Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York praised University of Missouri football star Michael Sam for coming out as gay, saying he would not judge the athlete for his sexual orientation.
“Good for him,” Dolan said in an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” airing Sunday.
“I would have no sense of judgment on him,” Dolan continued. “God bless ya. I don’t think, look, the same Bible that tells us, that teaches us well about the virtues of chastity and the virtue of fidelity and marriage also tells us not to judge people. So I would say, ‘Bravo.'”
March 9, 2014 at 12:23 pm
Uh…so if chastity is a virtue, and ..um… someone isn't, well, chaste…we shouldn't judge his conduct if he defines himself by it? If his self-definition is "I am unchaste" how is coming out as "gay" different than coming out as, I dunno', "adulterer"? Would his eminence say "good for you"?
March 9, 2014 at 12:32 pm
Can I get my tubal-ligation yet?
March 9, 2014 at 1:15 pm
The flock is getting confusing messages…Lord have mercy.
March 9, 2014 at 1:15 pm
One infers that the Cardinal loves yukking it up with secular power at the Al Smith Dinner more than he loves the soul of Michael Sam.
March 9, 2014 at 2:04 pm
He just unwittingly gave an added implicit green light to millions of heterosexual youth in America about doing non married sex. He didn't mean to because he really is a form of airhead. Is there an upside…a silver lining? Well he'll bring many hyper yuk yuk jesters back to the fold if anyone on earth can do so. That's about it.
March 9, 2014 at 3:13 pm
What in hell?
March 9, 2014 at 4:08 pm
Mark Shea would say you people are reactionaries, holier than thou…
March 9, 2014 at 4:29 pm
What a joke this whole conversation is. The NFL is a cesspool of rampant heterosexual perversity with illegitimate children strewn all across the country and we're talking about Michael Sam?
March 9, 2014 at 4:38 pm
John Sobieski, same thing occurred to me except I thought of adults who were attracted to children. Who am I to judge?
March 9, 2014 at 4:52 pm
When Queen Isabella of Spain was plagued by a particularly idiotic Cardinal in her realm, and when entreaties to Rome did no good, she began having public Masses said for this Cardinal's removal from Church life. After a time her public prayers were apparently answered and the Cardinal died. Immediately upon hearing of his death the Queen had a Ted Deum sung.
This anecdote can be found in William Walsh's meticulously researched biography, "Isabella of Spain", a book I would highly recommend any Catholic to read. I dare say there is no one in high position today who would do the same vis-a-vis Cardinal Dolan, but that wouldn't stop a mere layman like myself from having a few Masses said for the same purpose – to rid the Church of the likes of Timothy Dolan.
Since the Cardinal has just confirmed a poor sinner in his unnatural vice and mortal sin his removal from Church life would seem to be mandatory.
March 9, 2014 at 5:39 pm
Catholic Democrat, you have a point.
March 9, 2014 at 5:46 pm
I thought the comment meant that he's not judging the orientation but judging any acts based on it just as he'd judge an unmarried man and woman.
March 9, 2014 at 5:59 pm
Why aren't both points worth bringing to light? It doesn't have to be either/or. The culture has been inundated with unchastity among heterosexuals for a long time. Yes, that definitely needs to be addressed. But we should not let those pushing for the acceptance of homosexual lifestyles have a pass because there are other fish to fry, so to speak. Addressing the morality of practicing homosexuality needs to happen, especially from our priests and bishops.
March 9, 2014 at 6:18 pm
This blog is more like 'The Vortex' every day.
March 9, 2014 at 6:23 pm
No, the media was talking about it and in doing so with Cardinal Dolan he came across as condoning homosexuality. Now I am sure that wasn't his intent, but others certainly won't make that distinction. It will all be part of the "Who am I to judge" bandwagon headed down a highway. You judge the destination.
And your comments about the NFL in general are completely true.
March 9, 2014 at 6:24 pm
I don't watch the Vortex, Harry. Tell me about it since you apparently know so much.
March 9, 2014 at 6:33 pm
So, did the Bishop answer this letter?
March 9, 2014 at 6:39 pm
For one thing, I think homosexual sodomy is practiced by like 3 percent of the population so the problem just utterly pales in comparison to things like no fault divorce and pornography(which literally wouldn't exist without a much more pervasive heterosexual sodomy). Also, we come off as hypocritical and are subject to barbs like, "I'm sorry my gay marriage is damaging to the sanctity of your 3rd marriage".
I wish the Cardinal would have said something like, "According to the Catechism, homosexuals are not to be subject to unjust discrimination so I am happy that he will be able to pursue his career in the NFL. Nevertheless, I don't condone his lifestyle or the lifestyles of his future teammates which overwhelmingly fall short of Catholic teaching in the area of sexual morality."
March 9, 2014 at 6:59 pm
Catholic Democrat, if I had any "in" to this Cardinal, I would type up your words and pin them to his hat. Brilliant!
But
please be patient with the poor souls looking at this and being
absolutely horrified by the Cardinals words. I have a convert husband
who is wavering and two teenage girls with multiple gay friends. We are
taken aback when we see words like the Cardinals on tv, when what we
really want are words like yours.
March 9, 2014 at 7:35 pm
Dolan should have said he has no comment on the topic. Is Michael Sam even Catholic? If not, this is like me announcing that I like bacon and having some rabbi announce on TV that he doesn't judge my dietary choices. Um, thanks, rabbi,