@MagnificatMag it was a pleasure meeting you as we'll!
Posted on May 23rd 2013, 19:01
RT @asmcentee: "if we reduce the New Evangelization to a program, it's not going to work" AMEN. #disciplescalledtowitness #NCCL2013
Posted on May 23rd 2013, 15:19
Posted on May 23rd 2013, 15:12
@Eillax Amen.
Posted on May 23rd 2013, 14:05
The #HolySpirit must be central to our Catechesis - Dr. Ospino #NCCL2013
Posted on May 23rd 2013, 13:12
Posted on May 23rd 2013, 13:06
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  Cardinal Dolan is Our St. FrancisAugust 16th, 2012For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. Ephesians 6:12 Cardinal Dolan has recently sparked controversy from many of his supporters when he invited President Obama to the annual Al Smith dinner, a benefit dinner in New York City. Dolan broke file with previous Archbishops of New York by inviting a pro-abortion President to the dinner. This invitation is all the more controversial because President Obama is the architect of the crippling HHS Mandate. Many Catholics who are deeply invested in the culture war that is currently raging in our country took this as a betrayal. Cardinal Dolan, the President of the USCCB, the General of this war that is just heating up, has just consented to sit down and have dinner with the enemy. But is President Obama really the enemy? This whole controversy has reminded me of St. Francis and his famous encounter with the Sultan of Egypt during an intense conflict between Christians and Muslims. Here is a short explanation of this extraordinary exchange: While thousands of Christian soldiers took up arms against Muslims, one person among them followed his heart and the example of Christ. He sought a way toward peace and understanding through dialogue with Malik-al-Kamil, the sultan of Egypt. St. Francis of Assisi’s initial goal was to convert the sultan to Christianity or to become a martyr while trying. But what he learned from that pilgrimage changed his life, sending him on the path to peace… “Francis wanted to dissuade people from the war.” The fighting was terrible and Francis had rightly predicted the Christians would ultimately lose the battle. Sickened by his fellow Christians’ violent behavior, Francis decided to visit the sultan… “He wanted to be a martyr but he succeeded in being a man of charity,” Father McCleary explained. Francis entered the sultan’s camp empty-handed as a peacemaker. “He did not consider, whom he had been taught by Christianity to be his enemy, as his enemy,” said Franciscan Father Michael Cusato, director of the Franciscan Institute at New York’s St. Bonaventure University, and a native Clevelander. “He approached all people, beginning with the leper, as his brothers. Read the whole story here. I won’t deny that we are in the middle of a culture war. It is clear that the Church has been vocal about many attacks on our religious freedom, and the Culture of Life from the current Administration. While most of us are taking up arms, Cardinal Dolan is speaking of dialogue, taking his cue from the Second Vatican Council and the example of Blessed John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI who both have made controversial gestures of dialogue with “the enemy” whether that enemy is a pro-abortion politician or an Islamic leader. In my opinion, these men, St. Francis of Assisi, Blessed John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and now Cardinal Dolan, see the world through different eyes than the rest of us. They see that “our struggle is not with flesh and blood.” They can look at “the enemy” and see a child of God. They can stand up for what is right with clarity and conviction while at the same time show the world that change does not come in winning an argument but in witnessing to Jesus Christ – and there is a real difference between the two. There is an argument/counter argument going on in the blogosphere about this. “Jesus ate with sinners,” some say. Others argue that this is tantamount to Mary and Joseph inviting Herod to Jesus’ first birthday party. We should remember that Jesus not only ate with sinners, prostitutes and tax collectors, but also with Pharisees and betrayers, those that would eventually send him to his death. It was for these people that Jesus begged His Father on the cross, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” Who is the real enemy? By meeting with President Obama, Cardinal Dolan is showing us there is another path we can travel besides the path we are about to travel this political season. One which will certainly be rife with mudslinging, gossip, slander and many, many talking heads that will attempt to scream over their opponent. In the midst of this war, Cardinal Dolan walks through the battlefield, crosses into enemy territory and sits down for dinner with the “enemy.” It is yet to be seen if he will emerge as peace-maker or as martyr. Photo Credit: Wendy Gittleson
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THANK YOU, Sean!! Another way always exists – I appreciate you pointing that out!
God doesn’t spread a dinner for murderers in the sight of their victims… see Psalm 23. When the 3,700 babies murdered a day in the U.S. are eating dinner at the wedding feast of the Lamb for all eternity,…[removed for violation of Terms of Use]… If I were you, I’d stop defending evil and start witnessing to the truth of Jesus Christ. He doesn’t murder babies!
Sean,
Thanks for sharing the story of Francis and the Sultan. It is an important story for helping us appreciate dialogue. However, I have two reactions which I feel are important to raise. First, the Sultan, as a sincere believer, was a person of integrity in his own right. We have to be careful of making a black-and-white distinction here. He was, according to history (and Michael Cusato is one of our best scholars on the subject) a multi-faceted, cultured, leader, who often sought peace with the European invaders. You rightly describe how Francis learned to see him as not the enemy, but a sincere seeker. Perhaps he was more a man of peace than most in the Crusader’s camp.
Second, in singling out President Obama, and not including his Republican opponent in the discussion, you risk doing what the Bishops criticize in “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” namely limiting us to a one-issue position. I do not dispute that the President is pro-choice. But, his opponent and running mate also espouse positions which can be critiqued by the values in “Faithful Citizenship” which the Bishops include in their lineup of issues related to life. Discerning voters will have to examine all the positions of both candidates in making their decision. “Faithful Citizenship” offers clear guidelines on the dilemma we face.
I applaud Cardinal Dolan’s openness to dialogue with both candidates. And, I thank you for adding to the discussion!
Interesting analogy, although I don’t agree 100%. And of course, it didn’t turn out to make any difference, to sultan, who saw St. Francis as more of a curiosity than anything else. But definitely food for thought. This requires people who really know something about diplomacy, of whom I am not one, to really judge.
Well done, Sean!! I was of course shocked when I heard about Obama being invited to the dinner again…but I trusted in Cardinal Dolan’s decsion to do so. This invitation is no different than what Jesus would have done…he too shocked His followers numerous times.
Thank you, Sean!!
Fr. Greg – Thank you for your comments. You are correct that both Presidential Candidates in the upcoming election espouse issues that can be critiqued by the document “Faithful Citizenship.” Cardinal Dolan, himself, pointed out that he has had opposition for inviting Mitt Romney to the Al Smith Dinner as well. http://blog.archny.org/index.php/al-smith-dinner/. “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship” is a sure guide for Catholics to follow in the upcoming election, that is for sure.
The difficulty, I think, is finding the balance between being clear, courageous, and even outspoken in our criticism of obvious injustice, while at the same time being against-the-grain in our engagement of culture by not succumbing to mudslinging and bitter argumentation. It is rare to find someone who can engage with someone that they have severe disagreement with, and treat them with dignity and respect.
I’m not sure I know how to strike that balance, but I think people like Cardinal Dolan, Pope Benedict XVI, and Blessed John Paul II before him – have that virtue.
Sean,
This was an extremely eloquent explanation of the facts, and I am very glad to hear it. It is also encouraging to read the comments of so many who also seem to understand this challenging dichotomy. We must oppose the errors we see made by our leaders and firmly, but we must always extend a charitable hand of welcome and honest dialogue. Hats off to Dolan, who is willing to cut through polarity and challenge all of us to become our best selves.
This is great, Sean!! Great perspective just in time for the election season.
This article is disgraceful! To speak of President Obama as an enemy of Catholicism is downright wrong, just as to spin the HHS mandate as an attack on religious freedom is a gross distortion (especially as it is one small part of a law that morally extends access to health care within our society). And conformity to Catholic teaching obviously isn’t the criteria – the article notes that John McCain was invited in 2008 despite having voted for and vigorously defended the most egregiously unjust war in in our country’s history. This event should either be a way for Catholics to engage with politicians across the spectrum or a recognition that neither party embodies the complete body of Catholic teaching.