Cardinal Dolan's Prayer at the Democratic National Convention Reflects True Christian Leadership

By Deacon Keith Fournier
9/10/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

This wonderful Cardinal rose to the call and invitation of history. He was faithful to his episcopal office once more

This wonderful Cardinal rose to the call and invitation of history. He was faithful to his episcopal office once more. He did not let his detractors distract him from doing what was right. On the closing evening of the Democratic nominating convention he stepped up to that microphone and prayed a prayer that not only was heard in heaven but is still reverberating on earth.

Cardinal Dolan at the Democratic convention

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CHARLOTTE, NC (Catholic Online) - Timothy Cardinal Dolan, the Archbishop of New York and President of the United States Catholic Bishops Conference, closed the Republican Convention with a prayer of Benediction. The prayer was theologically rich, sincerely devout and verbally beautiful. In the aftermath of the balloon drop and fanfare, this prayer did not receive the attention it deserved in the media.That is why we presented it in full for our readers immediately after it was offered.

His offer to lead the Benediction at the Democrat's Convention surprised some of the faithful. It also brought a massive "discussion" in the blogosphere, some of which was not only uncharitable but reflected, in this writers opinion, a misunderstanding of the role of a Bishop in the public square. After his initial offer was refused, the discussion died down a bit. However, a group of "blog pundits" in the Catholic blogosphere continued to verbally berate the very fact that the Cardinal had even offered to pray.

The refusal then led to another round of verbal fire, this time against the Democratic Party, for rejecting the offer. It certainly did not help their standing in the public eye. So then, the "surprise" happened. The Convention leaders changed their mind. They asked the good Cardinal to come and pray after all.

The prayer at the conclusion of the Democratic convention was beautiful and filled with the fearless sincerity which lies at the core of Cardinal Dolan's leadership of the Church and service to the Nation. Its content raised an interesting quagmire, coming as it did at the end of a party convention which not only promoted but celebrated intrinsic evils such as abortion on demand and the elimination of the special place given to true marriage in America.

In his usual brilliance, it was Catholic Princeton Professor Robert George who raised the obvious question the invitation raised. He did so in an article he wrote for the Wall Street Journal just prior to the evening of the actual Benediction:

"If, as the Obama-Biden campaign alleges, there is a "war on women," Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York, is its field marshal. If opposition to same-sex marriage is "bigotry," as many on the left insist, then Cardinal Dolan-as the most prominent defender of marriage as the union of husband and wife-is the country's leading bigot.Yet Timothy Dolan will be appearing at the Democratic National Convention Thursday night in Charlotte, N.C., to invoke divine blessing on the proceedings. So what's going on? "

Cardinal Dolans Prayer at the Democratic Convention

With a "firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence," let us close this convention by praying for this land that we so cherish and love:

Let us Pray.

Almighty God, father of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, revealed to us so powerfully in your Son, Jesus Christ, we thank you for showering your blessings upon this our beloved nation. Bless all here present, and all across this great land, who work hard for the day when a greater portion of your justice, and a more ample measure of your care for the poor and suffering, may prevail in these United States. Help us to see that a society's greatness is found above all in the respect it shows for the weakest and neediest among us.

We beseech you, almighty God to shed your grace on this noble experiment in ordered liberty, which began with the confident assertion of inalienable rights bestowed upon us by you: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Thus do we praise you for the gift of life. Grant us the courage to defend it, life, without which no other rights are secure. We ask your benediction on those waiting to be born, that they may be welcomed and protected. Strengthen our sick and our elders waiting to see your holy face at life's end, that they may be accompanied by true compassion and ...

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1 - 10 of 29 Comments

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8 months ago
The vast majority at the DNC didn't hear Cardinal Dolan's prayer because they were exiting the convention hall and those that did hear him booed him. He delivered a great prayer but t fell on deaf ears.
Bill
9 months ago
I pray there will be no more war of choice.
Terri K
9 months ago
I thought the prayer was a decisive blow against the liberal agenda and a wake-up call to catatonic Catholics who still think it's okay to be a Democrat. I'm not particularly fond of the GOP either, but I could never be a Democrat because of that weepy, bloody wound of abortion--not to mention the other assaults on human dignity.

At the very least, I hope this has given Obama a foretaste of what to expect at the Al Smith dinner. I like to imagine that our president is very nervous.
abey
9 months ago
Jesus did not pray with the Pharisees, but rebuked them & that is called straight forwardness by the heart. Politics do not & will not work with Christ. It is said " Give unto Caesar that which is to Caesar & to God that which is to God" but do understand that the god of this world, the god of politics standing before the Christ does not speak unless spoken to. Prayers are meant to be prayed & not spoken.
kathy
9 months ago
Cardinal Dolan did the right thing. Some of those people may not have ever had the chance to hear those words that may have changed some lives. Maybe a baby will be saved, or maybe someone might turn their life around because of those words. God bless you Cardinal Dolan!!!
Dan
9 months ago
RichStine, that was quite the little string of nonsequitors you posted there. I'll address two of your points. You said first that you cannot believe that women aren't capable of making the right decisions for themselves. The fact that abortions happen proves this wrong on two levels. First, if the right decision had been made an abortion wouldn't be necessary. Second, abortion is never the right decision. Then, you listed point number two, as though it followed from point number one, that you can't force someone to become a believer in Jesus Christ. Agreed! So what? You don't have to be a believer to know that it's wrong to kill your child. Believe, don't believe, meet God some day and explain it to him yourself... All fine and good. But to say that outlawing abortion is the same as forcing conversions to Christianity is as illogical and fallacious as it gets.
David W. Cooney
9 months ago
To all those who criticized him for even agreeing to give the prayer, Christ did not come to mingle among the just, but to lead sinners to Him. This is why Christ was often in the company of sinners. It is the duty of His priests, especially those of the episcopal rank, to follow His example. Cardinal Dolan fulfilled this duty at both conventions.
Lindangel
9 months ago
I appreciate what Cardinal Dolan said to the "godless" Democrats during their convention. I just hope and pray that all the Bishops and priests will use the pulpit to spread the word, just how evil, Obama is and what is his real agenda. Wake up Catholics!
Mary Malloy
9 months ago
I am still overwhelmed and devastated. Why? Saw some blogs post Democratic convention. These blogs contained some of the most hateful, and filthy commentaries directed toward Cardinal Dolan. There is no shortage of scum bags filled with filth and vengeance against him. Sadly no one was conscientious to edit out their "street gutter language.
KarlVDH
9 months ago
Harold, respectfully, if you look at your last sentence, YOU made the exact same mistake that people use to "prove" Obama's really a Muslim. Should we assume it means you are too, or can we put silly accusations about his citizenship, religion, and all the other ridiculous things he's charged witrh to rest and focus on the actual, REAL damage the guy's done, and the threat both he AND Romney pose going forward ?

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