Dear Father Jenkins,
I join my voice to those of many of my brother bishops and those of hundreds of thousands of lay faithful to ask that you rescind your invitation to President Obama to speak at the Notre Dame commencement and receive an honorary degree. As you know, the priests and brothers of Holy Cross have long been associated with this diocese. In the years of my service here I have found them to be among the very finest of our clergy. This unfortunate decision of yours now reflects negatively on these good men.
I have read your apologia in defense of your action. It is not convincing. Your attempt to justify your invitation by appealing to the title of the 2004 publication of the USCCB is little more than an exercise in legalism. We Catholics must be about the business of standing unambiguously and always on the side of life. Regardless of the title of the document, Notre Dame, arguably the premier Catholic university in the United States, has sent a message to countless Catholics that you will not take this stance. I am convinced that this will prove to be most unfortunate for the university and for the faith of many, many Catholics. And your invitation to the president speaks far more loudly than your disclaimer that you disagree with him on the life issues.
Even though you have made it very clear that you will not withdraw your invitation to the president, my conscience demands that I express my profound disappointment.
May Our Lady, patroness of the university and Mother of the Church, seek the graces needed for you to reverse the action you have taken.
Fraternally yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Michael J. Sheridan
Bishop of Colorado Springs