Posted on 10/19/2012 2:09:21 PM PDT by NYer
October 19, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) President Obama and Mitt Romney traded barbs and shared a meal with Cardinal Timothy Dolan last night at the lavish Al Smith Dinner an annual Catholic charities fundraiser that this year was dogged by controversy over the question of whether the president should have been invited.
Many pro-life activists opposed Obamas presence, citing fears that the light-hearted tone of the evening as well as the inevitable photo-op of the president yucking it up with the cardinal risked leaving the confusing impression that all is amicable between the Catholic Church and the Democratic candidate. The photo-op has occurred as predicated, with various photos in news media of the three laughing participants, similar to the photo on the prominent Politico website.
At the center of the controversy is the presidents HHS birth control mandate which many, including the countrys Catholic bishops, have slammed as an unprecedented attack on religious freedom, as well as his extreme pro-abortion views and support for gay marriage.
A corner has been turned in Church/State relations, and now its time to ready the Body of Christ to withstand governmental, cultural and societal attacks - instead of sitting down, smoking cigars, cracking jokes with the very people who denigrate the sanctity of life and seek to send the Church back to the catacombs, Monica Migliorino Miller, the Director of Citizens for a Pro-Life Society, had told LifeSiteNews when news of Obamas invitation to the Al Smith dinner broke.
Priests for Lifes Fr. Frank Pavone and Judie Brown of American Life League were among those who shared the sentiment.
But at the dinner itself any controversy took a back seat, with the event mostly staying true to its traditional character with Obama roasting his opponent in a light-hearted and self-deprecating speech, and vice versa.
Romney, however, took notably more aggressive advantage of the opportunity in his speech to use humor to his political advantage. He made sure that the presidents strained relationship with the Catholic Church at least registered in the minds of attendees, and those watching on C-Span, joking at one point that the President has found out a way to take out the sting of the Obamacare mandates for the Church. From now on they’re going to be in Latin.
Shortly before this the Republican candidate had mentioned differences between Obama and Dolan, suggesting that they would know if there were no hard feelings if Obamas water turned into wine.
In his concluding remarks, Romney again hinted at the HHS birth control mandate controversy, thanking the Al Smith foundation for its work in defense of the rights of conscience and in solidarity with the innocent child waiting to be born. This last line earned Romney a sustained applause.
For his part, Obama steered clear of any reference to his differences with the Church. At one point, however, after acknowledging the extraordinary work that is done by the Catholic Church, the president went on to quote Scripture, saying, tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope” - a scriptural choice that left one of the country’s top Catholic media personalities scratching his head.
EWTNs Raymond Arroyo, host of The World Over, noted the remark, tweeting, In light of HHS mandate, seems an odd citation.
In the days before the dinner, thee New York Post had quoted an anonymous source close to Dolan suggesting that the Cardinal wasnt entirely comfortable with his decision to invite Obama. The source claimed, He knows the president wants this for one reason, and thats the photo.
But if the cardinal had any qualms, he didnt show it last night. In his concluding remarks, the cardinal, who has been in the thick of the charge against the Obama administrations HHS mandate, defended the event, saying, might I suggest that this annual dinner actually shows America and the Church at their best?
Here we are: in an atmosphere of civility and humor, hosted by a Church which claims that joy is the infallible sign of Gods presence; men and women; young and old; of every ethnic and racial background.
Dolan went on to mention Al Smiths conviction that government should be on the side of the uns the unemployed, the unhoused, the unfed, and the un-wed mother, and her innocent, fragile un-born baby in her womb.
Reactions to the dinner among pro-life leaders have been largely muted. Deal Hudson, the founder of Catholic Advocate who served previously as the director of Catholic Outreach for George W. Bushs campaign, told LifeSiteNews that he thinks the dinner will either have zero impact on the election, or it will be to [Obamas] detriment.
The media attention to this event did nothing but underscore the contrast of Obama’s pro-abortion position with the teaching of the Catholic Church and, particularly, with Cardinal Dolan, he said.
Hudson pointed to the loud applause and cheering that erupted when Cardinal Dolan mentioned the unborn in his concluding remarks, which he said, tells you the audience was waiting for the pro-life message to be delivered in Obama’s presence.
Jill Stanek, a popular pro-life blogger and activist, said that after watching the speeches she was undecided about the event. I understand the view that Obama should not have been invited to speak, that to give him the podium could be viewed as giving him tacit approval, she said. I held that view before watching the speeches on t.v. and catching the vibe. I may still hold that view; Im persuadable.
Fr. Frank Pavone, however, said he believes the dinner was ultimately harmful. No doubt, the Obama campaign will use his presence at the dinner to say, Look, Im not attacking the works of the Catholic Church. On the contrary, Ive helped raise money for them,” Pavone told LifeSiteNews. “Meanwhile, the actions of his Administration continue to threaten the very survival of Catholic institutions.”
Pavone said he believes in “respectful dialogue” with those with whom Priests for Life disagrees, pointing to some of his friendships with pro-abortion activists. But, he said, “We just seek to do it in ways that minimize the chances that it will be exploited for the political gain of those on the other side of the disagreement.
“Engage Obama respectfully, yes, but dont use him for fundraising or let him use us by claiming credit for the fundraising.
Future history books should read, “And the Holy men sat with Satan and shared laughter”...
Please see the video “Let The Persecution Begin” here:
Tried to access it on UTube, but, it’s not working. hmmmm...
The ruling classes, be they in business, politics, or religion, hold ONLY the masses accountable for transgressions. Among themselves, comity reigns.
... at Satan’s expense. While he unknowingly was led to his defeat.
Finished the sentence for you.
The story in the press today was about Romney being the life of the party, and his jokes stand as a big FU to the professional comedians that just can’t find anything funny about Obama.
Romney hammered him. The upshot of all this is that the Catholics end up becoming R’s after decades of being D’s. It happened with the southern states . . .
Romney was great, although his comedic timing could use a little refinement. A most telling line of his was when he said that the headlines would say: “Obama embraced by the Catholic church..... Romney dines with Rich People”. He knew exactly what Obama was looking for there and received... a tacit approval from the Catholic clergy and the photo-op that would help defuse the animosity built by his anti-catholic policies.!!
Ping
Romney also showed comedians how to make fun of Obama, which they have never been comforatble with doing.
might I suggest that this annual dinner actually shows America and the Church at their best?”
Cardinal Dolan is either stupid or evil; he didn’t act like he was sitting down with one of the most dedicated supporters of the murder of children.
If he had sat down with Hitler in 1944, would his defenders find some loophole that would justify that?
On another thread I said too many in the Catholic hierarchy had stopped believing in the Divine Presence in the Eucharist; I’ll add this to growing evidence that too many in the Catholic hierarchy also stopped believing abortion is the murder of a child. It shows in how Catholics vote; they’ve apparently stopped believing in Hell.
Read the article above and just heard a replay on Hannity and it hit me...
Romney was Dressing Obama Down.
No one sees it, it was brutal.
My guess it gets in his head and in the next debate Obama as performance is not good at all...
No GD America or Jew hating? This can’t be the (w)right church..???
For a non comedian I thought his timing was very good. I would put that performance up with a typical Leno or Letterman monologue.
I thought Romney had a very good deadpan style. He reminded me of Steve Martin in his less zany roles.
No one sees it, it was brutal.
You can bet your bottom dollar that obama saw it.
I agree, and really hope he has a few more jokes up his sleeve for the next debate. Obama is thin skinned, not quick witted, and trapped up on a stage. Romney can destroy him with a couple of good jokes, even if they are harmless to Obama, because Obama would know he can't counter them. It would knock him completely off his game, especially if he comes out attacking.
You are too correct- and it is a crisis for the Church. When clergy abandone essential doctrine (Real Presence), or parse it to mean something else, it is scandal in the extreme.
Cardinal Dolan however, is neither evil nor stupid. Quite the opposite- stay tuned.
I was going to say: Imagine Fulton Sheen sitting down and yucking it up with Adolf Hitler!
What has become of the leaders of our Church? They seem to have lost the four cardinal virtues in their souls: Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, and Temperance.
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