In his most recent opinion piece on the Washington Post’s On Faith blog, Mathew Schmalz, associate professor of religious studies at the College of the Holy Cross, commented on Cardinal Timothy Dolan’s role addressing both the Democratic and Republican national conventions, and how his remarks—which were tailored to the concerns and values of each audience—exemplify the problem with prayer in political contexts.
“Taken together, the blessings Dolan offered could be read as an overview of a contemporary Catholic political philosophy,” he wrote. “But they do raise an overall question about what prayer in a political context should be about.”
Emphasizing issues such as immigration and poverty with the republicans, and personal values as they connect to policy decisions with the democrats, “Dolan was affirming that religion and religious motivations are not simply private matters but have broad ranging implications for how we think about the political life,” Schmalz wrote.
“But by being so specific, the cardinal did open up the question of whether he was privileging one side or the other,” which is why mixing prayer and politics might be ineffective. “There needs to be a space of silence in order for…discernment to happen,” he continued.
“In the clamor of both conventions, I wonder whether anyone had the space to listen to Dolan, let alone to God.”
This "Holy Cross in the News" item by David Cotrone '13.
