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PDF versionObama meets quietly with head of U.S. bishops
by Michael Sean Winters on Nov. 12, 2011
President Obama met quietly with New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan Nov. 8, the White House has confirmed. Dolan is the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The men discussed a range of issues related to the often complicated and recently fractious relationship between the administration and the U.S. church hierarchy. A spokesperson for the USCCB declined to confirm or deny the meeting.
The meeting came in advance of next week’s plenary meeting of the USCCB in Baltimore at which the bishops will discuss their new ad hoc committee on religious liberty. It was sandwiched between two of President Obama’s foreign trips, to France for the G-20 summit and his forthcoming trip to Asia.
According to a White House official, who spoke with NCR on background, the meeting was part of the Obama Administration’s work with faith leaders from across the spectrum, and was one among many meetings with officials from the Catholic Church and the Administration.
The official also noted that the Obama Administration has robust partnerships with organizations such as Catholic Relief Services and Catholic Charities USA to serve individuals and families in need across the country and the world. The official said that the administration looks forward to continuing these critical partnerships in the future.
The meeting between the President and Archbishop Dolan comes against the backdrop of continued news stories about friction between the administration and the bishops. In this morning’s Washington Post, Jerry Markon reports on congressional Republicans inquiring into the decision by the Department of Health and Human Services not to renew a contract with the USCCB for a program assisting the victims of human trafficking. Another article in the Post, by Religion News Service’s David Gibson, highlights that tension between the White House and the USCCB.
On the other hand, my colleague John Allen has just published a book, A People of Hope: Archbishop Timothy Dolan in Conversation with John Allen, Jr., based on a series of interviews with Archbishop Dolan in which Dolan had kind words for the President. “I’ve been impressed with Obama’s sincerity,” Dolan says in the book. “On the day of the vote on health care, which was a tough day for us, I was talking to Patrick Gaspard [Director of the Office of Political Affairs in the White House]. He said that some of the things Bart Stupak had said about a group of sisters who came out in favor of the legislation were very uncivil. I said, ‘Patrick, there’s been a lack of civility on both sides. Have you read Maureen Dowd this morning? For anybody you can bring up on the pro-life side who’s been uncivil, I can match it.’ He said, ‘Point well taken.’ I then remarked, ‘Having said that, I think the man you work for, the President, has been a model of civility.’ I do admire that.”
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Obama just wants to assure
Obama just wants to assure himself of the Catholic vote but his record is clear - he not only aggressively promotes the termination of human lives in the wombs of their mothers but also the life of a baby who survives abortion. He is the only Senator who voted against the 'born alive infant act' because, he said, if he were to admit that the baby who survived the abortion was human then he would have to admit that the baby just before birth is human...sorry, not only Catholics but many Americans have seen what a disaster this man has been for our country - not just on life issues but on most issues...I'm an Independent voter and will not vote for him again...
I agree completely with what
I agree completely with what you wrote. For a ranking Bishop to strategize and befriend perhaps the most nefarious and dishonest president in American history is breathtaking. Oh God how I pray for strong leadership in our church. I wish there was a way to fire them all and clean house!
I really think the Bishops are clueless with just how frustrated many of their constituents are. They are completely out of touch!
Bishops don't have
Bishops don't have constituents. Their job is not to please the religious laity. Their job is to maintain the Catholic faith. They are accountable to God, and the Pope. Not us.
Their job is to do what is
Their job is to do what is right. Maintaining the Catholic faith and doing the right thing has become diametrically opposed.
“I’ve been impressed with
“I’ve been impressed with Obama’s sincerity,” Dolan says in the book. “On the day of the vote on health care, which was a tough day for us, I was talking to Patrick Gaspard [Director of the Office of Political Affairs in the White House]. He said that some of the things Bart Stupak had said about a group of sisters who came out in favor of the legislation were very uncivil. I said, ‘Patrick, there’s been a lack of civility on both sides. Have you read Maureen Dowd this morning? For anybody you can bring up on the pro-life side who’s been uncivil, I can match it.’ He said, ‘Point well taken.’ I then remarked, ‘Having said that, I think the man you work for, the President, has been a model of civility.’ I do admire that.”
what kind of foolish illogic is this? The logic of the playground, of the bully, of the shallow, of the irrational, of the self-glorifying, but wojo made self-glorification a cardinal theological virtue
Mr and Mrs Obama Just Fought
Mr and Mrs Obama Just Fought tooth and Nail against the Law based on experiences in a Chicago Hospital where a Child is Born and Left to die in a Closet or Table because Mom decides she doesn't want the Baby at BIRTH. What devious Cruel and Evil intentions our 1st Family have . Our 1st Lady wrote a Fundraising Letter in 2008 asking for Funds to keep Partial Birth Abortion as an Option. While 1st Maiming a Baby then Killing it outright inches from Birth.What Drives our First Families SOUL to make decisions like these..
Obama will be as "civil" and
Obama will be as "civil" and as curteous in all circimstances but it's just politics. Mr. Obama's Executive Order against taxpayer money being used for abortions was successful ploy to get the votes from Stupak and his cadre to vote "yes" for ObamaCare. The Executive Order was and is meaningless. And so is Archbishop's Dolan meeeting with Mr. Obama. I thought Archbishop Dolan learned this from the politcal fight on same-sex marrriage in Albany NY this
past winter. This is a poltical fight with very differrnt rules not a classroom theological or moral debate.
What about his comment about
What about his comment about those people clinging to their guns and religion? Sometimes his mask slips off a bit...
Words mean nothing if they are inconsistent with your actions.
If I were the president after
If I were the president after a meeting with Timothy Dolan, I would make sure I still had my gold wedding ring on my finger. This bishop is one cagey character.
How do you know that
How do you know that Archbishop is cagey?
There are more stories of
There are more stories of Obama's insincerity, than there are stories of his love and sincerity. Obama has started his election campaign, and will say and do anything, to win over Catholics. This is a pretty good populus!
Catholic Charities do not want government money (they will own us) or grants to maintain our charitable services, because the government will tell us who, where, why, what, when, we should do something. Their expectations will become foremost, instead of Christ's. There has to be "no strigs attached". Obama is a wolf in lamb's clothing...instead of ba-ba, I say ba-ware...the devil is at the root of the matter.
We need to look at all charities, and special interest not-for-profits. The Girl Scouts give money from cookie sales to certain women's charities. Those charities give money to Planned Parenthood...hence the cookies are less sweet and become hazardous to our spiritual bodies. Once you have been enlightened to the truth, you have a choice to make. Just as jesus said, you may need to leave Mother and Father to follow me...this may be the case if you are involved with Girl Scouts.
I used to run the 5k - Race For the Cure, but never again, because some of that money goes to Planned Parenthood. We race to save breasts for cancer...and donate money to help fund abortions....if that isn't a pair of ducks?
I praise Bishop Dolan for being pro-active, and
I will pray that he will be able to discern the trut from all the superficial words, Obama has to offer.
Commenting about Obama's
Commenting about Obama's alleged insincerity in the same comment stream that deals with an American bishop is too hilarious for words.
Archbishop Dolan is quoted as
Archbishop Dolan is quoted as saying, "...I think the man you work for, the President, has been a model of civility.’ I do admire that." I do not consider the act of telling lies with a smile an act of civility, but duplicity.
This was likely a missed
This was likely a missed opportunity. Obama, as a constitutional law professor, could likely have explained rather well why abortion is more an electoral issue than one where progress can be made. I suspect Obama and Dolan will work together on a national late term abortion law to replace the Partial Birth Abortion ban with a ban on all abortions (aside from induction) after assisted viability (23 weeks). Dolan will have to drag the pro-life side to the table kicking and screaming, since compromise would ruin their funding.
For Dolan's side, it would have been nice if he had requested that any elimination of the mortgage interest deduction go not to reduce tax rates or the debt, but to enhance the Child Tax Credit - which would reduce abortions and increase the birth rate - making Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid solvent demographically.
Umm,look at Obama's and
Umm,look at Obama's and Dolan's "track" records.
Does anyone really feel reassured by Obama and Dolan separately -- let alone together?
I guess gone are the days
I guess gone are the days when bishops stood up and forcefully and publicly condemned evil and those who brought evil to the public square.
Now they gush all over an evil man and call him "sincere".
Satan is also sincere...in his hatred for the only force on this earth that continues to fight him...the Catholic Church.
What Obama, Biden, Sebelius, Pelosi, et al fight for must come from the devil himself. To deny this is to deny the truth. They must be fought.
Pray for our bishops. They need it!
Way too many bishops are
Way too many bishops are themselves guilty of evil to stand up and condemn it in others.
Ask any abuse survivor who has had to deal with bishops and chanceries and their legal surrogages about evil.
dolan is so easily taken in.
dolan is so easily taken in. he is a weak hand, and american catholicism is the worse for it.
How does Planned Parenthood
How does Planned Parenthood readily recognize its enemies - those working for and with God (i.e., the Catholic Church) and the Catholic Church does not seem to have a clue as to who is working for Satan?!?!? I am not saying that Obama is evil, but he is certainly working for the father of lies and prince of death!! Does anyone not know this except the hierarchy of the Catholic Church (i.e, Archbishop Dolan and Co.)??
I do not trust anyone who
I do not trust anyone who will consistantly lie and support an anti-catholic agenda.
And that is as charitable as I can be.
But did Dolan got lunch out
But did Dolan got lunch out of it...
HEADLINE: POPE MEETS WITH
HEADLINE: POPE MEETS WITH AHMADINEJAD... AHMADINEJAD has been a model of civility.’ I do admire that." ....“I’ve been impressed with his sincerity,” !! This is just as utterly incomprehendible as giving kudos to Obama in any way at any time... If the issue is out of context, Dolan is now obligated to make the strong connection between Obama and the culture of death that he has championed.. no if's and or buts..Diplomacy and respect for the office is one thing...lessening the evil intent and the history of this President by appearing to "admire" him in any way leads the weak catechised Catholic to feel justified in supporting him. IMHO it has all the earmarks of calming the waters for the coming election and the Bishops knowingly or unknowingly are the foolish pawns. "For evil to triumph in the world it is only for good men to do nothing!". or worse, is to do something that clears the path for the evil...
HEADLINE: POPE MEETS WITH
HEADLINE: POPE MEETS WITH AHMADINEJAD... AHMADINEJAD has been a model of civility.’ I do admire that." ....“I’ve been impressed with his sincerity,” !! This is just as utterly incomprehendible as giving kudos to Obama in any way at any time... If the issue is out of context, Dolan is now obligated to make the strong connection between Obama and the culture of death that he has championed.. no if's and or buts..Diplomacy and respect for the office is one thing...lessening the evil intent and the history of this President by appearing to "admire" him in any way leads the weak catechised Catholic to feel justified in supporting him. IMHO it has all the earmarks of calming the waters for the coming election and the Bishops knowingly or unknowingly are the foolish pawns. "For evil to triumph in the world it is only for good men to do nothing!". or worse, to do something that clears the path for the evil...
Now tell us again what both
Now tell us again what both Bushies, Nixon and Reagan did to eliminate abortion and abortion rights in this country?
But, then, they weren't socialist communistic foreign-born Muslims, were they? So I guess their duplicity and abilities to charm the socks off of single-issue Catholics were OK.
Funny, I remember them doing
Funny, I remember them doing a lot! Neither of them allowed Federal tax dollars to be used to fund it. They didn't allow for it to coexist in any of the Medicare or Medicaid programs. They were very vocal about their anti-abortion positions and weren't afraid to say it in public in spite of the media bias. And last but not least, their character reflected their personal feelings. That's a far cry more than I can say about the person we have in the White House today and many if not most of the 'one-issue' 'healthcare at all cost' Bishops we have running our diocese.
Gee...we are giving points
Gee...we are giving points for being civil when you have a super majority in both houses and just going through the motions...low bar. When President Obama first word to republican was "I won" was that civil. How about when he called them tea baggers...a sexual pejorative...or says republicans want dirtier air and water...is that civil?
the answer: It was all civil....because hes a democrat. And democrats do nothing wrong.
PS...obama's "civility" is just a frame. its the democrats version of Reagan "being an amiable dunce"....as long as he is civil...he can promote any policy in the world without being labeled a "radical".
Did you notice the veiled
Did you notice the veiled threat by the White House official?
"The official also noted that the Obama Administration has robust partnerships with organizations such as Catholic Relief Services and Catholic Charities USA to serve individuals and families in need across the country and the world. The official said that the administration looks forward to continuing these critical partnerships in the future."
This is code for the following: If the Catholic Church doesn't back off, the Obama administration will cut funding to Catholic Relief Services, Catholic Charities USA, etc.
To the NCCB: Stand your ground!
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