Cardinal Dolan's Response to the Al Smith Dinner Reaction Calls for Change
Smith was known as The Happy Warrior, because while he fought fiercely for what he believed was right, he never sought to demonize those who opposed him
The approach in the words and tenor of some of the articles, blog posts and commentaries on the Al Smith Dinner reflected a phenomenon I have referred to in the past as the "Catholic circular firing squad". It is too often present in this age of blogs, apps, social media and instant access to media. Some Catholics seem intent on figuratively shooting at other Catholics with hurtful words while the new Rome of a decaying Western culture burns around us. Such an approach not only violates our obligations in solidarity and charity toward one another, it can deflect us from our real mission.
PrintNEW YORK, NY (Catholic Online) - When Timothy Cardinal Dolan was elected to the Presidency of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops I called it an historic turn of events and a sign of the Lord's continued guidance of the Church in the United States. I wrote in an article "Truly, God has not forgotten His people in the Church in the United States. This is a day for rejoicing!" I also said then - and repeat it now - the United States of America has become mission territory. The Catholic Church in the United States is in need of the "New Evangelization" and Cardinal Dolan is one of its greatest apostles and instructors.
This happy Cardinal of the Catholic Church is a wonderful instrument of the New Evangelization, a trumpet in the hands of the Lord. He is a dynamic and inspiring communicator and solid teacher of the truths as taught by the Magisterium of the Church. He is a true leader, both naturally and supernaturally. People are drawn to him because they are drawn to the One who is alive within Him, and ministers through him, Jesus the Risen Lord.
He is always willing to contend with those who are hostile toward the Church, but always does so with velvet gloves and a heart filled with the desire to introduce them to the Lord and insert them, through the waters of Baptism, into the Body of Christ - as his brothers and sisters! He confounds his opponents with Truth and wins them over with the Love of God. He also never excludes anyone from the possibility of conversion, even the president of the United States.
Some within the Catholic blogosphere and on social networks responded to the news that both the Republican candidate and the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Presidency were invited to speak at the annual Al Smith Dinner on October 18th. The blogosphere heated up with some rather uncharitable words over the invitation even being extended to Barack Obama. The spokesman for the Archdiocese, Joseph Zwilling explained, "It is the tradition of the Smith dinner to invite the presidential candidates in the presidential election years in the spirit of nonpartisanship, good humor and good fellowship." However, the controversy would not go away and took on a life of its own.
I understood the concern over this President's attendance at the banquet. After all, he has shown hostility toward the Catholic Church, has not respected religious liberty, is an ardent opponent of the fundamental human right to life and refuses to defend marriage against horrendous assaults. However, what was truly disheartening to me were some disparaging and denigrating comments directed toward the Cardinal Archbishop of New York, Timothy Dolan, by some Catholics.
This man is a champion of the Church and a light in an otherwise dark moment in our Nation's history. He loves the Lord and the Catholic Church he serves with an infectious enthusiasm borne of a sincere, living Christian faith. He is comfortable in his own skin, at ease with the use of the media, filled with the Holy Spirit, and eager to share the Gospel which is found in its fullness within the heart of the Catholic Church.
No matter where an attack or a challenge comes from against the Church, this gutsy but gregarious Bishop goes out to greet them and does not back down. He is fearless. He is precisely who we need at the helm of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in this critical hour. He does more than defend the Church, he proclaims with confidence that she bears the saving message the whole world needs to hear. He extends an invitation to everyone to find their home in the Church which is meant to become the home of the whole human race.
The approach I saw reflected in the words and tenor of some of the articles, blog posts and commentaries on the Al Smith Dinner reflected a phenomenon I have referred to in the past as the "Catholic circular firing squad". It is a sad reality, too often present in this age of blogs, apps, social media and instant access to media. Some Catholics seem intent on figuratively shooting at other Catholics with hurtful words while the new Rome of a decaying Western culture burns around us. Such an approach not only violates our obligations in solidarity and charity toward one another, it can deflect us from our real mission.
I present below the response of the Cardinal from his wonderful blog entitled "the Gospel in the Digital Age". I hope it will bring an end to this entire matter. It should also lead to some serious reflection within the Catholic community which uses the great treasure of the new media in our joint task of the New Evangelization.
Until I read this response I was not aware of the fact that Al Smith was called the "Happy Warrior".In my own writing concerning Cardinal Dolan, I have used the phrase to ...
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Vance... wait, back up a sec. Obama attacked his own country?
Rob, come on, are you that asleep. There were two Bills submitted to the senate by your Dear Leader Harry Reid and supported by your idol Hillary Clinton. These were proposed treaties where America gives up it's sovereignty on international waters and would make America subject to the International Court. Harry Reid needed 2/3 vote in the senate. The Bills failed "Along Party Line Votes". This was very public and open in the Marxist Media Complex. If the Bills passed, the UN would have jurisdiction over you and me where we could be arrested if we violate a UN Law. The UN could also dictate where our Navy can and can't operate.
JoAnn, personally I'd like to think that what we are seeing is a Church that is finally waking up. A Church that is pregnant with hope that will soon give birth the new evangelization that Pope John Paul II taught about. What I see today is nothing more then the effects of sin when so many have walked away from God. Sin is just doing what it does....destroying.
Since God loves ALL of us with his whole heart, I really don't think he's walking around in heaven saying, just one more time, one more time and that's it, I'm dropping the hammer. Personally, I think he just grows more sad by the day watching the lack of love we have for one another and the havoc that continues to wreak. But as the clock keeps ticking, we can either throw in the towel or keep working to save souls. If St. Monica prayed 30 years for the conversion of her son, I can only the degree the souls in heave intercede for us, including our blessed mother. Christ words from the cross were not, Father, get these guys, but Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.
As Catholics, is that our posture? Love one another as I have love you. Are we living that?
Vance, would you please explain how Obama is striving to give the UN our sovereignty? And please do so in light of all the drone attacks on foreign soil and particularly the raid that resulted in Osama Bin Laden's death, you know boots on the ground in a foreign country without their approval? And would you please provide specifics or elaborate on the actions you belive Obama has done that proves that he believes the US is an enemy. If possible, would you compare and contrast to his predecessors as to what makes his policy unique in light of past presidents?
I hoping you will provide more than those silly email chains that keep getting posted on this site as if there is a conspiracy under every bush.
Vance: That's what happens when people are so party biased that they can't see the forsest for the trees.. Nobody, me included, wants to believe that our government can turn against us but it can happen and IS HAPPENING right before our eyes. Our Founding Fathers warned us of it. "The price of liberty is eternal vigilance." Thomas Jefferson But we got apathetic and arrogant. Maybe God just gives selected people the insight so that they can bring others around. God wants all to be saved but we all know that there will be fallen souls. Our Blessed Mother showed the children at Fatima what Hell looks like and she told them that "souls fall into Hell like snowflakes." I believe we are in or close to being in the Great Chastizement and it's not going to be pretty. When Obama was campaigning, I knew what was coming if he won. I knew that America wouldn't be vulnerable to enemies from the outside. The ony way our great country could be taken is from within. Vance, this whole "Grand Jihad" on our country has been being planned from the early 1900's. The "powers that be" are way ahead of us. When Pope Leo XIII was given a vision of what Satan was going to do, he wrote the prayer to St. Michael. I don't know if you remember this or not, but we said 3 Hail Mary's and the prayer to St. Michael after every Mass. It was John XXIII who discontinued the practice. I always wondered why. We need to be saying it everyday as often as we can. But, of course, God's will be done. God bless.
JoAnn, I agree whole heartedly about Obama striving to give the UN authority over our sovereignty. He is the first president in our history to attack his own country. Isn't it amazing how we have a president who views America as his enemy. Now, I know people find that hard to believe while too many refuse to believe it. Obama's actions demonstrate this fact. I also agree that all American citizen have a duty to 'question' their government and what their motives are. I bet you shake your head in discuss when you read die-hard liberal followers of Obama become incensed with you suggest questioning their Dear Leader. Keep up the great posts. God bless.
Rob: That sure would be a shocker for Jan Brewer. I can understand why she's wanting to do it. When she signed the bill last year, Obama sued Arizona and then reported it to the UN. It was the UN that slapped a human rights violation on Arizona. Now, what business was it of the UN's unless they are more involved with the US then you might think. And, another puzzle. Why did Obama go to the UN to send troops into Libya? Shouldn't he just have gone to Congress? Something does not seem right to me. God bless.
JoAnn, what is hillarious about the movement on a national ID system is that it's the law's in Arizona that are giving legs to this effort. In their zeal to verify everyone's legal status and reject the ID's of every other state, they are pushing the federal government as part of immigration reform to pass this legislation.
Fortunately this law has always been delayed as it's always been viewed as politically unfeasible. Both the right and the left have rejected this over the years. But with Arizona pushing the issue to the degree it has, this might actually become a national reality and we'll have Jan Brewer to thank for it. It's estimated that the cost to implement would be around $40 billion. I wonder if we can send the bill to Arizona?
JoAnn, what is hillarious about the movement on a national ID system is that it's the law's in Arizona that are giving legs to this effort. In their zeal to verify everyone's legal status and reject the ID's of every other state, they are pushing the federal government as part of immigration reform to pass this legislation.
Fortunately this law has always been delayed as it's always been viewed as politically unfeasible. Both the right and the left have rejected this over the years. But with Arizona pushing the issue to the degree it has, this might actually become a national reality and we'll have Jan Brewer to thank for it. It's estimated that the cost to implement would be around $40 billion. I wonder if we can send the bill to Arizona?
Rob: I wouldn't expect YOU to see it. I was not implying it was a conspiracy. I'm implying that the way these "Government Bullies," are behaving, we need to keep a close eye on what is coming down the pike. Like I said, when it was presented to Reagan to sign, he refused. HE'S the one that said it was the mark of the beast. I didn't. I just reported what he said. Besides, I did ask my spiritual advisor Sunday, after Mass. He said he didn't think it was but thought it was stupid because we already have a SS#. You have to admit, there are some strange things coming out of Washington. Since we have a Marxist/Socialist president with his background, it doesn't hurt to be too careful. Right? God bless.