The Cardinal Archbishop of New York Goes to Bat
In this video, Timothy Cardinal Dolan, archbishop of New York and president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops--in a word, the leading Catholic cleric in the nation--urges Americans to lobby against the Obama administration's ruling on contraception. (The tape runs just under two minutes.)
I find myself of two minds about this.
A Catholic bishop, demonstrating the courage to break with a Democratic president--and to do so in the name of liberty? That's good--and, to anyone who has followed the bishops over the last few decades, more than good. It's astonishing.
But jeepers. Although the Cardinal proves warm and personable, his conceit here--that the struggle for constitutional rights represents some sort of baseball game--is utterly insipid. "A foul ball?" That's what he calls an effort to force Americans to violate their consciences?
Eminence, may a layman offer a word of advice?
If you're going to fight, fight.
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Comments:
Mar '11
Re: The Cardinal Archbishop of New York Goes to Bat
The video doesn't want me to watch it. But on the point made in your last sentence, I agree, wholeheartedly.
May '10
Re: The Cardinal Archbishop of New York Goes to Bat
Lame, lame, lame.
He is reinforcing the impression that this is a minor matter—something that can be amicably worked out through discussions and compromises.
Where is passion? Where is righteous indignation?
Edited on March 18, 2012 at 3:52pmMar '11
Re: The Cardinal Archbishop of New York Goes to Bat
It is something of a throwback to Going My Way.
Mar '11
Re: The Cardinal Archbishop of New York Goes to Bat
The video is working for me now and I see what you are saying. The mandate isn't a foul ball, it's a blatant attempt to ignore the rule book. When my children were younger and playing games with their friends I would have to remind them that they couldn't make up the rules as they went along just so they could win. Rules were to be followed, no matter the outcome.
It's as if we are playing government with children.
May '10
Re: The Cardinal Archbishop of New York Goes to Bat
Pretty weak tea, coming from a man who should be heaping coals of hot fire. He said he was opposed to mandates that violate the conscience. He should be pounding the drum against mandates, period.
We need this man to hit it out of the park, not foul out.
Sep '10
Re: The Cardinal Archbishop of New York Goes to Bat
So I admit going in that I'm not inclined to be moved by clerics, but, even so, I find this fellow milquetoast at best. What would make me stand up and cheer for him and other religious speakers is if, instead of religious liberty, they embraced all Americans in their protest and fixated on the most important public variable, liberty itself. Short of killing someone, no one can stop a person from being religious. (I suspect that the bravest, most devoted Christians today are to be found in Cairo and Beirut, not Cincinnati and Washington, D.C.) What the state can do is impose barriers to the church and worship, but how is that worse than opening the door to oppressing other groups and organizations that the majority does not like? That is, unless that's not even on your radar. Why fixate only on your flock when, for decades, you (and many of your Protestant peers) have engaged the state in your evangelical efforts, thereby not simply acknowledging your failure to persuade but also your willingness to use police power to get results far better achieved through the gospel?
Sep '10
Re: The Cardinal Archbishop of New York Goes to Bat
Calling this a demonstration of courage is as foul as the "foul ball" remark.
Jan '11
Re: The Cardinal Archbishop of New York Goes to Bat
I'd have said it stronger, but let's pause a second.
If you oppose the contraception mandate ... what have you done about it? This isn't a job to hand off to the clergy. This is a job for the laity, and not just the Catholic laity. And even though Cardinal Dolan has religious authority over Catholics, this isn't a Catholic-only issue ... and we certainly need (and urgently encourage) non-Catholics to join us. I suspect that the Cardinal was somewhat hesitant to turn this into a Catholic fight, so he decided to appeal rather than command.
This is our responsibility to wage this fight.
If you need a link: http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml.
This is what I said: "I strongly oppose the Affordable Healthcare Act (Obamacare), especially its serious threat to religious freedom contained within the mandate to cover contraception. This is a vote-deciding issue, and I will never vote for a politician who supports it."
Like most of you, I contact my representatives - on a regular basis. (I have the three federals on Favorites/Bookmarks.) The Cardinal is asking weakly ... but let's not forget what he's asking!
Nov '10
Re: The Cardinal Archbishop of New York Goes to Bat
I see an upper-middle-aged man (not unlike me) who is trying to maintain a connection with a broad constituency. He's still "hip", you know. He has not lost the jargon or the feel of the culture. At least that's what he thinks.
Peter, I would not be too hard on him. Following the 80/20 rule, the vast majority of his constituents will miss the triteness of his metaphor altogether.
Edited on March 18, 2012 at 4:53pmNov '10
Re: The Cardinal Archbishop of New York Goes to Bat
Astute observation or perhaps Boy's Town. Both of these grind on my Calvinistic sensibilities about the unredeemed nature of mankind.
Jun '10
Re: The Cardinal Archbishop of New York Goes to Bat
It's psychology. If you want somebody to back down, you lower the stakes for them by lowering your anger level. If you're in full battle mode, it may feel good, but it doesn't help you get what you want. He's talking to the Obama Administration in this message. That's my take.
May '10
Re: The Cardinal Archbishop of New York Goes to Bat
Negotiating with liberal Democrats is like negotiating with Arabs — they respond to strength, not to reason or good will.
May '11
Re: The Cardinal Archbishop of New York Goes to Bat
I agree with etoiledunord in that I do believe that he was speaking to the Obama administration but I agree with others that the battle needs to framed in more fundamental terms.
Jun '11
Re: The Cardinal Archbishop of New York Goes to Bat
I've concluded that the American Catholic Church is just not serious about this issue. In the last six weeks the celebrants of the Masses I've attended in my parish in the Diocese of Arlington have brought up the matter only once -- and that was to read the bishop's letter (co-written by him and Archbishop (at the time) Wuerl). Five weeks ago I wrote a letter to Bishop Loverde advising him to direct his pastors to, at the very least, tell their congregations, "This is the current state of play..." at each Mass. Nada. Not even in the bulletin. We're not serious here in Northern Virginia. Are other dioceses doing better? If not, then I don't see how we'll win.
Apr '11
Re: The Cardinal Archbishop of New York Goes to Bat
Right. This. Multipolar strategies as also different from bipolar strategies. We want the fight, because we feel that motivating Catholics against Obama is awesome for a variety of reasons, not all of them using the words "Ohio" or "Florida". He would much rather not have the fight; the results are important to him, too, but the costs and benefits of the means are wildly different.
Re: The Cardinal Archbishop of New York Goes to Bat
katievs: Lame, lame,lame.
He is reinforcing the impression that this is a minor matter—something that can be amicably worked out through discussions and compromises.
Where is passion? Where is righteous indignation? · 3 hours ago
Edited 3 hours ago
My response exactly, Katy.
Nov '10
Re: The Cardinal Archbishop of New York Goes to Bat
Lame and insipid is right. God forbid he be perceived as leading the “tea party at prayer” as E.J. Dionne admonished.
I'm thankful Dolan has been vocal on the mandate but I want more chutzpa from my lead challenger. This is the real deal...no game.
Jun '10
Re: The Cardinal Archbishop of New York Goes to Bat
Not being Catholic, I'm not in a position to criticize how Cardinal Dolan tees the issue up. On the one hand, it's clear this is an important issue; on the other, it lacks passion.
I agree with K. C. Mulville that, good as it is that the bishops have entered the fray, we can't delegate this battle to them. The underlying issue goes to the rights of every American, believer or not.
Just because this particular example of Big Brotherism impacts Catholics the most doesn't mean this is only a Catholic fight.
Nov '10
Re: The Cardinal Archbishop of New York Goes to Bat
Dreamlarge, "Chutzpa" is not the word that you want to employ-- as I am sure many folks oh here will tell you. The word has too many connotations that are not at all apt in this situation. But I think that I know what you mean. My recommendation: less "chutzpa" and maybe a lot more "Chaput!" :-)
Nov '10
Re: The Cardinal Archbishop of New York Goes to Bat
Yes. You are probably right. I want more daring and audacity brought to the fight, though. Dolan is on the correct side of the argument and I want him to exude that "rightness".
I also agree that everyone needs to be engaged in the battle.
LOL. I really like him.