[Verginius Rufus]

He shouldn't have appeared at the Al Smith Dinner alongside Obama. Obama probably insisted on being invited--but the cardinal could have stayed away. His presence had the impact of minimizing the religious freedom issue in the election.

I don't recall hearing much talk from the hierarchy on this issue the last two or three months before the election.

[hinckley buzzard]

He shouldn't have appeared at the Al Smith Dinner alongside Obama

Get real. The Al Smith Dinner is a fundraiser for Catholic Charities in the NY Diocese. For the Cardinal to ignore it would have been unthinkable.