The Al Smith dinner: the cardinal and the tax collector

CatholicCulture.org ^ | August 09, 2012 | Phil Lawler

[Salvation]

The Al Smith dinner: the cardinal and the tax collector

By Phil Lawler (bio - articles - send a comment) |

August 09, 2012 9:36 AM

Jesus ate with tax collectors. And Cardinal Dolan plans to eat with President Obama—who, Chief Justice Roberts tells us, has imposed a “tax” on employers who refuse to subsidize contraception. But there’s a difference.

When Jesus sat with tax collectors, the dinners were private. They were not “photo ops” for political candidates. The Lord could speak directly to the hearts of his dining companions, and convert them. Remember, St. Matthew left the tax-collecting business to follow Christ. Does anyone believe that after the Al Smith dinner, Obama will decide to rescind the contraceptive mandate?

The annual fundraiser for Catholic Charities in New York is a non-partisan event, the organizers assure us; politics will play no part in the night’s events. Non-partisan it may be, but not apolitical. There are no apolitical public events on the schedule of a presidential candidate during the last few weeks of a campaign. Both Mitt Romney and Barack Obama will attend because they expect to gain some political advantage. They know exactly what they’re doing. Can the same be said for the host, Cardinal Dolan?

During the dinner, the Cardinal and Obama and Romney will laugh and joke together. (The cardinal will be the star of the show, because unlike the other two men, he has a detectible sense of humor.) All good fun. But is it really harmless?

On the morning after the dinner, millions of Americans will see, prominently displayed on the front pages of their hometown newspapers, pictures of President Obama and Cardinal Dolan smiling together. What message will they receive? Can these be the same men who are fighting a bitter political battle on a matter of conscience? The same two men who are the principal forces behind opposite sides of a landmark lawsuit? If they’re laughing and back-slapping together, the disagreement can’t be all that serious, can it? So maybe that “matter of conscience” isn’t so important after all? Apparently it wasn’t important enough to interfere with a night of fun.

In attendance at the dinner, appropriately clad in white ties, will be corporate executives who have donated large sums to the Obama campaign. The Catholic bishops of the US—Cardinal Dolan prominently among them—have repeatedly told the faithful that it is gravely wrong to support political candidates who promote unrestricted legal abortion, euthanasia, and same-sex marriage. Yet Catholics continue to support Obama, disregarding the bishops’ warnings. When they see Cardinal Dolan arm-in-arm with a President whose administration has done so much to advance the culture of death, will they be more or less likely to take the bishops seriously?

Cardinal Dolan may be the most gregarious man I have ever met. He seems quite genuinely to take delight in the presence of everyone he meets. That’s a quality that I admire: an enormous strength of his character. However, a man who habitually thinks the best of everyone can fail to pick up on the telltale signs of enmity. Cardinal Dolan seemed genuinely surprised that after promising to accommodate the consciences of Catholics regarding the HHS mandate, Obama did nothing of the sort. Call me a cynic if you want, but I wasn’t surprised.

During the past several months Cardinal Dolan has proven remarkably tough in his statements regarding the mandate and feisty in his willingness to do political battle with the White House. Yet now, in the thick of that battle—and, not coincidentally, of the presidential campaign—he has offered a temporary truce. Is he making a calculated gesture, as part of some Machiavellian plan? I’d like to think so. But the cynic in me fears that the cardinal has slipped back into the naïve belief that political disagreements can be put aside for an evening of joking and backslapping without any adverse consequences. And on political affairs, sad to say, the cynic in me is almost always right.

[Salvation]

Another way of looking at this. Is Cardinal Dolan ready for battle? Or is he losing his leadership gut?

[Salvation]

**Can these be the same men who are fighting a bitter political battle on a matter of conscience? The same two men who are the principal forces behind opposite sides of a landmark lawsuit? If they’re laughing and back-slapping together, the disagreement can’t be all that serious, can it? So maybe that “matter of conscience” isn’t so important after all? Apparently it wasn’t important enough to interfere with a night of fun.**

Your comments welcomed.

[Venturer]

Afraid to make a comment.

I may be accused of Blasphemy.

Itis not up to me a lay person to question the actions of a Prince of the Church. At least not in this forum, but I have my own thoughts and they aren’t far from Blasphemy, believe me.

[Ken522]

The good Cardinal should have invited Ann Barnhardt and Michael Voris - those two would have lit the place up faster than obozo could say “choom gang!”

[the invisib1e hand]

“The Pharisee and Herod”, maybe.

[maryz]

When is the dinner? Where Dolan's been good so far, I'm reluctant to comment before the fact.

[workerbee]

Cardinal Dolan seemed genuinely surprised that after promising to accommodate the consciences of Catholics regarding the HHS mandate, Obama did nothing of the sort. Call me a cynic if you want, but I wasn’t surprised.

A recurring theme -- even an old one, perhaps, depending on one's age.

I am sickened by Dolan's invitation. He may as well have dropped his pants and mooned those trying to be the Catholic faithful.

[MIchaelTArchangel]

Is Cardinal Dolan losing his leadership gut? I thought that was a beer gut.

[Alberta's Child]

Let's be brutally honest here.

What we have here in the U.S. is a startling parallel to the political/religious landscape under totalitarian regimes like China. In China, there are two different "versions" of the Catholic Church: an official government-approved church that functions as an arm of the state, and the real Catholic Church that functions underground, faces persecution, and often must carry out its religious activities in absentia through a secret hierarchy that sits in Rome or elsewhere in the world.

It really is this simple. American "Catholic" leaders like Teddy Kennedy, Nancy Pelosi and Kathy Sebelius have played the role of the state-sanctioned "church" even though there's nothing Catholic about them. The Catholic laity face the injustices of radical secularism on their own, with little or no support from the bishops that are supposed to be their shepherds (in fact, most of these bishops are on the same side as the minions of Satan who carry out this travesty).

And Timmy Dolan is just some jack@ss who's going to get dressed up for Halloween and make an appearance at this thing called the Al Smith Dinner to lend the whole farce some credibility in this election year.

Flame away, folks.

[DuncanWaring]

That would be fun to watch.

[RitaOK]

Sorry to say this news is a little demoralizing, if not another scandal outright. To entertain two abortion pushing pols in one more Catholic venue while asking universities for instance to give no platform to the same is confusing coming from an archbishop.

[Salvation]

Not LOL! because I had a father in law who was an alcoholic. Sorry to be a sour one here.

[Salvation]

I like your comparison of the two levels of Catholcism in China with what is seemingly happening in the U. S.

I don’t agree with your last statement though in obedience to my priest, bishop, Cardinal, Pope.

[JoeFromSidney]

It is a scandal, and Dolan should have known better. I signed a petition opposing Obama's presence, and added the note, "Quit feeding the mouth that bites you."

[ConorMacNessa]

This poster is appalled. The analogy to eating with tax-collectors is not entirely apropos IMO. What he's doing is more analogous to sitting down with the Prince of Darkness himself.

I think they should have refrained from inviting either of the presidential candidates. By inviting them, a "business as usual" message is being conveyed. This at a time when we're probably headed back to the Catacombs. Just my $.02.



Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[Salvation]

Good comment to add.

[workerbee]

I don’t follow your train of thought on obedience. Dolan is not infallible, and this invitation is hardly a doctrinal statement but rather a show of his own naivety, indifference or arrogance (take your pick).

[Aliska]

Matthew 5:13

[Talisker]

Cardinal Dolan plans to eat with President Obama — who, Chief Justice Roberts tells us, has imposed a “tax” on employers who refuse to subsidize contraception.

It's much easier to be appalled, than to understand.

If you're appalled, you're victimized. If you understand, your understanding gives you responsibility to act.

Millions of Christians, and millions of Catholics, are appalled that Obamacare apparently forces them to support abortion. They rightly point out that this is forcing them to choose between obedience to law, and taking part in mass murder against the direct teachings of their religions.

Very little, I think, could create a more dire spiritual crisis for so many people. Satanic forces are literally putting the point of a sword to millions of people's throats, and saying - backed by the full destructive force of the government - choose.

I think most would agree to this summation. That I'm not exaggerating.

So why do so many choose to face the sword in ignorance, and protect their non-responsibility, rather than understand, and accept responsibility for that understanding? Do they hope to fool God, when asked if there was anything they could have done? When asked if they were not given the understanding necessary to stop this atrocity in its tracks? Do they actually plan on lying then? Is that how weak what they pass as their "religion" really is to them?

I wonder.

Because if that wasn't true, this would be being shouted from the rooftops of every church - but it's not:

How Chief Justice Roberts Saved America

[Alberta's Child]

Timothy Dolan is the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The offices of that organization are located in Washington, D.C., and the USCCB is bascially a lobbying organization that functions as an arm of the U.S. government. If they had any credibility they'd be located somewhere in Iowa or Nebraska instead of in the shadow of Caesar's palace.

The guy is basically a political hack, so there's no reason to be any more deferential to him than you'd be to any other jack@ss in government these days.

[Dacula]

Good evening Alberta’s Child,

I agree with you which is probably why I got booted off of the Catholic Ping list.

I dare not say anything more.

[utahagen]

Don't lose heart. I suspect Cardinal Dolan has something up his sleeve. Obama may end up wishing he'd skipped the event.

[STJPII]

Interesting, unique analysis. well said.

[Ann Archy]

NO WAY!!! Cardinal Dolan is a Gentlemen....he will NOT embarrass Obama the way Obamawould embarrass him!! NO FREAKING WAY!!

HE SHOULD have taken the invitation back, but alas, I live in a dream world.

[Alberta's Child]

To entertain two abortion pushing pols in one more Catholic venue while asking universities for instance to give no platform to the same is confusing coming from an archbishop.

You hit the nail right on the head, Rita.

[workerbee]

And what would Dolan have up his sleeve? Oooh, maybe some mean, “gotcha” words for Obamalamadingdong? Well, woopidty-doo.

Better a bishop & cardinal worry about the message he sends to those whose souls are in his care, rather than media or political points he thinks his clever quips might generate.

[Alberta's Child]

Thanks. Sometimes people can’t accept a blunt, direct assessment of a scandalous event like this.

[Alex Murphy]

Afraid to make a comment. I may be accused of Blasphemy. Itis not up to me a lay person to question the actions of a Prince of the Church. At least not in this forum, but I have my own thoughts and they aren’t far from Blasphemy, believe me.

Wise behavior.

[Salvation]

In not speaking ill of him.

All priests take vows of obedience to their individual bishops or abbots. We, by saying we are a member of a parish, in a way say that we will be obedient to our priest.

Difficult when you don’t have and orthodox priest to imidtate. When the alter Christus really isn’t a stand in for Christ.

[Salvation]

**Don’t lose heart. I suspect Cardinal Dolan has something up his sleeve. Obama may end up wishing he’d skipped the event.**

This is what I ama thinking. It’s supposed to be a fun evening. I think Dolan can make the snide remarks and get away with it this one night. We’ll have to see.

[SumProVita]

I have decided to look at this from a more spiritual angle. I admit that, in the past, my heavily Irish and rebel flesh has rushed to judge.

Sacred Scripture gives us Wisdom:

Touch not my anointed: and do no evil to my prophets. (1 Chronicles 16:22)

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

As for me, I have decided not to criticize nor to second-guess what is happening with this. It may well be that Cardinal Dolan has, indeed, prayed about this and moved out of obedience to the Lord. Many people are praying for this man daily and he IS anointed. Therefore, I will continue to pray and remember that all is in the hands of God. Period!

[PGalt]

Thanks for the post/ping, Salvation. It makes me want to puke...on all of them. Collective vs. individual BUMP!

[sayuncledave]

I signed the petition respectfully asking the Cardinal to disinvite obama. If Cardinal O’Connor could respectfully not allow Clinton to attend, why is obama, who is a considerably more anti-Catholic president, being allowed to attend? Especially given the lawsuit. When numerous dioceses are in a lawsuit versus a sitting president, a celebratory dinner with the other party in the lawsuit as an honored guest seems highly irregular. Also, why the weasel words on the diocesan website about this? This seems to have a contradiction between words and actions, and seems to invite thoughts of scandal to the faithful.

[RobbyS]

What bothers me is that the Cardinal seems oblivious to objections. He ought not to engage in political negotiations, because in this area he is a boy among men.

[Heart-Rest]

Would anybody have been in favor of having Church leaders invite Adolph Hitler to put philosophical differences aside for a day, and collegially rub elbows with them while sharing a drink or two, and a friendly, fraternal meal together?

The demoncrap party we have today is one of the main forces behind the evil, murderous abortion frenzy we are all currently witnessing, and B.O. is their current leader. They follow disgustingly warped philosophies which are eerily similar in many ways to that of the Nazis, and the B.O./demoncrap-backed abortionists have already brutally murdered many more human beings than the entire Nazi party did in their whole history (and they continue to add to this horrendously immoral carnage every single day).

Today's baby-killing demoncrap party led by B.O. essentially IS today's Nazi party. We should not invite this evil man to share a friendly meal with us. Instead we should tell him to "get thee behind us, Satan, and stay the hell behind us!", and do everything possible to get him voted out of office.

Not long ago, U.S. Church leaders told Harry Reid that we disagree with him on some things (like that pesky abortion issue), but that we agree with him on others, like his scofflaw "dream act" plans. I am completely convinced that that kind of naive nonsense helped get dirty Harry Reid reelected, and allows him now to continue to block every single moral law that somehow manages to make it through the House of Representatives to the Senate these days, causing untold harm to the USA and the Church. It is NOT smart to rub elbows with Nazis or demoncraps like Harry Reid or B.O., and our Church leaders in this country should learn that quickly, before it is too late.

[Salvation]

Good analogy with Hitler, could add Mussolini too.

[jacknhoo]

Roman Catholics in America have been highly disappointing in the past few decades. They were, especially, disappointing in the 2008 elections. They will continue to be disappointing...is there any witness to improvement? I pray for a miracle, for nothing is beyond Him. Hasn’t He, already, given America up to reprobate mind? If He has not, I have been fooled.

Romans 1:[28] And as they liked not to have God in their knowledge, God delivered them up to a reprobate sense, to do those things which are not convenient; [29] Being filled with all iniquity, malice, fornication, avarice, wickedness, full of envy, murder, contention, deceit, malignity, whisperers, [30] Detractors, hateful to God, contumelious, proud, haughty, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,[31] Foolish, dissolute, without affection, without fidelity, without mercy. [32] Who, having known the justice of God, did not understand that they who do such things, are worthy of death; and not only they that do them, but they also that consent to them that do them.

[Mach9]

Yes, guess I’m as optimistic as you. The pres needs to be treated as he treated others in his audiences.

[utahagen]

All I ask is that you give Dolan a chance and wait until after the Al SMith dinner to judge how he (Dolan) has handled Obama. Cardinal O'Connor was a saint, but God gave Cardinal Dolan a different personality than he gave O'Connor, and Dolan has to work with who HE is.

If at the Al Smith dinner, Dolan merely gently ribs Obama without any real mention of abortion, contraception mandate, etc, I'll be the first to criticize. For now, I say we give Dolan a chance and wait until after the dinner to praise or condemn him.

[utahagen]

Again, please wait until after the dinner to judge. I agree that Dolan is a gentleman who would never humiliate Obama. However, Dolan may speak simple truths that embarrass Obama. If Obama is chagrined to hear what abortion is and what religious liberty means, Dolan will not have humiliated him. Obama goes to this dinner freely and he knows how justifiably angry Catholics are with him. If Dolan speaks the truth and that bothers Obama, that will not make DOlan any less of a gentleman. What Christ not a gentleman because he turned over the tables at the temples?

All I'm saying is wait until after the dinner to criticize.

[Mrs. Don-o]

`

[Ann Archy]

Ok, I will.....he’s one of my Peeps....i PRAY he does what you say!! BUT, it’s a “FUN” dinner.....not a serious one.

[ardara]

There is an old saying that applies to Cardinal Dolan.He is too smart for his own good.We in NY know why the press like Cardinal Dolan.Cardinal Dolan is no Cardinal O’Connor and he is preoccupied with his legacy.Obama has won on this issue,let’s win the election.God bless Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney. This is the day of thr Laity.

[ADSUM]

The Catholic Church is full of sinners. We have heretics, priests that have abused children, bishops that have ignored that abuse, Catholics that do not worship God or follow his Commandments, etc.

Judgement is reserved for God and we will each be subject to HIS judgement.

While we can express our opinions and not be happy with Obama attending the Al Smith dinner, only God knows the whole truth.

God may be inspiring Cardinal Dolan to interact with President Zero and our next President Romney and Catholic VP Ryan.

I truly believe that Cardinal Dolan is a holy and humble man that is folowing God’s plan to lead our Catholic Church and we the faihful must follow Jesus example and encourage others (even when they don’t seem to be listening).

[SumProVita]

Related thoughts.... excerpts from a recent talk given by Archbishop Chaput:

“Critics of the Church have attacked America’s bishops so bitterly, for so long, over so many different issues — including the abuse scandal, but by no means limited to it — for very practical reasons.

***If a wedge can be driven between the pastors of the Church and her people, then a strong Catholic witness on controversial issues breaks down into much weaker groups of discordant voices. ...****

We also need to change the way we act. We need to understand that we can’t “quick fix” our way out of problems we behaved ourselves into. Catholics have done very well in the United States. As I said earlier, most of us have a deep love for our country, its freedoms and its best ideals. But this is not our final home. There is no automatic harmony between Christian faith and American democracy. The eagerness of Catholics to push their way into our country’s mainstream over the past half century, to climb the ladder of social and economic success, has done very little to Christianize American culture. But it’s done a great deal to weaken the power of our Catholic witness.”

Full address here: http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/building-a-culture-of-religious-freedom

[stfassisi]

There is no automatic harmony between Christian faith and American democracy. The eagerness of Catholics to push their way into our country’s mainstream over the past half century, to climb the ladder of social and economic success, has done very little to Christianize American culture. But it’s done a great deal to weaken the power of our Catholic witness.”

Thank you for your courage and understanding of our faith to post this.

Saying these things are not easy and are even rejected by our own who have been weakened by our society

[muffaletaman]

Watching the AL SMITH dinner and Romney’s remarks.

WOW can he deliver a line!!!!

AND WHAT A BUNCH OF ZINGERS!!!!!!!

[Salvation]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2946936/posts