Faithful Pro-Life Catholics Must Reclaim Notre Dame

Is Notre Dame’s “Golden Dome” starting to look more like a shiny veneer for a typical secular university? Has its Catholic identity undergone a theological “gender transition” because of the controversy at its Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies?

According to recent news, the answer is a troubling “yes.”

The ongoing secularization of the South Bend university has culminated in the appointment of Susan Ostermann as the new director of the Liu Institute. Ostermann has established herself as a vocal advocate for abortion, co-authoring pieces claiming that life in the first ten weeks is just a “blastocyst” and arguing that medication abortions are “safer than taking Tylenol.” Most shockingly for a Catholic institution, she has even linked pro-life laws to “white supremacy” and “racism.”

Has one of the world’s preeminent Catholic universities decided that such radical “pro-choice” advocacy demonstrates “terrific leadership acumen”?

However, I am encouraged that two respected professors, who understand the DNA upon which the university was founded, have resigned from the Institute in protest. Professor Robert Gimello, a Research Professor Emeritus of Theology, and Professor Diane Desierto, a world-renowned Professor of Law and Global Affairs, both cut ties this week. Professor Gimello spoke plainly, stating that continued association with the Institute under this leadership was “simply unconscionable.” He rightly noted that the Liu Institute, as the “Asian face” of Notre Dame, should reflect foundational Catholic values. Now, those values tell the world that Catholic moral teaching is fine for the archives in the library’s basement, but not to be exercised in today’s culture.

Sadly, this is not a one-off staffing disagreement; it is further evidence of a deep-seated identity crisis. It is a painful echo of 2009, when the university ignored the pleas of over 80 bishops to allow a staunchly pro-abortion President Obama to speak at commencement.

If Notre Dame wants to follow in the footsteps of other institutions—founded on Christian principles but choosing to become commonplace liberal arts colleges with great football teams—then so be it. At least then they could remove the “CINO” (Catholic in Name Only) label so that Catholic parents, who believe their children are attending a genuine Catholic university, might rethink where they send their children to develop their moral character.

LifeNews Note: Thomas Ciesielka is a media relations consultant working with pro-life organizations across the United States.

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