Confirmed: Obama, Romney to attend Al Smith dinner [CWN]

[CWN_News]

The Archdiocese of New York has confirmed that Cardinal Timothy Dolan has invited President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney to the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner and that both …

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[Thaelros]

I think it is worth mentioning that, despite the obvious risk of scandalization of the faithful, this decision begets the opportunity for Cardinal Dolan to have a little private chat with Obama and Romney, which may bear some sort of fruit.

 

[Seeker1961]

I know people have issues with this and I understand that, but I think the Cardinal is right. You don’t close off dialogue with those you disagree with, you keep the lines of communication open.

We are Catholic and we do not hate the sinner. We pray and work and hope that the sinner will find conversion.

 

[_Abyssinia]

If you search ‘Catholic Charities abortion’ they are connected to various abortion related activities. I do not see how if you invite the president you can separate politics from other actives. I think Romney has been asked to attend but I am not sure.

Director of the Safe Environment Program of the Archdiocese of NY and works with the Archdiocesan Family Life/Respect Life Office on public policy issues, has written a blog post addressing the controversy:

Controversies and Dinners

There is a controversy brewing in Catholic and pro-life circles over reports that the President has been invited to attend the annual Al Smith Dinner here in New York. In my opinion, people need to take a deep breath, relax a second, and think carefully about this.

It’s important first to understand what the Al Smith Dinner is, and is not, and then what the invitation means, and what it does not.

The Al Smith Dinner is organized and hosted by the Alfred E. Smith Foundation, which is closely affiliated with but independent of the Archdiocese of New York. It’s named after Governor Al Smith, an iconic figure in New York politics, who dedicated his life to serving the people of the state, particularly the needy. He was a classic urban machine politician, but was also committed to working with others across party lines when he saw that it was in the public interest. He was always proud of his Catholic faith and he defended the Church against attacks against religious bigotry. He was certainly well familiar with anti-Catholicism, since his own faith was brutally attacked during his run for the Presidency in 1928.

The dinner is not a religious event in any way — it’s a civic/political event that raises money for Catholic charitable institutions. It’s not held at a religious building — it’s at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. It has no religious component aside from a benediction and closing prayer — much like sessions of Congress. A large proportion of the people who attend the Dinner are not Catholic, and the list of past speakers shows that only once in its almost 70-year history has a religious figure given the keynote address (Cardinal O’Connor).

The dinner has a long tradition of inviting New York elected officials of all parties, and candidates of both major parties for the Presidency. It is strictly non-partisan, and an invitation to the dinner is in no way an endorsement of any office holder, or any candidate for office.

It’s also important that the politicians who speak at the dinner are not being given any honor or award by the Church, but are rather delivering an address that is one part jocular remarks written by professional jokesters, and two-parts generic political after-dinner bromides. Any comparison between the Al Smith Dinner and the honorary degree given to the President at Notre Dame’s graduation ceremony is thus completely off-the-mark.

Everybody at the dinner understands this — it’s a civic event, much like a Veteran’s Day parade (but with a fancier menu and white tie).

Some people have been saying that inviting the President in some way undermines or contradicts the Church’s public witness in defense of life and the family. There is no question that the President’s political agenda and policy record are deplorable from a Catholic perspective — he is consistently anti-life and is ardent in his promotion and support of abortion, he is in favor of re-defining marriage, he opposes parental choice in education, his Administration is a consistent enemy of religious freedom, and there is good reason to believe that he has dealt with our bishops in less than good faith.

Give the consistency and strength with which our bishops — particularly Cardinal Dolan — have been proclaiming the Catholic view of public policy, it is hard to see how this one Dinner could possibly lead anyone to believe that the Church is softening her defense of life, the family, and religious liberty. When everyone wakes up the morning after, the struggle will resume.

But, as a matter of fact, an invitation to the current incumbent President to the Al Smith Dinner actually sends a message, one that is important in this time of pathologically toxic politics. It says to us that we can vehemently disagree with a public official’s positions, but we can still show respect for his office, and for him as a person, and treat him with civility. It gives us an opportunity to act as Christians, and show some love to our adversaries, and even those whose policies we consider to be immoral and oppressive. After all, even St. Peter told us to “honor the emperor” (1 Pet 2:17).

The message is also that we can set aside our deeply-held differences and leave the partisan politics at the door for an evening, speak nicely and politely to each other, and work together for a common cause in the service of the poor. That’s a good thing, something that Al Smith would have been proud to associate himself with, and something that Catholics and pro-lifers should also support.

Note: Some bloggers and other news sources have linked to this blog post, and have said that it is a statement by “the Archdiocese”. Please read the sidebar to this blog: “The opinions expressed by the Bloggers… are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Archdiocese of New York”. These comments are not an official statement by the Archdiocese or the Cardinal — they represent my opinions, and mine alone. Clear? Okay, fire away — but in a civil way, please.

my emphases

blog.archny.org/steppingout/?p=2525

You can see by the comments on the article, the controversy has not gone away. There are 2 petitions asking to disinvite Obama

change.org/petitions/cardinal-dolan-the-archdiocese-of-new-york-disinvite-president-obama-from-the-al-smith-fundraising-dinner

alsmithscandal.com

 

[vjnycguy]

change.org/petitions/cardinal-dolan-the-archdiocese-of-new-york-disinvite-president-obama-from-the-al-smith-fundraising-dinner

 

[Seeker1961]

I think it is worth mentioning that, despite the obvious risk of scandalization of the faithful, this decision begets the opportunity for Cardinal Dolan to have a little private chat with Obama and Romney, which may bear some sort of fruit.

That’s how I feel about it. Cardinal Dolan seems to be a pretty smart guy, and he also seems to be able to speak clearly about Catholic teaching. I doubt anyone who actually listens to him will believe that this invitation suddenly means he’s a supporter of what Obama is doing.

I understand the feelings behind the petitions, I just agree with the Cardinal on this one.

 

[meltzerboy]

I think it is worth mentioning that, despite the obvious risk of scandalization of the faithful, this decision begets the opportunity for Cardinal Dolan to have a little private chat with Obama and Romney, which may bear some sort of fruit.

Agreed. I think Cardinal Dolan is fully aware of what he’s doing and should be given more credit.

 

[PJD1987]

Agreed. I think Cardinal Dolan is fully aware of what he’s doing and should be given more credit.

I’m not so sure about that. This is incredibly scandalous, on a national scale. It gives dissenting Catholics a loophole to continue their ardent and public dissent and scandalization of the Church by saying, “Oh look, Cardinal Dolan is okay with this guy…” It also gives that impression to non-religious or non-Catholic people that Cardinal Dolan and Mr. Obama are best buddies and everything is alright, thus giving them ample opportunity to justify support of Mr. Obama and his anti-Catholic policies. For the last few decades the Church has been too willing to “enter into dialogue” with those that aren’t really interested in dialogue at all. And thus we allow ourselves to be used as political pawns. Mr. Obama does not care one bit for the Catholic Church, sees it as an obstacle, and to think that having a little chat over a lovely dinner and some jokes with the man will change anything, is stunningly naive. Doing this at this time when we are in a bitter fight for our very sacred religious freedom, totally undermines and cuts the legs out from underneath this fight.

Let us not forget, Cardinal Dolan presided over the re-dedication of St. Francis Xavier in New York City and was presented with several LGBT groups that are PART of, endorsed by, and organized by, the Church and he did not bat an eyelash.

I continue to pray for Cardinal Dolan, that he will change his mind, and take the radical stand we need in this country.

God bless.

-Paul

 

[JimG]

Interesting to note that Al Smith lost his presidential bid in 1928 and that anti-Catholicism played a very large part in that.

And anti-Catholicism plays a very large part in the policies of the current administration.

I have no quarrel with either Obama or Romney being invited to the dinner. I think the Cardinal knows what he’s doing. One can never know what the future holds, of course. Henry VIII also had a number of friendly chats with Thomas More in better days.

 

[PJD1987]

Interesting to note that Al Smith lost his presidential bid in 1928 and that anti-Catholicism played a very large part in that.

And anti-Catholicism plays a very large part in the policies of the current administration.

I have no quarrel with either Obama or Romney being invited to the dinner. I think the Cardinal knows what he’s doing. One can never know what the future holds, of course. Henry VIII also had a number of friendly chats with Thomas More in better days.

Yes, but when Henry VIII clearly put himself in opposition to Church teaching and obstinately refused to respect others, in fact making it illegal to publicly support the Holy Father, Thomas More did not invite Henry VIII over to dinner. He rather decided to be imprisoned and executed for his beliefs rather than publicly support a King. I wish Cardinal Dolan had the courage of Thomas More. We need a radical stand to be made in defense of our religious liberty, and more important the Truth for which we uphold and proclaim throughout all the world. There is nothing about the Truth that is worth conceding or compromising on.

God bless.

-Paul

 

[_Abyssinia]

I think it is worth mentioning that, despite the obvious risk of scandalization of the faithful, this decision begets the opportunity for Cardinal Dolan to have a little private chat with Obama and Romney, which may bear some sort of fruit.

Cardinal Dolon and Obama had a long time of being in contact and it made no difference to Obama pushing the HHS mandate

 

[Seeker1961]

Cardinal Dolon and Obama had a long time of being in contact and it made no difference to Obama pushing the HHS mandate

But you don’t give up…that’s what makes us who we are. We keep trying to convert, we keep trying to lead people to the truth. We keep planting the seeds, and hoping that God’s grace will reach that person’s heart and lead them to conversion.

I think Cardinal Dolan is demonstrating a wonderful example for Catholics to follow in their dealings with people who don’t agree with us. Who knows? Maybe he’s working on making Romney a convert from Mormonism as well!

 

[Bill_Martin]

Now he just needs to invite a conservative to balance it out.

 

[Thaelros]

I agree with everyone here, but I think the best solution is to pray that the Holy Spirit guide Cardinal Dolan towards the solution that would best benefit the faithful. Disinviting Obama would be the simplest way to go about doing this, but I think there are opportunities at this gathering for Cardinal Dolan to put Obama on the spot in front of the media.

 

[_Abyssinia]

But you don’t give up…that’s what makes us who we are. We keep trying to convert, we keep trying to lead people to the truth. We keep planting the seeds, and hoping that God’s grace will reach that person’s heart and lead them to conversion.

I think Cardinal Dolan is demonstrating a wonderful example for Catholics to follow in their dealings with people who don’t agree with us. Who knows? Maybe he’s working on making Romney a convert from Mormonism as well!

True, but they say they are not going to make it about politics so how can there be any discussion about the mandate?

 

[_Abyssinia]

Now he just needs to invite a conservative to balance it out.

I think Romney has been invited

 

[Seeker1961]

True, but they say they are not going to make it about politics so how can there be any discussion about the mandate?

That’s the public part of the dinner…nobody said anything about what’s going to go on behind the scenes.

 

[PJD1987]

That’s the public part of the dinner…nobody said anything about what’s going to go on behind the scenes.

With all due respect I really, fundamentally disagree with the fact that this can be turned into a good idea, in any way, whatsoever.

God bless.

-Paul

 

[_Abyssinia]

That’s the public part of the dinner…nobody said anything about what’s going to go on behind the scenes.

Obama has doubled down on his views on employers paying for drugs they consider objectionable a few weeks ago. He going to be campaigning with Sandra Fluke in Denver. I am convinced, nothing will change Obama’s mind, not even the good attentions of Catholic leaders. There’s no incentive for Obama to change. The devout Catholics will not vote for him, and the non practising will vote for him

 

[Bill_Martin]

I think Romney has been invited

Exactly, so there’s still no conservative there.