The following email was received in the Cal Catholic offices on October 17.
Today, Michael Vooris’ Church Militant TV website has a particularly good posting including a 6 min 3 sec video on Cardinal Dolan and the Al Smith dinner.
It includes a picture and quote from Cardinal Marc Ouellet and ending with praying the Hail Mary.
Watch the video here.
Why Cardinal Dolan invited Obama in the first place is very strange since Obama is known for his EVIL actions.
If Obama supported pulling off the limbs and sucking out the brains of brother Bishops – would Cardinal Dolan invite him to dinner for a photo-op and merriment – even if it was to help poor in his Diocese? – more food for thought.
Are innocent unborn babies less than Bishops or the rest of us?
Dottie did you see the video of the dinner on the news tonight? Dolan was surrounded by a lot of EVIL – Katy Couric, Chris Mathews, Mayor Bloomberg are the ones I could see on camera.
Thank you, Michael Vooris, for “doing the right thing” and providing more details on this terrible, impending blow to our Catholic faith’s reputation. I understand that Cardinal Dolan is in Rome this month but is flying back for the Obama-nation. Perhaps he then missed the debate when Obama pimped Planned Parenthood 5 times. Maybe he wouldn’t even care. This is truly a massive scandal.
This is a very good illustration of why so many Catholics are astray from the Church. Unity within the Church and especially it’s leaders is non existant. Here we have a Bishop inviting the enemy to dinner and another Bishop is pointing out that the policies of the invitee are intrisically evil.
Thank you Cardinal Burke! Thank you Michael Voris! Rome knows how bad it is and they are waiting for the laity to speak up and you are listening.
Michael Voris mentioned that Cardinal Dolan is perhaps having second thoughts about this horrendous decision to celebrate and party with a dangerously vicious enemy of Christ’s Church. This is the result of much prayer and many courageous actions. This is what happens when the laity is united with the teachings of the Catholic Church. They speak up and faithful hearts are often moved with the grace and aid of the Holy Spirit.
Let us pray for Cardinal Dolan to become more courageous and responsive to those most Holy promptings for the alternative is giving aid and comfort to the expansion of the darkest abyss.
Or, well, it could be that Cdl Dolan’s second thoughts have to do with the reversal of positions in the presidential election polling. Gotta go with the winner … how else to butter him up after the election?
MIchael Voris (not “Vooris”) is correct but doesn’t tell the whole story. Sadly, many of our bishops are extremely confused and poorly educated in the faith. Abp. Dolan will bring some sort of scandal to the church no matter what he decides to do. “Disinviting” the President now, which based on past experience will not likely be accompanied by any contrition or admission that the entire thing was a mistake on the part of the archdiocese, will be seen as very poor form when the President has from the very beginning been extremely clear on his abortion stance.
And one should also ask why the archdiocese is even having a swanky dinner honoring Al Smith (probably about as Catholic as Ted Kennedy).
Cardinal Dolan may be jovial and possess great personal holiness, but he made a terrible mistake when he invited President Obama to the Al Smith Dinner. If the Cardinal wishes to avoid the impression of partisanship, he could dis-invite Governor Romney, too. At the very least, cameras should be barred from the event.
What personal holiness?
i LIKE THE VORTEX!
The LA TImes has a piece on this in today’s paper. The article “Al Smith Dinner a potential cease-fire in Obama-Romney Battle” quotes Cardinal Dolan’s statement regarding the mail he received this summer asking him to rescind the invitation to Obama and the Cardinal’s response about “taking meals alone . . .”
Praying that the Cardinal is able to see the Al Smith DInner for what it is in the eyes of viewers as rather a strategic photo-shoot-opportunity for Team Obama and at the expense of the Church’s moral instruction about the five non-negotiables when voting.
ArchBishop Fulton Sheen said that “we are to tolerate people, but never principles”. Perhaps Cardinal Dolan feels this is what he is doing. However, he did not have to invite Obama to this dinner. So it seems that he has gone out of his way to befriend an enemy of the Church. A very mixed message he is sending in any regard.
What an historic/eternal opportunity to publicly excommunicate catholic politicians in the public square!! and have a public rite of exorcism on the party of death and gross immorality!! (sorry mom,dad), grandparents).There has been awesome results@ abortion clinics being reported! WHO WOULD OF THOUGHT! Also may i suggest that we have masses said for catholic politicians for conversion. I have been back home to mother church now for 12 yrs. (THANK YOU MOTHER MARY! and have prayed many a novena and many a devotion and yes ST.PIO THE WEAPON!!! But let us offer as many MASSES as possible. And beg, plead, stomp our feet to get our priests to include @ every Mass @ the intercessory prayer for the conversion of culture of death voting catholics(lots of luck!!!) SACRED HEART OF JESUS HAVE MERCY ON THEM AND ME.
Pray the Hour of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for Cardinal Dolan.
This invite is akin to the New York Board of Rabbis inviting Hitler to an affair for fun and entertainment.. This abortion president has consistently defied the Catholic church with his evil doings. SHAME!!!!
Many of our Church’s top leaders should be called upon by the Vatican to step down. That includes Cardinal Dolan, unfortunately. Too many of our Church’s top leaders are secular and worldly in their belief and practice of the Catholic religion. They are not totally committed to Catholic teaching and religious practice! Let them all step down–even if that means a small but faithful Catholic Church will result! Moral issues like abortion and same- sex marriage are too important, for religious leaders like Dolan and many others, to act in such an immature manner about!! Dolan is SHOCKING!!
Like Jesus said, “Where can I lay my head?”: When these bishops curry favor from dupes, and the faithful rather stay further from the bishops, then where do the faithful lay their heads? Because Jesus told the apostles that He’d pray for them that the shepherds be not scattered, that means that it is possible for the shepherds to become derelict … even if Jesus prays they don’t. Recall that there is a Trinity and not only the Son of God? Jesus guaranteed the Church but not the bishops.
“Jesus guaranteed the Church but not the bishops.” I’m not sure how you mean that. Jesus created the office of bishop, including that of the chief bishop, successor to St. Peter. As such, bishops can NEVER be done away with, least of all the successor to Peter–unlike the office of cardinal, for example. Jesus DID in fact guarantee that the bishops of the world in union with the pope would never corporately defect from the faith and impose error as dogma upon the faithful–although that IS possible with individual bishops and groups of bishops. To suggest otherwise is heresy.
I watched the Al Smith dinner that was televised.
SCANDAL of the YEAR !
It was insulting and disturbring that Chris Matthews (MSNBC) was sitting on the main stage as well as Katie Couric.
Both hate the teachings of the Catholic Church.
Everyone yukking it up was insulting to the seriousness of the issues that are before the American people.
NON-NEGOTIABLES = Abortion, Euthanasia, Gay-Marriage, Freedom of Religion.
Of course – pro-abortion, pro-adultary, pro-gay-marriage, Gov. Cuomo was there as well, and Obama said he wants him to be a candidate in 4 years.
I just watched the Al Smith dinner on television. Our Lord Jesus Christ sat down with the Pharisees but didn’t applaud them, He reprimanded them. Cardinal Dolan sat down with Obama and applauded him, but did not reprimand him. In whose footsteps is Cardinal Dolan following?
Maybe I have drunk the cool-aid, but I thought the speeches were great. They were on point, mostly comedic and exhibited a great deal of civility. This is a tradition that goes back years. This dinner is held every year. And, every four years the two candidates from the major parties are invited, and come. For one night, the campaign rests. The Cardinal did not pull any punches in his closing remarks and benediction. He articulated the Catholic beliefs rather well and without sentencing everyone to hell. By the way, the dinner raised five million dollars. Those of us who oppose a person’s policy or position have got to learn to be civil, and not hate the person. Both Rommney and the President said the same thing. They agree that they don’t agree, but they don’t hate the other person. We could all learn from that.
Wrong once again Bob One there is no more go along get along to the likes of Obama who despises the Church.. why is it that liberal catholics like you refuse to see this….
I’m not liberal. I’m Catholic!
If you agree with Obama you are not Catholic, yes Obama must be hated for the evil he has brought to this nation and his attacks on the Church
And those speeches and laughs, One Billy Bob, did they stop abortion or rid the clergy of homosexuals?
Bob One now that is a confusing statement if ever I heard of one.
pope benedict xvi welcomed the obamas to his own HOME at the vatican!
he should step down from the papacy and let a publican take his place!
furthermore, last dec. 12, the holy father welcomed the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, Lord Jonathan Sacks to the vatican, and never ONCE told him he must convert to christianity!
to make matters worse, pope benedict met and warmly shook HANDS with mean old fidel castro in march of this year, thus endorsing communism and oppression!
max how dare you compare this dinner with our Pope having the president visit him. It’s not the same thing…this is disgusting!
well, the MENU was certainly not the same, that’s for sure…
I wonder if Cdl Dolan assumed the role of the leprecaun at the Smith dindin, a midget among giants? You see, one of the guests and potentially the other is the most powerful man in the world. But Cdl Dolan is well down on the list of power players on the world stage. No wonder they all were laughing.
ah, JLS, it’s probably because the bishops are not heeding the pope’s call to become holy…
…see, you have taught me well…
Aye max didn’t your mum ever put you in time out?
Al Smith Dinner-Mitt Romney laid it out.
Someday, tragically, there will no longer be an Archdiocese of New York, nor an annual Al Smith Dinner! Catholic religious and moral beliefs and practices, along with their churches, clergy, hospitals, schools, etc.– will all be outlawed, or reduced to minimal capability to exercise religion, in America!! Americans will have either very limited or no knowledge of God or religion. The Devil will then claim America– a now atheist, Godless, hedonist, immoral and immature, materialistic country, not fit to live in any longer!! So what, if Cardinal Dolan raised tons of money, promoted “tolerance,” and the speakers were entertaining?? Go entertain the Devil! He is waiting for you! What is called for, are deeply religious Catholic speakers, a dinner limited to faithful Cathoics, and a truly CATHOLIC FUNDRAISER!! What will that money be used for– abortions, contraceptives, sterilizations, services for gays, same-sex marriage needs–perhaps someday, euthanasia?? Adoption of children to gays, too?? Or what?? For one thing, the money will be used to follow the HHS mandate– HORRIBLE!! Oh, you HYPOCRITES!!
Linda I’m so sorry, I understand your disappointment leading to hurt/anger. I think what you just posted is already happening, but worst, they use religion for wrong, the faith is hostage, it is the victim of the ones who are not correctly doing God’s work. Man reasons without God, but worst, the self righteous working for God, are the ones needing our prayers because they do not see or understand how their actions are harming the mission of the church.
Pray the rosary. Pray the scriptures, pray……our Lord has always reminded us to pray and when we do, also ask our Lord to teach us how to pray, His way not what is in the hearts due to sin, for pride tempts us to pray for what benefits secular idealism and what the flesh tempts is certainty not from our Lord. Worldly wisdom, worldly knowledge is what many have embraced.
That is why I feel that this Cardinal needs to detach himself from this worldly entertainment, he should volunteer to pray at abortion clinics, he needs to start from the bottom and move up….to help him humble himself once again and practice his call to holiness.
Cardinal Dolan, for all his great and good intentions, is first and foremost a political creature. I was disappointed to see him together with Obama at the same event. I would not want to be seen in the same company with the great abortion president.
But then, I don’t live in New York where seven out of ten pregnancies end in surgical or chemical termination. I don’t know how the good cardinal can look his “Catholic” Governor Cuomo, or any number of NY politicians, in the eye.
Bishops and Cardinals are not appointed simply because of their piety. It is very much a political game. One has to be a very good politician within the church to become a Bishop. You have to know the right people, be able to raise money, etc. Or, in some cases, they are appointed to get them out of the way. Cardinal Law and Burke are examples. In the Roman way, people are promoted to less significant roles. In some cases, the Romans don’t like the way you are operating in the Vatican, so you get promoted out such as the new Aux. Bishop of Malta or the new Archbishop of Indy. It’s all politics. Cardinal Dolan invited the two nominees because its good politics and it would be bad politics not to. He also pointed out that he had serious issues with the President’s policies, but could still be civil at the personal level. He doesn’t hate, unlike so many well intentioned on this site.
Bob One says, “I am not a liberal, I am Catholic.” Spoken in the same passionate way as the late Ted Kennedy, Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden, Kathleen Sebelius, Chris Matthews, Governor Andrew Cuomo……These people are also dependent on false illusions and fantasies.
Sadly, it is Christ’s very own *political* (as Bob One calls them) shepherds who have enabled many of these false illusions that you can still be a Catholic in good standing and be pro-abortion.
Certain sins of omission (enabling) are just as serious as sins of commission……that is unless Bob One absolves us because we are just being politically wise when we enable sinners.
Bob one there you go, spilling your worldly wisdom! Jesus never taught his disciples what you just posted….what you just posted doesn’t sound Christian to me, EVEN Mother Theresa, while working with the secular folks, she still remained holy and never compromised the good message of life and for the poor.
Mother Theresa was truly humble and when she dined with very secular folks, she never caused great scandal and she didn’t lose the mission of Christ while being in the public eye!
Did these dinners change hearts and lead more souls to Christ? NO but we are seeing it’s fruit, we saw it when Obama was first elected…Catholics REPENT!
Jesus did not ever invite evil souls to any feast or dinner. He was invited and attended as a guest. This is the reverse of what Cdl Dolan is doing. So those who clamor that Jesus dined with sinners are lying because they are subtley leading others to believe the wrong thing, the reverse of what is true.
JLS brilliant! You have conveyed so well, that I have been trying for years about that bible passage but you did it so well….way better. Plus I hate it when sinners compare themselves to Jesus! The human has potential to make mistakes, bear false witness etc etc to accommodate and avoid confrontations at times but Jesus is perfect, He came to save us.
So everyone read JLS’s comment! it is true! Simply and down right to the truth! Someone send his comments to Cdl Dolan!
It’s worth copying from JLS “Jesus did not ever invite evil souls to any feast or dinner. He was invited and attended as a guest. This is the reverse of what Cdl Dolan is doing. So those who clamor that Jesus dined with sinners are lying because they are subtley leading others to believe the wrong thing, the reverse of what is true.”
AWESOME!
Sorry JLS to put you on the spot there but it was awesome!
Yours is a very false statement. Of course Our Lord Jesus not only dined with sinners, but even took the initiative to invite himself into their homes, as a host might do by inviting guests. Jesus invited himself to Zaccheus’ home (Luke 19:1-10), Jesus acted as host by feeding the multitude (Matthew 14:13-21), Jesus dined at the Last Supper as host with a bunch of people He knew would later abandon and betray him, and Jesus again as host inviting one and all to “take this all of you and eat it.” To say that Jesus never invited sinners and never dined with them is contradicted by these scripture passages and others which show Jesus taking the initiative to put himself in the path of sinners. The message that Jesus proclaims by associating with sinners (He who was known as a “friend of sinners and tax collectors) is that redemption and forgivness of sins has come because of what He will accomplish on the Cross and His resurrection. Denying that Jesus ever took the initiative to dine and sup with sinners is to deny the tremendous message of the Cross and the Resurrection. To despise those such as Cardinal Dolan who would associate with sinners by dining with them shows a lack of faith in the power of God who is able to convert even the most despised among us.
jon that is fine and dandy but I think that you took JLS comments out of context. Notice that when Jesus was feeding the multitude was because people followed him, they wanted to hear him speak….He called them as well because He had a plan, to convey miracles of faith, it was God’s plan to lovingly show them HIS SON etc. You can’t possible think this meant the same as this dinner with Obama and Cardinal Dolan? If you do then you are the one who is stating a false statement and false understanding of scripture. You may think that you have done your homework but your interpretation is incorrect. Tell me jon, when Jesus invited himself, as you stated, did he sit and watch them give great speeches and make jokes just like they aired with this fancy dinner? Jesus is like a gentleman, just like a wonderful priest once stated, He doesn’t push Himself on people, if He was there, it was because God wanted it that way.
Also Jesus chose His disciples, He came to bring us salvation, it can not be compared to this dinner function. The last supper was Jesus ordained plan, it had to come to bring forth His passion and salvation plan….He dined with His disciples and His followers because that was destined!
Obama is not a believer of our faith, he is not a chosen disciple, he does not follow Jesus in our Catholic faith. You are completely taking JLS’s comment out of context. Jesus knows the hearts of man, if one is truly evil, then I do not recall any passage that states that He invited an evil soul to dine with him.
Sorry Abeca Christian, but your comment here makes no logical sense.
MaryR explain…or re-read what I posted, maybe you are missing something or misunderstanding…I am sorry but I suck at conveying…that is one gift I didn’t gain very well, I have all that knowledge in my head but conveying it well, well that is what I lack…I don’t have the gift of speech that is for sure. : )
What about Judas?
Read what Jesus says about those He invites to his feast. They have to be clean with no stain of sin. Jesus also tells us he had nowhere to lay his head … He could not invite anyone to His feast. Even the sermon on the mount or the one on the plain … people came, but not because He invited them to dinner. Jesus came into this world. He came here to invite us to His, but you have to die first or become absolutely pure. The poster, jon, mixes up the verses with unreasonable ideas. One cannot really interpret the reality around one deeply unless one has a grip on spiritual understanding.
Where are you getting this?
The fact remains that JLS statement that “Jesus did not ever invite evil souls to any feast or dinner” is contradicted by the Scriptures, with the story of Zaccheus and others. The only “unreasonabe idea” here, which JLS refers to, is his mistaken and false idea that Jesus never invited sinners to dine with him. This is unsupported by Scripture and it is very false.
NO JON it is you who has an unreasonable theology! You yourself have posted these very exact words that JLS stated ““Jesus did not ever invite evil souls to any feast or dinner” . BINGO there is no passage in the bible that says that Jesus invited EVIL SOULS! We are all sinners but not everyone has great evil in them! Wake up folks, read with clarity and see what happens when people take comments out of context as jon has!
Judas betrayed Jesus…..He was a chosen disciple, those are facts…Jesus knew He was going to be betrayed and allowed it, God has his divine plan, but it was Judas free will to take his own life, Peter denied our Lord three times but chose not to take His life, He trusted in God’s forgiveness and great mercy! Judas was lead by pride perhaps.
Abeca, you and JLS are wrong. Jesus invited Zaccheus to dine with him. Sorry, but you are both wrong.
It was Zaccheus who desired to see Jesus first. That desire was faith in his heart that he didn’t know he had and Jesus knew he had within. Like it states in Luke 19. But remember who Jesus is? That is when Jesus decided to invite himself to Zaccheus house. Zaccheus was a sinner. Yet, Jesus saw potential in this man.
Zaccheus did not scandalize children, which those things come from a wicked soul, no but actually Zacheus had the blessing to have Jesus as His guest and he was a changed man. OBAMA is not a changed man but sets himself to continue doing the great evil work in the pro-death movement and disobeying the natural law. Zacheus did not break the law of the natural law, he did not murder the unborn, so Jesus did not dine with a wicked soul but only a mere sinner….there is a BIG DIFFERENCE!
NO MaryR, it is you who is wrong because what you don’t understand well, you call wrong what you don’t understand (but how can I fault you for your ignorance) but you are big time mistaken here!
Jesus invited himself, it was a private event, if Cardinal wanted to convert or saw potential for Obama to have a change of heart, he would have invited him to eat with him in private, not on an event that is publicized so highly, where it only gave out the wrong message for the voters and especially to those Catholics who voted for Obama, because what it did, it did not straightened out the bad willed Catholics but instead it made them love Cardinal Dolan all the more because Cardinal Dolan invited Obama, their admired one!
Thank you JLS and Abeca for passionately defending the unborn! Please Google American Life League ‘The Cardinal’s Criteria Falls Into Question” written by Judie Brown of American Life League on Oct. 19, 2012. Read about the Double Standard of Cardinal Dolan.
In 2009 When then Archbishop of Milwaukee Timothy Dolan discovered that Judie Brown was a keynote speaker at a Wisconsin Pro-Life Banquet, he sent a letter saying that he could not attend the banquet and sit by Judie Brown because Judie Brown had publicly castigated bishops.
What was Judie Brown’s GREAT crime according to Archbishop Dolan? Judie Brown’s crime was asking the American Bishops to enforce Canon 915.
Dining with sinners like Obama but refusing to dine with a sinner like Judie Brown. = DOUBLE STANDARD, PHONY, DISGUSTING, but Bob One is right. It’s only political.
Our bishops know that God is not interested in political correctness. The floor of hell is also paved with the skulls of once politically active bishops.
Catherine, in mid 80s I had a brief telephone convo with Judy Brown’s husband. I was working for a bishops operation at that time, and others there pointed out to me that Judy Brown was almost a persona non grata by most of the bishop approved prolife groups. Odd, isn’t it, that later down the line, Judy Brown was given an honor in person by Blessed Pope John Paul II. In my phone convo with Judy Brown’s husband, it was immediate apparent to me that they were doing a great work for Jesus and unborn babies. In my association with the managers in the bishops’ pro life operation, I discovered arrogance, hypocrisy, stupidity, dishonesty and bearing false witness against one’s neighbor, namely me. Today’s bishops are primarily the worst in history.
Catherine your welcome, and thank you for your love and loyalty to defend the faith! I am just saddened that people don’t get it but that is OK, not everyone understands nor have the wisdom to understand the holy scriptures.
A slight correction to this post: Then-Bishop Dolan did not call it a crime for Judie Brown to call for enforcement of canon 915; nor did he say that was why he could not attend the dinner. The reason she says that he gave was that she had publicly castigated bishops. Then Mrs. Brown declares spin that the castigation he was referring to was beseeching the bishops to enforce canon 915.. Neither Wisconsin Pro-life nor Cardinal Dolan have come forward yet to verify or negate her interpretation. Two years before this dinner, Judie Brown had written a book called Saving Those Damned Catholics. She acknowledged that it was controversial at the time. It may have had something to do with it. It is quite startling to see a person go from serving on the Pontifical Council for Life to being someone that an absolutely pro-life Bishop cannot be seen in public with.
oh, JLS, you are very much mistaken about JESUS not inviting sinners: was it no JESUS who invited judas iscariot to break breed with him in the upper room?
was it not JESUS who gave judas iscariot eucharist?
Matthew 26:20-29:
Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?”
Jesus answered, “Yes, it is you.”
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
max,
You’re deliberate little misspelling game of nonsense for once actually points to a truth. You wrote, ” “Was it no Jesus who invited judas iscariot to break *breed* with him in the upper room?”
Judas Iscariot will forever be doomed as an example of breeding betrayal and disloyalty to Christ. Yes, Christ gave Judas Iscariot and each and every one of us the welcome invitation to follow Him and not just at a photo op banquet. One poster wrote, ” Mitt Romney laid it out.” No max, it IS the duty and responsibility for Cardinal Dolan to lay it all out. He is the lead shepherd but he chose to compromise. Also, Christ did not stand up to foolishly applaud Judas Iscariot for his betrayal at the Last Supper.
If President Obama wins this election it will be due to an Iscariot inbreeding of much compromise and disloyalty within Christ’s Church.
“And Jesus said to him, Judas dost thou betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”… Or with an applaud?
People like Catherine and JLS are very misguided. Dolan dining with Obama at the Al Smith dinner is a “compromise”? Are you kidding? Look, Catherine´s words that Dolan´s task is to “lay it all out” actually came about when it was Dolan´s turn to speak. Dolan “laid it all out” to Obama by speaking on behalf of the unborn and others at the margins of our society. If you had watched the dinner, you would have seen how perfect that occasion was to tell Obama that we as a Church will never back down on our commitment to the unborn, and that is exactly what Dolan said at the dinner. You people just don´t have a sense of when is a good opportunity to evangelize. NONE. You speak out of fear, not out of love and confidence. Get some backbone.
Obama is a man who advances the slaughter of the unborn children, he also supports defiance to the natural law by imposing these immoral views on the faithful. We must ask our selves, yes we are all sinners and some are more blinded by their own passions with deeply rooted pride.
Wasn’t it our Lord who said “But he that shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea. ” Matthew 18:6……..WITH THIS PASSAGE, it may give a BETTER CLUE that our Lord may not have dined with anyone who may have scandalized a child..for this is truly considered an evil soul, a very high immoral act and great scandal on the most innocent!
Well, Jon, I see your point that it was a good opportunity to evangelize.
jon, there is a reason that you’re not a news anchor. Do you even have any idea what you are talking about? For example, you call the dinner a good time for evangelization. Insane, jon! Do you really think that the Church has never conveyed this information to Obama?! And why do you dismiss the fact that most of the public who see the pictures of them together laughing have no idea what was said. And if they did, they what is all the laughter about? I’ll tell you, jon: The laughter is about Cdl Dolan working both candidates so the fed money pipeline through his hands does not decrease after the election. Dolan laughs; Jesus weeps.
max if our Lord had His chosen ones eating with Him, then it is logical and God’s perfect reasons for why He allowed this….there is a reason why it’s called the last supper.
jon stated “To despise those such as Cardinal Dolan who would associate with sinners by dining with them shows a lack of faith in the power of God who is able to convert even the most despised among us.”………is clearly making a statement out of context and completely dismisses the reasons behind the displeasure of this televised comical dinner, loads of fun and very expensive fund raiser of mostly famous and wealthy people…plus the CCC does give the faithful the right to feel let down by these actions especially due to the harm it may cause due to it.
It is obvious that jon approves of this dinner, forget the unborn, the hard work of the pro-life movement…lets just all have some fun watching it on TV, who cares if more abortions were performed that day, while Obama enjoyed a day of comfort. (I’m being sarcastic here, since jon lacks great understanding of our sentiments, why bother with him). PLUS JLS knows that we are not here to win arguments but we are here to win souls for Christ!
jon, “despise” is a really deceptive accusation. No one on this blog has ever voiced hatred of Cdl Dolan. If you cannot even see the difference between criticism and bloggers expressing their perceptions, then what credibility do you expect to achieve?
jon JLS brings up a good point…how dare you say we despise. That is a very strong and false accusation. I do not despise but I feel let down as one of the faithful. I was praying for a better witness and because the elections are coming up, I would hope that a strong message was sent out not one that compromises what we are fighting for.
What Bob One is saying makes sense. If Cardinal Dolan decided to not invite any sinners to that dinner, there would not be very many people there. Yes, President Obama and Governor Romney are both sinners, but they said that they don’t agree but they don’t hate the other person.
Cdl Dolan is playing the two to make sure he comes out nestled up with whichever one wins.
PA haven’t you heard, we are all sinners….except that not all are the President, a huge public figure whose mission (and has power) is to kill more of the unborn, and as he was once was heard saying even if it was one of his grand kids.
“But he that shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea. ” Matthew 18:6
If they ended the tradition of the Al Smith dinners, then that would signal an end to the bishops being employees of the government.
I read the following yesterday from a woman who heads a prominent pro-life organization and her experience with Bishop Dolan back in ’09 when he was in Milwaukee. *** 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 the Pro-Life Wisconsin president stating that he had to decline the invitation to attend the banquet because (the woman) was involved in the public castigation of bishops! 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. 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 ….. Or could it be that he, unlike Christ, would prefer to be the darling of the media elite instead of emulating the good shepherd …..” *** NOT A GOOD DECISION CDL DOLAN!
Repeat your last line “Not a good decision, Cdl Dolan.”
But after reading about the background to the dinner, not surprising at all about how things turned out. Sad, but not surprising.
Bloggers are talking about the pro abort money trail behind the scenes of the Al Smith Dinner. Turns out the Al Smith Foundation which hosts the dinner is represented by wealthy pro-abort Democratic board members (surprise, surprise).
These include Al Smith IV, the foundation’s chairman, Robert Wright (former NBC boss), developer John Zuccotti, and investment banker, Peter Kiernan III. Federal Election Commission Records show that Al Smith IV has according to one blogger “rained campaign cash” on Schumer, Clinton, Kerry, Dodd and Kennedy. Smith has also contributed to the PAC run by Democratic Congrmn Nadler, described as an ‘ultra pro abort.’
So, as the bloggers report, no surprise the pro-abort backers of the Al Smith dinner were demanding that Obama be invited and that the invitation not be rescinded by Cdl Dolan. And as known, Cdl Dolan did not rescind the invitation–we can only guess how much pre$$ure he was under with the likes of these handlers.
It is these kinds of facts that dishearten and paralyze the faithful Catholic laity who are out there dealing with this everyday– impacted by the likes of these pro-abort politicians who stomp on our Catholics truths, force this garbage on our children in the schools, trash our Constitutional rights and who are primary participants in the advancement of the culture of death and the the death of marriage. In the meantime, some of our hierarchy has fooled themselves into believing that they are engaging the opposition. But take a look at the photos please, Cdl Dolan. It is the photos that people see all over the news media–they are not reading your address to the attendees.
Prayers and fasting needed for Catholic leaders–our Bishops–to be authentic witnesses to our Catholic faith. We are desperately in need of them.
Rare rare rare is it that bishops transform from govt employees to in persona cristi bishops. Wouldn’t it be better to pray God replace these men with those who have what is needed? The Old Testament spells it out clearly, and it is physiologically graphic.
The harm is already done….there is no turning back.
Catherine and Cole, I am somewhat troubled by what you have said. It would appear that Cardinal Dolan wished to avoid pro-life people that offer him criticism instead of adulation. Do I see a little lack of humility here?
PA – Humility on whose part, Cdl Dolan? What I posted above was from the writings of a prominent pro-life woman who was dissed by the Cdl in Oct 2009. I report what she said, so don’t kill the messenger.
Cole thank you for the message, PA is harmless. I appreciate what you posted, maybe some will take off their pride mask and see this function for what it really is! God bless you and if they did ever kill the messenger then consider yourself a martyr for the truth!
Abeca – Thanks. I guess I’ll just crawl back into my corner and put my tinfoil hat back on again!
Cole I see you have a cunning good sense of humor…LOL…I love it! In Jesus of course. God bless you!
Shiney side out, to be sure : )
I am not harming any messenger, Cole. I was just saying that from what you and Catherine said that I discerned a lack of humility in Cardinal Dolan. I am glad that you think I am harmless, Abeca Christian.
PA – You cleared the air, thanks.
MarkfromPA, Wow! Out of the mouth of an obstinately persevering homosexual activist! Here is another treasured honest moment that Larry spoke of earlier. Mark, Have you ever looked up the definition of the word “adulation”?
Adulation = Obsequious fawning flattery, cajolery, excessive admiration, adoration and praise. Mark, without even realizing it you may have actually diagnosed some of the problem, yet I do believe that even Cardinal Dolan would remind or enlighten YOU and say that it was insulting to suggest that “adulation” is what the Cardinal wants. Mark, without intending to, YOU are the one who just inferred that Cardinal Dolan wants excessive amounts of flattery, praise and admiration. Mark, you are the one who is making it look like the Cardinal lacks humility by what YOU just wrote.
Mark, You also said pro-life people were “offering criticism instead of adulation.” That is another mistaken notion. Canon 915 is NOT a criticism. Cardinal Burke wrote, “Perhaps the most recent authoritative commentary on St. Paul’s teaching on worthiness to receive Holy Communion is found in Pope John Paul II’s Encyclical ECCLESIA DE EUCHARISTA. “Pope John Paul II MADE IT CLEAR that the norm of can. 915 is REQUIRED by the church’s teaching on the respect due to the Most Blessed Sacrament and her concern to avoid scandal in the community. With the word <>, the Roman Pontiff *CLARIFIED THE OBLIGATION*, on the part of the Church TO TAKE ACTION, when a person who remains in grievous and public sin approaches to receive Holy Communion. The obligation in question is DISTINCT from the obligation of the person to examine his conscience regarding grave sin before approaching, which is treated in can. 916. ” PERIODICA DE RE CANONICA Vol. 96-(2007) p, 3-58
Pro-life people are not being “critical” when they have charitably asked or reminded the bishops to obey that CLEAR INSTRUCTION from Blessed Pope John Paul II. They are being Catholic!
Catherine excellent comments! I like your usage of facts and notation of the Canon law and church truths! Especially the definition. Very educational!
So Mark from PA posts that the story from Judie Brown makes him think less of Cardinal Dolan (which, of course, was why Judie Brown told the story) and you still hand his head to him on a platter.
Yes, k, what Catherine said made me think and when I sided with her in a way, look at the response I got. Yeah, I guess she did hand me my head on a platter.
You put it there yourself, PA. Catherine is only describing what you’ve done.
Father Z’s blog has picked up this report on Quislings for Obama
Google the website of “Catholics for Obama” (Quislings for Obama) right above the story blasting critics of the Plan B contraceptive- you’ll find a photo of Cardinal Timothy Dolan, roaring with laughter, with a smiling Obama beside him. (You won’t see Mitt Romney; he’s cropped out of the photo)
This photo will be shown at every leftist social justice cause meeting held in Catholic parishes across the U.S. The Cardinal might as well have placed a large Obama bumper sticker across his forehead or chest.
Catherine this is very heart breaking. I just don’t get what goes on in Cardinal Dolan’s thinking. This is very sad.
Abeca, I don’t get what you don’t get. All of your writings over the years have been pretty forcefully stating the church’s position on a number of issues. What I think we all miss from time to time is how people get along in society. Just because someone disagrees with another’s position on an issue is not reason to not be polite and civil with them. If we Catholics only associate with other Catholics who hold our views on abortion and other non-negotiables, we will be interacting with a very small minority. In fact, most Catholics believe that it is ok to use contraceptives, most abhor abortion but don’t want to foist their beliefs on others, etc. The American Catholics are pretty much split down the middle on most issues. Sixty percent have said they will vote democratic. Go figure
1
Bob one all those examples you used are fine and dandy but I was only speaking of our Cardinal. He is suppose to be a man of God…I saw more convictions coming from the men in the movie Courageous than I see in the leadership with in our church.
Wait a minute I am falling once again for one of your tricks, because you usually post a comment at me or question, I try to answer it but you never reply back to it…it’s like crickets making loud noises in an empty room.
You see, Catherine, your posts do make me think sometimes. My comments about adulation may be overly harsh but I do think that this is a problem that is shared by many people in positions of power and influence. A tragic example is the treatment of many of the victims of clerical abuse. Some bishops refuse to meet with or acknowledge these victims. The bishops are used to being treated a certain way and many don’t wish to subject themselves to the abuse victims. I have great respect for those bishops who have tried to help abuse victims and have treated them as equals. So many have been driven out of the Church by what was done to them. If you have been abused then you probably are not impressed by that picture of Cardinal Dolan, roaring with laughter, with a smiling Obama beside him.