Democrats have invited more than two dozen religious leaders to pray or speak at their upcoming convention with a notable exception: Denver Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, a policy wonk and the leader of Colorado’s largest religious denomination.
Well this is not exactly a surprise. The Archbishop is not one to hold his tongue just to get along. When he recently spoke to the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) he brought up the topic of holy obedience, a message not exactly warmly received by this group.
But the Democrats does have Sister Catherine Pinkerton who is on Obama campaign’s Catholic Advisory Council and hold to a relativisitc version of the seamless garmet. When you play word association with these types this is what happens.
- Abortion: Death Penalty
- ESCR: Health Care
- Euthanasia: War
- Homosexual Marriage: Equality
You will almost certainly always get an answer that is a prudential matter in relation to something intrinsically evil.
Though I do wonder historically if Bishops are invited to the conventions generally from either the Democratic or Republican Party? I don’t know the answer to this.
Update: A commenter mentions that Cardinal Mahoney spoke at the Democratic Convention – figures.
In a related note Archbishop Chaput was interviewed last night on the Hugh Hewitt show in a fairly long interview about his new book Render Unto Caesar: Serving the Nation by Living our Catholic Beliefs in Political Life which I will certainly have to buy. It was a really good interview and I am glad that it is also now available for download.
9 comments
Cardinal Mahoney accepted the invitation to lead the invocation to open the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles….
Considering that the conventions aren’t really forums for policies, and more just a big infomercial/love-fest for a political party, would it be appropriate for and of our beloved clergy to be a speaker at any of the conventions? Especially with all the tax exempt rules and things of that sort.
Speaking of which, I wonder if those other ‘religious leaders’ are going to have their official comments parsed to make sure everything is on the up and up.
I hope the wonderful Cdl. Chaput is out front and center protesting the DNC… It would be nice to see an organized, visible group of Catholics voicing opposition to the Dem’s all abortion all the time ideology.
First, I don’t think he’s been raised to the Scarlet yet.
Second, he is going to be busy that night with Alveda King at a prayer vigil at the largest Planned Parenthood center in Colorado.
What *was* the response to his LCWR speech anyway?
Are you ever going to tell us who this Cardinal Mahoney person is?
Whoops, my bad! Wishful thinking on my part…
I hope folks in and around Denver fully appreciate what a great leader they have. My bishop (who shall remain nameless) will never be seen associating with anything as gauche as defending the right to life. We are located in very close proximity to the annual Walk for Life West Coast, yet there is nary a peep of support for it from the diocese.
Archbishop Chaput at the DNC would be like Banquo’s ghost at MacBeth’s feast. He’d just spoil all the fun for the navel gazing narcissists.
What, will the apostolic line of succession stretch out to th’ crack of doom?