Why Laura Went to South Bend
I grew up in the Boston area – an Irish Catholic. Everyone
in my extended family was a Notre Dame fan. You could see the
fighting leprechaun everywhere you went on the east coast of
Massachusetts. It was as normal to know of the University of
Notre Dame as you would know of our Pope. It was something
all Catholics identified with, and were proud of. “Notre Dame,
our mother”. THE Catholic school. I cut my teeth on Notre Dame
football – or at least as much as a little girl sitting next to her
Dad during the Saturday games could know. Notre Dame was
as much my childhood as was riding a bike.
After Confirmation I strayed from my Catholic roots. I made
mistakes, some small, and some that changed my life forever.
When I hit bottom I looked to my roots, the foundation my Dad
had worked hard at building for me. I began going to Mass
again, and sought forgiveness for an abortion that had almost
completely ruined me. My Catholic roots saved me. I healed,
repented, sought God's forgiveness and grew spiritually. Today
my Catholic faith is the keystone to everything I am.
I would meet my husband, Hank, at the Cathedral in Denver,
and we would marry a year and a half later. My sister and
brother in law both are Notre Dame Alumni. I remember going to
a game at the University, against USC. Before the game we
visited our brother’s former dorm, and there on the first floor
was a Chapel. Every dorm building had a Chapel for Mass.
Priests were everywhere on the grounds, and wherever you
looked there was something that was identifiably Catholic - the
Grotto, the mural of Jesus on the library, the Cathedral, the
student groups and Orders raising funds on the quad before
the game. There was a feeling of family, of belonging being with
so many other Catholics. I turned to my husband and said “I
want our children to go here”.
When I learned that our President had been invited to speak at
Notre Dame’s Commencement, and was also to receive an
Honorary Degree of Law from the University, I was stunned and
frustrated. In 2004 the USCCB stated that Catholic institutions
should not honor those politicians who are pro-abortion and
who use their office to promote abortion. What had happened to
the University’s Catholic identity? Why had it strayed from the
basic teachings of our Church? What about the students there
now? What would it say to them to have this occur? That
abortion is ok? That it is not as important as other justice
issues? Would it leave an impression to the students, and the
rest of Catholic America, that the Church isn’t really serious
about the issue of Life?
Catholics were showing up at Notre Dame to pray and
demonstrate. My dear friend Jane and I joked about going out to
the University, to hold our Silent No More signs and tell anyone
who would listen about the reality of “choice”. The joking soon
ended and we felt a strong urge to be there – to reach out to
the students and tell them what abortion does to the body and
to the soul.
I called Hank at his office. Much to my annoyance and as usual,
he was very much grounded in reality and said he would have to
think about it. Why he couldn’t immediately agree to my idea
and let me fly out to South Bend on a days notice, not to
mention rearranging schedules for the kids, was beyond me.
Soon he would call back and say that he felt that God had given
him peace about it, and that I should go.
I am blessed with a wonderful husband who understands and
supports my passion for Life. Both of us thought that it was
something we were being asked to do, and frankly, we didn’t
believe anything negative would come of it. After all, this was
Notre Dame – our Catholic University. They had simply made a
mistake, and having made mistakes myself – I had hoped they
could change their path before it changed them forever. What
could possibly happen to Catholics praying and speaking about
basic Catholic teaching at Notre Dame? Certainly they must be
open to ideas foundational to our beloved Catholic Church.
We found ourselves on a flight the next afternoon. We drove
from Chicago to South Bend, arriving after dark. The golden
dome of the University glowed in the night – it was magnificent,
and we were ever aware that our Blessed Mother was very near
this place.
The next morning we united with many fellow Catholics and
assembled at the gates to the University. We held our “I Regret
My Abortion” signs high in the air as we prayed the Rosary.
Women came up to us, some in tears, and said they were like
us and had not yet healed. We directed them to Rachel’s
Vineyard and Project Rachel – two healing programs we had
participated in. We offered hugs and understanding. We were
struck by the fact that although these women were still hurting
from their “choice” they showed up and stood in solidarity with
others against abortion and for the teachings of our Catholic
Church. We were humbled that they would come, that they knew
the hard truth and it was enough for them to be there, as raw as
that must have been.
Soon we processed inside the gates of the University, saying
the Rosary, Jane and I talking to those watching about the
damage of abortion. We were encouraged by the young faces
that had seemed to at least be open to our voices. We were
saddened by those who didn’t seem to care about such an
important issue at a Catholic school. Then it happened. We
were met by Notre Dame security officers. Still, in my mind I
could not believe anything would happen – we were Catholics
after all. The officers told us that we were on private property
and that if we did not leave we would be trespassing and would
then be arrested. We stood and continued our Rosary – the
sorrowful mysteries. Immediately they took the first two in the
procession and handcuffed them. They told the rest of us to
leave or we would be arrested. We continued to pray. I couldn’t
believe what was happening. Catholics were being arrested for
praying the Rosary and holding Silent No More signs on a
Catholic campus. It was surreal. Had my adrenaline not been
pumping I would have burst into tears at the sight of it. It was
then that Jane and I decided we could not leave the campus.
We could not possibly leave knowing this was happening. It was
necessary to stay and witness to the absurdity of it all. We were
handcuffed, our signs taken, and we were read our rights. We
were placed on a bus with the others, and we were taken to the
St. Joseph County jail in South Bend, Indiana.
At the jail we were processed – they took our photos, registered
pertinent information, took inventory and then possession of all
of our belongings and our shoes. We were then placed into a
holding cell and we waited. I was able to call Hank and tell him
what had happened. It was at that moment that we both realized
that what we thought was impossible had actually happened.
Catholics were arrested at Notre Dame University. At that
moment all of our memories, impressions, hopes and dreams for
Notre Dame were destroyed. What had happened to our
beloved Notre Dame. I could hear the hurt and disbelief in
Hank’s voice – I’ll never forget it.
We waited for hours until a Sergeant would tell us that the
assumed charges we were facing were “most likely
misdemeanor trespassing”. He also told us how to bail out.
Jane and I did just that. We were told that we would have to
come back for the hearing on May 28th – no exceptions or
proxy.
We drove back to Chicago in silence and shock. We got a hotel
for the night and took a standby flight home early the next
morning, grieving the serious illness of a Catholic University. It
seemed to me that Notre Dame had pandered for celebrity and
stature, when they already possesed stature far beyond what
they had sold out for. What of Notre Dame’s stature now and in
the future? Certainly its academics will be rock solid, but what of
the University’s Theology and Spirituality? What of its
Catholicism?
What happened at Notre Dame with the protests and arrests
has been quickly dismissed as political antics. What I witnessed
at the University was far from that. These were Orthodox
Catholics, voicing their beliefs, the beliefs of our Catholic
Church, and fighting for the Catholic life of a beloved Catholic
University. Notre Dame, a school that so many hold dear in their
hearts and as part of their Catholic identities. The protests were
not at all about politics, they were about our faith and the lives
of nearly one million human beings each year since 1973.
“Separation of Church and State” is thrown around when the
Church or one of its community say anything about politics near
our institutions, but what about when it happens the other way?
Where is the outrage over “State impeding on Church or its’
institutions”?
We will be in South Bend on May 28th to be arraigned with a
mighty defense team from the Thomas More Society at our side.
We are told that the maximum fine is $5000.00 and/or 1 year in
jail for the offense of trespass. We are certain all will be well
concerning our case, but what of Notre Dame and the millions of
Catholics who witnessed what happened on May 17th.
I grew up in the Boston area – an Irish Catholic. Everyone
in my extended family was a Notre Dame fan. You could see the
fighting leprechaun everywhere you went on the east coast of
Massachusetts. It was as normal to know of the University of
Notre Dame as you would know of our Pope. It was something
all Catholics identified with, and were proud of. “Notre Dame,
our mother”. THE Catholic school. I cut my teeth on Notre Dame
football – or at least as much as a little girl sitting next to her
Dad during the Saturday games could know. Notre Dame was
as much my childhood as was riding a bike.
After Confirmation I strayed from my Catholic roots. I made
mistakes, some small, and some that changed my life forever.
When I hit bottom I looked to my roots, the foundation my Dad
had worked hard at building for me. I began going to Mass
again, and sought forgiveness for an abortion that had almost
completely ruined me. My Catholic roots saved me. I healed,
repented, sought God's forgiveness and grew spiritually. Today
my Catholic faith is the keystone to everything I am.
I would meet my husband, Hank, at the Cathedral in Denver,
and we would marry a year and a half later. My sister and
brother in law both are Notre Dame Alumni. I remember going to
a game at the University, against USC. Before the game we
visited our brother’s former dorm, and there on the first floor
was a Chapel. Every dorm building had a Chapel for Mass.
Priests were everywhere on the grounds, and wherever you
looked there was something that was identifiably Catholic - the
Grotto, the mural of Jesus on the library, the Cathedral, the
student groups and Orders raising funds on the quad before
the game. There was a feeling of family, of belonging being with
so many other Catholics. I turned to my husband and said “I
want our children to go here”.
When I learned that our President had been invited to speak at
Notre Dame’s Commencement, and was also to receive an
Honorary Degree of Law from the University, I was stunned and
frustrated. In 2004 the USCCB stated that Catholic institutions
should not honor those politicians who are pro-abortion and
who use their office to promote abortion. What had happened to
the University’s Catholic identity? Why had it strayed from the
basic teachings of our Church? What about the students there
now? What would it say to them to have this occur? That
abortion is ok? That it is not as important as other justice
issues? Would it leave an impression to the students, and the
rest of Catholic America, that the Church isn’t really serious
about the issue of Life?
Catholics were showing up at Notre Dame to pray and
demonstrate. My dear friend Jane and I joked about going out to
the University, to hold our Silent No More signs and tell anyone
who would listen about the reality of “choice”. The joking soon
ended and we felt a strong urge to be there – to reach out to
the students and tell them what abortion does to the body and
to the soul.
I called Hank at his office. Much to my annoyance and as usual,
he was very much grounded in reality and said he would have to
think about it. Why he couldn’t immediately agree to my idea
and let me fly out to South Bend on a days notice, not to
mention rearranging schedules for the kids, was beyond me.
Soon he would call back and say that he felt that God had given
him peace about it, and that I should go.
I am blessed with a wonderful husband who understands and
supports my passion for Life. Both of us thought that it was
something we were being asked to do, and frankly, we didn’t
believe anything negative would come of it. After all, this was
Notre Dame – our Catholic University. They had simply made a
mistake, and having made mistakes myself – I had hoped they
could change their path before it changed them forever. What
could possibly happen to Catholics praying and speaking about
basic Catholic teaching at Notre Dame? Certainly they must be
open to ideas foundational to our beloved Catholic Church.
We found ourselves on a flight the next afternoon. We drove
from Chicago to South Bend, arriving after dark. The golden
dome of the University glowed in the night – it was magnificent,
and we were ever aware that our Blessed Mother was very near
this place.
The next morning we united with many fellow Catholics and
assembled at the gates to the University. We held our “I Regret
My Abortion” signs high in the air as we prayed the Rosary.
Women came up to us, some in tears, and said they were like
us and had not yet healed. We directed them to Rachel’s
Vineyard and Project Rachel – two healing programs we had
participated in. We offered hugs and understanding. We were
struck by the fact that although these women were still hurting
from their “choice” they showed up and stood in solidarity with
others against abortion and for the teachings of our Catholic
Church. We were humbled that they would come, that they knew
the hard truth and it was enough for them to be there, as raw as
that must have been.
Soon we processed inside the gates of the University, saying
the Rosary, Jane and I talking to those watching about the
damage of abortion. We were encouraged by the young faces
that had seemed to at least be open to our voices. We were
saddened by those who didn’t seem to care about such an
important issue at a Catholic school. Then it happened. We
were met by Notre Dame security officers. Still, in my mind I
could not believe anything would happen – we were Catholics
after all. The officers told us that we were on private property
and that if we did not leave we would be trespassing and would
then be arrested. We stood and continued our Rosary – the
sorrowful mysteries. Immediately they took the first two in the
procession and handcuffed them. They told the rest of us to
leave or we would be arrested. We continued to pray. I couldn’t
believe what was happening. Catholics were being arrested for
praying the Rosary and holding Silent No More signs on a
Catholic campus. It was surreal. Had my adrenaline not been
pumping I would have burst into tears at the sight of it. It was
then that Jane and I decided we could not leave the campus.
We could not possibly leave knowing this was happening. It was
necessary to stay and witness to the absurdity of it all. We were
handcuffed, our signs taken, and we were read our rights. We
were placed on a bus with the others, and we were taken to the
St. Joseph County jail in South Bend, Indiana.
At the jail we were processed – they took our photos, registered
pertinent information, took inventory and then possession of all
of our belongings and our shoes. We were then placed into a
holding cell and we waited. I was able to call Hank and tell him
what had happened. It was at that moment that we both realized
that what we thought was impossible had actually happened.
Catholics were arrested at Notre Dame University. At that
moment all of our memories, impressions, hopes and dreams for
Notre Dame were destroyed. What had happened to our
beloved Notre Dame. I could hear the hurt and disbelief in
Hank’s voice – I’ll never forget it.
We waited for hours until a Sergeant would tell us that the
assumed charges we were facing were “most likely
misdemeanor trespassing”. He also told us how to bail out.
Jane and I did just that. We were told that we would have to
come back for the hearing on May 28th – no exceptions or
proxy.
We drove back to Chicago in silence and shock. We got a hotel
for the night and took a standby flight home early the next
morning, grieving the serious illness of a Catholic University. It
seemed to me that Notre Dame had pandered for celebrity and
stature, when they already possesed stature far beyond what
they had sold out for. What of Notre Dame’s stature now and in
the future? Certainly its academics will be rock solid, but what of
the University’s Theology and Spirituality? What of its
Catholicism?
What happened at Notre Dame with the protests and arrests
has been quickly dismissed as political antics. What I witnessed
at the University was far from that. These were Orthodox
Catholics, voicing their beliefs, the beliefs of our Catholic
Church, and fighting for the Catholic life of a beloved Catholic
University. Notre Dame, a school that so many hold dear in their
hearts and as part of their Catholic identities. The protests were
not at all about politics, they were about our faith and the lives
of nearly one million human beings each year since 1973.
“Separation of Church and State” is thrown around when the
Church or one of its community say anything about politics near
our institutions, but what about when it happens the other way?
Where is the outrage over “State impeding on Church or its’
institutions”?
We will be in South Bend on May 28th to be arraigned with a
mighty defense team from the Thomas More Society at our side.
We are told that the maximum fine is $5000.00 and/or 1 year in
jail for the offense of trespass. We are certain all will be well
concerning our case, but what of Notre Dame and the millions of
Catholics who witnessed what happened on May 17th.
Free Jane & Laura !
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Arrested at Notre Dame
Arrested at Notre Dame
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. |
| At Notre Dame University May 8th, 2009 |
