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| -Election 2012 |
| Obama refuses convention benediction by Cardinal Dolan |
| 2012-08-25 |
| President Obama turned down a chance to have Timothy Cardinal Dolan deliver a prayer at the Democratic National Convention after Dolan told Democrats he would be "grateful" to deliver a blessing in Charlotte. Dolan -- considered the top Catholic official in the nation, as head of the Archdiocese of New York and president of the Conference of Catholic Bishops -- tipped off Democrats a few weeks ago that he had agreed to deliver the prime-time benediction at the Republican convention in Tampa next week, Dolan's spokesman Joseph Zwilling told The Post. "He wanted to make sure that they knew that this was not a partisan act on his part and that he would be just as happy and grateful to accept an invitation from the Democrats as he would to have received one from the Republicans," said Zwilling. "He has not been contacted by them" since, he added. A senior Obama campaign official said yesterday that the Democrats would have a "high-ranking" Catholic at the convention, but indicated the arrangements weren't yet final. Obama and Dolan have clashed publicly over a health-care law requiring employers to provide abortion coverage. Dolan and other groups filed suit against the rule, claiming it forces church-related groups to act against their conscience. Still, Dolan invited both Obama and Mitt Romney to his annual Alfred E. Smith dinner in New York City in October. "The Republicans are smart enough to get the 'pope of America,' and the Democrats are stupid enough not to invite him," said Bill Donohue, of the Catholic League, who said he spoke with Dolan yesterday. |
| Posted by:lotp |
| #15 Well golly, even the Titanic had a Catholic chaplain to take confession on the way down. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2012-08-25 22:19 |
| #14 My friends who live in Charlotte are leaving for that week, John. Seems like a perfect week for a vacation. My firm also has an office in Charlotte, and we're getting a running commentary of what's happening/expected to happen through the in-house bulletin board. They're recommending that anyone who can work from home, do so. Unfortunately, due to the nature of our business, a lot of people can't. I wish them good luck. Glad I won't be in Charlotte until November! |
| Posted by: Barbara 2012-08-25 18:15 |
| #13 The circus comes to town in Charlotte. I'm wondering whether a muslim, atheist or wiccan will open the thing up. Pass the popcorn--lots of butter and salt. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2012-08-25 17:28 |
| #12 He'd HAVE to bow, that's against his principal, he'd Rather bow, but to Have to, No. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2012-08-25 14:50 |
| #11 Cardinal Dolan speaking at the Democratic convention? That would be a hoot! Almost as much fun as when Mother Teresa spoke at the national prayer breakfast, and blasted the US on its position on abortion. Right in front of the Clintons, who couldn't walk out, and couldn't say anything, because Mother Teresa was the guest of honor. Here's the link if you're interested. Of course, Cardinal Dolan has more sense than to make a statement as strong as Mother Teresa's. After all, Catholic priests, bishops and especially cardinals have lost their First Amendment rights to speak out strongly on abortion. |
| Posted by: Rambler in Virginia 2012-08-25 12:44 |
| #10 Liz Warren speaking? That really would be the long pole in the tent. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2012-08-25 11:15 |
| #9 "Liz Warren will be there" I'm hoping the Cherokees will too. I've ordered more popcorn.... :-D |
| Posted by: Barbara 2012-08-25 11:11 |
| #8 That's OK. Liz Warren will be there. She can probably offer up some words on behalf of Mother Gaia. Maybe do a rain dance to keep the hurricanes away... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2012-08-25 11:02 |
| #7 Let the Flukenator speak. Let multi-coloured inflated condums cascade from the ceiling. It's all good! |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2012-08-25 11:00 |
| #6 I believe the dims will have Fluke speak, who if I understand right is an All. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2012-08-25 10:08 |
| #5 Which Imam will provide the invocation? |
| Posted by: regular joe 2012-08-25 08:41 |
| #4 My guess would be that the Dems will feature a Disgruntled Nun at the convention. |
| Posted by: Airandee 2012-08-25 06:57 |
| #3 Cardinal Dolan would have been as out of place as a nun at a Bar Mitzvah. The cult of Obama recognizes no deity save the Champ. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2012-08-25 03:07 |
| #2 Yah, I hear proposals to have blessings by Catholic priests, rabbis, and Buddhist monks were all rejected by the venue's insurance company. |
| Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2012-08-25 00:13 |
| #1 good decision. The lightning and brimstone might be hard to explain |
| Posted by: Frank G 2012-08-25 00:02 |