The media attention to this event did nothing but paint in bold colors the contrast of Obama's pro-abortion position with the teaching of the Catholic Church and, particularly, with Cardinal Dolan. It was Cardinal Dolan himself who made sure that President Obama's unconscionable lack of concern for innocent human life was fixed in the minds of all the dinner attendees as they left the venerable Waldorf Astoria.
Cardinal Dolan between Obama and Romney
By Deal W Hudson and Keith A Fournier
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)
10/20/2012 (1 year ago)
Published in Politics & Policy
Keywords: Al Smith Dinner, cardinal Dolan, HHS Mandate, Know Nothings, Anti-Catholic, religious exemption, Romney, Ryan, Obama, Biden, campaign 2012, Deal W Hudson, Keith A Fournier
WASHINGTON, DC (Catholic Online) - The Al Smith dinner at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City has been an annual event since 1945, the year after Governor Al Smith's death. The dinner is not an event sponsored by the Archdiocese of New York, but rather a fundraiser for the Al Smith Foundation, whose mission is to give "hope to the neediest children of the Archdiocese of New York, regardless of race, creed, or color."
Before addressing the most obvious irony, the presence of Barack Obama at the dinner, another irony has already peaked through from the mission statement of the Foundation itself. That the Al Smith Foundation raises money to help poor children "regardless of race, creed, or color," means that the Foundation's work does not conform to the Obama administration's definition of what constitutes a "religious organization" and is therefore NOT worthy of a "religious exemption" from its onerous HHS mandate.
For an institution to receive an exemption from the Obama administration it must serve only members of its own denomination. In other words, a Catholic institution can only serve Catholics, Methodist Methodists, Presbyterian Presbyterians, and so forth. Although the violation of religious liberty by the HHS mandate has been much debated, the more egregious violation of charity has gone relatively unnoticed.
Perhaps it could be considered an act of charity that the President decided to give the Catholic bishops a year to consider whether or not they would conform to the demands of the mandate. But then, of course, an act of charity must always be ordered to the good, and the willingness to give the bishops more time to consider whether or not to provide insurance coverage for contraceptives, abortifacients, and sterilization can hardly fit that criterion.
As we said, there is a more obvious and looming irony casting its shadow over Obama's presence at a dinner held in the memory of the first Catholic to be nominated by a major party to run for the presidency of the United States -- Gov. Al Smith of New York in 1928. Smith was a four-term governor, a Catholic, and opposed to prohibition, then the law of the land.
The anti-Catholicism unleashed by the Democratic Party's nomination of Smith is one of the ugliest stories in the history of our nation. A widely distributed magazine called the Fellowship Forum opined, "The real issue in this campaign is PROTESTANT AMERICANISM VERSUS RUM AND ROMANISM."
In addition to the accepted anti-Catholicism that still reigned in mainstream Protestant denominations, the late 1920s were the heyday of the Klu Klux Klan whose influence went well beyond the Southern states and its bigotry towards African Americans. The KKK put all its considerable populist muscle behind the demonizing of candidate Al Smith because he was Catholic and opposed to prohibition.
Now, nearly one hundred years later, the nation's first African American president has distinguished himself as the most anti-Catholic president in the history of the United States. It's understandable that many Catholics across the nation were upset at the news that Obama was to be a guest at the dinner. But what they perhaps overlooked is how putting Obama into the framework of a dinner named after Al Smith would only underscore his mistreatment of Catholics, Catholic institutions, and the bishops themselves.
In fact, when Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York ended the dinner acknowledging "the unemployed, the uninsured, the unwanted, the unwed mother, the innocent, fragile unborn baby in her womb, the undocumented, the unhoused, the unhealthy, the unfed, the undereducated," the audience erupted with loud applaud and cheering. Their response clearly signals the audience was eagerly anticipating a pro-life message to be delivered in Obama's presence.
President Obama's appearance at the Al Smith dinner will have either zero impact on the election, or, if it has any, it will be to his detriment. The media attention to this event did nothing but paint in bold colors the contrast of Obama's pro-abortion position with the teaching of the Catholic Church and, particularly, with Cardinal Dolan. It was Cardinal Dolan himself who made sure that President Obama's unconscionable lack of concern for innocent human life was fixed in the minds of all the dinner attendees as they left the venerable Waldorf Astoria.
---
By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
It is commonly, though wrongly, accepted knowledge that public school teachers are not allowed to teach the Bible, biblical values, or Christian history in public schools. It is a debate that dominates every part of life, from a single household to the federal ... continue reading
By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
President Obama has attempted 442 tax increases during his six years as president so far, and more are likely to come as the administration looks for ways to pay for their proposals. According to Americans for Tax Reform, the numbers suggest why it's important to have ... continue reading
By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
At several federal judges said last week that in their professional opinion, Attorney General Eric Holder has exceeded his authority by giving federal prosecutors "improper instruction" to reduce drug sentences prior to official approval of new guidelines. LOS ANGELES, ... continue reading
By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
The House Oversight and Reform Committee is asking its ranking member, Elijah Cummings (D-MD) why he had surreptitious communication with the IRS over a group that received unlawful IRS scrutiny. The committee says the public deserves a "full and truthful explanation" ... continue reading
By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
Attorney General Eric Holder has been under some intense, unflattering scrutiny as of late, stemming from the "Fast and the Furious" debacle. Holder went "off script" during a speech given at the National Action Network. While lauding the organization's effort ... continue reading
By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
Republicans are contemplating the arrest of Lois Lerner for contempt in the event the Attorney General, Eric Holder refuses to act on their findings. LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - On Wednesday, the House Ways and Means Committee voted to investigate whether or ... continue reading
By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
Attorney General Eric Holder might not be in contempt of a Congressional hearing, but he certainly behaved contemptuously in our opinion, when he was questioned as to why his department could provide documents to terrorists and their attorneys but not congress. After ... continue reading
By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
A shocking paramilitary action in unfolding in the high Nevada desert pitting the Feds against a lone rancher and his cattle herd. It's the stuff of fiction, but it is happening right now and the U.S. government doesn't want anyone to know what they are doing. LAS ... continue reading
By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
The ACLU has launched its own database of documents leaked by Edward Snowden as well as other disclosures regarding at activities of the NSA. The ACLU says the documents will serve as a primary source for understanding the government's interpretation of its authority ... continue reading
By Deal W. Hudson
"Social conservatism" has long been the Good Housekeeping brand in pro-life politics. Its usefulness, however, has come to an end, not because the moral commitments it signifies are any less important, but because politics is about attracting voters. A new ... continue reading
