Changes at Notre Dame... some are not happy...

Recent news about Notre Dame's new President, Fr John I. Jenkins, has been on the news all day today. Some students AND faculty are not happy with his changes.

Some students don't want to give up things that he has said are not in line with Catholic teachings, and won't continue. A taste of some of the viewpoints can be found in letters to the editor that begin here. The second hyperlink there takes you to a letter by a Libertarian. His first hyperlink takes you to a page of other letters, one of which is by his student.

I think that he needs to speak to Fr Michael Scanlon of the Franciscan University of Steubenville. He will get all the support he needs from Fr Scanlon, I am sure!

Long ago, when Fr Scanlon first began leading the University, he also faced the 'petitions' of the Students. They wanted Coed Dorms, etc. Had an entire list of things that they sort of were demanding. Fr Scanlon took them, and told everyone he would pray about them.

As I remember the story, he came back with things like... not only will I not say Mass isn't mandatory, I am going to put the Blessed Sacrament into each dorm. Not only are we not going coed...

Fr Scanlon did not give in on any of the demands made...

The changes in that University were dramatic.

The school has grown. The quality of students that attend is fantastic. The Eucharistic Adoration goes on constantly. And when we stopped one Friday night on a trip to Virginia, the Church was CROWDED with students at an evening Mass (at a time when most students would have been going out already in our local college towns!!!). I was impressed. My kids were surprised, as were my sister's kids. We had wanted to peek in the Church, but could not do so because we could not get in! There were too many IN the Church already!

Yes, perhaps the new Notre Dame president should talk to Fr Michael Scanlon.... or maybe he has already heard the same story that I heard long ago.....

When even the National Catholic Reporter has to write a fairly decent article about it.... even mentioning that it may be 'too Catholic'....

Fr Scanlon did something right.


Fr Jenkins... don't give up! Don't give in! God bless!


Related Tags: Catholic, Notre Dame, Fr John Jenkins, Fr Michael Scanlon, Fran Univ of Steubenville