Letter from Two Catholic Women
Arrested at Notre Dame
From Catholic Online - www.catholiconline.com
We held signs that say “I Regret My Abortion”. We also gave
our testimonies and prayed the Rosary with other Catholics
who supported us.
We are confused, Fr. Jenkins. Why would a Catholic University
bar Catholic women from speaking the truth about a
fundamental Catholic teaching, under the signage of a healing
program that is sponsored by a Catholic priest, while praying
the Rosary? Yet, the University would welcome, honor and
have a person speak at Commencement who is virulently
opposed to this same fundamental Catholic teaching?
DENVER (Catholic Online) - Jane Brennan has written for
Catholic Online in the past. She is the author of the book
'Motherhood Interrupted' and is the Silent No More Awareness
Campaign regional coordinator in Colorado. She and her
colleague were arrested for their peaceful and silent witness on
the campus of Notre Dame. They sent this letter to Fr. Jenkins,
President of Notre Dame:
An Open Letter to Fr. John Jenkins
President
University of Notre Dame
Dear Fr. Jenkins,
We are writing this letter to you in hopes that you can clear
something up for us.
We are two Catholic women who reside in the State of
Colorado. We made tragic mistakes in our younger years by
having abortions. We came to the University of Notre Dame last
Friday, May 8, to witness to the harm caused to us by our
“choice.” We held signs that say “I Regret My Abortion”. We
also gave our testimonies and prayed the Rosary with other
Catholics who supported us.
We did this in hopes of saving young women years of pain,
shame and guilt. We did this because college aged women
have the most abortions. We did this because we wanted these
young women to know that women deserve better than abortion
and that women can achieve the things that they want without
having their babies killed. We did this because we believe in
the fundamental right to life of all human beings who are
created in the image and likeness of God which is a dogmatic
teaching of the Catholic Church.
We have both attended Project Rachel and Rachel’s Vineyard
retreats – both Catholic healing programs for those suffering
from abortion. We then joined “The Silent No More Awareness
campaign”, a program sponsored by a Catholic Priest – Fr.
Frank Pavone.
In all of these programs we were taught about the acceptance
and mercy of God and our fellow Catholics. Also, in these
programs we were encouraged to seek the counsel of a
Catholic Priest – that they would help us to find redemption in
the sacrament of reconciliation. We were also encouraged to
share our stories so that the Catholic community and the
greater community at large could hear first hand of the
devastating effects of abortion.
While speaking these truths on Friday we were issued a
Trespass Notice by security officers hired by the University that
in part states “The University has the right to tell us that we are
not wanted on University property.”
Imagine our shock after receiving this notice and being barred
from speaking further, we were arrested and thrown in jail. We
spent the day in a holding cell until we posted a $250 bond. As
we now understand things, we are awaiting news as to whether
the charges against us will be misdemeanor trespassing or a
felony. This happened all because we wanted the students to
know through our stories how devastating abortion is to women.
We are confused, Fr. Jenkins. Why would a Catholic University
bar Catholic women from speaking the truth about a
fundamental Catholic teaching, under the signage of a healing
program that is sponsored by a Catholic priest, while praying
the Rosary? Yet, the University would welcome, honor and
have a person speak at Commencement who is virulently
opposed to this same fundamental Catholic teaching?
Fr. Jenkins can you please explain this to us?
We look forward to your response.
Jane Brennan, MS
Laura Rohling
Centennial, CO
www.motherhoodinterrupted.com
Arrested at Notre Dame
From Catholic Online - www.catholiconline.com
We held signs that say “I Regret My Abortion”. We also gave
our testimonies and prayed the Rosary with other Catholics
who supported us.
We are confused, Fr. Jenkins. Why would a Catholic University
bar Catholic women from speaking the truth about a
fundamental Catholic teaching, under the signage of a healing
program that is sponsored by a Catholic priest, while praying
the Rosary? Yet, the University would welcome, honor and
have a person speak at Commencement who is virulently
opposed to this same fundamental Catholic teaching?
DENVER (Catholic Online) - Jane Brennan has written for
Catholic Online in the past. She is the author of the book
'Motherhood Interrupted' and is the Silent No More Awareness
Campaign regional coordinator in Colorado. She and her
colleague were arrested for their peaceful and silent witness on
the campus of Notre Dame. They sent this letter to Fr. Jenkins,
President of Notre Dame:
An Open Letter to Fr. John Jenkins
President
University of Notre Dame
Dear Fr. Jenkins,
We are writing this letter to you in hopes that you can clear
something up for us.
We are two Catholic women who reside in the State of
Colorado. We made tragic mistakes in our younger years by
having abortions. We came to the University of Notre Dame last
Friday, May 8, to witness to the harm caused to us by our
“choice.” We held signs that say “I Regret My Abortion”. We
also gave our testimonies and prayed the Rosary with other
Catholics who supported us.
We did this in hopes of saving young women years of pain,
shame and guilt. We did this because college aged women
have the most abortions. We did this because we wanted these
young women to know that women deserve better than abortion
and that women can achieve the things that they want without
having their babies killed. We did this because we believe in
the fundamental right to life of all human beings who are
created in the image and likeness of God which is a dogmatic
teaching of the Catholic Church.
We have both attended Project Rachel and Rachel’s Vineyard
retreats – both Catholic healing programs for those suffering
from abortion. We then joined “The Silent No More Awareness
campaign”, a program sponsored by a Catholic Priest – Fr.
Frank Pavone.
In all of these programs we were taught about the acceptance
and mercy of God and our fellow Catholics. Also, in these
programs we were encouraged to seek the counsel of a
Catholic Priest – that they would help us to find redemption in
the sacrament of reconciliation. We were also encouraged to
share our stories so that the Catholic community and the
greater community at large could hear first hand of the
devastating effects of abortion.
While speaking these truths on Friday we were issued a
Trespass Notice by security officers hired by the University that
in part states “The University has the right to tell us that we are
not wanted on University property.”
Imagine our shock after receiving this notice and being barred
from speaking further, we were arrested and thrown in jail. We
spent the day in a holding cell until we posted a $250 bond. As
we now understand things, we are awaiting news as to whether
the charges against us will be misdemeanor trespassing or a
felony. This happened all because we wanted the students to
know through our stories how devastating abortion is to women.
We are confused, Fr. Jenkins. Why would a Catholic University
bar Catholic women from speaking the truth about a
fundamental Catholic teaching, under the signage of a healing
program that is sponsored by a Catholic priest, while praying
the Rosary? Yet, the University would welcome, honor and
have a person speak at Commencement who is virulently
opposed to this same fundamental Catholic teaching?
Fr. Jenkins can you please explain this to us?
We look forward to your response.
Jane Brennan, MS
Laura Rohling
Centennial, CO
www.motherhoodinterrupted.com
Our Letter to The President of Notre Dame
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| At Notre Dame University May 8th, 2009 |
Notre Dame, Our Mother Notre Dame, our Mother Tender, strong and true Proudly in the heavens, Gleams thy gold and blue. Glory's mantle cloaks thee Golden is thy fame, And our hearts forever, Praise thee, Notre Dame. And our hearts forever, Love thee, Notre Dame. |
