And One More on the Al Smith Dinner

Here's an excellent article (Thanks, Gary) about why Cardinal Dolan was wrong to wine and dine our pro-abort killer-in-chief. I'll give you just two paragraphs from the beginning and the end, but I urge you to read the whole thing, When LOL=AWOL:

A picture is worth a thousand words, thousands of votes, and millions of unborn lives. Such is the case with the image of Cardinal Timothy M.Dolan, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), whooping it up with Barack Obama and Mitt Romney at the recent Al Smith Dinner in New York....

In conclusion, the stark image of Cardinal Dolan having a jolly old time with the very man who is presently prosecuting and mocking the Church Dolan claims to represent is a vivid reminder of why the Catholic Church is in its present state of division and confusion. Would Christ have dined, drank, and shared wine with Pontius Pilate on Good Friday to "open dialogue"? Would Our Lord have cracked some zingers while hanging on the cross? Jesus knew the place of humor and dialogue, but He likewise knew when it was inappropriate. Just as a mother knows the absurdity of laughing while telling her children she is serious about something, so too we should readily see how absurd it is to protest someone on Monday, sue them on Tuesday, dine and joke with them on Wednesday, and perhaps play golf with them on Thursday, and expect to be taken seriously by them on Friday. Even the most optimistic proponents of dialogue would have to agree that Christ forgave his persecutors but decided to stop short of group hugs

The Cardinal Sin: Criticizing Bishops

I'm grieving! There was Cardinal Dolan laughing it up with the most pro-abortion president in history at the Al Smith dinner and the other candidate who defends killing children on a lesser scale. And, oh, Cardinal Dolan made such a case defending sitting down with those with whom he disagrees, because if he only ate with saints he'd eat all his meals alone. But this honorable man hasn't always been so discriminating. In 2009, I just learned, the cardinal refused to attend a dinner hosted by Pro-Life Wisconsin. Why? Because Judie Brown, president  of American Life League, was the keynote speaker and Judie, (horrors!) criticizes the actions (and inactions) of the bishops!

So...Promoting the murder of babies in the womb by abortion and advocating infanticide of abortion survivors and forcing Catholics to cooperate in intrinsic evil doesn't disqualify a dinner guest for Cardinal Dolan, but daring to call the bishops to do their duty makes a PRO-LIFE CATHOLIC who's spent her life defending the unborn persona non grata.

Ah...but Cardinal Dolan says Judie criticized the bishops and Cardinal Dolan is an honorable man...So are they all, all honorable men.

Let us weep for our beloved Church.

Let the Persecution Begin?

I agree with Michael Voris that the Church needs serious cleansing, but I can't be so quick to say, "Bring on the persecution." Michael isn't married and has no children. And when I think of the persecution sweeping up my grandchildren, I think of the 14-year-old martyr of Mexico, Blessed José Luis Sánchez del Río depicted in the film about the Cristeros, For Greater Glory. He was brutally tortured before he was ruthlessly murdered for refusing to deny Christ.

Whatever happens in the future, I pray that God gives strength to my children and their families. I wish I were like the mother of the seven sons in the Old Testament who told her boys to die courageously and watched their torture and execution, but I'm a coward who hopes I don't live to see my grandchildren suffer. I'm not like the saints who asked for martyrs' crowns. I don't have that much confidence that I'd hold out. And so I only pray that God gives me the grace to be faithful to the end. But please, Lord, spare me Mary's agony. I don't want to see my children and grandchildren suffer.

One More Time: On Inviting Obama to the Al Smith Dinner

My friend Jim Fritz writes about the Al Smith dinner coming October 18th. Taken with other actions of the American bishops, it sets alarm bells ringing. Thanks for your insights, Jim.

Cardinal Dolan, Where Are You?

Cardinal Timothy Dolan has done an outstanding job leading the Catholic resistance to the HHS mandate. Archbishop of the Archdiocese of New York, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), an advisor to Benedict XVI, he has a well-deserved reputation as a spiritual leader. However, during the past few weeks much has been written concerning the controversy created by Cardinal Dolan’s invitation to President Obama to attend the annual Alfred E. Smith dinner. Much of what the cardinal and other bishops have written has been an attempt to justify that invitation. Much of that written by Catholic organizations and national writers has been extremely critical, depicting Cardinal Dolan as naïve or stupid or much worse.

During his administration, President Obama has done everything in his power to undermine the teachings of the Catholic Church. He is implementing programs and policies that may soon require the Church to repudiate its basic beliefs or close down all of its charitable and educational organizations. His support of the intrinsic evils of abortion and same-sex “marriage” is without precedent in any other administration.

Guaranteed Indigestion at Al Smith Dinner

Amen to Michael Hichborn and ALL. Inviting Barack Obama "sends the wrong message" and is likely to influence Catholics to vote for him. Watch for a photo of Obama and Dolan at the dinner to appear on the front page of the New York Times, Washington Post, and every other liberal rag in the country in a few weeks. Hey, Catholics, he isn't so bad. You have Dolan's permission to laugh it up with this guy for another four years. We know that's not what Dolan wants, but perception is a big part of the story in politics. Besides, in our dumbed down culture how many people just look at the pictures?

An Email from a Friend re Cardinal Dolan

An online friend sent me her letter to Cardinal Dolan with the reminder that no one who opposes Church teachings should be given a platform in the Catholic Church. She also included quotes on scandal from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I thought I'd share her email in the hopes that others will imitate her by sending their own thoughts to Cardinal Dolan: 

Salve, Cardinal Dolan:

I read with sadness that you have personally extended an public invitation to President Obama, someone who holds bigoted anti-Catholic views and is for the slaughter of our preborn children and for the legalization of sodomy with same sex marriage. Archbishop Dolan, are you causing grave scandal? How is the HHS mandate to be overturned when the very person who instituted this anti-Catholic bigotry law is publicly offered a platform for his anti-Catholic actions, which is in direct contradiction of the USCCB's statement that states:

"...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. ..."

How am I to answer a Catholic who insists on voting for Obama, a pro-death candidate, when they cite Archbishop Dolan offering a public platform to Obama? Please--for the sake of the integrity of your office and to avoid potential grave scandal, rescind this invitation to Obama to be present at the Al Smith dinner. Quid est Veritas?

Deo Gratias!
Darla Meyers
Hudson, Wisconsin

II. RESPECT FOR THE DIGNITY OF PERSONS 

Respect for the souls of others: scandal

2284 Scandal is an attitude or behavior which

Les Femmes on the Vortex

I got an email yesterday from a staffer at ChurchMilitantTV giving me a heads up about using my blog post about the Al Smith Dinner in today's program. I hope you'll sign the petition asking the cardinal to rescind the invitation to Obama. And please pray for the cardinal. Most bishops don't seem to have a heart for the babies in the womb. Not really. They pay lip service to the little ones, but when it comes to dealing with politicians who champion child-killing, they let them get away with murder. God help us! Please pray for Cardinal Dolan and all the members of the hierarchy who send mixed messages about Church teaching on life. We are either really serious about it or we aren't. There is no middle ground. Yes, meet with and urge sinners to change their ways. A private meeting between the cardinal and President Obama would be great. But a public dinner where everyone is joking and laughing while babies are being murdered in real time as they speak is absolutely reprehensible. Pray for the Cardinal and all his brothers in the hierarchy who are doing so much damage to our beloved Church.

Excuses, Excuses...They Just Don't Measure Up

Cardinal Dolan blogged yesterday about the Al Smith Dinner making the same kind of lame excuses for inviting Obama to dinner made previously by a member of the chancery, Ed Mechmann, and Catholic League President Bill Donohue. Every time I read one of these rah-rah civility, can't-we-all-just-get-along posts I think of other members of the hierarchy (and saints) from the past who acted just a little bit differently with death-dealing politicians. 

I can't imagine, for example, Clemens von Galen Bishop of Munster preaching about Hitler's euthanasia program and then inviting him to dinner for a happy old time of respect and civility. And then there's Cardinal Joseph Mindszenty tortured by the commies. I'm sure they would happily have appeared arm in arm with him for a photo op if he would only play nice. He preferred house arrest and isolation in the American Embassy. And then there's John the Baptist who made Herod feel just a little uncomfortable. Do you think he would have attended Herod's birthday party? And what about St. Maximilian Kolbe on whose feast day Cardinal Dolan was writing. These are men from the past with the backbone to stand up to evil men and call them to repentance. I can't imagine them even making the silly statements we've seen coming from the Archdiocese.

But then the Nazis and the Commies were killing "born" people not tiny out of sight, out of mind babies in the womb. As for Herod...well, that was so long ago and everybody knows John was pretty eccentric and not really to be imitated. Besides, the unborn aren't really quite like the rest of us. They're just fetuses and you can't expect a cardinal of the Church today to act like they deserve the same kind of respect and civility as a President of the United States. 

Cardinal Dolan, with all due respect, I don't buy your excuses for inviting Obama to dinner. The little murdered peers of my grandchildren deserve better. And for that matter, so do my children and grandchildren. 

Here's what I posted as a comment on the Cardinal's blog responding to his defense of inviting Obama for dinner :

Christ ate with the low level outcasts of the culture. He never broke bread with Herod or Pilate. If we believe what we say about the babies being equal to the rest of us, eating with Obama and giving him a photo op laughing it up with you, Your Excellency, is like sitting down for a yuck with Hitler while his administration was killing the Jews, the gypsies, Catholic priests, political enemies, etc. As a mom of five and grandmother of twenty-one I can only say that I see little evidence in your act that you believe unborn babies are actually as important as bishops and cardinals. If Obama favored stabbing a bishop in the head and sucking out his brains there is no way you would entertain him for dinner. I will certainly pray for you and your brother bishops who have treated faithful Catholics in the pew like bothersome and brainless poor relations. Inviting Obama to the dinner is a scandal and there is no way to put a gloss on it that makes it less of a scandal!

It's Worth 1000 Words...No Obama at the Al Smith Dinner!

Mike Voris Analyzes the "Unofficial" Response of the Archdiocese of New York...

...to criticism over inviting Obama to speak at the Al Smith dinner.

More on the Al Smith Dinner.... It's enough to make the angels weep!

Here's what my friend Fr. Tom thinks of Obama being invited to the Al Smith dinner by the Archdiocese of New York:

 It is sad to see how Cardinal Dolan has allowed Obama and other pro-active supporters of abortion to be speakers at the Al Smith Dinner. I guess that, in the long run, some Church leaders feel that it is OK for politicians to kill our babies, just so long as they also fill our coffers. With inflation, the value of thirty pieces of silver seems to have gone up to
billions in government matching funds for social justice programs that exclude those designated to be victims of "choice".
God save us!
Fr. Tom

And here's what Mike Voris has to say about it.



The dishonesty of this is absolutely breathtaking. No wonder the bishops in the United States are held in such low esteem when they play games like this. People recognized Jesus as the Messiah because He acted with authority. When will we see that authority reflected in the successors of the Apostles?

Check out the Archdiocese's blog post here.
Sign the petition against Obama speaking here.

Amen!

This program is from ChurchMilitant.TV

My E-Mail to Cardinal Dolan about the Al Smith Dinner

Your Excellency:

I was shocked to see that Catholic Charities was once again extending an invitation to President Barack Obama to speak at the Al Smith dinner. It is especially appalling in view of the president’s refusal to enforce U.S. law (the Defense of Marriage Act) and his continued radical support for abortion. But even more than that, his trampling of the conscience rights of Catholics and other people of faith make the invitation a serious scandal. How can Catholics in the pew believe what the Church teaches if our shepherds treat crucial moral issues as though they are not serious. What kind of message does it send to see the lighthearted laughter at the dinner considering the moral evils advanced by this administration?

Your Excellency, I’m a mother of five who just welcomed my 21st grandchild into the world. I have spent my entire adult life fighting abortion and even spent time in jail on three occasions for defending the babies. I did it because I firmly believe the little ones murdered at the abortion mills are no different from my own children. I would like to think you believe that too. Do you, in fact, think the lives of the babies are as important as the lives of priests, bishops, archbishops, and cardinals? I regret to say, that it does not appear to be so when a champion of child killing is honored by the archdiocese. And be sure he and others see it as an honor to be the invited guest of the Cardinal of New York.

There is precedent for not inviting a sitting president as I’m sure you are well aware. Cardinal O’Connor did not invite Bill Clinton when he was president and Cardinal Egan did not invite John Kerry when he was a presidential candidate.

I beg you, Your Excellency, to imitate them and disinvite President Obama.

Sincerely,

Mary Ann Kreitzer

And Two Thumbs Down for Cardinal Dolan

Let's see if we have this right. President Obama is the most pro-abortion politician in history. He not only favors abortion, but euthanasia by neglect of babies surviving abortion. He attacks the institution of marriage and makes it mandatory for all Catholics to cooperate in the gross immorality of abortion and contraception. And yet...and yet...Cardinal Timothy Dolan invites him to speak at the annual Al Smith dinner? Did  Jesus invite Herod and Pilate to the Last Supper? Here's what Michael Hichborn of American Life League told LifeSiteNews about it:

“Regardless of what they’ve done in the past, it is unthinkable for a Catholic charity to invite the man seeking the destruction of religious freedom in America to a fund raising event....This sends the wrong message to pew-sitting Catholics, who are anxiously looking to our bishops to stand up and fight against this clear enemy of the Church who will be joining them for dinner. The Apostle Paul said it best in his second letter to the Corinthians: ‘Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?’”

Is it any wonder the Church in America is in such confusion and disarray?

A respectful note of concern is not only appropriate, but essential for soldiers of the Church Militant. You can contact the Cardinal at:


archbishop.dolan@archny.org

Office of the Cardinal
Diocese of New York
1011 First Ave
NY, NY 10022

Spare us, O Lord: a shepherd misleading the flock - again!

The October 16th Al Smith dinner, sponsored by the Archdiocese of New York, is slated to feature co-guest speakers John McCain and Barack Obama. Hosted by Cardinal Edward Egan, the dinner gives the politicians the "opportunity to show how well they speak when they aren't on a political stage" according to Catholic News Agency. The Alfred E. Smith Foundation website says the organization was "founded by His Eminence, Francis Cardinal Spellman in 1946, to honor the memory of Alfred Emanuel Smith, New York's renowned Governor and patron of the 'Little People'. The Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation supports and aids the poor, sick, and underprivileged of the Archdiocese of New York, regardless of race, creed, or color."

Okay, so this is clearly a Catholic organization. Now let's get this straight: a Catholic group is holding a Catholic event hosted by a prince of the Church that will give a position of honor and prominence to 1) the most pro-abortion, pro-infanticide politician ever to walk the halls of Congress and 2) a politician who supports embryonic stem cell research. Neither of these gentlemen is allowed under the bishops' own guidelines to speak at this event, particularly Obama who holds the most radically pro-abortion position of almost any politician in the country. How many have refused to help babies born alive after a failed abortion? Obama is an icon for the culture of death.

In 2004 the bishops approved a document at their General meeting called "Catholics in Political Life." It states, "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. (my emphasis) Obviously the Al Smith dinner gives both Obama and McCain positions of prominence. It is confusing and likely to make people assume that their positions are equal and that Obama's abortion extremism is perfectly fine with the Cardinal as he appears in media photographs laughing and chatting up the the abortion extremist.

During the 2000 presidential campaign George Bush and Al Gore spoke at the dinner, but in 2004 presidential candidates George Bush and John Kerry were passed over for Bush senior and former New York Governor Hugh Carey. It is not a tradition set in stone to feature the presidential candidates and this is one year someone else should have received the invite. To bring a man whose policies are so evil he is the soulmate of the worst mass murdering tyrants in history is scandalous.

Please protest this scandalous event!

Contact Cardinal Egan's office at
1011 First Ave
New York, NY 10022
Phone: 212-371-1000
Fax: 212-308-2674

If anyone has the Cardinal's email, please leave it in the comments section.