Cardinal Timothy Dolan started the Republican National Convention with a beautiful prayer, putting God right at the centre of the proceedings. Cardinal Dolan has publicly acknowledged a personal connection with President Trump, and is also no stranger to these events, having delivered prayers at both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions in 2012 when he was the president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.
In his prayer, which was pre-recorded and played before the evening speeches on the opening day, he prayed for people suffering from Covid 19, those caring for them, the elderly, the unborn, and immigrants and refugees. He prayed for all lives to be protected in ‘our troubled cities’ and also prayed for the police and the military. He extended his prayer to those suffering difficult circumstances including those suffering religious persecution, and those whose lives were threatened by ‘plague, hunger, drugs, human trafficking or war’. He prayed for religious freedom and for democracy, and concluded by blessing the convention. He blessed all the candidates and also the electorate, for God’s ‘wisdom upon an electorate so eager to perform its duty of faithful citizenship’.
By contrast, the Democratic National Convention was attended by two controversial Catholic figures, Reverend James Martin and Sister Simone Campbell. Both lobbied on behalf of Obamacare and its requisite contraceptive mandate. Martin has been seen as controversial by more conservative Catholics due to his open attitude on homosexuality. He also defended Biden when he was refused Holy Communion by a Catholic priest, due to his attitude to abortion.
Sister Simone Campbell has appeared with Biden at many events. She is a member of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, who have been criticised by the Pope for their attitude to abortion. Campbell has previously said that it was not a good policy to ban abortion.
The difference between the DNC and the RNC in this regard reflects the fact that is difficult for people who are prominent members of the church to be representing a view which is not supported by their faith. One of the factors, therefore, which made the Dolan prayer so beautiful was due to the congruence between his beliefs and the words he was speaking, which were attempting to bring people together, in faith and prayer, whilst showing a fairness to both sides of the debate. His words were entirely consistent with the views of Catholic faith, showing an integrity which was both wholesome, and enlightening. By contrast, when your views are not reflective of true faith, the message can be complicated and awkward, as it is as if people want to rewrite the rules for their own purpose. This in turn creates separation from God.
In the words of the Evangelical leader Dr Tony Evans, “When one nation under God becomes one nation apart from God, expect the consequences.”
Written by :
