The Georgetown Cover-up

From CNSNews with my emphases and comments.

Georgetown Says It Covered Over Name of Jesus to Comply With White House Request
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
By Edwin Mora

(CNSNews.com) – Georgetown University says it covered over the monogram “IHS”–symbolizing the name of Jesus Christ [actually just "Jesus", a Greek abbreviation] —because it was inscribed on a pediment on the stage where President Obama spoke at the university on Tuesday and the White House had asked Georgetown to cover up all signs and symbols there.  [So, rather than risk that the President wouldn’t come, they covered up the name of THE SAVIOR.]
 
As of Wednesday afternoon, the “IHS” monogram that had previously adorned the stage at Georgetown’s Gaston Hall was still covered up–when the pediment where it had appeared was photographed by CNSNews.com.

“In coordinating the logistical arrangements for yesterday’s event, Georgetown honored the White House staff’s request to cover all of the Georgetown University signage and symbols behind Gaston Hall stage,” Julie Green Bataille, associate vice president for communications at Georgetown, told CNSNews.com.  ["For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." Mark 8:38]
 
“The White House wanted a simple backdrop of flags and pipe and drape for the speech, consistent with what they’ve done for other policy speeches,” she added. [So… they do this often?]  “Frankly, the pipe and drape wasn’t high enough by itself to fully cover the IHS and cross above the GU seal and it seemed most respectful to have them covered so as not to be seen out of context.”  [OUT.OF.CONTEXT… the Holy Name on display at a Catholic University… the "IHS" which is specially dear to the Jesuits.]

On Wednesday, CNSNews.com inspected the pediment embedded in the wall at the back of the stage in Gaston Hall, where Obama delivered his speech. The letters “IHS” were not to be found. They appeared to be shrouded with a triangle of black-painted plywood.    ["Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:8-11]
 
Pictures of the wooden pediment prior to Obama’s speech show the letters “IHS" in gold. Many photos posted on the Internet of other events at Gaston Hall show the letters clearly.
 
The White House did not respond to a request from CNSNews.com to comment on the covering up of Jesus’ name at Gaston Hall.

Georgetown, which is run by the Jesuit order, is one of the most prestigious Catholic institutions of higher education in the United States.
 
Roman Catholics traditionally use “IHS” as an abbreviation for Jesus’ name.  According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, “St. Ignatius of Loyola adopted the monogram in his seal as general of the Society of Jesus (1541) and thus became the emblem of his institute.” The Society of Jesus is the formal name for the Jesuits.

Although the monogram was covered over on the wooden pediment at the back of the Gaston Hall stage where it would have been directly above and behind President Obama as he spoke,  the letters “IHS” are posted elsewhere around the hall approximately 26 times on shields representing different parts of the United States and the world[But here someone else was given pride of place.]
 
Obama did not mention the name of Jesus during his address. However, he did mention Christ’s Sermon on the Mount.
 
“There is a parable at the end of the Sermon on the Mount that tells a story of two men…‘the rain descended and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house…it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock,’” Obama said.
 
“We cannot rebuild this economy on the same pile of sand,” he added. “We must build our house upon a rock.”  [Which forces the question: What are the foundations of Georgtown University now?]

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

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107 Comments

  1. Nathan says:

    May Almighty God have mercy on us all. In a number of ways, Georgetown University’s action is more scandalous than the behavior of Notre Dame’s leaders.

    In Christ,

  2. RJSciurus says:

    “We must build our house upon a rock.”

    The irony in this comment is almost overwhelming.

  3. jamie says:

    Sorry Father, but ‘IHS’ is a Latin, not a Greek abbreviation. Jesus is normally spelled ‘ihesus’ in medieval Latin, thus abbreviated to ‘ihs.’ [I am sure you are very pleased with this. o{]:¬) However, that “IHESUS” was a confused transliteration of the GREEK, the “H” really being the Greek letter “eta”. The “IHS” is really, therefore, the first three letters of “Jesus” in Greek: IHSOUS.]

  4. Jackson says:

    Fr. Z, I think that you are confused, here. “So, rather than risk that the President wouldn’t come, they covered up the name of The Savior.” According to the New York Times, CNN and perhaps quite a lot of the staff at GU, the current occupant of the White House IS The Savior.

  5. John Enright says:

    I’m surprised that the Jesuits didn’t change the name of their Order from the “Society of Jesus” to the “Society of Obama,” at least for the day.

  6. I dare to hope that rather than uncover the IHS monogram, they will adorn that piece of blank plywood with a symbol to commemorate the President’s visit: BHO.

  7. TJM says:

    And who says there isn’t a loss of freedom in this Country? According to leftists, George Bush was the “fascist.” I guess they were engaging
    in what is known as “projection.” Any “Catholic” who voted for Obama should really be proud of themselves. Tom

  8. I am not Spartacus says:

    I have no doubt Rham Israel Emmanuel and Barack Hussein Obama are smiling at just how easy it is to manipulate “Catholic” Institutions in America.

    They had to have known their requests would be complied with before they even made them.

  9. Alfred says:

    Jamie:

    I think Father Z is right that IHS is from the Greek. Jesus’ name in Greek would begin iota eta sigma, with the capital iota looking like our letter I and the capital eta looking like our letter H. I guess the capital sigma was just changed to our S, because we don’t have a letter that looks like it.

    On a side note, I always thought IHS stood for the latin “In hoc signo” from the “In hoc signo vincis” that Constantine saw. Am I mistaken? [I believe so. Neither is it for Iesus Hominum Salvator.]

  10. Londiniensis says:

    I may be missing something here – but what is the point of having someone – anyone – speak at a venue – any venue – and presumably publicising that fact, but then asking that venue to cover up precisely what distinguishes itself as that venue? Why not just have the speech in the White House Press Room?

    Or are there more subtle politics at play? Is this part of a longer-term Josh Lyman style tactic [Apt comparison.] to subvert and neuter organised Catholicism? Kmiec, Sebelius, Kennedy, Notre Dame and now Georgetown are already in play. What next?

  11. Mike B. says:

    This post had me on the verge of tears. Oh what a sad day for a once truly Catholic university. This professor is very, very sad.

    Mike

  12. Jacob says:

    omment by Londiniensis — 16 April 2009 @ 9:23 am

    I agree with this exactly. If the White House wants to control the environment so precisely, just set up in the East Room.

    I think this stunt and Georgetown’s passive acquiescence is another test of Obama’s influence. Georgetown passed with flying colors. :(

  13. Londiniensis says:

    Re IHS – all you doubters out there go to Wiki entry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christogram

  14. Baron Korf says:

    Even my protestant friends says that it was bad form for the White House to request it and traitorous to Christ to comply.

    “Are you not one of his followers?”
    “I tell you I do not know him!”

    COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO!

  15. “the White House had asked Georgetown to cover up all signs and symbols there.”

    Hmm … Should we expect to see the Jesus mural on the Notre Dame library white-washed for Obama’s address, because it’s visible from inside the stadium where the commencement will be held:

    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/TDJesus.jpg

  16. Sarsfield says:

    Georgetown? How much lower can they sink? Of course, they’ve been covering up the Holy Name of Jesus for years in a figurative sense. Who’d have imagined they’d stoop to this sort of literal cover up?

  17. Erin says:

    The original response I read was that G’town habitually covers the IHS so it doesn’t seem that the University or the Jesuits are endorsing the speaker. This new response – that they covered it at Obama’s request – is disappointing. Why not just give the talk in the White House Press Room?

  18. Andrew, UK and sometimes Canada says:

    Isn’t Mr Obama a Christian, and made great noise about this during the primary and election campagins? Granted, his “church” is a bit odd, but it still, surely, professes a belief in Christ?

    Or, as even the NCR has noted in an article, does Mr Obama only have a problem with the one TRUE church of Christ?

  19. TNCath says:

    The smoke of Satan is still around.

  20. DarkKnight says:

    Clearly, “President Obama has the greatest respect for the Catholic Church and its institutions.” So much respect that Holy Mother Church must be muzzled, neutered, draped and submerged by his magnificence.

    Let’s ask Fr. Jenkins what Notre Dame has been asked to do to make the president feel comfortable: chain the chapel doors, skip the invocation, and censor the prepared texts of all other speakers?

    This is nothing short of the cult of personality of a demigod. The Church needs to hear the trumpets and drums of the war that has been declared against it by Obama and his cohorts. Kmiec, et al. have done the pied piper’s job of telling us that they are nothing but ruffles and flourishes in our honor but they are in reality the sounds of siege engines moving into place. The words of Pelosi are nothing but the sounds of miner’s picks tunneling in darkness. The cooing of Biden the sound of poisoned drops spreading out to do his master’s will.

  21. Mila says:

    It’s enough to make one cry. Lord, do not hold this against them.

  22. Paul Haley says:

    An utterly despicable act by those who should know better and one which will have long term consequences for the Jesuits and Obama, not to mention our country as a whole. Instead of the dictum “at whose name (Jesus) very knee shall bow” we have “at whose command (Obama) every catholic institution shall submit”. God help our country and forgive us our sins. If I were the Pope, I would immediately send apostolic visitors to both NDU and GU for a thorough shaking down. Good thing I am not, eh?

  23. Matt Q says:

    I like Father’s quote from St Mark.

    “Denying” Jesus based entirely on actual ignorance is one thing, but to deny Him out of hatred, or in this instance, for the sake political expediency is abominable. If people can do this overtly, how much more and easier is it for them to do so in the more subtle and innocuous ways of life? This is dangerous because when the real Bad Guy comes on the world stage we can see how easy it would be for the multitudes to embrace him and deny the true God-Man.

    The alumni of Georgetown should be cancelling all future donations and benefactions. Same with Notre Shame. At the time, a good many grads of the same ilk as the deniers.

  24. JML says:

    First Notre Dame
    Now Georgetown

    His Mother
    Her Son

    My People, What Have I Done to You?
    How Have I Offended You?
    Answer Me!

  25. Father Totton says:

    While I don’t wish to second guess our gracious and erudite host, why is it a mistake to attribute I H S SECONDARILY to that Constantinian revelation at the Milvian bridge? I have no doubt that the monogram is PRIMARILY Our Lord’s name in Greek, but what about the Catholic “both, and”? I must say I am less apt to accept the protty English: “I Have Suffered” which is sometimes bandied about. [Quod scripsi, scripsi! o{];¬) ]

    Nevertheless, it was a grave mistake to cover the Name of Our Lord in deference to President Obama.

  26. EDG says:

    I think I am not Spartacus, londiniensis and Jacob are right on target. I have thought from the very beginning that Obama knows that the only institution that can oppose him and his anti-human (and thus, anti-God) programs is the Catholic Church and has made it a priority to “deal with” the Church. Attacking the Church overtly from the outside is not something he can risk quite yet, so he is simply looking for the traitors in the Church – not hard to find, alas – who will open the gate and let him in. And when I say “Obama,” I don’t think the man is bright enough to come up with any of these ideas on his own. Other people probably work out the strategies, but what he contributes for his part is the ruthlessness, egocentricity and complete shamelessness that lets him go and demand that a Catholic institution remove a symbol of the Lord. And the Judases in these institutions, already compliasant after decades of exalting the state through their left-wing policies and “theologies,” fall all over themselves to do his bidding.

    It’s all a test (which our institutions are failing one after another) and also a demonstration, a public show of how obedient the Church is to The One and how respected and loved by the Church he is…and how much power he has in the place that many people hoped would be safe from that evil power. I don’t think the Abomination of Desolation is sitting in the Holy Place quite yet, but it’s certainly getting closer.

  27. Nathaniel says:

    Probably, Obama should not speak at any Catholic institution. This is a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation. If they had not covered the IHS, everyone would be complaining that he had the nerve to stand before the name of Jesus and speak as if he had the approbation of the Lord.

  28. roxanne says:

    Is there any doubt that we are under siege? Everyday we hear and see more attacks against our faith and freedom. These are deliberate, calculated moves to neuter the Church to a state controlled agent of the government. Yesterday we were called “right wing extremist” if we oppose abortion as seen as a terror threat by Homeland Security. St. Michael defend us…..

  29. JC says:

    I’d always been told it stood for “Iesus Hominum Salvator,” but here’s the explanation from the Catholic Encyclopedia:
    http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07649a.htm

    At first, I thought the article was going to say that they covered up the inscriptions to emphasize that Obama wasn’t speaking for the Church. . . .
    Sad.

    “If you deny Me before men, I will deny you before my Father.”

  30. Memphis Aggie says:

    The benefit of tests like this one is that, pass or fail (and Georgetown obviously failed), they identify the players more clearly. No doubt, many universities perpetuate a kind of fraud when they claim to be Catholic yet promote abortion supporters like Obama and here even are ashamed of the name of our savior.

    Now what kind of action can and should the Church (including lay Catholics of course) take in response?

  31. Patrick McNally says:

    Astonsihingly, I know some good (faithful, orthodox) Jesuit priests…not many, mind you…but there are some.

    Those who believe that the Devil is not afoot need look no further than the cynical subversion of the Society of Jesus and now the sad corruption of the Legionaries of Christ. Many good and decent men were casualties of their cynical and lost brothers.

    I would publicly appeal to all stalwart, decent and faithfuyl Jesuits to unite, organize and launch an intra-order rebellion…taking back the Society and returning it to the service of Jesus Christ, the Holy Father and the Church. Failing that, I would urge each one to petition the ordinary of his home diocese for an orderly transfer of allegiance from the Society to that (arch)diocese.

    We must, at some point, decide that we will all take strong, uncompromising and unambiguous action to defend our Faith. Prayer is, of course, most important and cannot take a back seat to action…but I believe we must do both (correctly and in charity). Walk Fight and Pray.

    Pray for the conversion of those at Georgetown…Notre Dame…the Society of Jesus…The Legionaries of Christ…the apostate and heretical Catholics in the public eye (McBrien, Pelosi, Kennedys, Cuomo, Giuliani, Schwarzenegger, Jenkins, Kerry, Biden, Kmiec, you know who they are…in charity, please pray for them…thank you).

    Keep the Faith and Keep your powder dry.

  32. Matt says:

    *Obama to speak at muslim mosque*

    Leaked document reveals Whitehouse asks for all visible images of Alah and the Koran to be covered while he visits. Mosque Imam is outraged. Vows Jihad against all who wish to defile their mosque and their god.

    This is just a parody, but it sounds about right to me. People wonder why Islam is spreading around the world. Despite their tactics they very vigoursly defend their religion. It seems the traditional Catholics are the only ones left who really make a lot of noise about Catholic issues.

    Vidi aquam egredientem de templo,a latere dextro.

  33. ckdexterhaven says:

    Londonienses, I agree with almost all of this: “Or are there more subtle politics at play”. What’s SUBTLE about Obama’s attack on Holy Mother Church? Nancy Pelosi going on Meet the Press, Joe Biden, John Kerry, Tom Daschle, Kathleen Sebelius, Doug Kmiec, “Catholics” all. We need to keep praying our Rosaries. Praying and fasting, almsgiving.

  34. Michael says:

    Might as well go to state schools for half the price if this is what a “Catholic” universities do these days!

  35. Thomas in MD says:

    As I noted in the Kmiec thread: Obama is anti-Christ. Maybe not THE Anti-Christ [maybe ;)], but anti-Christ, nonetheless. And he is leading Catholics to perdition. May all the martyrs pray for us as we undergo the test.

  36. Mitchell NY says:

    WHAT !!!!! This is just outrageous..What kind of reasoning is even behind the request…He is attending a Catholic place..Shouldn’t he respect the institution where he is a “GUEST”? It is like going to the WHite House and expecting all symbols of democracy to be removed because you may be a monarchist at heart…It is what it is. Creating a stale, phony atmosphere devoid of the character of its’ Catholic roots is like catering to an atheistic atmosphere. Which would be favoring atheism above other religions..And for any who say atheism is not a religion, it is a set of beliefs and rules just as strong as a religion with a central figure. Does every street that the President drives down and has to stop at a traffic light and look out his window have to cover the crosses that may adorn the tops of Churches in his view on said street? This is not out of respect and tolerance but out of an attempt to obliterate.

  37. Michael says:

    Might as well spend half as much on a state school if this is a “Catholic” university!

  38. NJ Catholic says:

    As an alumnus of Georgetown, I don’t know why everyone is so surprised. In my opinion, Georgetown long ago subverted its mission as a true Catholic university — which is why my donations have been sparse over the years, and are about to get sparser.

    Londiniensis, your first comment about a tactic “to subvert and neuter organised Catholicism” seems on the mark. Showcase prominent Catholics and “Catholic” institutions — convince the average Catholic that if those people and institutions support (or at least don’t actively oppose) the administration positions on life and family issues, it must be ok for Catholics to take those positions (and get some help from the media in mocking Pope Benedict XVI and anyone who supports the true Catholic position) — it’s only a short step to get those Catholics to stop voting pro-life/pro-family, and start voting for the culture of death candidates.

  39. Christa says:

    Father Z:

    I am so pleased you located this story and posted it with your comments. I posted a little snippet about this on another thread last night, but it is important that people see the entire story and understand the implications.

    Faithful Catholics are certainly undergoing a challenge, and I believe it will get worse over the next few years. I include the Church and her faithful as an intention with every Rosary I say.

  40. Jason Keener says:

    This was a shameful action by Georgetown. Georgetown should glory in its Catholic Christian heritage, not try to cover it up.

    Mark 8:38: “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

  41. “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:38

    Exactly what came into my mind as well Father.

  42. Rancher says:

    This simply reinforces why Georgetown and other Jesuit Universities like the one I graduated from do not make the list of 26 truely Catholic colleges and universities in the United States. The Vatican has reviewed our country’s semanaries, now will be looking at women religious. I suggest so called Catholic institutions of higher education may be a good place to visit next.

  43. Catherine says:

    That was a pretty creepy photograph of the juxtaposition of saintly images sliced in half and replaced by American flags and the president. It reminds me of something from Nazi Germany, with the state gradually beginning to take over religious institutions. Obama knows exactly what he is doing, and he is flaunting it in our faces. It’s called “divide and conquer.”

    Notre Dame and Georgetown deserve the demise they surely face, but may God comfort and protect those poor students.

  44. “Si cum jesuitis non cum Jesu itis”

  45. David says:

    Some people have argued that Obama does not want to use religion to further a political ideology. However, Obama did
    evoke the Sermon on the Mount, at this Georgetown appearance, to further his economic agenda. Although Obama failed to mention Jesus Christ by name for the Sermon on the Mount.

    “There is a parable at the end of the Sermon on the Mount that tells a story of two men…‘the rain descended and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house…it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock,’” Obama said.

    “We cannot rebuild this economy on the same pile of sand,” he added. “We must build our house upon a rock.”

    The last statement is particularly ironic since building your house upon a ‘ROCK‘ means to build your house with Christ as the foundation. Obama decided to blot out the real foundation from the timeless parable.

    See the hi-res pictures:
    http://tinyurl.com/djtzgm

  46. Jim says:

    This is just shocking. The US bishops (at least some of them) are discovering that they have spines. There will be repercussions from this.

  47. Bob Ronau says:

    “Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may shine to all that are in the house.” Matthew 5:15

  48. EJ says:

    This is just revolting. The ever increasing audacity of this Administration in its anti-Catholicism the Church is very very concerning.

  49. S. Maria de Perpetuo Succursu, ora pro nobis... says:

    The legend of why Pop Leo XIII created the Prayer to Saint Michael comes to mind here:
    Pope Leo XIII was climbing the steps to the altar when he suddenly stopped, stared fixedly at something in the air and with a terrible look on his face, collapsed to the floor (some accounts say he fell shrieking). The Pope was carried off by those around him to another room where he came around. As one rendition of the story tells it:

    “When asked what had happened, he explained that, as he was about to leave the foot of the altar, he suddenly heard voices – two voices, one kind and gentle, the other guttural and harsh. They seemed to come from near the tabernacle. As he listened, he heard the following conversation:
    The guttural voice, the voice of Satan in his pride, boasted to Our Lord: “I can destroy your Church.”
    The gentle voice of Our Lord: “You can? Then go ahead and do so.”
    Satan: “To do so, I need more time and more power.”
    Our Lord: “How much time? How much power?”
    Satan: “75 to 100 years, and a greater power over those who will give themselves over to my service.”
    Our Lord: “You have the time, you will have the power. Do with them what you will.”

  50. LCB says:

    The full quote that Fr. Z references is even more clear:

    “”Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

    What other word of Our Lord shall we consider today? Perhaps something about covering up lamps?

  51. LCB says:

    When an administration demands that the name of Our Dear Lord and Savior be covered up so he can speak, we have passed the point where there is anything left to discuss.

    O, Barack Obama, return to your God!

  52. It seems to me that by covering the Holy Name,
    Georgetown University did itself a great disservice.
    By covering up the symbol of the Society of Jesus, the
    university is clearly marching hand in hand with Notre
    Dame. How Catholic institutions can bow down to
    President Obama and deny their Catholic identity
    is beyond me.

    It is also important to point out that Georgetown,
    the oldest Jesuit college in the United States,
    was founded by Archbishop Carroll expressly for the
    purpose of educating young men and giving them a
    humanist education. Outside of this endeavor,
    Archbishop Carroll endured tremendous trials
    in order to put the Church on solid ground
    in this country. Would Archbishop Carroll be
    proud of what happened at Georgetown? Assuredly not!

    Our Lady of the Way, pray for us and our country!

  53. RBrown says:

    “When asked what had happened, he explained that, as he was about to leave the foot of the altar, he suddenly heard voices – two voices, one kind and gentle, the other guttural and harsh. They seemed to come from near the tabernacle. As he listened, he heard the following conversation:
    The guttural voice, the voice of Satan in his pride, boasted to Our Lord: “I can destroy your Church.”
    The gentle voice of Our Lord: “You can? Then go ahead and do so.”
    Satan: “To do so, I need more time and more power.”
    Our Lord: “How much time? How much power?”
    Satan: “75 to 100 years, and a greater power over those who will give themselves over to my service.”
    Our Lord: “You have the time, you will have the power. Do with them what you will.”
    Comment by S. Maria de Perpetuo Succursu

    NB: That 75 years referred to the whole Church. It wouldn’t take nearly that long to destroy the Jesuits.

  54. Racjax says:

    Just called Georgetown\’s President\’s office to register my shock. I have never picked up a phone before…usually just email.
    John J. DeGioia, Ph.D., President Phone: (202) 687-4134

    Why didn’t they have the speech in a gymnasium or other lecture hall? This is absolutely beyond the pale.

  55. Matt Q says:

    Christ said, “Ye be not for Me, thou art against Me.” Covering up His name, disregarding His teachings, worshiping Him in lascivious manners, and in personal conduct, enshrining the death of unborn children–all by those whom should already know… yes, there are many who are against Him.

    =====

    Jim wrote:

    “This is just shocking. The US bishops (at least some of them) are discovering that they have spines. There will be repercussions from this.”

    )(

    Yes, we are glad bishops are finding their spines and are standing upright–not like slithery kind quite a few of us are stuck with. You spoke of repercussions. Such as what? Thirty years of nonsense in my diocese and still going strong. We’re still waiting for “repercussions.”

  56. I am not Spartacus says:

    Or are there more subtle politics at play? Is this part of a longer-term Josh Lyman style tactic to subvert and neuter organised Catholicism? Kmiec, Sebelius, Kennedy, Notre Dame and now Georgetown are already in play. What next?

    Londiniensis. Kudos. (even though I don’t know who Josh Lyman is)

    Rham Israel Emanuel and Barack Hussein Obama are Summa Cum Laude graduates of Chicago Style Politics and, as experts in Saul Alinksy tactics, they KNOW how to divide and conquer.

    Both know the desuetude into which the Catholic Church in America has fallen and they are exploiting that reality to their political advantage.

    Will the Catholic Church in America realise it and begin to act like a Church under attack?

    Doubt it.

    IF the Catholic Church begins to oppose him publicly, he can, and WILL, use these invitations, speeches, and photo-ops to “prove” the Catholic Church was supporting him until thus and such and he can, and WILL, suggest (ah-hem) the REAL reason the Catholic Church opposes him is because he is black and historically…blah, blah, blah.

    He has already, successfully, dealt with his major “potential” cultural and political enemy.

    If the Catholic Church does now dare oppose him, legion will be Catholics anxious to attack their own Church as “racist and mean.”

    Meanwhile, someday in the future, the USCCB will huddle-up and decide that “now” is not the time to Teach, Rule, and Sanctify.

  57. John says:

    Is Boston College is next?

  58. Greg Smisek says:

    Speaking of symbols, what’s with using the American flag like a cheap decorator’s motif? I thought only car dealers were that tacky.

  59. Brian M says:

    Please pray for them!

    Our Lady of Victory, pray for us!

  60. Romulus says:

    It wouldn’t take nearly that long to destroy the Jesuits.

    One way or another, the Jesuits have been under assault for quite a long time. This should be no surprise: the enemy must be especially intent on destroying (or corrupting) anything so closely linked to the name of the Savior.

  61. Romulus says:

    he can, and WILL, suggest (ah-hem) the REAL reason the Catholic Church opposes him is because he is black

    Off the top of my head, I can think of three black American ordinaries: Gregory (Atlanta), Steib (Memphis), and Braxton (Lake Charles). As far as I’m aware, none has had anything to say publicly about the Notre Shame scandal. As black Catholics, the Church needs their witness.

  62. Fr. Michael says:

    Henry Edwards wrote:
    Hmm … Should we expect to see the Jesus mural on the Notre Dame library white-washed for Obama’s address, because it’s visible from inside the stadium where the commencement will be held:

    ND states commencement will be held inside the Joyce Center Arena where it’s been for years and years. And of course it won’t be white-washed. Besides, much of the mural can’t be seen from field level, if commencement were needed to be held in the stadium.

    Paul Haley wrote:
    If I were the Pope, I would immediately send apostolic visitors to both NDU and GU for a thorough shaking down.

    Are you referring to National Defense University or Notre Dame University in Lebanon?

    Regarding the original article I would agree that it is quite sad that sacred images were covered for the sake of a civil stage. It touches upon a theology of icon/image which itself touches upon the need for reverence of our lectionaries, evangelaries, statuary, sacramentals in general, etc. God bless.

  63. Subvet says:

    My knowledge of history stinks but weren’t Christians martyred by Rome because they refused to place Christ second to Caesar? Not to deny Him entirely, just give Him second billing.

    Seems we might be headed in the same direction, i.e. “You Catholics can practice your beliefs and worship your Deity as long as our wishes are honored first. Now run along and pray.”

  64. Steve says:

    Those in charge of Georgetown better start checking their hands for any marks that wern’t there before.

  65. Peggy says:

    FYI, Romulus: Bp. Braxton has been in Belleville since 2005 (and embattled by the (white) dissenters for the entirety of his stay). Bp. Braxton replaced Abp. Gregory, now in Atlanta. I do agree, however, that it would be good to hear from black Catholic bishops, yet Abp. Gregory was so enthralled by a black president, I don\’t think we can expect much from him.

  66. Dan Hunter says:

    Is Georgetown still Catholic?

  67. Gary says:

    Another side of this just came to me–maybe this was a good thing.

    Imagine a photo of Obama with the name of Jesus above his head–might subtly imply a divine imprimatur over his presidency, his pro-death views, and his other misguided philosophies.

    Of course he’ll get all that and more at Notre Dame.

    But the way it was handled really puts another blight on Georgetown.

  68. As I said at another blog, the university’s no longer Catholic.

  69. paul says:

    I’ve had it. No more donations to these “Catholic colleges”, I am only donating to truly Catholic organizations.

  70. Ryan says:

    Pray that the Lord may shorten these days (cf. Mat. 24)

  71. Patrick says:

    Georgetown is no longer Catholic. If they were, Obama would not have been asked to speak.

    However, I am VERY glad that the IHS was covered up. We don’t need more photo op’s of Pres. Obama sending a message to the US that says, “Catholics love me and you should too.” Although, I am sure the Georgetown leadership covered the IHS for very different reasons, we should all be pleased with the result, for the alternative would send far worse a message.

  72. Paul says:

    IHS=Iesus Hominum Salvator
    designed by St Ignatius Loyola

  73. S. Maria de Perpetuo Succursu, ora pro nobis... says:

    They should leave it covered up, and wallpaper the rest. It evidently doesn’t mean that much to them anyway, and it is quite hypocritical to keep it there…

  74. Mitch_WA says:

    From the Catholic Encycolopedia:

    IHS

    A monogram of the name of Jesus Christ. From the third century the names of our Saviour are sometimes shortened, particularly in Christian inscriptions (IH and XP, for Jesus and Christus). In the next century the “sigla” (chi-rho) occurs not only as an abbreviation but also as a symbol. From the beginning, however, in Christian inscriptions the nomina sacra, or names of Jesus Christ, were shortened by contraction, thus IC and XC or IHS and XPS for Iesous Christos. These Greek monograms continued to be used in Latin during the Middle Ages. Eventually the right meaning was lost, and erroneous interpretation of IHS led to the faulty orthography “Jhesus”. In Latin the learned abbreviation IHC rarely occurs after the Carlovingian era. The monogram became more popular after the twelfth century when St. Bernard insisted much on devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus, and the fourteenth, when the founder of the Jesuati, Blessed John Colombini (d. 1367), usually wore it on his breast. Towards the close of the Middle Ages IHS became a symbol, quite like the chi-rho in the Constantinian period. Sometimes above the H appears a cross and underneath three nails, while the whole figure is surrounded by rays. IHS became the accepted iconographical characteristic of St. Vincent Ferrer (d. 1419) and of St. Bernardine of Siena (d. 1444). The latter holy missionary, at the end of his sermons, was wont to exhibit this monogram devoutly to his audience, for which some blamed him; he was even called before Martin V. St. Ignatius of Loyola adopted the monogram in his seal as general of the Society of Jesus (1541), and thus it became the emblem of his institute. IHS was sometimes wrongly understood as “Jesus Hominum (or Hierosolymae) Salvator”, i.e. Jesus, the Saviour of men (or of Jerusalem=Hierosolyma).

  75. Harald says:

    As more I see the increasing distance of the American mass media, the politicians and large part of the catholic church from the founding principles of the United States “One Nation under GOD” as more I understand why America is not mentioned in the book of Revelation.
    This clique has thrown GOD out of any kind of their life and replaced it by a masquerade which is incomparable to anything.
    The invitation for that speech, in my opinion not more than an accumulation of platitudes as always, combined with the denial of the living GOD demonstrated once more that the message to Ephesus “You have forsaken your first love” and the message to Laodicea “I know your deeds, that you neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.” REV 2:4 and 3:15-18
    I’m ashamed for the leaders of the GU that I have to quote from that book because I’m the sheep and they should be the shepherds, but they are just as bad as the Pharisees who nailed Jesus on the cross. And it is as they would do it over and over again.

  76. don Jeffry says:

    It made the top of the front page of the Foxnews website!
    http://www.foxnews.com/
    don Jeffry

  77. don Jeffry says:

    Perhaps they should have just left it there and simply added: “anti-“

  78. tjtl says:

    Folks, as a current Georgetown student, all I have to say is that this is not surprising–but still disappointing.

  79. Dino says:

    Have never been to ND, but am told that one of the landmarks there is a prominent statue of Our Lady, and visible all over the campus. Will it be covered or removed for the coronation, err, conferring of the doctorate?

  80. Paul Haley says:

    Fr. Michael,

    I am referring to The University of Notre Dame in South Bend, IN, which I refuse to label “Notre Shame” and Georgetown University in Washington, DC. If there is any shame to be dished out, IMHO it’s all on Fr. Jenkins and on the President of Georgetown U. There are many people associated with both universities who are upset with these scandalous actions.

  81. Gus says:

    This is really unbelievable. The individuals responsible for leading ND and GU into these scandalous acts should be deposed immediately. Unfortunately, I know they wont because even if the bishops wanted to they do not have the power to do so. Hopefully the bishops are organizing a plan to regain authority over these wayward institutions or to disavow.

    Pax et Bonum

  82. MAJ Tony says:

    Paul,

    I think Fr. Michael was just ribbing you for using an incorrect initialization.

    Between the ND and GU scandals and the tax day tea parties, His Obamaness isn’t having a good month. Let the chant begin early **”No Second Term!!!**

  83. little gal says:

    ‘Obama did not mention the name of Jesus during his address. However, he did mention Christ’s Sermon on the Mount.“There is a parable at the end of the Sermon on the Mount that tells a story of two men…‘the rain descended and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house…it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock,’” Obama said.“We cannot rebuild this economy on the same pile of sand,” he added. “We must build our house upon a rock.”

    I say this to Mr. Obama:

    “And thus I clothe my naked villany
    With old odd ends stolen out of 2 holy writ,
    And seem a saint when most I play the devil.”
    King Richard III. Act i. Sc. 3.

  84. Mark says:

    Sad to see old American Catholic institutions so completely divorced from the Church and Her Founder, but so closely attuned to this world its concerns.
    It’s hard to avoid the conclusion that perhaps the majority of the Church in our country is a complete ruin. A nominal Church.

  85. Mary B. Lachney says:

    Georgetown and Notre Dame are both on the same page–no longer to be called Catholic. So sorry about that.

  86. Brendan says:

    Here’s an example of how “Catholic” Georgetown University is:

    63% of undergrads are sexually active
    14% of sexually active students have had a same-gender sex partner
    91% of students think H*yas for Choice should be allowed to distribute condoms
    85% of students believe the Health Center should prescribe birth control
    84% of students think contraception should be allowed to be sold on campus

    I conclude with this:

    “‘As the president of Planned Parenthood and a Catholic, I believe it is immoral for the University to withhold access to birth control to students,’ President and CEO of the Planned Parenthood affiliate of Metropolitan Washington Jatrice Martel Gaiter said. ‘It’s not just immoral; it’s immoral and cruel.’ She said that Georgetown’s contraception policy is based in an outdated ideology rather than the reality of human life, and that if the Church is truly opposed to abortion, it should work in tandem with groups like Planned Parenthood to make it as rare as possible.”

    all statistics from http://www.georgetownvoice.com/2007/04/26/suggestive-figures-grading-on-curves-georgetown-gets-down/

  87. Brian says:

    I attended a Jesuit university in New York City for two and a half years before transferring, and I am not surprised. I used to say that it was not a Catholic university, but a public university that just happened to have a church on campus. From my experience, the Jesuits are academics first and Catholics a distant second, if that. Most would not even wear a collar, preferring civilian clothes. I found priest in support of performing the Vagina Monologues on campus, in support of gay rights, in support of every liberal platitude in the book. I finally gave up trying to connect after showing up for a regularly scheduled confession period, and finding no priest in the church. I don’t mean to paint all Jesuits with a broad brush here, but I find this behavior outrageous, and I can’t keep my mouth shut today. May God forgive them for forsaking His name for an anti-Catholic huckster like Obama.

  88. Jordanes says:

    This hardly surprises — this is the same institution that some years ago invited pornographer Larry Flynt to give a lecture on the First Amendment. Georgetowne’s hosting Mr. Obama and giving him a platform to speak is in keeping with its tradition of ignoring the role and dignity of Catholic higher education.

    That being said, I wonder what our reaction might have been if Georgetowne hadn’t covered over the Holy Name of Jesus, and we had seen images of IHS above Mr. Obama’s head. Would some have take that as an opportunity to bring up Obama being a false Messiah? I suspect anything Georgetowne did about their IHS would have elicited criticism — all the more reason that they should not have invited him.

  89. Judy says:

    It was probably good that they covered up the IHS so that no one would be confused as to who the real Messiah is. You know, all of this is happening for a reason. You can’t fight an enemy you can’t see. Barry O is making sure the enemy is visible. This gives us all a chance to stand up for the Church!

  90. John Enright says:

    I guess that Brian attended Fordham University. I know what he means since I graduated from St. Joe’s in Philadelphia. Great for education; terrible for Catholic values.

  91. Immaculatae says:

    It really bothers me that he keeps quoting scripture with all that he is about… however
    every knee shall bend… including his… at the Name of Jesus.

  92. This is totally consistent with “the Wun” who wants to place himself before God, his laws (e.g. abortion) before God’s Laws. The apostasy marches on.

  93. Crusader says:

    On inauguration day, Obama messed up his oath of office when he had his hand on the Bible, and then he repeated it the next day in private without a Bible. Obama is radically anti-Life. The Obama administration has identified pro-Life people as possible terrorists, while saying we can no longer call radical Islamists “terrorists”. He wants to negotiate with the leaders of Iran, who want to destroy Israel and who believe that causing death and destruction in Judeo-Christian civilization will hasten the coming of the 12th Imam, their messiah. And now he demands that Jesus’ Holy Name be covered up. Do we need any more evidence that he is firmly and quickly setting himself up against Christ and His Church? Jesus told us to watch the signs of the times… I urge all of us to pray as never before, to sacrifice and do penance, to boldly proclaim the Name of Jesus in the public square and in our families, and to invoke the powerful intercession of Mary.

  94. CFS says:

    Just in case anyone is interested in sending an email to GU administrators:

    Dr. John DeGioia (president@georgetown.edu)
    Dr. James O’Donnell (provost@georgetown.edu)
    Fr. Philip Boroughs, SJ (Vice President of Mission and Ministry boroughs@georgetown.edu)

    Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
    St. Michael, Ora Pro Nobis

  95. Theodorus says:

    Quite frankly, I think the Church should have dissolved the Society of Jesus long time ago. The order had served its duty in defending the Church for centuries, but now it has been totally corrupted. When the new Jesuit Superior General was elected, he said that “The Society of Jesus wants to cooperate with the Vatican and obey the Holy Father.” Does that mean you have the freedom to choose not to want to “cooperate” and “obey”? Jesuit order should realize it is only a tool of the Church; without the Holy See, it is nothing! The Holy See doesn’t just need Jesuits’ cooperation, but above all, it requires Jesuits’ total obedience!

  96. English Catholic says:

    I was initially very shocked and disturbed by this. But trying to put a positive spin on it: perhaps Obama realises the whole ‘Obama is your saviour’ thing (which he encouraged) has gone too far, and is now desperately back-pedalling, avoiding any situations or photo ops that might look like he’s perpetuating his image as a saviour. BUT, *if* that’s the reason, then when the White House asked for the symbols to be covered up, Georgetown should simply have arranged for the event to take place in a different, more neutral hall.
    So positive spin or negative spin, Georgetown’s reaction is unforgiveable!

  97. Kat says:

    How much longer do you think Our Lady will be able to hold back Our Lord’s hand from striking us? Actually, how much longer will She really want to? I am frightened for my children!

    God does draw good from evil, always. We are finding Catholics finally standing up and being counted, led by the bishops! Let’s pray that continues, as the attacks come faster and more frequently.

    Parce Domine, parce populo tuo.

  98. RBrown says:

    I guess that Brian attended Fordham University. I know what he means since I graduated from St. Joe’s in Philadelphia. Great for education; terrible for Catholic values.
    Comment by John Enright

    I think that there is no separation of education from “Christian values” (a phrase I do not like).

  99. Barbara Ettner says:

    Why are we all talking to each other about this? We do not need to be convinced that this was an outrage and that Georgetown has betrayed its birthright. We need to pray and act on this.

  100. Larry says:

    All I can say is these guys at Georgetown must be convinced of the sanctity. I sure wouldn’t want Jesus to ask me about denying Him, or covering over my name when He shows THE BOOK to HIS FATHER.

    While it is true the Bishops can’t really control these Universities can they suspend the priests involved? At least until the time they show true understanding and repentence.

  101. Romulus says:

    The order had served its duty in defending the Church for centuries, but now it has been totally corrupted.

    In the past few months, I have helped train two Jesuit priests to celebrate in the Extraordinary Form. One I have trained not only as celebrant, but also as deacon and subdeacon. The Society is in very bad shape, but is getting better — much better — as younger men come along.

  102. John Enright says:

    RBrown said “I think that there is no separation of education from “Christian values” (a phrase I do not like).”

    You obviously didn’t undergo the Jesuit experience.

  103. RBrown says:

    RBrown said “I think that there is no separation of education from “Christian values” (a phrase I do not like).”
    You obviously didn’t undergo the Jesuit experience.
    Comment by John Enright

    I was educated at the Angelicum by Dominicans.

  104. Nick says:

    Sorry that I’m so late in posting, Father, but after reading your wonderful comments, I had to make a comment of my own. Again, sorry for being late, I’m sure my comment won’t mean anything by now.

    I find it interesting that the President used the flags and blue cardboard background. It seems to me he’s putting America before God, and it further seems to me he dosen’t want to offend non-believers at an institution for believers. I believe that would fall under idoltry (former) and false humility (latter).

    But that’s not what frightens me. No, what frightens me about the speech – the flats and cardboard background, to be exact – is the eerie similarity between Obama’s speech and a Nazi wedding I once saw in history class. The similiarity is that Obama has a number of American flags in (what appears to be) an adumtorium where the name of Jesus is blotted out; in the wedding, a Catholic wedding, Nazi flags were up by the altar, and the focus was not on God but on Nazism. It seems like Obama is putting America before God, just as Nazis did. I’m not saying Obama is Hitler, nor the antichrist, but I do find it strange about the similarities. Certainly a church is not an adumtorium, but the Name of Jesus being covered up by a display of blue and American flags, and the Nazi flags waving at the altar of the church…such an eerie similarity. I pray it is only that, though, only a similarity.

  105. Diego says:

    Georgetown? More like GeorgeFROWN.

  106. maureen says:

    I think the line is being clearly drawn between those that are weak and those that are strong.

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