Now, that’s a spine of steel.
Catholic Archbishop Timothy Cardinal Dolan of New York, an outspoken critic of President Obama’s abortion mandate and war on Catholic health care providers, was given the closing benediction slot at the DNC. After agreeing to deliver the closing prayer at the RNC, Dolan revealed that he had extended his services to the Democrats, but was blown off.
The matter was quietly smoothed over and Dolan appeared tonight.
He tweeted before the prayer:
I look forward to praying at the DNC tonight. As I did at the RNC, I go as a pastor. Not to endorse any party, platform, or candidate.
— Cardinal Dolan (@CardinalDolan) September 6, 2012
Dolan didn’t hold back:
https://twitter.com/TamiNantz/status/243909566260183040
From #DNC benediction:"We thank you for the gift of life and ask that you help us protect it" Amen! Hope those in attendance hear that @nrlc
— Marshall Bowen (@mbowen12) September 7, 2012
https://twitter.com/amyceleste/status/243909691774742528
@AlexaShrugged He just walked into a hornet's nest. May his faith be strong. God, please give him strength.
— Michael Musmeci (@MichaelsAsylum) September 7, 2012
https://twitter.com/pattibrown/status/243910281426780160
Dolan: Giving a HUGE pro-life benediction, calling on Democrats to protect human life in a way they don't currently.
— LifeNews.com (@LifeNewsHQ) September 7, 2012
WOW, Dolen lectures Demcorats on respecting religious liberty.
— LifeNews.com (@LifeNewsHQ) September 7, 2012
Dolan: God grants us the right to life so we can choose liberty and happiness. Telling Democrats to not resist moral law.
— LifeNews.com (@LifeNewsHQ) September 7, 2012
Cardinal Dolan prays openly for unborn children and the Right to Life at #DNC2012. #awkward.
— National Right to Life (@nrlc) September 7, 2012
Recommended
Thank you Cardinal Dolan for praising life and asking for protection on the unborn in his benediction #DNC
— Gay Rickmyre (@GRickmyre) September 7, 2012
Proud of St. Louis' son, Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan! He gave a beautiful benediction while standing up for life and religious liberty!
— Matthew DeWitt (@dewittmw) September 7, 2012
Cardinal Dolan was FANTASTIC…Life and natural law…GOD. The delegates were already at the after-parties. Any boos? Booze maybe.
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) September 7, 2012
Best of the night, Cardinal Dolan praying about life and the life of the unborn at the DNC. @DNC2012 @WhitneyNeal
— Corley Rinaldi (@Jefferson1801) September 7, 2012
Dolan also summoned prayers for those “persecuted for their religious convictions” — a clear shot at the Obama administration’s campaign against the religious freedom of Catholic and other religious health care providers opposed to the Obamacare abortion mandate.
@irritatedwoman did anyone else notice how many times Cardinal Dolan said "God"? Also mentioned religious persecution
Were those jabs DNC?
— (((Tim O'Donnell))) (@TimothyODonnel2) September 7, 2012
Democrats for Life was iced out of spots on the stage; their petition to change the platform to reflect the views of 21 million pro-life Democrats was rejected.
But Cardinal Dolan amplified and represented the silenced on stage:
We're very glad there was at least one pro-life voice at the #abortionconvention. Thank you Cardinal Dolan. #DNC2012
— National Right to Life (@nrlc) September 7, 2012
BREAKING: Catholic Cardinal Lectures Democrats on Abortion http://t.co/jlDYbikw pro-life #prolife #DNC2012 #DNC
— LifeNews.com (@LifeNewsHQ) September 7, 2012
Hands down, Dolan was the most memorable and newsworthy speaker of the night. Too bad most networks didn’t air it.
The full text of the prayer and video can be found here.
Note: An earlier version of this post mistakenly included video of Dolan’s prayer at the RNC (that is, last week). We have removed that video.
Related:
NBC, others cut off Archbishop Dolan’s pro-life prayer; viewers revolt
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