Ah, religion and politics, my favorite.
At first blush, the decision by President Obama not to offer Timothy Cardinal Dolan an invitation to offer a benediction at the Democrat National Convention seems like bad politics. After all, the Catholic Vote (if there is such a thing) is crucial to the President’s re-election hopes. The President has had a tough year with Catholics, what with all that destroying religious freedom thing.
So why wouldn’t the President who has already agreed to appear with the Cardinal at the Al Smith dinner have a willing Cardinal Dolan offer a benediction at the DNC? Why wouldn’t he have the Cardinal there when that could easily give the impression that the President is still friendly toward the Catholic Church?
Bill Donohue of the Catholic League said
““The Catholic vote is the most critical vote. They’re the wild card,” Donohue told The Post. “So, why wouldn’t you ingratiate yourself to the pope of America and send a wink and a nod to Catholics? That’s just good politics.”
Like I said, at first blush it seems like bad politics. Its not. Its all about who does the inviting.
The President is comfortable ..
August 25, 2012 at 4:08 pm
When the DNC convention is looking to be a wild celebration of abortion on demand and free contraception for all, why on earth would Himself allow a Roman Catholic Prelate anywhere near a microphone? I hope Dolan roasts Obama's goose at the Al Smith dinner and openly chastises him and his party for their love affair with the culture of death.
August 25, 2012 at 4:26 pm
Isn't the ANOTHER high uppity Catholic gonna give the invocation or something? Could it be a nun?
August 25, 2012 at 4:27 pm
Wish "there" was a edit button.
August 25, 2012 at 7:00 pm
Dolan is getting the treatment he deserves for his moral vacuousness.
August 25, 2012 at 9:06 pm
I think it will be telling when we discover who the 'high-ranking' catholic is who give the blessing for the DNC. Someone from Georgetown, Notre Dame, or the LCWR would be my guess.
Cardinal Dolan has a strong witty streak, and is more than capable of lampooning Obama and the liberal wealthy catholics who will be at the Al Smith dinner. I believe the news cycle after that meal will be full of comments and quips that will more than outweigh any photo-op. (Yes, I'm using a small 'c' for a reason.) The late-night host will be jealous.
August 26, 2012 at 3:43 am
The Democrats would never ask Dolan to speak in a million years, who are you people kidding? They love dissident Catholics. Their high-profile Catholic members (Pelosi, Biden, Carville, etc.) let them claim to be "just as moral as YOU" — if not moraler! So they can't have Dolan within miles. They have to showcase yet another "sold my soul to the Devil" Catholic who will pray loudly in the marketplace. My husband says Sr. Simone Campbell, who do you think it will be?
August 26, 2012 at 1:34 pm
Kathleen Sebelius, condom queen and Health and Human Services czar, mandate purveyor, absolver of sins against chastity, and backer of Obama's Executive Order to confiscate all private property: Rural Councils Executive Order 13575. The people get condoms and Obama takes all of our property.
August 26, 2012 at 3:08 pm
Kathleen Sebelius, The Wicked Witch of the West, denier of the rational, immortal human soul, for Obama, the redefiner of the human being, the human being as a beast of burden for the state, stripped of sovereign personhood, and all unalienable civil rights and those rights of the Ninth Amendment.
August 28, 2012 at 7:13 am
Dearest most blessed Cardinal Dolan:
Your boss was quoted as once saying
" What you do for the least of these, you do for me".
But your smiling face at the Republican Convention
kinda makes me wonder ….just who you're really working for.
August 30, 2012 at 12:33 am
If there is a political party in the United States that needs a visible religious leader present in its convention it is the Democrats. When the Lord was with us he went directly to those that needed help the most. I can't think of a political party that needs moral healing more than the Democrats.
August 31, 2012 at 5:09 am
I have lost all respect for Bill Donahue, and I didn't have much to begin with. Referring to the president of the USCCB as "the American Pope" is vacuous, at best. Moreover, trying to frame a potential visit solely in terms of "winning the Catholic vote" is condescending drivel that insults every single American Catholic who has more than two functioning brain cells.
What is it with these Irish Catholics in Boston? They were the biggest supporters of the IRA outside of Northern Ireland! I think rooting for the Red Sox has warped their minds…