They took our mocking to heart about Democratic idiocy re Timothy Cardinal Dolan, and rushed to repair relations with the Church:
Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, has accepted an invitation to deliver the closing prayer at next week’s Democratic National Convention. As was previously announced, he will also be offering the closing prayer at the Republican Convention on Thursday of this week.
It was made clear to the Democratic Convention organizers, as it was to the Republicans, that the Cardinal was coming solely as a pastor, only to pray, not to endorse any party, platform, or candidate. The Cardinal consulted Bishop Peter Jugis of the Diocese of Charlotte, who gave the Cardinal his consent to take part in the convention that will be taking place in his diocese.
By the way – and contra both First Things and The Anchoress, mind you* – I have no intention of criticizing the Cardinal for giving the benediction at the Democratic convention. I mean, that’s like criticizing a missionary for going to witness to non-Christians… actually, wait, no: that pretty much is criticizing a missionary for going to witness to non-Christians. Besides, I think that we’ve already had it demonstrated quite comprehensively which party has the tone-deaf people in it when it comes to religious sensibilities**.
Moe Lane
*Nothing but love for either site, also mind you.
**Spoiler warning: it’s not the Republican party.
It’s good for the cardinal to do this, as it helps place him as above politics- “in, but not of the world” as the phrase goes, and helps preserve his moral authority.
@DavidP – I dunno. I think that it would be best for all Christian leaders to just stay out of political events, period (yeah, I’m talking to you, Rick Warren).
…just like in California, right jetty?