GOP Priest Attacks Obama In Invocation

Politico:

Here's the video of the invocation at the New York State Republican Party dinner last night, delivered to a crowd including Rudy Giuliani and Rep. Peter King, and where Dick Cheney later spoke.

In it, the priest, Monsignor Jim Lisante mockingly asks God to change Obama's mind and volunteers to replace Rev. Jeremiah Wright as Obama's pastor.

"One more thing, Lord. Please tell Senator Obama that maybe change is a good thing and maybe he should think about changing his favorite preacher," he said, to applause.

"I know a lot more of us would be comfortable with his judgment skills if he hadn't sat for 20 years through those words offered by his preacher of division, bigotry, and - honestly - half truths without a word of objection from Senator until the media brought it up, and now he doesn't want any part of the guy," he said.

Read the whole story: Politico

Comments

[incontempt]

11:14 AM on 06/01/2008

The end result of religion in politics will end up in a Very bad outcome for religion, cut apart and left in shreds...thoroughly slashed and trashed, i welcome this as scary as it is, but i am not religious so i look forward to seeing them get their busy-body noses sheered off.

Reprehensible is the word of the day!

[vincealy]

10:08 AM on 06/01/2008

Have not seen this one on the Clintons two networks CNN or MSNBC probably will not

[Bluedog12]

09:37 AM on 06/01/2008

As a Catholic I would like to ask Monsignor Jim Lisante if he would pray for the Church and ask God for forgiveness for enabling then covering up child molestation. I would also ask if the Monsignor knew of or participated in any actions related to Church abuse allegations. If there is litigation ongoing I would suggest the Monsignor provide a deposition addressing these questions and clarifying his role. Additionally Monsignor Money Bags please explain the Church mission as it relates to war, poverty and human rights and then explain the GOP positions on these issues? Pax abbas.

[beijixiong]

11:07 PM on 05/31/2008

Dear God
Thank you for giving his holiness Father Lisante the strength to articulate to the world the moral superiority of the Republican party. And, while you are at it, please bless our all distinguished Republican officials and the families (in the case of Rep Fosella, both of them) and help them find men's room stalls in bathrooms unfrequented by undercover agents and text-message services that are secure and not accessible by heathens. Also, just to be safe, please don't let Father Lisante near any of my grandchildren.
Faithfully yours
Beijixiong

[trinity]

10:53 PM on 05/31/2008

This does not surprise me...I have seen a serious shift in the Catholic Church in the last decade or so. Many priests are more concerned about promoting the right wing agenda of "pro-life" and "anti-gay" policies than promoting the teachings of the New Testament, especially the parts about being peacemakers and helping the poor and oppressed. I don't remember the Church being so politicized while growing up.

[incontempt]

11:16 AM on 06/01/2008

The "prolife" and "antigay" messages are just election day tools for votes, and for that matter...so are the tools who vote for the so called "right wingers"

[dadw5boys]

07:13 PM on 05/31/2008

This Preist know how to FILL HIS BANK ACCOUNT .

[kfdan]

06:30 PM on 05/31/2008

" ... the priest, Monsignor Jim Lisante mockingly asks God to change Obama's mind and volunteers to replace Rev. Jeremiah Wright as Obama's pastor."
I suppose that slinging mud is standard procedure in most political campaigns but here we have a supposed catholic "priest" making comments about another person's former protestant preacher. Well, here goes ... I dare not ... mention anything about little boys and girls and catholic priests ... should I ... that would no relevance to catholic priests in general ... so I won't mention it.

[thisoldbroad]

03:37 PM on 05/31/2008

INVOCATION -
1. the act of invoking or calling upon a deity, spirit, etc., for aid, protection, inspiration, or the like; supplication.
2. any petitioning or supplication for help or aid.
3. a form of prayer invoking God's presence, esp. one said at the beginning of a religious service or public ceremony.
4. an entreaty for aid and guidance from a Muse, deity, etc., at the beginning of an epic or epiclike poem.
5. the act of calling upon a spirit by incantation.
6. the magic formula used to conjure up a spirit; incantation.
7. the act of calling upon or referring to something, as a concept or document, for support and justification in a particular circumstance.
8. the enforcing or use of a legal or moral precept or right.

Nothing in that definition suggests an interest in a political opinion.

Funny how over the last few years religious leaders can't resist spewing their political views when they see a crowd before them. This should have been an invitation to open the meeting with a prayer for wisdom & guidance, as every meeting in the House & Senate begins.

Shame on all who use time intended for spiritual guidance to express their political ideas.

[GwenElle]

04:19 PM on 05/31/2008

Haven't you noticed the strange similarity among preachers, pastors, priests, and politicians, beyond the curious coincidence of alliteration that is? Actors all. None can resist the adoration that they so clearly crave from their respective audiences.

The sheer thrill of the performance is all over this guy's, er priest's, face. Each one of these now infamous men of the cloth have shown a similar glint in the eye. Ahhh, what a rush.

[JackStark]

03:15 PM on 05/31/2008

Dear Monsignor Lisante,

If the God you profess to believe in does exist then when you die you will have some serious explaining to do.
Rather then supporting one partisan political group you should spend your time considering issues that involve the actions of your church. Like the Inquisition and other persecutions of different Christian sects, the slaughter of the Templer Order in order to gain their wealth in the early 14th century, the Genocide of thousands of fellow Christians (the Cathars) in southern France in the 13th century, the 30 Years War, the plundering and destruction of civilizations in the Americas done with the official blessings of your Church, the silence of your Church during the Holocaust, using nails made of gold in a Pope's coffin when millions of people are starving.
Would it be possible for you to use your wit, of which you seem so proud, to make these past actions of your Church seem humorous?

[JoshuaF]

01:08 PM on 05/31/2008

Would somebody please tell all these preachers, priests, nuns, cardinals, bishops and all religious types to shut the hell up (ooooh, I'm going to burn for using that term)! Enough already. You're a bunch of hypocrites with your 'holier than thou' attitudes. Meanwhile, religion has brought more pain and suffering to this world than any politician could ever dream of mustering.

[DaveNoble]

12:21 PM on 05/31/2008

Monsignor Lisante,

You have a right to your political opininons and affiliations, but you have no right to turn a prayer into partisan political humor. You have taken the art of the invocation as entertainment to a new low.
I believe God has a sense of of humor but I don't think He appreciates being your straight man.

Thank you edelmira, I have emailed this to the Monsignor.

[noamjunior]

12:19 PM on 05/31/2008

What kind of judgment does this guy have- being a republican when the evidence is wwere clearly lied to war
dick

[noamjunior]

12:18 PM on 05/31/2008

Im glad the priest found time off from his busy scedual of molesting kids

[GwenElle]

11:05 AM on 05/31/2008

As I listened to this guy and watched the smug expression on his face, I could not help but wonder if *The Lord* was actually listening to this priest's prayer and if He really was, what His response would be. The only thing that came to mind is that ambiguous response that Jesus gave to the Jews when asked about payment of taxes to Rome. Jesus's response, of course: "Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s”.

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/20/story_2000_1.html

I have begun to suffer a very serious case of preacher-pastor-priest fatigue. I only hope it is a condition that is not fatal to my willingness to keep my mind open to and patient with those who have a need to believe in this entire crop of low-level messiahs. But it's getting harder and harder . . .

[Teritt]

09:37 AM on 05/31/2008

I just want to know why CNN refuses to make a big deal out of this Priest like they do anything that comes up with Obama & Trinity. Come on CNN, you are truly supposed to be fair and balanced, not just use it as a slogan. Wolf? Andy? Jack? Surely one of you has an assistant assigned to read HuffPost....

[trinity]

10:54 PM on 05/31/2008

So much for the liberal bias in the media...