A couple of events over the past few weeks brought to mind two towering
people who had a tremendous effect on the Archdiocese of New York and
the U.S. more broadly. Their witness is worth remembering, especially in
this political moment. Last Saturday’s feast of St. Patrick, the patron
saint of our cathedral and archdiocese, reminded me of Archbishop John
Hughes. As the first archbishop of New York (1842-64), “Dagger John”
displayed dramatic reverence for the dignity of Irish immigrants.
Thousands arrived daily in New York — penniless, starving and sometimes
ill — only to be met with hostility, bigotry and injustice. An immigrant
himself, Hughes prophetically and vigorously defended their dignity.
...
22 comments:
even the blind person, can find an acorn once in a while
Sheesh you think Cardinal??
none are so blind as those who will not see.
Bee here:
That's because the Democratic Party is really the Communist Party - they just won't say so out loud...yet.
God bless.
Bee
Nonsense, Cardinal. Democrats just elected an anti-abortion congressman in Pennsylvania, and there are others. Where are the prominent Republicans who support the church's positions on immigration, poverty, racial equality & ministering to the "least of those"? The current GOP has become the party of white supremacy.
Daniel, thanks for broadcasting your ignorance about the Catholic faith. Abortion is an intrinsic evil which is never justified. The other issues you raise are all subject to prudential judgment. That phony elected in PA will vote in lockstep with the pro abortion Dems once he is in office because abortion on demand is a key plank of the Dem party. Unlike you, Cardinal Dolan is finally willing to confront evil.
TJM, thanks for broadcasting your ignorance about both Catholicism and the world at large.
I am against abortion & would never facilitate one or give my approval to one (unlike your president, who refuses to answer questions about how many abortions he’s responsible for). I don’t know any Democrat who’s “for” abortion, although their policies have reduced the number of abortions under both Clinton & Obama. When Trump took office, abortions had basically dropped to the national average before Roe v. Wade. Meanwhile, after 45 years under mostly Republican president & Congress & Supreme Court, it somehow hasn’t gone away. Feel like a sucker?
TJM says "Abortion is an intrinsic evil which is never justified. The other issues you raise are all subject to prudential judgment."
The other issues Daniel raised are "immigration, poverty, racial equality & ministering to the "least of those"? and TJM says these are "subject to prudential judgment...?
Since when can a Catholic judge prudentially that he has no responsibility toward the poor?
Since when can a Catholic judge prudentially that he can be a racist?
Since when can a Catholic judge prudentially that unjust immigration laws are acceptable?
None of these is subject to "prudential judgment."
States governed by Republicans have for years taken on themselves to do what they can to reduce abortions only to have such lawmaking efforts come to naught because of rulings by liberal, legislative judges. The Republican governor of Mississippi recently signed into law the most restrictive abortion law in the country (it didn't actually outlaw the procedure, but banned it after 15 weeks). It was subsequently blocked from taking effect by a liberal judge who granted a temporary restraining order and who by the way was nominated to the Federal bench by former Democrat President.
Mississippi's Attorney General was not optimistic about the prospects for the law when he noted that less-restrictive measures banning abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy have been struck down in other states. In Iowa, Republicans have been crafting legislation to ban abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected. In Ohio, Republicans are trying to ban all abortions without exception. There are those who will say these efforts are all for show since almost certainly if these become law they will be struck down by the courts. At least those voting for these are going on record as opposing the procedure.
By the way, Mississippi's law was not all that unreasonable given that according to the CDC only about 7% of abortions in the U.S. are procured between 14 and 20 weeks.
It is true that Republican controlled U.S.Congress has not done much, but they hold only a slim majority in the Senate. It only takes the loss of a few such as John McCain and Susan Collins to prevent passage of laws to restrict in any way or at least prevent Federal funds from paying for abortions.
It's important to remember that Popes have characterized the right to life as pre-eminent above all other rights as important as the others may be.
So Daniel, can you name a state having a Democrat governor and legislature has done anything to restrict abortion? It would be very good if they would join in on the effort.
While it is laudable that H.E. finally made such a statement, one might wonder why now? Schumer has been in Office since the late 90s with Clinton joining the ranks in 2001. Additionally, there were the Cuomos as governors. All pro choice. Better late than never, I suppose.
Anonymous Kavanaugh,
The Church's teachings on all of those other matters, are subject to the prudential judgment of the individual and one is not required to except the left-wing interpretation of what those teachings require. One simple example, in terms of ministering to the poor, some might say the best approach in fulfilling the Church's teaching would be to provide the poor person with the education and tools to lift themselves out of poverty and have government policies in place which reward work. Left-wingers like yourself, think ministering to the poor is to redistribute wealth and not require the poor to work or better themselves (remain Dem voters). With abortion, there are no two alternatives to implementing the Church's teaching. Either you kill the child or you don't.
I wonder if Cardinal Dolan is beginning to get the idea that the Democrats think they don't need the Catholic vote anymore because the Democrats don't see Catholics as particularly Catholic in practice or opinion. That is to say that the Democrats abandoned the Catholics, and the majority of Catholics abandoned the Catholic Church.
Anonymous 3:46:
Conservatives live the phrase “Intrinsic evil” because they believe it justifies the teeny-weeny evils that they can facilitate, enable or ignore, like punishing the poor or forcibly separating immigrant families. They are the true “Cafeteria Catholics.”
Father, where is the list of Commandments that we can ignore?
TJM asserts: "The Church's teachings on all of those other matters, are subject to the prudential judgment..."
No, they're not.
The Church teaches that racism is wrong - sinful. There is no "prudential judgment" that changes this.
The Church teaches that Christians must care for those in need, the poor. There is no "prudential judgment" that changes this.
The Church teaches that families must be protected and respected. There is no "prudential judgment" that changes this.
The Church teaches that latifundia is morally evil and the redistribution of wealth is both necessary and beneficial. There is no "prudential judgment" that changes this.
Excuse me????? Pope Francis has brought a paradigm shift and your rigid moralists are now out the window. If the Church through accompaniment can allow an adulterer in a state of mortal sin to contravene the 6th Commandment by finding good in the adultery, everything you just wrote is null and void!
Inasmuch as Pope Francis has not voided the 6th commandment, your comment is meaningless.
Please explain. Did the Church lift its prohibition against divorced Catholics remarrying, or did I miss it, or are you exaggerating?
"If the Church through accompaniment can allow an adulterer in a state of mortal sin to contravene the 6th Commandment by finding good in the adultery."
The church has not, to my knowledge, lifted that ban nor changed its teachings on the other issues enumerated above.
Daniel,
You are pulling the old leftist stunt of conflating legal with illegal. Illegal immigration is not the same as legal immigration. Illegals should be prosecuted and deported. Even the Catholic Catechism, unless it has been suppressed, teaches that countries are sovereign and can control their borders and whom it admits into the country. I am surprised people want to come here anyway, since we have daily reminders from the media that we are racist, sexist, etc.
TJM, the church has always taught that national boundaries are artificial and created by man, but we are all members of the family of God.
Nations have the right to enforce immigration rules, which should be based on justice and mercy. Immigrants are to be treated with dignity and respect, as we all should, not demonized or scapegoated. Those church teachings do no distinguish between legal & illegal immigrants; as I said, we are all family.
Also, TJM, most of the New Testament and most of Jesus words, read in 2018, sound pretty damned leftist. :)
"And all that believed were together and shared all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need."
Daniel.
Tell that to Kate Steinle's family.
Daniel,
The scriptural quote isn't left-wing at all. If Jesus were a classic left-winger He would have said something like this: "let the government elites decide what is to be shared and will confiscate your possessions and give them to others they deem worthy!"
I wonder if Cardinal Dolan is becoming more vocal (and concerned) because of the upcoming election for governor in the very very blue state of New York.
Attack Democrats, give Trump mulligan after mulligan. Cardinal Dolan has as much chance of influencing the NY governor’s race as he does of fixing the Super Bowl. Use your moral authority as a partisan tool and pretty soon it’s gone forever.
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