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Is it appropriate for religious leaders to offer prayers at U.S. political conventions? If so, how wide a diversity of religions should be represented?

New York's Roman Catholic Cardinal Timothy Dolan will now give the closing prayers at BOTH the Democratic and Republican national conventions. Meanwhile, New York's Rabbi Meir Soloveichik delivered opening remarks at the Republic convention Tuesday.

The Associated Press reports:

NEW YORK - Cardinal Timothy Dolan says he is now giving the closing prayer at both the Democratic and Republican conventions. The New York Roman Catholic leader made the announcement Tuesday through his spokesman.

After GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney announced last week that Cardinal Dolan would offer the benediction at this week's Republican Convention in Tampa, Fla., some Catholic liberals criticized his appearance.

They said it gave the impression he was endorsing Mr. Romney.Cardinal Dolan, president of the U.S. bishops' conference, is also an outspoken critic of President Barack Obama's mandate that employers provide health insurance that covers birth control.

Cardinal Dolan said he was participating only to give a prayer.

Separately, Democrats said Tuesday that Sister Simone Campbell of the Catholic nuns' lobby group NETWORK will give an address at the convention next week.

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  • Of the founding fathers, over 50 were active members of their churches. Therefore, in my view, it is appropriate that a Catholic or a Protestant Pastor give the Benediction at such events. To request the Blessings of the Almighty on our nation.

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    Yes -in theory. In practice- one must watch on ..."surroundings" in order not to endorse politicians in conflict with the official teaching of he Church or religious organizations in cases such as ex. murder of newborn (abortion), euthanasia, same-sex 'marriages", social programs ,etc. Read Ps 50. Take a case of Russian Ortodox Church run by KGB agents: the value of their prayers is....nothingness!



    Yes - the conventions are not law making institutions or government agencies. They are instead a forum for those running to let the voters know what are their beliefs and from what lense they view the world. To place any limitations on these events could conceivably provide cover for potentially radical viewpoints.




    Keep your myths, your prayers and your delusions at Church or in the privacy or your home.

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    • So, you're not a fan of peaceful assembly, religion or free speech. What's your take on free press?

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        No, I'm not a fan of religion. Not at all.

        But, you do make a good point about free speech and peaceful assembly. Should prayers at government event be protected under free speech? Definitely. Is it superfluous and uncalled for? Yes.

        Here is a question for you, why do the christian insist on disagreeing with Christ? (see my quote above)

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        Prayers to imaginary beings do indeed qualify as free speech. But they also belong to the realm of the delusional and ridiculous. Why not discuss the polar bear that flies jet planes at the center of the sun or on planet Kolob then, before each such assembly ? The idea is not just to exercise free speech. Any dunce can do that as well by cursing. Any fool can exercise it by claiming that water can turn into wine. The idea is to maintain a rational approach to the real world problems to be solved at the political convention and skip the silly myths and impossible fables and fantasies. It's a matter of discretion and decency to hide one's ignorance, I.e. the belief that snakes talk and tempt females who in turn are made out of the ribs of men and so on. Sounds pretty insane, doesn't it ? Because it is.

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    • Matthew 7:

      We say prayers at the start of an important undertaking in order to implore the blessings of Deity. Jesus's command to pray in secret was a command to not use prayer to make personal appeals intended more for the ears of men than for G-d. (Yeah, I know. It's hard to tell the difference in intent when you have politicians involved.)

      One other point - a political convention is not funded or sanctioned by the government, so it is not a government event.

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  • Religion and ethics is an oxymoron.

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    I do not know if it is appropriate or not, but I know that it does not give the appearance of sanity. After all, why should one preface a meeting about to address real world problems with references and incantations meant to for invisible beings ? It's a pretty primitive and delusional thing to do. Please keep your silly sky daddies for Sunday church or home. What's next ? Will we bring our GI Joe and Batman super action figures to same meetings and talk to them too ?

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