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Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Cardinal Dolan does the right thing by inviting President Obama to Al Smith dinner

Posted on Thursday, August 09, 2012 at 07:58 AM

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President Obama and Cardinal Dolan

The decision by Cardinal Timothy Dolan to invite President Obama to the Al Smith dinner in New York is a very good political move.

Contrast that with his predecessor, Cardinal Edward Egan, who refused to invite Senator John Kerry when he was opposing President Bush.

Dolan was never going to allow himself to be caught in the meat grinder that Egan did on that occasion.

Though he is suing Obama over health care legislation Dolan knew that snubbing Obama on this occasion would cause a huge backlash.

The Al Smith dinner called after the first major Irish Catholic candidate for president, is a presidential year tradition, a night when the impact of the Catholic vote is recognized.

Cardinal Dolan does the right thing by inviting President Obama to Al Smith dinner -- Avoids the massive mistake of his predecessor Cardinal Egan who snubbed John Kerry

Dolan knew what happened his predecessor. Egan came under immense pressure and eventually kicked for touch and invited Hugh Carey as the Obama surrogate and President Bush senior as his son’s spokesman.

It all came crashing down on Egan who suffered a massive loss of prestige as a result.

With a Catholic Democratic governor in Andrew Cuomo with whom he has cordial relations, Dolan knew well that not inviting Obama would cause a huge rift.

Obama’s presence on the night will be significant. The Catholic vote is absolutely critical in this election, especially in key states such as Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Ironically the tenets of Mormonism are far more hostile to Catholicism and potentially cause problems for Romney than anything Obama might have to say.

Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon religion, speaking of the vision he had to start his church noted that he asked his angel what about other religions.

"I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof. He again forbade me to join with any of them;..."

Romney will obviously not be highlighting that aspect of the relationship between his religion and that of Catholicism.

Apart from the debates the men will not be seen in the same company other than at the Al Smith dinner.

Cardinal Dolan has done the right thing here and deserves credit. There is more than enough divisiveness in American politics already.

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colleenbarry | Aug 14, 2012, 11:50 AM EDT

Strongly Disagree. I am catholic. The damage that can happen is not right to the USA. This is not only a catholic issue and the country is watching. Besides the catholics, Cardinal Dolan inviting Obama is not fair to ALL THE OTHER RELGIONS in our country. They are all being attacked (asked to not live what they believe or pay a Fine that will destroy org.'s or take money away from the needy) by the Obama Administration. The USA and religious institutions have always worked well together. NO REASON FOR THIS ATTACK. Past Cardinals with the Arch. Diocese of NY have not invited pres. candidate in the past for much less of a concern. Thanks to my Christian upbringing I Know Right and Wrong and this dinner invite is wrong.

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seanomelb | Aug 10, 2012, 08:05 PM EDT

What a great Idea Briano!! Romney might learn to be more gracious and appealing to his coloured brothers.

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BrianO | Aug 10, 2012, 11:59 AM EDT

Perhaps Romney should set up a dinner with Reverend Wright for a photo op, might help him out with the Black theology constituency.

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Robbie69 | Aug 09, 2012, 10:37 PM EDT

The quote you have about Joseph Smith is misleading. Joseph Smith asked if he should join the Presbyterian, Episcopal or Methodist Church, and the angel responded, "None of them." But Joseph Smith forgot to ask about the Catholic Church, and so it looks like Joseph Smith started out on the wrong path, right from the beginning. It should also be noted that in upstate New York, within 50 miles of where Joseph Smith had his visions, two other denominations also got their start. The reason for this religious fervor, and the region is called the "Burned Out" region, is because most of the settlers had moved west from Massachusetts and Puritan country. And Puritans take their relgion very seriously.

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nydebi | Aug 09, 2012, 09:45 PM EDT

BRAVO!!! Please take a look at my blog. We are in full agreement :) http://chattycatholics.blogspot.com/2012/08/cardinal-timothy-dolan-servant-of-god.html

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katiemac | Aug 09, 2012, 07:43 PM EDT

McHugh is a GP, and how she chooses to practice is anybody's guess, but I would bet that she perscribes, at the very least contraception and probably Plan B abortifaecients. She moonlights as a semi-professional Catholic renegade and nay-sayer. I think good manners dictate hs eminence invite Obama to the Al Smith dinner. Afterall Al was a Democrat in the days prior to their moral decay. But good taste dictates Obama decline.

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seanomelb | Aug 09, 2012, 05:45 PM EDT

woundedknee should worry about his wounded brain. I recommend he take three tablespoons of common sense daily. AS I am not an MD I may seek DrMcHugh's advice on this matter as the medicine I recommend may be lethal for the poor chap. I see kilgara is back with his/her hate speech.

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jetsnoone | Aug 09, 2012, 04:40 PM EDT

Dis-invite the guy, he is a known abortionist.

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eiriamach | Aug 09, 2012, 04:18 PM EDT

As usual, Woundedknee misrepresents the facts and throws invective at another commenter. As of the July 2012 Pew Forum "Religion and Politics" poll, Catholics favor Obama by 51 percent when they are asked the question "Who would do the best job of reflective your views on social issues like abortion, gay rights, ... ?" This is one percentage point higher than voters in general, and it includes Catholics who are aware of the bishops' protests against the Obama administration. These Catholics disagree with their bishops' protests by 78 percent. You can check the stats out at the Pew Forum Research Center on Religion and Public Life web site.

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Springfield9 | Aug 09, 2012, 03:43 PM EDT

When you dine with the Devil ...use a long spoon

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WoundedKnee | Aug 09, 2012, 03:26 PM EDT

Hey "Doctor" McHugh: Are you one of the abortionist "doctors"? In case you didn't know it, Catholics are opposed to abortion. Maybe you belong to some other church, but it sure ain't the Catholic Church! So don't falsely use the term "my church", you hypocrite.

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DrMcHugh | Aug 09, 2012, 02:47 PM EDT

I am glad to hear that Cardinal Dolan is inviting President Obama to the dinner. President Obama cares about all Americans and is a good leader. I am grateful that President Obama cares about women's issues and defends the right of women to make their own decisions according to their own consciences. Sadly, the all male leaders in my church seem to want to impose their will on women and oppress women, even the nuns. President Obama sees women as equals. The leaders in the Roman Catholic Church see women as second class citizens, in my view.

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wilhoef | Aug 09, 2012, 01:48 PM EDT

I didn't know that Cardinal Dolan was political. I wouldn't invite ObaMao to a dog fight unless he were to be in the ring fighting!

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kilgara | Aug 09, 2012, 01:00 PM EDT

This invitation illustrates the loss of Catholic voting power. This bum {Obummer} stridently pushes for more and more abortions. Past cardinals {Hughes, Hayes, Spellman} would have buried him politically.

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Chiefjustice | Aug 09, 2012, 12:58 PM EDT

Does anyone realy think thatafter the Presidents remarks re planed parent hood. He has much of a chance with Catholics. Not to even mention 2,000,000 K of C members...

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