Obama presence at fundraiser not an endorsement, Archbishop Lori says
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Cardinal Edward Egan flanked by Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama at the Alfred E. Smith Dinner, October 16, 2008 in New York City. Credit: Andrew Theodorakis-Pool/Getty Images News/Getty Images
Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori says an invitation to President Obama, to speak at a New York fundraiser alongside Mitt Romney, should not be misunderstood as a show of support for the president.
Obama’s expected presence and remarks at the upcoming Alfred E. Smith Foundation dinner “do not constitute an endorsement,” the U.S. bishops’ religious liberty chairman and Baltimore archbishop told Kathryn Jean Lopez of National Review Online in an interview published Aug. 9.
Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, the U.S. bishops’ conference president, has been criticized by some pro-life groups for continuing an election-year custom of inviting both the Democratic and Republican candidates to the comedy-oriented fundraiser for Catholic charitable causes in New York.
While Obama appeared in 2008 alongside Senator John McCain, the 2012 invitation has disturbed some observers, who cited the president’s recent efforts to force Catholic institutions to offer contraception, sterilization, and abortion-causing drugs through their health insurance plans.
In his remarks to Lopez during the Knights of Columbus’ Aug. 7–9 Supreme Convention in California, Archbishop Lori said he believed there was no “clearer voice in the United States about the sanctity of life and religious liberty than Cardinal Dolan.”
Baltimore’s archbishop urged Catholics and other observers not to “get distracted” by the New York cardinal’s gesture of courtesy toward President Obama, which did not detract from his standing as a “clarion voice” for the Church’s non-negotiable principles.
Cardinal Dolan has frequently gone on record against the contraception mandate in recent months, most notably through the U.S. bishops’ June 21– July 4 “Fortnight for Freedom” event. [More]
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19 Comments
Bishops consider themselves above the law, but canon law gives them virtually unlimited power to bind Catholics even to their way of thinking.
Where are all the bishops who made such a big stink when President Obama spoke at the Notre Dame graduation? Double standard?
I invite you to look at the picture above of Cardinal Egan, John Mc Cain and the now President Obama. Replace them with Cardinal Dolan, Romney, and the current President Obama. What I see is President Obama telling Cardinal Dolan, Thank you your Eminence for inviting me to this beautiful dinner. I hope my presence here has help you raise money for your charitable causes. By listen to me, When I get re-elected in November, I am coming in for the kill of the Catholic church in Ameria. I’m tired of hearing about religious freedom, you will do as I tell you as I have worked so hard to make this country an Atheistic, socialist, Pagen country. Now your Eminence, would you please pass me the pepper. Try the olives, delicious!
Perfectly said, Joseph Francis.
Joseph Francis that was great……
That’s good, J-F, but I think Obama would now have his fork in the cardinal’s face, as well.
Also, should Obama get re-elected in November, and he continues to attack the church, which he will; as the Bishops plead with the faithful to support them, they will say, “Sure Cardinal Nolan had a big classy Dinner with Obama, now Nolan want us to support the him and the Bishops. A very poor decision on Nolan’s part. Rather a letter should have been sent to President Obama stating that due to the curerent differences between the teachings of the Catholic church and the Obama attacks on our religious freedoms, it would be inappropraite to have him there.
I gree with you Joeseph Francis. It is a disgrace, how could the Cardinal tell us he the president is adversely affecting our religious freedom and then sit down with him,eat, joke and slap each other on the back?
Jesus was always criticized for entering the homes of and sitting down to eat with those whom his society pronounced , ” sinners ” . Our brother bishops are reaping the consequences of their failure to correct those Catholics who in their self-righteous indignation slap labels on all and sundry .
What does scripture say ? That while as yet we were all sinners God loved us and saved us … The Hail Mary does not say , “Pray for those sinners over there “. I hope this brouhaha becomes a lesson for the USCCB . Dolan has stood up for inclusivity also called catholicity . It is not clear to me yet what Lori represents . Only time will tell whether or not this is a breakthrough .
Aloysia — if you were a general running an inclusive American army, would you allow a member of al Quida to join? Of course not — you WANT to include everyone, but others, by their behavior, don’t always allow that.
Jim , you have hit upon one of the big problems within the church : using the military model . Jesus said to Peter put up your sword …those who live by the sword shall perish by it . Jesus creatively restores the ear of the high priest’s servant .
Sometimes generals actually have re-armed enemy soldiers , e.g. when the Brits ” rescued ” the camps of women and very young children in Indonesia ( World War II ) the only soldiers who were trustworthy enough not to rape this vulnerable group were the Japanese ! The POW ‘s and the British had to find this out the hard way !!!
No general knows exactly what his soldiers are capable of especially in war . Every army harbors very dangerous people .
Hence it is wise not to use the military model . A soldier once said that no one has the right to ask a person to do what has to be done in a war .
Was Jesus fooling when he said I leave you my peace ?
Sorry, Aloysia, but your understanding of Jesus is incomplete. For example, he called the Pharisees a brood of vipers (Matthew 23:33); he cursed a fig tree that was not producing (even though figs weren’t even in season) and the tree died; and he literally flipped over the tables of the merchants selling in the temple — He did not ask them kindly, “Gentlemen, if you don’t mind, would you please move your tables outside the temple?” (Mark 11:12-21) Also, at one point, Jesus specifically said He did come to bring peace, but rather the sword. So, you have the feminized version of Jesus; but Jesus, as 100% man (NOT man-woman) was a masculine man. At Matthew 10:14, He says the following: “Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words—go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet.” That’s not very inclusive, is it?
Please,not to worry that my understanding of Jesus , Jim , is incomplete .It is so of necessity as I am a finite mortal . And , oh ! I rejoice marveling at the unfathomable depths of his Person . And pray to spend eternity gazing at him . Perhaps that is too girly-girly but I do not apologize for it since God made me female . This being my understanding as of now .
The interpretation of scripture is meant to be an act of being fed bread from heaven not an exercise in dueling bibles . And , in Catholicism we have are not always literalists . We examine what sort of literature we are dealing with and seek to understand how those who were contemporaries understood the message .
The Jews had a custom of using picturesque language concrete , not abstract and Jesus was a good Jew . Hence the viper image one which we more than likely have too little an understanding of today . Jesus did nicely ask that the sacrificial doves be gently moved out . He did not whip people , either .
Scripture is loaded with contradictions and I love that the Word of the Lord is given to us in the words of our fellow humans ! Not taking dictation or being used like a lifeless puppet !
Jesus showed us that anger is an energy which can be used to a purpose . Aquinas says that failure to be angry when one sees evil is matter for sin . Using the Court of the Gentiles as a market prevented non-Jews from worship and gave the impression that God can be bought .
Jesus was inclusive in that he sent the disciples to the towns and left it up to the inhabitants to decide whether or not to be receptive . The 72 might have stayed on beating a dead horse so to speak because this was their first time out .
I leave the 100% man thing to those far better versed in psychology than I . And the Cursed Fig Tree to the Wise .
There are many times that the Bishops have and continue to make bad judgement calls. This I believe is is one of them. At no time in American history has the Catholic church had a President and federal goverment attacking the church as this President has. Tony is so correct in his comment. Its like the Jews having an hour truce and inviting Hitler to lunch. After lunch Hilter continues to kill the jews. So why the invite? Its all about MONEY Yah! As was said in the movie “The God Father,” by Michael, “Its Business strictly Business.” A very sad day indeed.
I thought no Catholic group may invite a political figue who supports abortion to speak at a gathering.
But it’s OK for Dolan to invite Obama to his fundraiser.
Who’s kidding whom here? The Boy’s club can make rules and change rooms as they please.
Tony — why the surprise? You know men are bad; and ESPECIALLY the men in the hierarchy. In fact, if you just tell me the person is a bishop, that’s all I need to know that he is guilty of that with which he is charged, and guilty of many other things as well with which he’s never been charged.
Joseph Francis in his comment above suggested something with which I agree, the bishops are all about Money and I would add power and control.
I do know some priests and bishops who are sincere in their striving to follow Jesus and authentic in living the Gospel.
To impute these kinds of motives (money, power, control) to bishops with whom you’ve never spoken is simply impossible. Even married couples misinterpret the motives of their spouses at times. How on Earth could you possibly know what motivates people you’ve never met?
I ask you the same ting you ask me about the bishops, only use the word heritic instead of money power and control.