Posted on 10/19/2012 8:05:04 AM PDT by schmootman
Just yesterday, the Al Smith Dinner, which has been the focus of many efforts at American Life League in our quest to encourage Cardinal Timothy Dolan to disinvite President Barack Obama, took place with the totally pro-abortion president attending and in excellent humor—as was the cardinal.
In his defense of the invitation, the cardinal wrote in his blog, “In the end, I’m encouraged by the example of Jesus, who was blistered by his critics for dining with those some considered sinners; and by the recognition that, if I only sat down with people who agreed with me, and I with them, or with those who were saints, I’d be taking all my meals alone.”
The cardinal apparently abandoned his former rules for choosing dining companions. I say that with all due respect because his statement takes me back a few years to the annual Pro-Life Wisconsin banquet which, in 2009, was scheduled for October 3. I had been invited to be the keynote speaker. Then-Archbishop of Milwaukee, Timothy Dolan, had been invited to sit at the head table with me as well as members of the Pro-Life Wisconsin board. He was asked to offer the opening prayer and reflection. When the archbishop discovered that I was the keynote speaker, he sent a letter to Pro-Life Wisconsin president Peggy Hamill stating that he had to decline the invitation to attend the banquet because Judie Brown was involved in the public castigation of bishops!
Personally, as I look at what is occurring today regarding the Obama situation, I find this troubling to say the least.
On the one hand, he found it problematic that I led and continue to lead a campaign to beseech Catholic bishops to obey canon 915 and deny Holy Communion to pro-abortion politicians. On the other hand, he finds it Christlike to dine with the most pro-abortion president in the history of this nation.
The media is having a field day with the Dolan/Obama encounter, just as we predicted it would. Even before the event one New York Times headline read: “Dolan Will Let Obama and Romney Joke it up at the Al Smith Dinner.” An Associate Press headline read: “Cardinal suing Obama invites him, Romney to dinner.”
I am not attempting to suggest that dining with me in Milwaukee should have garnered any headlines at all, but I am suggesting that Dolan has changed his dining partner comfort zone over the past three years.
When Dolan wrote, “If I only sat down with people who agreed with me, and I with them, or with those who were saints, I’d be taking all my meals alone,” perhaps he didn’t really think it through. Or could it be that he, unlike Christ, would prefer to be the darling of the media elite instead of emulating the good shepherd who, by His teaching and His very presence as the Son of God, brought people to their knees in repentance for their sins?
I cannot answer that, but I remain not only concerned but curious about the double standard. “No Dinner for Obama,” Your Eminence, would have at the very least been consistent with your 2009 mantra, “No dinner with Brown.”
I would humbly observe that one can turn one’s cheek too often.
I think it was great that Barry had to sit there and take an a$$ whopping from Romney.
Dolan and his cohorts are one reason I would NEVER attend a Catholic Church.
There's a difference between kneeling down and bending over too. Dolan doesn't get it on either count.
Judie Brown’s Idiocy
Dolan in his desire for power, connections, and money let these vices override theology, teachings and faith, hence he invited the devil’s disciple, Barq Hussein mohammed 0bama to dine with him.
Personally, as I look at what is occurring today regarding the Obama situation, I find this troubling to say the least. On the one hand, he found it problematic that I led and continue to lead a campaign to beseech Catholic bishops to obey canon 915 and deny Holy Communion to pro-abortion politicians. On the other hand, he finds it Christlike to dine with the most pro-abortion president in the history of this nation.
"...there's a question about whether this canon'' – the relevant church law – "was ever intended to be used'' to bring politicians to heel. He thinks not. "I stand with the great majority of American bishops and bishops around the world in saying this canon was never intended to be used this way.'' -- from the thread [Archbishop] Wuerl: Why I Won't Deny Pelosi Communion
Sadly, Archbishop Chaput has indicated that it is the responsibility of the communicant to stay away from the Communion Rail. This is not correct. Rather, it is the responsibility of the Minister of the Eucharist to deny Holy Communion. This is a huge difference that goes against the Church's teachings regarding canon 915 as well as recent statements from the Vatican stating that the manifest pro-abortion politicians must be denied, and the burden IS upon the Minister to deny, NOT upon the communicant to stay away
. -- from the thread Will Denver Catholic Archbishop finally enforce Canon 915?
Albany Bishop Howard Hubbard says it is "unfair and imprudent" to conclude that Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his girlfriend, Sandra Lee, shouldn't receive Communion simply because they're living together. -- from the thread Bishop: None of your business (Hubbard rejects Catholic expert's criticism of Gov. Cuomo)
[Archbishop Timothy Dolan] also does not outright deny the sacrament to dissenting Catholic lawmakers, but he is seen as an outspoken defender of church orthodoxy in a style favored by many theological conservatives.
-- from the thread US bishops elect NYC archbishop as head in upset (Catholic bloggers blamed)
I was greatly troubled by this invitation. But I’ve changed my mind. It led to the invitation to Cardinal Dolan to give the closing prayer at the DNC. And we all know how that turned out. A wonderful prayer on the sacredness of human life, and thereby a stinging rebuke to everything the DNC stood for. Cardinal Dolan won that round.
And I think he won this round. Just check out the video of Romney’s speech at the dinner last night, and the transcript of Obama’s speech. Obama mostly made jokes about himself—a twisted form of his narcissism? Romney absolutely smashed Obama, and ended by making it clear that Catholics stand for the innocent babies in the womb.
Judy Brown seems to have gone over the edge. I always supported her, and used to send money, but I think she is ignoring here the fact that Dolan’s appearance at the DNC and this Al Smith Dinner both worked AGAINST Obama and his death-dealing ways. That’s better than being a purist and refusing to associate with tax collectors.
Not much chance of converting Obama, I don’t think. But maybe there is some chance of converting a few of the onlookers.
Thank you... Dolan has played this brilliantly. The RNC invites him... the Dems have to begrudgingly do so as well.
The Al Smith Dinner allows him to be above it all... while Romney destroys Obama with a smile.
This is the same kind of BS that I heard when Dolan was going to speak at the DNC. Dolan is a class act, that follows Christ, speaking, acting, preaching, doing remarkable his work both inside the church as well as in the world. Yes he does talk with sinners and tax collectors.
Oh my! /s
She thinks she is a better Catholic than the Cardinal? I see the right also has Catholics In Name Only. Go wash some feet.
When too many in the hierarchy stopped believing in the Divine Presence in the Eucharist, it all started to crumble. My children and I have to seek out a priest at Communion, and have even returned to our seats when the one priest distributing Communion (we have a few in residence) returned to the tabernacle (leaving protestant “ministers” in suits and “priestesses” remaining).
When BJ Clinton received Communion, red flags were raised; the invertebrate hierarchy has done nothing since to rectify this. Do they really fail to understand their lack of relevance with serious Catholics today?
Obama looked and sounded like a man who knows he’s gonna lose the election.
Did Mr. Dolan tell Obama to “go now, and sin no more”? He doesn’t merit a comparison to Jesus.
ObamaCare passed because the Dem “blue dogs” led by the “Catholic” St. Stupak supported it; when they find out the consequences of that it will be too late to repent.
Anyone who has no issue with the Catholic hierarchy maintaining cordial relations with the Obama camp either 1)doesn’t believe abortion is murder, or 2) doesn’t care (or supports abortion). In any case, if the Catholic voters ignore their leaders, anyone can see why they would. If those leaders thought they could support ObamaCare to force OTHER employers to provide contraception and abortion and not them, then they deserve to be forced to pay for it as well.
You totally missed her point. Notwithstanding the merits of giving or denying Holy Communion to obstinant pro-abortion pols, her point was that Cardinal Dolan will share a table with a guy who is trying to destroy the Church, but will not share a table with a person with whom he disagrees concerning the meaning of Canon law.
The overwhelming favorite in the upcoming New York City mayoral election is a very openly lesbian “Catholic” who just recently got “married” to her partner.
I wonder how the Cardinal will respond when she presents herself for Holy Communion.
I interpret your name-calling as a badge of honor.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.