Posted on 08/30/2012 6:44:49 AM PDT by marshmallow
Catholic bishops in 2010 badly wanted to buff the Church’s battered image. So they ditched their usual succession system and picked the jovial Tim Dolan as their president.
Their investment has paid off in spades: Democrats confirmed Tuesday that the cardinal will give the benediction at their convention in Charlotte, N.C., next week — a coveted task Dolan had already agreed to perform for the GOP on Thursday.
Reviving the authority and status of the Catholic Church has been the focus of Dolan, the most visible and influential U.S. Catholic bishop in decades. At a polarized time when many bishops are feeling embattled and laying low, the 62-year-old historian is giving “Today” co-host Matt Lauer a chatty televised tour of Rome, writing a newsy blog and making jokes about his beer drinking. Next month he will join TV comedian Stephen Colbert for an event about humor and spirituality.
“He’s an extrovert on steroids,” said John L. Allen, a prominent Catholic journalist, who earlier this year published a book on Dolan. “Left to his own devices he would talk to anyone anywhere about anything.”
But even if Dolan is able to pull the Church back into popular culture, the days of a major Catholic power broker may be over: Catholics are perhaps too diverse and fragmented, and America too pluralistic to stomach a religious kingmaker.
“Do we now have a bunch of separate Catholic enclaves that don’t have much in common? That’s what makes Dolan fascinating — he is trying to promote this notion of a unified Catholic community. Can it work in the 21st century? It’s a real question,” said Allen.
The twin Dolan appearances come after a bitter year for Catholics over the fusion of religion and politics. The announcement that he would give the.....
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
One of my sisters loves Colbert and always makes sure she hits the Facebook “Like” icon for Obama. Dolan seems to be the same sort of Catholic. Sorry, but you can’t put a happy face on abortion.
Cardinal Dolan’s ‘Theology’ appears to be ‘evolving’ to be more in line with that of Chicago’s old Cardinal Bernadine’s ‘Big Tent’ theology that took the approach: Abortion is icky but not a deal-breaker & Homosexual/Pedophile Priests are not really all that bad. Obviously the bishops believe it’s better to have a ‘catholic’ rather than a Catholic religion.
How disgusting.
Sorry folks - I think you underestimate the intelligence and patience of Cardinal Dolan. Please have faith - he is NOT selling us out.
I’m here in WI where he was my archbishop for 6 years and have met him on a few occassions and he was back most recently last spring for a special mass at Holy Hill near MKE. He is, IMHO a brilliant man on a mission. He knows right from wrong and he does NOT favor abortion nor same sex marriage. Ye of little faith.
My 2 cents.
As far as I’m concerned Bernadine destroyed the parrish system of Catholic education in Chicago which during Stritch’s time (1950s) was the third largest educational system in the country. As well as the neighborhood community activities centered around the parrish church.
I can puke when I hear these guys with the pointy hats talk about “faith and morals. Then show up with these same groups or individuals which would not only challange but make illegal holding the very tenets the pointy hats claim to profess.
I am here in New York and Cardinal Dolan is a fence sitter.When has he really spoken out against abortion and the Catholic politians and Obama that are always pushing abortion?I just hope and pray that he does not help return the most pro-abortion President to the White House.Not too long ago we had in John O’Connor a great and courageous pro-life
Cardinal in New York.
Is Dolan a kennedy Catholic?
Some Catholics I know - the ones who follow the Church like I follow FR (like a guy with nothing better to do than haunt the site day and night!) - speak very highly of Cardinal Dolan.
I would say that Cardinal Dolan would be Democrat who does not want to make waves.Thus he avoids criticizing Obama on his extreme abortion view.
Thank you very much for your take. Abortion is murder and a violation of one of the trinity of unalienable rights. How anyone can ignore that just baffles me.
LLS
I live in one of his parishes and totally disagree with you. Cardinal Dolan continuously loudly speaks out about contraceptives...abortion. Are you a Catholic? If you are then you must read the Church’ Newsletters which consistently contain letters from the good Cardinal about abortion.
Dolan went to the White Hut to meet with Obama early this year - Valerie Jarrett had a fit, that is why Daley was ousted. She rules. She and her ilk favor abortion - you know how far... They all, one day will meet their maker and have a real good conversation at that time.
But in the mean time - Cardinal Dolan denounced the result of the mandates and has stood tall among those defending the right to life. I hope that he DOES keep that stance, which I am confident he will. But I do see your points - however I think that he is being shrewd. BHO is a disgusting person to deal with and so is everyone who surrounds him. Cardinal Dolan must pick and choose his big battles. I wish Cardinal Dolan well, of course, as I’m sure we all do.
Dolan went to the White Hut to meet with Obama early this year - Valerie Jarrett had a fit, that is why Daley was ousted. She rules. She and her ilk favor abortion - you know how far... They all, one day will meet their maker and have a real good conversation at that time.
But in the mean time - Cardinal Dolan denounced the result of the mandates and has stood tall among those defending the right to life. I hope that he DOES keep that stance, which I am confident he will. But I do see your points - however I think that he is being shrewd. BHO is a disgusting person to deal with and so is everyone who surrounds him. Cardinal Dolan must pick and choose his big battles. I wish Cardinal Dolan well, of course, as I’m sure we all do.
Is Dolan a Kennedy Catholic?
ABSOLUTELY NOT........
You mean the Kennedy that was touted tonight at the DNC as a glowing angel? The same Ted Kennedy with Chris Dodd made a “waitress sandwich”. The Ted Kennedy that let Mary Jo Kopekne die in his Oldsmobile, while he swam to safety and didn’t contact the authorities till hours later? I won’t waist my time typing more as there isn’t enough bandwidth in the universe to cover his sins.
sorry - waist = waste
Dolan:
not shown on PBS (although they discussed him while he was giving the benediction)
not shown on NBC
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