I disagree. IMHO +Dolan is IMHO doing exactly the right thing.
First, he has been invited to lead the convention in prayer… not speak to them. Prayer must NEVER be done with a political intention other than to fulfill the great commission. It transcends the left/right framework of the American political system and super-imposes the imprint of the heavenly kingdom. It should be something that recognizes that we are all sinners and are all in need repentance and forgiveness. This is the role of prayer. If he were invited to give a speech, he would be obliged to do as his critics suggest. This however is not the case.
Secondly, +Dolan espouses a brand of Catholicism which describes as affirmative orthodoxy. Pastorally this obliges him to search out any opportunity where he can have a conversation about Jesus and His Church with whomever he encounters. By accepting the invitation to offer a closing benediction at each of the conventions, he’s afforded the opportunity to present the invitation of Christ before a national audience twice in one week! Given that we are beginning a period of re-evangelizing North America, I believe that all of us should grab every and any opportunity to re-introduce Jesus to a people who’ve forgotten what he offers to humankind.
+Dolan should be congratulated for putting himself in being able to do this important work.
Finally, any evangelist will tell you that first you must introduce people to Christ. This task is made a hell of a lot easier if it's not framed in terms of hell and damnation but at it truly is: an invitation to experience the loving presence of a God who loved us so much that he was willing to take human form so as to repair once and for all our broken human nature. Once one's is rooted in this divine love, an experience of 'metanoia', then it becomes ours task to change our ways are orient our actions towards true love.
Let’s face it: Cardinal Dolan is a Prince of the Church who wants to be King-maker.
ReplyDeleteBut as the good Cardinal parades under the spotlights of the political conventions,
I’d like to humbly remind him that there is room for only ONE real super-star in his religion.
And that is the one who started it.
For as the Cardinal addressed and blessed the Republicans and their billionaire buddies,
as he smiled upon those who would destroy Social Security & voucher Medicare to death,
and as he struted on the stage with those who readily admit they “don’t care about the very poor”
......it would have been good for Cardinal Dolan to stop, to remember, and to take to heart the words of his boss, who once said “Whatsoever you do for the least of these - you do for me”.
Unless perhaps, ...just perhaps, the Cardinal is working for someone else these days? Just asking.
Our Founding Fathers wisely realized that politics, secular power, and religion do not mix.
That they bring out the worst in each other , and that ultimately they would destroy each other,
and us in the process A pastor should stick to his pulpit, not political conventions. Period.
I agree. The cardinal should remember the words of his boss at both conventions. You've raised some good points for the Republicans. For the Democrats convention he should also remember the words Jesus you so aptly pointed out as he rubs shoulders with left wing billionaires that promote the murder of millions of souls each year through abortion on the altar of choice and sexual gratification. Who push for euthanasia and the destruction of marriage as God meant it to be.
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