Cardinal Dolan on the US Election, the Radical Abortion License, Religious Liberty, Marriage, Debt and Solidarity

10/7/2012

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generation leaving a mountain of unpayable debt to its children and grandchildren, whose economic futures will be blighted by the amounts of the federal budget absorbed by debt service."

"I am anxious that calls for a fiscally responsible society are met with claims that those calls come from men and women who don't care about the poor; that we may be tempted to write off the underprivileged as problems to be solved, or as budget woes, rather than treating them with respect and dignity as people with potential and creativity; that we're at times more willing to cut programs to help the sick, our elders, the hungry and homeless, than expenditures on Drone missiles.

"I am concerned that our elections increasingly resemble reality TV shows rather than exercises in serious democratic conversation."

"I am bothered that we are losing sight of voting as an exercise in moral judgment, in which certain priority issues-especially the life issues, with the protection of unborn life being the premier civil rights issue of the day-must weigh heavily on our consciences as we make our political decisions".
"I am worried by attempts to redefine marriage, and to label as "bigots" those who uphold the traditional, God-given definition of marriage."

"I am anxious that we cannot seem to have a rational debate over immigration policy, and that we cannot find a way to combine America's splendid tradition of hospitality to the stranger with respect for the rule of law, always treating the immigrant as a child of God, and never purposefully dividing a family".

"I am worried about the persecution of people of faith around the world, especially with the hatred of Christians on a perilous incline; and the preference for violent attacks upon innocents instead of dialogue as the path to world peace."

"I expect that many of you share these concerns. In the words of "Faithful Citizenship," how we should respond is clear. The document says, "Our focus is not on party affiliation, ideology, economics, or even competence and capacity to perform duties, as important as such issues are. Rather, we focus on what protects or threatens human life and dignity."

"As you consider these concerns, I will be praying for you in Rome that the humble, joyful Poverello of Assisi intercede for us, and that Mary Immaculate, patroness of the United States and Star of the New Evangelization, will inspire in us wisdom, prudence, and courage."

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Timothy Dolan, Cardinal Dolan, Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Faithful Citizenship, Catholic Vote, abortion, marriage, family, debt, solidarity, Romney, Ryan, Obama, Biden, Deacon Keith Fournier

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1 - 8 of 8 Comments

Shauna Ramirez
8 months ago
Should VP Joe Biden be excommunicated from the Catholic Church?

One of my female Catholic friends told me that she believes what VP Joe Biden believes when he spoke about abortion during the 10-11-2012 Vice Presidential Debate ... she said:

"I agree with Joe Biden and I don't impose my beliefs about abortion on others."

Well, VP Joe Biden should be standing up and defending his Catholic beliefs against abortion ... instead, he is supporting abortion and leading the Faithful astray.

What VP Joe Biden said at VP Debate:

"With regard to abortion, I accept my Church’s position on abortion as a de fide doctrine. Life begins at conception. I accept that position in my personal life. But I refuse to impose it on equally devout Christians, and Muslims and and Jews…I just refuse to do that, unlike my friend here, the Congressman. I do not believe that we have a right to tell other people, women that they cannot control their body. It’s a decision between them and their doctor in my view, and the Supreme Court. And I’m not going to interfere with that."
VP Joe Biden 10-11-2012 Vice Presidential Debate

Sincerely,

Shauna Ramirez (Baptist)
Anchorage, Alaska
Bill Sr.
8 months ago
Pamela m... Congratulations on your conversion, from one who traveled the path home many years ago. I share your concerns and give you this view of the awareness you may be experience. As you walk toward the light the darkness becomes even more evident to you.
pamela m
8 months ago
The words of His Eminence Cardinal Dolan, are so eloquent and impassioned , yet his actions are so disheartening and confusing to me. As a convert to Catholicism , becoming Catholic by choice . after a long journey of studies and prayer ( as most converts do), the absolute Truth and beauty of this Church is something I cherish . Having experienced the pain and sorrow of abortion, and witnessing this sorrow in others that have been "victims" of this "culture of death"..I find it incomprehensible that Cardinal Dolan would extend any invitation to the current President ( Alfred E Smith ), who has diligently worked towards extending his platform of murder of the innocents, and continues to impose his twisted ideology on this nation and the world. All of the other women that I have encountered in my "spiritual healing" group are born Catholics, yet had no knowledge of the true teachings of the Catholic Church , much less the reasons behind those teachings. As we learn more and more, the truth is revealed, and our tears are tears of sorrow for what we were never taught, which left us completely vulnerable to the evil lies that abound in our culture today. How does the Catholic Church begin to correct all the "damage" of faulty teachings, while sharing dinner with the antithesis of our Faith ?.
Lindangel
8 months ago
I just cannot understand why Cardinal Dolan - just will not speak the real truth about Obama!!
Why-act nicey-nicey to him, Obama is evil and is a socialist-when you act nicey-nicey, you are showing you accept his evil agenda. Just like the Catholics and priests of Nazi Germany played nicey-nicey with Hitler and how did that work out for everyone? It should be required for all Catholics to go see the movie-"2016" and for all Catholics to read the book-"They Fired the First Shot". Wake up you pacifist Catholics-before it is too late!
Tom McGuire
8 months ago
I agree this is a fine, balanced article. It extends Catholic concerns beyond the limited perspective of many Catholics who limit the political discussion to abortion, gay marriage and threat to religious liberty.

This sentence of Cardinal Dolan needs emphasis: "I am concerned that our elections increasingly resemble reality TV shows rather than exercises in serious democratic conversation."

St Francis od Assisi is such a good model for today. He said: “No one is to be called an enemy, all are your benefactors, and no one does you harm. You have no enemy except yourselves.” Jesus said: "Love your enemies do good to those who persecute you." The democratic conversation would be so different if we walked in the footsteps of Jesus and encountered the other as a benefactor.
Bill Sr.
8 months ago
Thanks Deacon Fournier for this outstanding message from our dear Cardinal Dolan

"I am anxious......
that we're at times more willing to cut programs to help the sick, our elders, the hungry and homeless, than expenditures on Drone missiles."
May I add....
We have observed that no party or politician is "in favor of cutting" programs for the needy but we certainly can identify those directly responsible for the loss of American jobs leading to idle hands reaching for hand outs, wasteful spending in support of failed enterprises contributing to a call for higher taxes to maintain the safety nets for the poor, and the exercise of dominate legislative and executive pressure to demand using taxpayer money which could go for the less fortunate to go instead to Planned Parenthood as the largest provider of abortion in the country. And the leader of this agenda speaks proudly of his use of Drone missiles.
DathJ
8 months ago
Virgil Goode is the most moral of all the candidates- and unlike Romney, he doesn't have a long history of supporting the things he is against now. Virgil Goode 2012- Constitution Party
Timothy oragbe.t.
8 months ago
God is good,he make my family rejoy.an he take away our sine.glory bee to jesus.

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