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Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > Periscope > Cardinal Timothy Dolan to offer closing prayer at GOP convention in Florida -- Taking sides so openly in presidential election is not a very smart idea

Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Cardinal Timothy Dolan to offer closing prayer at GOP convention in Florida -- Taking sides so openly in presidential election is not a very smart idea

Posted on Thursday, August 23, 2012 at 08:06 AM

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Cardinal Dolan

So Cardinal Timothy Dolan is to give the closing prayer at the Republican National Convention in Tampa.

And the Catholic Church is not taking sides in this presidential election.

Here’s the comment by the church’s spokesman Joseph Zwilling who stated that Dolan had accepted the invitation “within the last two weeks,” and that the move should not be seen as partisan.

“Cardinal Dolan is going to pray, not to engage in partisan politics,” Mr. Zwilling said. “He made it clear when he accepted the invitation that he would also accept an invitation from the Democratic National Committee to offer a prayer at their convention, should they ask.

“He is going simply to pray, which is part of what a priest should do.”

Of course, the fact that he is praying from the stage of the Republican National Convention at the express invite of candidate Mitt Romney is just a coincidence.

Being the smart politician that he is, Mitt blurted it out at the first opportunity yesterday. Asked a question about religious freedom, he stated.

“Well, first of all, I’ll continue to meet with Cardinal Dolan, who, by the way, is going to offer the benediction on the last evening of the Republican Convention after my acceptance speech. So I am making it very clear that the interest of religious freedom is something I support wholeheartedly.”

So If you believe Zwilling there is no difference in Dolan doing this at say a gathering of Walmart employees and at the RNC. I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.

Which no one believes for a second, anyway.

Zwilling said that GOP leaders said “they said we would really like you to do it,” when the Cardinal asked. I’ll bet they did.

It has become obvious for some time that Cardinal Dolan loves his media image and pumps it up at every opportunity.

He positively preens in the spotlight which is harmless enough, but putting the Catholic Church squarely on the side of the Republicans is a major mistake.

This is a deeply divided society right now, even at the level of the US Bishops where some have criticized VP candidate Paul Ryan for targeting his budget cuts at the poor.

Dolan has also displayed his bromance with VP candidate Paul Ryan. Speaking on Sirius radio he stated; “I came to know and admire him immensely ,” he said, “And I would consider him a friend. He and his wife Janna and their three kids have been guests in my house; I’ve been a guest at their house. They’re remarkably upright, refreshing people. And he’s a great public servant.”

Dolan claimed he was “speaking personally and not from a partisan point of view” and “not trying to be an apologist” for Ryan.

He even praised Ryan’s “call for financial accountability and restraint and a balanced budget,” as well as his “obvious solicitude for the poor.”

Dolan said, “I admire him. He’s honest. He’s refreshing. Do I agree with everything? No, but...I’m anxious to see him in action.”

Dolan is the undisputed leader of the Catholic Church in America and this move puts that church squarely in the Romney camp in this election-- which is where they have no business belonging.

This is a dog whistle to all Catholics out there to support the GOP candidates, Paul Ryan proposed budget cuts to the poor notwithstanding, which had been criticized by other bishops.

Cardinal Dolan should really know better.

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132 comments

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Tippergirl | Aug 24, 2012, 12:30 AM EDT

Engaging in an activity that will have enormous visibility such as Cardinal Dolan's giving the closing prayer at the RNC, one can only conclude that the meer association with the event suggests his support thereof. It is hard to conclude any other understanding.

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Tom Mo | Aug 23, 2012, 11:00 PM EDT

Let's cut the crap out. Obama is a socialist a hater of American values. Biden is a retard and a proven bufoon. That's your choice. Vote domocrat you Irish fools because your Grandpappy voted democratic. And that's because they were against the Republican Anti slave movement. Go for it McBlackpac. Study your American History.

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tjdepere | Aug 23, 2012, 10:50 PM EDT

He honed his act in Milwaukee and took it to Broadway. Spotlight,ya man. That's me;that's what he lives for.principles forget. I am a Cardinal.

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carlow98 | Aug 23, 2012, 10:36 PM EDT

“Cardinal Timothy Dolan to offer closing prayer at GOP convention in Florida -- Taking sides so openly in presidential election is not a very smart idea” And “Dolan is the undisputed leader of the Catholic Church in America and this move puts that church squarely in the Romney camp in this election-- which is where they have no business belonging.” Would liked to have read your ideas supporting why it is not a good idea and why they have no business in the Romney camp. You leave your readers hanging.

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Tom Mo | Aug 23, 2012, 10:32 PM EDT

Mayolady darlin' You are so wrong melady.I would have no objection whatsoever to the good Cardinal saying a prayer for the Democrats. They need lots of prayers. Reading Ayn Rand does not mean one is an athiest, no more than reading The Manifesto makes one a Communist, or reading Mein Kamph makes one an Nazi. I've read all three and I am still a half way decent Christian. I will help my fellow man but I do not believe in working hard for a living and having to share my purse with some lazy, useless, tinker.

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patrickesq | Aug 23, 2012, 09:49 PM EDT

What a sad day for the Catholic Church that a Cardinal would so brazenly cross the 'sacred' line separating church and state. By his very presence at the Republican convention as the prominent prayer giver (no matter what he says), he is implicitly endorsing Mr. Romney and the republican agenda as set forth in their platform. Unlike the essence of Christian faith, you will not find much, if any , compassion for the people of America who most need it in this far right agenda. Instead you will find proposals to shockingly reduce government benefits that help to sustain people in poverty of just above poverty. Medicare will be gutted for new enrollees, so that seniors can pay higher , unaffordable premiums that will benefit the big insurance companies. And our military/industrial complex will be rewarded with full government funding and more. Did the good cardinal readily agree to pray with the Republican Party because he was miffed that the Dept.of HRS(Obama Administration) could not agree to exempt Catholic hospitals and educational institutions from the requirements of the Affordable Care Act that female employees of covered employers be entitled to receive birth control medications like every other covered citizen. Despite the claims of the Church, this legislation passed by the US Congress does not infringe on any one's religious beliefs, but merely requires that all covered employers provide the same health benefits to each female employee without discrimination. The Church is still free to believe that artificial birth control is contrary to their christian doctrine, but they have no right to force non-believers to accept that widely rejected belief and forfeit their rights to receive federally mandated health benefits. Shame on the cardinal for his unprincipled partisanship!

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pjmacmanus | Aug 23, 2012, 09:33 PM EDT

WWJD? The church is now the church of the Elites, what did you expect? I agree with others if the church plays politics they should pay taxes like the rest of us. By just being there is playing politics in my eyes

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GLENBEIGHNATIVE | Aug 23, 2012, 09:11 PM EDT

.Do you know the difference between Ombama supporters and The supporters of the Next Pres. of the USA. Gov. Romney.. The Romney supporters Sign the front of the Check and the Ombama supporters sign the back of the Check.

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tmcenroe | Aug 23, 2012, 09:07 PM EDT

What a great idea! Good for him!!

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hollabackgurl | Aug 23, 2012, 08:53 PM EDT

Church's that play politics should pay taxes.

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edmundburke | Aug 23, 2012, 08:38 PM EDT

Niall, you are blowing the matter way out of proportion. Giving benedictions at US party national conventions is considered an honor and a public service, not a political statement. Moreover, given the Republican support for the Catholic Bishops' correct position that the latest HHS rules on mandatory insurance are an infringement of religious liberty, particularly Catholic religious liberty, Dolan has acted in an understandable manner in accepting the invitation to do the prayer. No dog whistles here.

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cillowen | Aug 23, 2012, 08:33 PM EDT

a guy that acts the clown and has to go to israel before he got that red skull cap - it makes for strangeness.

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KatieMurphy | Aug 23, 2012, 08:03 PM EDT

the same cardinal who as archbishop of millwaukee cooked the books, moving church funds to funeral trusts so they wouldnt have to pay of the families of the molested kiddies BTW if you check around Irish times via google, you will find that 73 % of the irish people support changing the constitution to allow gays to marry. And google "pope UNexcommunciates Bishop Williamson" This happened in 2009, Williamson is a holocaust denier / minimizer who says there were no gas chambers in Germany etc No wonder the church is all but dead in Europe including ireland. This man is one of the many devils incarnate.

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Mayolady | Aug 23, 2012, 07:44 PM EDT

Tom Mo, You are being very naive. IF he were speaking at Democratic convention, you as a clear Republican would be uncomfortable. Paul Ryan is the apostle of Ayn Rand who espouses social Darwinism: may the poor die because they are not strong enougn to deserve to life. That is not Christian. READ what Paul Ryan says. Read his speech on why he supports the ideas of Ayn Rand. I think that Cardinal Dolan is not Christian. He opposes abortion but does not want to extend healthcare to those children once born. What would Christ say?

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Tom Mo | Aug 23, 2012, 07:32 PM EDT

The Cardinal has said that he woulld say a prayer at the DNC if he were invited. This has nothing to do with "Church and State" The big problen here is that Cardinal Dolan is an Irish Catholic. Not a Rabbi, or a Black Reverand, or a Mouslim. The problem is really Niall O'Dowd and another stupid article from Irish Central. You have a hang up Neill.

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