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

9/10/2012

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cherished with the dignity due those who are infirm and fragile.

We praise and thank you for the gift of liberty. May this land of the free never lack those brave enough to defend our basic freedoms. Renew in all our people a profound respect for religious liberty: the first, most cherished freedom bequeathed upon us at our Founding. May our liberty be in harmony with truth; freedom ordered in goodness and justice. Help us live our freedom in faith, hope, and love. Make us ever-grateful for those who, for over two centuries, have given their lives in freedom's defense; we commend their noble souls to your eternal care, as even now we beg the protection of your mighty arm upon our men and women in uniform.

We praise and thank you for granting us the life and the liberty by which we can pursue happiness. Show us anew that happiness is found only in respecting the laws of nature and of nature's God. Empower us with your grace so that we might resist the temptation to replace the moral law with idols of our own making, or to remake those institutions you have given us for the nurturing of life and community. May we welcome those who yearn to breathe free and to pursue happiness in this land of freedom, adding their gifts to those whose families have lived here for centuries.

We praise and thank you for the American genius of government of the people, by the people and for the people. Oh God of wisdom, justice, and might, we ask your guidance for those who govern us: President Barack Obama, Vice President Joseph Biden, Congress, the Supreme Court, and all those, including Governor Mitt Romney and Congressman Paul Ryan, who seek to serve the common good by seeking public office. Make them all worthy to serve you by serving our country. Help them remember that the only just government is the government that serves its citizens rather than itself. With your grace, may all Americans choose wisely as we consider the future course of public policy.

And finally Lord, we beseech your benediction on all of us who depart from here this evening, and on all those, in every land, who yearn to conduct their lives in freedom and justice. We beg you to remember, as we pledge to remember, those who are not free; those who suffer for freedom's cause; those who are poor, out of work, needy, sick, or alone; those who are persecuted for their religious convictions, those still ravaged by war.

And most of all, God Almighty, we thank you for the great gift of our beloved country.

For we are indeed "one nation under God," and "in God we trust."

So dear God, bless America. You who live and reign forever and ever.

Amen!

*****

There are several matters which need to be considered now that the prayer has been offered - and its effects are still being demonstrated. I will end with two. First, we all need to join our continued prayer to the Cardinals prayer. Second, those who were so quick to verbally berate the Cardinal for even accepting the invitation to pray might want to pause and reconsider their own words and actions. Maybe they should write to thank this great Churchmen for demonstrating true Christian leadership.

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Cardinal Dolan, Democratic Convention, Benediction, Charlotte, pro-Life, Pro0Family, Timothy Dolan, Obama, Romney, Deacon Keith Fournier

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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
8 months ago
I pray there will be no more war of choice.
Terri K
8 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
8 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
8 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
8 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
8 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
8 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
8 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
8 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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