Posted on 10/19/2012 1:23:08 PM PDT by NYer
.- An annual Catholic fundraising dinner with both major presidential candidates provided a night of laughter, as well as reminders of the Church’s battle to defend its religious freedom against the federal contraception mandate.
Al Smith, former New York governor and the namesake of the charity dinner, believed that government should aid those in need by “partnering with family, church, parish, neighborhood, organizations and community, never intruding or opposing,” said Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York.
In the final weeks of what has become a very close presidential race, President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney took a night off from campaign events to attend the 67th annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York.
The Oct. 18 dinner was held amid a tense struggle between the Catholic community and the Obama administration.
The Archdiocese of New York has joined with over 100 other plaintiffs in filing lawsuits against the administration’s federal contraception mandate, which requires them to violate their faith by facilitating insurance coverage of contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs.
Cardinal Dolan’s invitation to the president under these circumstances drew criticism from those who feared it may send the wrong message, allowing Obama to have a photo-op with the church leader while downplaying the significance of the Church’s conflict with the administration.
While the attendance of presidential rivals is a longstanding tradition at the dinner, previous cardinals have failed to extend invitations to the contenders when Bill Clinton and John Kerry were running, reportedly due to their support for abortion.
The cardinal defended his decision in an Aug. 14 blog post, saying that his commitment to religious freedom had not waned, but that he saw the invitation as an opportunity for “engagement and dialogue.”
“In other words, it’s better to invite than to ignore, more effective to talk together than to yell from a distance, more productive to open a door than to shut one,” he said.
Laughter filled much of the evening as the candidates poked fun at themselves and each other on topics including the wealth that Romney amassed as a businessman and Obama’s poorly rated performance in the first presidential debate.
In a reference to his Mormon faith, which forbids the consumption of alcohol, Romney joked that his debate preparation includes refraining “from alcohol for 65 years before the debate.”
Touching on the subject of media bias, he said the next morning’s headlines describing the event would read, “Obama Embraced by Catholics. Romney Dines with Rich People.”
Romney also broached the subject of the contraception mandate in his remarks, saying, “Of course the president has found a way to take the sting out of the Obamacare mandates for the Church. From now on, they're going to be in Latin.”
On a serious note, Romney praised the work of the archdiocese and the Al Smith Foundation.
“You answer with calm and willing hearts and service to the poor and care for the sick, in defense and the rights of conscience and in solidarity with the innocent child waiting to be born,” he said, adding that he is proud to be an “ally and friend” in these “great causes of compassion.”
President Obama offered humorous jabs of his own, saying that he had earlier gone “shopping at some stores in Midtown,” while Romney “went shopping for some stores in Midtown.”
“As some of you may have noticed, I had a lot more energy in our second debate,” the president said. “I felt really well rested after the nice long nap I had in the first debate.”
Leaving humor behind, the president also applauded “the extraordinary work that is done by the Catholic Church.” He noted that “it's written in scripture that tribulation produces perseverance, and perseverance, character, and character hope.”
Despite their differences, he said, “I'm certain, that we share the hope that the next four years will reflect the same decency, and the same willingness to come together for a higher purpose that are on display this evening.”
Cardinal Dolan closed out the night with remarks that began jokingly but then became reflective on the nature and importance of religious freedom.
He suggested that the annual dinner “shows the United States of America and the Catholic Church at their best,” uniting people of diverse faiths, economic backgrounds and political views in “an atmosphere of civility and humor.”
Despite their differences, he said, those gathered are grateful “to be people of faith and loyal Americans, loving a country which considers religious liberty our first and most cherished freedom, convinced that faith is not just limited to an hour of Sabbath worship, but affects everything we do and dare and dream.”
The cardinal concluded the evening by acknowledging “the ‘uns’ of the world,” including “the unemployed, the uninsured, the unwanted, the unwed mother, the innocent, fragile unborn baby in her womb, the undocumented, the unhoused, the unhealthy, the unfed, the undereducated.”
He recalled Al Smith’s conviction that government “should be on the side of these ‘uns,’” by cooperating with private individuals and religious groups “since, when all is said and done, it’s in God we trust, not, ultimately, in government or politics.”
Cardinal Dolan flew in from Rome, yesterday, where he is attending the Synod. He acknowledged the benefactor who sent his private jet to bring Dolan to Rome and on which he was returning after the dinner. That is quite a schedule, even for Dolan! He will be heading up a peace delegation for Syria, at the pope’s request.
The cardinal concluded the evening by acknowledging “the ‘uns’ of the world,” including “the unemployed, the uninsured, the unwanted, the unwed mother, the innocent, fragile unborn baby in her womb, the undocumented, the unhoused, the unhealthy, the unfed, the undereducated.” He recalled Al Smith’s conviction that government “should be on the side of these ‘uns,’” by cooperating with private individuals and religious groups “since, when all is said and done, it’s in God we trust, not, ultimately, in government or politics.”
Good perspectgive from the Cardinal. Scanning the coverage from a half-dozen news outlets, I see almost nobody caught it.
Or cared to catch it.
So was the jollity-in-the-midst-of-fighting-for-our-lives worth doing?
I don't know.
Imagine me shrugging.
Thoroughly enjoyed the show, but does Cardinal Dolan actually believe that ‘reaching across the aisle,’ so to speak, would achieve one positive thing for the RCC? IMHO Cardinals O’Connor and Egan were more on-track.
I don’t know why pro-abortionist types should have seats of honor on the dais. Katie Couric? Chris Matthews? Seriously? Everyday Catholics who actually practice their faith won’t find a seat on that dais but big-name media celebrities who advance everything the Church says it stands for are front row center?
It won’t happen in my lifetime, but I would LOVE to see the Church excommunicate all so-called Catholics who promote or support abortion.
Somebody said they raised $5 million for Catholic Charities. Does that make it worth it? Somebody said 60% of the ballroom was probably supporting Romney. Who said? Is that true? Is that good?
I'm thinking it's the "glamor of evil" --- the thing we all promised to reject at Baptism --- and the Bonfire of the Vanities.
On the other hand, I can't exclude the Holy Spirit's power to send down the seeds of Divine Grace and make them fertile anywhere, any time. Even when our contribution is so little.
No! He took a lot of heat from pro-lifers for inviting Obama. Dolan operates on the premise that you dine with sinners and leave the rest up to God. Last night's benefit raised more than $5 million for Catholic schools and outreach programs for children. It's a good cause that began with Al Smith and continues annually.
Bingo!
Did the Al Smith dinner raise any less $ (adjusted for inflation) when they excluded Clinton? I admire Catholic Charities, They do extraordinary work. But that’s not the issue. This seems to be making the proverbial deal with the devil.
Weren’t MA Catholic Charities adoption agencies forced to close down because they wouldn’t allow same-sex adoptions? That is a part of Obama’s (and his fellow travelers’) long term agenda. I really don’t think any big-time RCC-related event should be embracing an Obama (or, even more so, nominal Catholics like Cuomo, Pelosi, Biden or Durbin). How can they preach on Sunday that abortion under any circumstances is a mortal sin, then dine on Thursday with proponents of unconditional abortion? I would never make it in the world of politics and diplomacy.
Obama got what he wanted from the Al Smith Dinner.Obama got his picture next to the smiling jolly Cardinal.Yes it is ok to vote for the most pro-abortion President in the history of the United States.Nancy Pelosi never got her picture with Pope Benedict.
“Of course, the economy’s on everybody’s minds,” Obama began. “The unemployment rate is at its lowest level since I took office.” Here, typically, audiences might have expected a funny line. Instead, Obama looked dead-serious. “I don’t have a joke here,” he said. “I just thought it would be useful to remind everybody that the unemployment rate is at the lowest it’s been since I took office. And we’re getting to that time when folks are making up their minds.”
Still think it’s a good cause, NY’er?
Are you sure? I assumed it was for the Al Smith Foundation.
The Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner is an annual white tie charity fundraiser for Catholic Charities USA, held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York on the third Thursday of October.
I notice some of the news items said "Catholic Charities" (with both c's capitalized) and some said "Catholic charities" (2nd c lowercase.) The Guardian (left-wing and UK) said "various children's charities."
Because it's actually "Catholic Charities," that's why Cardinal Dolan's role was to offer (or not offer) the invitation to Obama and Romney: because he's the Chairman of the Board of Catholic Charities.
As I understand it.
Thanks for the clarification.
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