Dear Father Jenkins

We are students and alumni of Notre Dame fighting for the protection of our consciences, our faith, and our university. We pray in a special way this Lenten season for the university to proclaim — boldly & unapologetically— the Catholic mission of Notre Dame.

We petition Fr. Jenkins to take action against the unjust HHS mandate imposed by our government with a series of letters over the 40 days of Lent.

April 7, 2012: As we arrive at Holy Saturday, the final day before our Lord’s glorious Resurrection on Easter Sunday, we submit the "Unacceptable" statement as a letter to Father Jenkins and prayerfully request that he add his signature to its closing.

Father Jenkins, throughout Lent we have prayed for your strength and the grace necessary to proclaim the “good news” by standing athwart the bad. — As the disciples rejoiced on the other side of these mysterious three days of the Triduum, encountering the Resurrected Christ and understanding, finally, the trial and suffering that had taken place, may you also receive this same abiding peace as encounter your unenviable mission. Our prayers will remain with you.

To participate, please submit your letter to dearfrjenkins@gmail.com

Apr 5 2012

Day 38- Cynthia Brenner ‘09

Dear Father Jenkins,

As an alumna of Notre Dame and a current grad student at Georgetown, the differences between the schools could not be more evident. Georgetown has announced that they will be following the HHS mandate, which does not shock me as the Catholic identity of the school is weak. But at Notre Dame, we do not hide our Catholic faith. We do not hand out condoms in student centers. And we do not reduce to our lowest common denominator. We are strong in our Catholic identity and now is the time to show it.

Before coming to Georgetown, I took for granted the strong presence of Catholic identity at Notre Dame. At ND, every classroom has a crucifix, every dorm a chapel, and mass on the quad is a regular, well-attended occurrence. In the past we have not been afraid to portray our faith; a government mandate is no reason to stop. 

The illegality and the unconstitutionality of the issue aside, it is time to put our faith into practice. We should not bend as other universities have; Catholic doctrine is clear and unwavering. Why aren’t we?

God, Country, Notre Dame,

Cynthia Brenner ‘09

To participate, please submit your letter to dearfrjenkins@gmail.com

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