by Maureen Fiedler
Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York has apparently been invited as a major speaker at the Values Voter Summit, Sept. 14-16 in Washington, D.C. So says the summit's website.
If he accepts the invitation, he would share the stage with such right-wing luminaries as Michele Bachman (R-Minn.), who thinks Islamic radicals are lurking everywhere; Gov. Jan Brewer of Arizona, who signed the anti-immigrant "papers, please" law in her state; and none other than Republican vice-presidential pick Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, author of a budget that would end Medicare as we know it and cut funds for the needy to make it possible for the top 1 percent to get tax cuts.
An appearance at this summit is tantamount to an endorsement of Republican candidates. In fact, it's an endorsement of some of the most right-wing members of that party. Indeed, because of the confirmed appearance of Paul Ryan at the summit, observers might be led to think Dolan endorses the Romney-Ryan ticket.
And lest anyone think this is just a meeting to condemn abortion and same-sex marriage (on which Dolan has already pronounced himself), the website makes clear that this group also endorses "limited government, reduced spending and protecting America." Translation: Cut programs for the poor, eliminate life-saving regulations and increase the defense budget. Dolan has pronounced himself on the sexuality issues, but these other positions are at odds with the Catholic bishops' condemnation of the Ryan budget as "immoral."
Dolan should reject the invitation ... and say why.
