Is there any possibility that this interaction between Cardinal Dolan and Biden could end up being a moment of clarity for Biden?
I've been following Dolan ever since he was sent to rescue the Milwaukee Diocese. He uses his friendly Irish, back slapping personality to project a happy face to the apostate world and garner the support of pew catholics. (How can anyone get upset with such a jovial, larger-than-life man of God?) He exudes joy and happiness from every pore. While that may work well in dealing with mediocre catholics, IMHO, he is treading on very thin ice when it comes to politicians. This is especially true in his capacity as head of the USCCB. And it is even more so now with the Obama government's HHS mandate.
If you watched the cardinals process into the Sistine Chapel, you could see Dolan's discomfort in such a serious situation. While waiting to sign the pledge, he took in the frescoes around the chapel. His face was unnaturally serious. He was out of his environment.
To have Biden in attendance at a Palm Sunday mass, at a time when the Catholic Church as a whole (not just Dolan) is at war with the Obama Administration on religious liberty and then give Biden communion, is scandalous. Not only is Biden pro-choice and pro-gay marriage, he is arrogant. When presented to the new pope, he simply shook his hand (because his mother told him never to acknowledge anyone as being higher than himself). Moment of clarity? Dolan needs to read the tea leaves.
I had not planned on posting this article but when I learned that EWTN's lawsuit had been tossed out, I became furious over how Biden's been treated with white gloves by the USCCB and Dolan, in particular.
Back in 2000, following the death of Cardinal O'Connor, his funeral was held in St. Patrick's cathedral. It was broadcast nationwide. President and Mrs. Clinton were in attendance, as were VP Al Gore and his wife, along with NYC Mayor Giuliani. Cardinal Bernard Law delivered the homily.
At one point in the sermon, O'Connor's hand picked homilist said, "What a great legacy he has left us in his constant reminder that the Church must always be unambiguously pro- life."
There was a beat and then applause broke out. It grew louder, increasing as the cameras fixed on the Clinton-Gore party showing them on screens throughout the cathedral. Cardinal Law attempted to quiet the crowd with his hand, when suddenly the congregation began to stand up, applauding in a wave that moved from the back of the church to the front. If it hadn't been a funeral they would have cheered. It was a defiant, pivotal moment.
Then the bishops and cardinals in the sanctuary stood up. The elder George Bush stood up applauding, as did his son somewhere off camera. The camera panned back to the Clinton- Gore party who looked bemused and bewildered.
Having no water glasses to reach for as they did in 1994 when Mother Teresa received a thunderous ovation for telling the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington that there could be no peace as long as a mother could kill the child in her womb, Clinton leaned back and started whispering in Hillary's ear. Gore's face was as blank, flat and white as a sheet of paper. Behind them another abortion "rights" supporter, Rudy Giuliani, began to applaud, albeit weakly, and stood. And lest they be the only ones left seated, the Clintons and Gores lamely stood up but refrained from applauding.
It was not Cardinal Law's intent to embarrass anyone. He was merely doing his job and honoring his friend. The vehement applause came from the people.
When the applause subsided, Law quipped, "I see he hasn't left the pulpit." Even a news commentator said it was as if O'Connor himself had spoken "from beyond the grave." Even through the TV screen you could feel the presence of that humble but larger than life churchman fill St. Patrick's Cathedral one last time, driving home the message he lived.
The leaders of the free world are currently the hierarchy of the culture of death and it is difficult to know what those poll-conscious politicians took away from that anointed moment, but I have some suggestions.
Cardinal Dolan needs to take a strong stand. Enough with the happy, clappy. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in not a backyard bbq. It's time to man up!