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Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana, Bishop Kevin Rhoades on Feb. 11 expressed “dismay” and “strong opposition” to the University of Notre Dame’s appointment of a pro-abortion professor to a leadership position at the school, with the bishop urging the university to “make things right” and rescind the appointment.
Notre Dame has been at the center of controversy since early January when it named global affairs Professor Susan Ostermann as director of the school’s Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies.
Ostermann is an outspoken pro-abortion advocate who has regularly criticized the pro-life movement, up to and including linking it to white supremacy and misogyny. The university has come under fire for the appointment, including from Catholic advocates and pro-life students at Notre Dame.
Bishop urges school to retract appointment
In his Feb. 11 statement, Rhoades — whose diocesan territory includes the university — said that since the controversy began he has read many of Ostermann’s pro-abortion op-eds and was moved to “express my dismay and my strong opposition to this appointment,” which he said is “causing scandal to the faithful of our diocese and beyond.”
Ostermann’s public support of abortion and her “disparaging and inflammatory” criticism of the pro-life movement “go against a core principle of justice that is central to Notre Dame’s Catholic identity and mission,” the prelate said.
The professor’s pro-abortion advocacy and her remarks about pro-life advocates “should disqualify her from an administrative and leadership role at a Catholic university,” Rhoades said.
While expressing hope that Ostermann would “explicitly retract” her pro-abortion advocacy and change her mind on abortion, the bishop said that the appointment “understandably creates confusion” regarding Notre Dame’s Catholic mission and identity.
Leadership appointments “have [a] profound impact on the integrity of Notre Dame’s public witness as a Catholic university,” Rhoades said.
The bishop in issuing the letter cited the apostolic constitution Ex Corde Ecclesiae, which directs in part that bishops “have a particular responsibility to promote Catholic universities, and especially to promote and assist in the preservation and strengthening of their Catholic identity.”
“I call upon the leadership of Notre Dame to rectify this situation,” Rhoades said. Noting that Ostermann’s appointment is not scheduled to go into effect until July 1, the prelate wrote: “There is still time to make things right.”
The university did not immediately respond to a request for comment from EWTN News. Yet the school has defended Ostermann’s appointment since the controversy erupted, telling media that she is “a highly regarded political scientist and legal scholar” who is qualified to lead the Liu Institute.
“Those who serve in leadership positions at Notre Dame do so with the clear understanding that their decision-making as leaders must be guided by and consistent with the university’s Catholic mission,” the school said.
Among criticism from both within and without the school, at least two scholars have resigned their position at the Asian studies institute in response to the appointment.
Robert Gimello, a research professor emeritus of theology who is an expert on Buddhism, told the National Catholic Register that his “continued formal association with a unit of the university led by such a person is, for me, simply unconscionable.”
Diane Desierto, a professor of law and of global affairs, also told the Register that she had cut ties with the institute over the appointment.
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Hats off to bishop Rhoades for doing what Christ would have done.
Catholic bishops have studiously neglected their obligation to steer theology departments through the granting or withholding of mandata to theology faculty. The bishop has a much clearer role with theology faculty, but has he been living up to his obligation?
Surely you are correct. In the University, the environment is termed “the scholarly way’, replete with pride obfuscating the Truth.
I am glad that Bishop Rhoades spoke out about this, but I can’t help paraphrasing a line from the movie Casablanca – I’m shocked, shocked that the University of Notre Dame would promote a pro-abortion professor.
I second that motion. Remember, Bishop Rhoades refused to attend the ceremony awarding Obama an honorary degree.
May I call attention to a critique “I’m Done with Notre Dame” by Prof Christopher Smith in the brand new issue of First Things?
Sandra – thank you for the note about Dr. Christian Smith. Everyone should read his article: https://firstthings.com/why-im-done-with-notre-dame/ Catholic convert, Dr. Smith, has done some amazing research, especially trying to understand why youth abandon Christianity. All of his books are worth reading. The most recent is “Why Religion Went Obsolete: The Demise of Traditional Faith in America.” Any “faithful” Catholic university would be lucky to hire him – make him an offer!
Our times of intense spiritual battles brought on by the rebellions in many hearts calling on powers of evil that has to be countered by seeking help of the mighty choirs of holy angels too with their irrevocable wills, powerful intellect & love for us reflecting God’s goodness . The darkening of the intellect, weakening of wills brought on by evil that masquerade under many titles to thus get more effective help .
Consecration to the Guardian angels & ALL the holy angels with our Lord & our Mother in an ongoing manner probably more powerful when also done by those who carry the whole authority of The Church .
https://bookofheaven.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Angel-Consecration-Booklet-2021.pdf
Persons in China & other places too would be grateful to hear of same – that the guardian angel of the unborn is also in the heavenly praises & waiting eagerly for the baby & family to also join more fully where as there are also powers of darkness that would want to claim them for evil .
https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/angelus/2025/documents/20251102-angelus.html
Pope Leo in his Angelus address on Nov 2, 2025 – ‘in fact, each person is an entire world ‘ – in the context of talking about dignity of human being .Surprised that the above sentence has not recieved lot more attention unlike the ocean like misunderstandings & accusations that were directed against Pope Francis for a statement made in compassion to bring hope & focus on The Lord .
Mercy !
Bp Rhoades is on the right track. But can he do more than fulminate? My understanding is that a bishop has “a lot” of say about what goes in his diocese. Does he have the authority to, in effect, nullify this appointment? I am not a lawyer of any kind; I really want to know.
Thanks.
“Does he have the authority to, in effect, nullify this appointment? I am not a lawyer of any kind; I really want to know.”
Bishop Rhoades was formerly the Bishop of Harrisburg (2004-2010) and after the sudden death of Bishop McFadden in 2013, returned for a visit. He had a Mass (I was present) and during the homily, he noted the that while he was going to be present at a “watch party” for the school’s chronic traumatic encephalopathy team, he had to acknowledge that he regularly received complaints from people about Notre Dame’s various actions that were at odds with authentic Catholicism and then explained how little formal authority he had over the schools operations. That was 2013.
If this is all he can muster after being the Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend in Indiana since 2009, the administration will hardly be moved. This appointment was an explicit sign of contempt.
Remember the university dropped “acceptance and support for the Catholic mission” from its core staff values this past fall, but then reinstituted it under public pressure.
So we can conclude that “Don’t Be Fooled: Notre Dame’s About-Face Isn’t a Return to Faith” (The school’s Catholic heritage is being hijacked by a godless agenda.} by John Mac Ghlionn was an accurate assessment.
from that essay:
“In September, when the Indiana attorney general requested records on the university’s DEI practices, the response wasn’t transparency but silence. When scrutiny increased, the DEI center simply changed its name, swapping one label for another while keeping the same work humming beneath it.”
If they won’t respond to the Attorney General who has the power of subpoena and indictment, why should they respect the Bishop who concedes the limits of his authority?
Notre Dame has just under 9,000 undergraduate students paying about $67.000 in tuition. All colleges are high fixed cost operations-the buildings need to be heated whether there’s full classrooms or not. That means their finances are “enrollment sensitive”.
You want to fix Notre Dame? Give them the Bud Light treatment. They can tell us they don’t care about money all they want, but that’s what we call “a crock” in my neck of the woods. They aren’t charging their undergraduates over a quarter of a million dollars for a degree because they hate money.
I think a tougher man would simply make a video telling people that it’s pointless to spend $67,000 a year to send their children to a place that will subvert their faith as it claims to enhance it. Instead, send them to a secular school, where the hostility to faith will be more obvious and less expensive. Lacking formal authority doesn’t mean powerlessness.
The birth dearth that we’ve had for decades, but which accelerated with the “mortgage crisis” in in 2008 is now relevant to colleges. Babies who weren’t born in 2008 and beyond won’t be matriculating as freshman in 2026 and beyond. It is a fact that some colleges will have to close-if it happens that Notre Dame is among those schools due its fraud in the inducement, so be it.
Unless I cam mistaken, he can forbid any priest in his diocese from celebrating the Mass (at least a public celebration, maybe not a private, personal one, which I think the Church allows of her Roman Rite priests).
Imagine being the President or on the Board of ND, and the local bishops says “Yeah, you’re not celebrating Mass publicly in my Diocese.”
.
He can also declare that ND is “not” Catholic.
.
It appears Notre Dame does not worry about their Catholic mission and identity. Behind it all is the same old oppression and corruption affecting the fallen world’s character.
We can only open up our prayers to God and His Mercy.
Having just read Christian Smith’s “Why I’m Done With Notre Dame,” this is not surprising!
https://firstthings.com/why-im-done-with-notre-dame/
As a ND alum, I also read Professor Smith’s piece. While I thought it seemed a little overwrought on some points, it does provide some truly disturbing information that suggests the appointment of the abortion advocate Professor Ostermann is just the tip of the iceberg. Specifically, it presents convincing evidence of the transformation of what was once Our Lady’s University away from its historic Catholic identity to a purely secular —and even anti Catholic in some respects—institution. Thankfully, there are still truly Catholic institutions that faithfully offer was once ND’s Catholic identity and mission, like Christendom College, Franciscan University and Thomas Aquinas College.
In recognition of the advice of contemporary Catholicism’s greatest theologian Joseph Ratzinger, that “where humour dies, the spirit of Jesus Christ is assuredly absent” [Principles of Catholic Theology], this writer offers this observation of Bishop Rhodes ‘expressed dismay’ and ‘strong opposition’ – as an heroic expression of feelings.
Following such a tongue lashing Ms Ostermann in turn must feel a bit perturbed.
In fairness to Bishop Rhodes, Notre Dame is positioned in his Diocese as an independent Catholic institution. Although, there’s a canonical mandate for Theology Teachers: Anyone teaching theology in an institute of higher studies must have a mandate from the competent ecclesiastical authority (Canon 812).
However, as this article indicates Ms Ostermann is director of the school’s Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies. Nevertheless, he can demand she refrain from addressing abortion, and if she refused to comply he would likely have grounds for her dismissal.
This falls in line when they gave Obama an Honorary Doctorates degree. Obama was the most pro-abortion president ever.
What can bishop Rhoades do BESIDES voicing disapproval of this faculty person? That’s so easy a question that any imbecile could answer. Here’s what I’d suggest: Bishop Rhoades should take out a full page ad in the Ny Times, the Washington Post, the Miami Herald, etc and say very simply this: “For the following reasons NO CATHOLIC should consider apllying for admission to Notre Dame University which is located in my diocese.”
Then watch how sparks will fly and Notre Dame will do something to return to the Catholic Church. Will he do it. Nope, because he’s as feckless as the rest. .
Deacon Peitler above (12:56 p.m.) – “Nope, because he’s as feckless as the rest.”
With friends like this, what bishop needs enemies?
Cleo: demonstrate to us that my characterizing our USA bishops as “feckless” is an inaccurate portrayal. Demonstrate to us specific acts of courage and heroism where they took risky stands in favor of truth. You cannot.
I know personally what it feels to have an abortion. I was in my late teens and became pregnant. I believed the man who made me pregnant would marry me and raise this child. Instead he told me he did not love me and would pay for this abortion. Recently after, my father told his daughters that any of us become pregnant we would be thrown out of the house and never return to live in the same house. At that time I knew no Catholics. There was nowhere I could go for help. I had this abortion and soon regretted it!!! I and the child I was carrying were not accepted. I spoke to the man who made me pregnant on the phone and told him that this so called relationship was ended. Many months later, I saw the same man in a truck with a fellow worker while waiting for the bus. I thought to myself, I would leave the bus stop and return home. While I was leaving I overheard the fellow worker say to this man, “She is so angry with you for what you did to her” I never saw him again. Now I am a Catholic. All human lives are so very important to our Great Loving Lord God, even those in the womb!!!HE LOVES ALL OF US GREATLY EVEN THE UNBORN… Let ALL CATHOLICS AND CHRISTIANS REMEMBER THIS!!!
IN Christ’s Love
Valerie
I grieve for your life-long pain and for the loss of your beloved baby. May the God who forgives much to those who love much grant you His peace.