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Chicago’s Cardinal George denies he snubbed Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny

JAMES O'SHEA,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Saturday, March 3, 2012, 8:20 AM

Updated Saturday, March 3, 2012, 8:26 AM

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Cardinal Francis George

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Chicago Cardinal Francis George has denied that he snubbed Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny by not attending a dinner in his honor on March 16th.

The Irish Fellowship Club dinner is one of the most prestigious of the season and Kenny is the main speaker there this year. Cardinal George is attending a high school religious event instead.

The Chicago Sun Times reported that speculation was rife in Chicago Irish circles that George had done so because of Kenny’s outspoken criticism of the Vatican over handling of the child abuse crisis in Ireland.

George has now written to the newspaper denying a deliberate snub however. George referred to “his imagined snub” in the letter and stated the story has “unfortunately developed some vicious consequences” though he does not elaborate what they are.

George stated his decision to attend the other event was made eight months before he was sent an invite to the Irish dinner and “there is no expectation that the Archbishop of Chicago be present.”

George stated: “Relations between Church and State in Ireland are not my business. I speak to many people, however, and would be happy to talk to the Prime Minister, should he be at all interested in talking to me.

“We would have to arrange a time that is good for both of us. Friday evening, March 16, won’t work for me.”

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eiriamach | Mar 06, 2012, 10:12 AM EST

One can only despair for the Catholic Church in America or anywhere else if it is true that any Catholic can read Cardinal George's words about LGBTs (quoted below Mar 03, 2012, 02:03 PM) and deny that those words drip with hatred, homophobia. To see such a claim by Nicoletta is to understand how Catholic social and political doctrine breeds bigotry in Catholics who are mindlessly obedient to prelates. Nicoletta, you have illustrated brilliantly just how Catholic Church membership brings someone into that near suburb of hell we call bigotry.

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Nicoletta | Mar 05, 2012, 06:53 PM EST

eirlamach - the Cardinal is not 'homophobic.' He is actually criticized within his diocese for allowing 'LBGT' Masses at the church where, surprise, surprise, all the fuss is occurring with regards to the "Gay Pride' parade.

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ruairí | Mar 04, 2012, 06:25 AM EST

get it right,irishcentral-he's the taoiseach not the "prime minister".

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eiriamach | Mar 03, 2012, 07:27 PM EST

"not homophobic"??? Nicoletta if you cannot see the hatred dripping from Cardinal George's words, you are morally blind. "He is simply supporting Catholic teaching"?? creepy-scary! Is it "Catholic teaching" to fear gays like the Ku Klux Klan and to scorn homosexuality as a "lifestyle" incompatible with faith? You probably think you're not homophobic unless you bludgeon gays with tire irons by the side of the road.

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eiriamach | Mar 03, 2012, 02:03 PM EST

“Relations between Church and State in Ireland are not my business." Finally, words from Cardinal George that we can be thankful for! The Cardinal is not snubbing the Taoiseach. He knows his presence would not honor the Taoiseach, and staying away is the only way to avoid more negative publicity. I am tempted to repeat the comments of the chief priests and elders to Judas when he was worried about his fall from honor: "They replied, 'What do we care? That's your problem' (Matt 27:4). But the fact that Cardinal George knows he doesn't belong at a dinner honoring Mr. Kenny is not just the Cardinal's problem. It's a problem for his entire Church, at least in the USA. Catholics cannot pretend that free-flowing bigotry like the Cardinal's is no problem: "You don't want the gay liberation movement to morph into something like the Ku Klux Klan, demonstrating in the streets against Catholicism." Then there was his tirade about gays and lesbians wanting to "stifle the religious freedom" of Catholics (Huff Post 12/29/11). So why aren't Catholics using their religious freedom to speak out against his homophobia? Has Cardinal George become the callous new face of Catholic hatred? If so, we all need to take a quick lesson from Enda Kenny.

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JBRAFTREE | Mar 03, 2012, 12:28 PM EST

Hermit, partially agree, however, Our Cardinal seems to be more above'board than most, except Cardinal Bernardin. The Taoiseach would benefit with their talking, and vice-versa.

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hermitTalker | Mar 03, 2012, 10:13 AM EST

Give him and the Church a break please. That quote about his successors is so dumb, the pope picks his successor, not him, and as to the one after that how naive. He is willing to meet Mr Kenny, not a surprise. popes and cardinals and archbishops have been meeting all sorts of people since the Emperor Constantine, JXX111 met Kruschev in the bad old days of the USSR and BXV1 has met with the extremist Islamists in Turkey. Malachi Martin was a loose cannon, a sad character. JESUS was perfect, HIS humility and love was to die for us as sinners, and to pick imperfect men to head His Church. Looking for sin in the Church is like looking for sand on the beach, but we also seek out and honour those who do their best and show JESUS' love to others.

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PhlutiePhan | Mar 03, 2012, 09:33 AM EST

Could be! Maybe not! Cardinal George has stated the following. "I will die in my bed. My successor will die in prison. His successor will be executed". However, why would the good Cardinal want to show support for someone who is disrespecting the Ctholic Church. It should be remembered that the "messenger is not the message". There have been successors to Christ who have been weak and sinners. The great Malachi Martin alluded to such in his writings. The predecessor to Cardinal George was prominent in his criticism.

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