The Archbishop of New York will offer an Opening prayer on Aug 24
Cleveland, USA (August 22, 2020 Gaudium Press) — Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York has confirmed his attendance to the Republican National Convention via a statement some days ago. He will be offering a prayer during the opening of the convention, on the same date President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence will be nominated for a second term as Republican Party’s official candidates.
Starting on August 24 and running through August 27, the Republican convention will gather a limited attendance of officials and delegates, due to the constrains of the Pandemic, and will be live-streamed.
“As a priest, one of my most sacred obligations is to try and respond positively whenever I am invited to pray,” Cardinal Dolan affirmed in his Aug. 18 statement. “Prayer is speaking to God, offering him praise, thanking him for his many blessings, and asking for his intercession; it is not political or partisan.
“That is why I have accepted an invitation to pray at the Republican National Convention,” he continued. “My agreeing to pray does not constitute an endorsement of any candidate, party, or platform. Had I been invited to offer a prayer for the Democratic National Convention, I would have happily accepted, just as I did in 2012.”
Cardinal Dolan also hopes that “during this tumultuous time in our nation’s history” religious and nonreligious people “might join together in seeking peace and reconciliation in our hearts, in our cities, and in our country.”
As CNS informs, the convention has been scaled down to be in line with North Carolina limits on gatherings under the coronavirus pandemic. Addressing political conventions is not new for Cardinal Dolan. In 2012, he offered prayers at both the Republican and Democratic national conventions.
With information from Catholic News Service – CNS
