arrived at Notre Dame with a sizable cadre of pro-lifers, many pushing strollers containing baby dolls smeared red to indicate the blood of the unborn killed in abortions. Others held signs saying: “I regret my abortion.”
The protesters, including Dr. Keyes, peacefully walked onto Notre Dame’s campus praying the rosary together and were arrested for trespassing by campus police as they entered the grounds. Dr. Keyes held his rosary as he was handcuffed from behind, and about 15 others were handcuffed and arrested with him.
University police threw one woman, who was off to the side praying the rosary and not formally part of the protesting group, off the campus.
He said his intention is to witness to what he believes is the truth and urged many others to join the protest at Notre Dame “until the South Bend jail is filled to overflowing ...”
Prior to entering campus, he expressed his view the time has come for the wheat to be separated from the chaff.
“Evil is on the offensive,” he said, “And when that moment comes, we are called upon to make a choice.”
He cited Mr. Obama’s plan to eliminate conscience protections for health care workers who oppose abortion, which could give those who object to abortion on moral grounds the obligation of having to participate in these procedures or leave the profession.
“If he is able to fulfill that intention,” said Dr. Keyes, “then every single person in the medical community will have to make a choice to stand with Christ or against Him.
“At the end of the day, I think Obama is just part of the truth that the law of God and the truth of Jesus Christ is as a sword. It divides.”
He said many modern Christians, Church leaders and academics are “living a lie,” because “they pretend the Christian does not have to choose. But Christ said you are either with Him or against him. There is no middle ground.”
Local resident Michael Chabot explained his reason for taking part in the protest.
“As long as Our Lady is on the dome at Notre Dame, she is being publicly dishonored.” said Mr. Chabot. “And as long as Notre Dame tries to hide under the veneer of a Catholic identity or character, then I join these protests to do what Pope Leo XIII said we should do, tear the mask off and expose them.”
The protests at Notre Dame have being going on for the past three weeks and continue to escalate.
To date, 71 US Bishops have spoken out against Notre Dame’s invitation to President Obama.
To learn more, go www.stopobamanotredame.com
John Vennari is editor of the monthly Catholic Family News. He can be reached at cfnjjv@gmail.com.
He made his decision to protest on campus in the wake of the university’s recent arrest of pro-life leader Randall Terry and publicized his decision in advance of Friday’s arrest.
Dr. Keyes arrived at Notre Dame with a sizable cadre of pro-lifers, many pushing strollers containing baby dolls smeared red to indicate the blood of the unborn killed in abortions. Others held signs saying: “I regret my abortion.”
The protesters, including Dr. Keyes, peacefully walked onto Notre Dame’s campus praying the rosary together and were arrested for trespassing by campus police as they entered the grounds. Dr. Keyes held his rosary as he was handcuffed from behind, and about 15 others were handcuffed and arrested with him.
University police threw one woman, who was off to the side praying the rosary and not formally part of the protesting group, off the campus.
He said his intention is to witness to what he believes is the truth and urged many others to join the protest at Notre Dame “until the South Bend jail is filled to overflowing ...”
Prior to entering campus, he expressed his view the time has come for the wheat to be separated from the chaff.
“Evil is on the offensive,” he said, “And when that moment comes, we are called upon to make a choice.”
He cited Mr. Obama’s plan to eliminate conscience protections for health care workers who oppose abortion, which could give those who object to abortion on moral grounds the obligation of having to participate in these procedures or leave the profession.
“If he is able to fulfill that intention,” said Dr. Keyes, “then every single person in the medical community will have to make a choice to stand with Christ or against Him.
“At the end of the day, I think Obama is just part of the truth that the law of God and the truth of Jesus Christ is as a sword. It divides.”
He said many modern Christians, Church leaders and academics are “living a lie,” because “they pretend the Christian does not have to choose. But Christ said you are either with Him or against him. There is no middle ground.”
Local resident Michael Chabot explained his reason for taking part in the protest.
“As long as Our Lady is on the dome at Notre Dame, she is being publicly dishonored.” said Mr. Chabot. “And as long as Notre Dame tries to hide under the veneer of a Catholic identity or character, then I join these protests to do what Pope Leo XIII said we should do, tear the mask off and expose them.”
The protests at Notre Dame have being going on for the past three weeks and continue to escalate.
To date, 71 US Bishops have spoken out against Notre Dame’s invitation to President Obama.
To learn more, go www.stopobamanotredame.com
John Vennari is editor of the monthly Catholic Family News. He can be reached at cfnjjv@gmail.com.
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Forsythia77 wrote on May 11, 2009 7:10 PM:
"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."
I'm proud to be an American when I read about courageous people standing up when it would be easier to sit down. "