 |
| Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archdiocese of New York |
Without question this is and has been a particularly contentious year between the Obama administration and the Catholic Church. In fact, Cardinal Dolan has been the point man criticizing the President for overreaching his constitutional authority through the implementation of the HHS Mandate. Despite that, Cardinal Dolan has decided to still invite President Obama to the dinner. As a result, some members of the Catholic media have taken it upon themselves to not only publicly disagree with Dolan, but to begin urging people to call and email Cardinal Dolan.
I believe, that while these people are well intentioned in their pursuit of turning back the HHS mandate, they are severely misguided in their efforts to coerce and harass the Cardinal. In my opinion, they suffer from the ill conceived notion that the Catholic Church should operate as a democracy. It does not, nor should it. These men are our shepherds and to paraphrase St. Ignatius of Antioch, the bishop is "like the living image of God the Father" (CCC #1549).
Instead, we faithful laity should follow, trust and pray for our Church leaders. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church #2234:
God's fourth commandment also enjoins us to honor all who for our good have received authority in society from God. It clarifies the duties of those who exercise authority as well as those who benefit from it.Additionally, CCC #2238 advises:
Those subject to authority should regard those in authority as representatives of God, who has made them stewards of his gifts:43 "Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution. . . . Live as free men, yet without using your freedom as a pretext for evil; but live as servants of God."44 Their loyal collaboration includes the right, and at times the duty, to voice their just criticisms of that which seems harmful to the dignity of persons and to the good of the community.I am so tired of reading columns and comments belittling and degrading our Church leaders. Surely they have made mistakes and will make more, but they are our leaders. Instead of spending our time denigrating them, we should be praying for them. I can't help but think of something St. Josemaria Escriva wrote in The Way:
It cut you to the heart to hear people say that you had spoken badly of those Priests. And I am glad that it hurt: for now I am sure you have the right spirit! (The Way #73)
The Al Smith dinner can raise money on its own they don't need to boost the cause by inviting a man that's against the basic principles of the Catholic Church.
ReplyDeleteFirst, thanks for taking the time to read and comment on the post.
DeleteThere is nothing to indicate that they are inviting him to increase donations. The fact that Obama stands against Catholic teaching is not unique to this situation. He was invited and attended in 2008 when he had already established himself as an pro-abortionist politician. So have others before him as one can surmise from the list of previous speakers: http://www.alsmithfoundation.org/thedinner.html.
My point is simply that Catholics, especially those in Catholic media, should refrain from criticizing our leaders.
Were these politicians invited just a couple of weeks before perhaps the most important presidential election in our history? Cardinal Dolan in my humble opinion has made a blatant error
Deleteto be present at the dinner with this anti-Catholic president.
It will be exploited to the nth degree, and with just about 2 weeks left before the election. Disappointing.
ReplyDeleteI explain here: http://te-deum.blogspot.com/2012/08/predictable-exploitation-of-obama.html
In a nutshell, President Obama is using his health-care plan to declare war on religion, forcing religious institutions to go against their faith. Period!
ReplyDeleteIn ‘Catholics in Political Life’, the U.S. bishops said: “The Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.” Let's see, if Al Smith were not CATHOLIC would this foundation be named after him? Would they be raising funds for CATHOLIC Charities which was started by US Conference of CATHOLIC Bishops whose President is the one who invited the most pro-abortion pro-homosexual anti-family anti-Catholic man ever seen living in the white house? And you wonder why the indignation?
ReplyDeletefrom the AONY: “It’s important first to understand what the Al Smith Dinner is, and is not, and then what the invitation means, and what it does not,” says Ed Mechmann for the Archdiocese. “The Al Smith Dinner is organized and hosted by the Alfred E. Smith Foundation, which is closely affiliated with but independent of the Archdiocese of New York.” “It gives us an opportunity to act as Christians, and show some love to our adversaries, and even those whose policies we consider to be immoral and oppressive.”
The Apostle Paul write: "Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends;" But I do not see "LOVE IS STUPID, when LOVE you have the mind of a three year old and there is no wisdom anymore"!
With all due respect Mr Gonzalez, the Catholic Church's leadership is having a bit of a problem with its credibility due to the actions/inactions of "some" of its most trusted hierarchy.
ReplyDeleteThis of course does not allow us to debate with the Church or even each other, settled matters of Church teaching or what we should call Truth!
However, on prudential matters, such as invitations to the Al Smith dinner, or invitations given by Catholic campuses to those who advocate positions contrary to Catholic teaching, the laity are certainly free and even obliged in some instances to speak or write respectfully of their concerns to the hierarchy. If for no further reason than to allow the prelate to clarify their position. It might be even the preferred morally responsible act to speak out when a lay person perceives that the actions of a Cardinal go contrary to the commission we have all been given to
promote the good and the true, as well as to correct and caution each other from falling into moral traps.
It may seem to some as extreme hubris for a lay-person to appear to be correcting a Cardinal. Certainly however when the prelate enters into the arena of politics rules change somewhat.In reality it probably might have been better for the welfare of the Church if afew had spoken up before the current sex scandal blew up into the major crisis it has become and continues to haunt the Church to this day.
I see nothing good coming from this dinner except as a photo op to re-elect Obama by giving falsely
the impression to Catholic voters all has been forgiven. To take a wait and see attitude for what the good Cardinal has planned seems the height of absurdity. One picture of the Cardinal with his arm around Obama grining ear to ear will set the impression one can vote for Obama with clear conscience. After all the Cardinal was on record of meeting over dinner his comrade with broad smiles and open arms. All very jocular!
Already it is happening. I see equally nothing wrong in suggesting to the Cardinal that if this is truly a must-be-held-at-all-costs event, to please do so out of the public arena where all media, cameras and reporters are excluded with no release of photos following the event.
To many of us, the dear Cardinal. does appear abit naive and insensitive to what could be perceived as an affront to all whose support he has appreciated during
the attack on his person and that on religious freedom.
It makes our dear Cardinal appear abit more politically
ambitious than piously Catholic. This time when Obama strikes back it will not leave the Cardinal "wounded" (his words) but with a bitter death blow. Should we not warn our friend of the impending severe consequences that will surely follow this most msadvised
venture into the political world? One would hope the Cardinal would have already learned that lesson...Lie
down with dogs you will get up with fleas.
Apparently he needs to hear this lesson from more corners than his most trusted advisors in the Chancery.