Cardinal Dolan, Stephen Colbert, and James Martin coming to Fordham
We now have confirmation that on Sept. 14 three Catholic luminaries will share a stage at Fordham University. Cardinal Dolan and Stephen Colbert will present an evening focused on the relationship between faith and humor, and their dialogue will be moderated by James Martin, S.J. (award-winning author of Between Heaven and Mirth).
The event is coming together through collaboration between the Department of Theology, the Curran Center for American Catholic Studies, the Fordham Center on Religion and Culture, the office of University Mission and Ministry, and the Office of the President.
It promises to be a banner night for American Catholics, and one which will be shared widely through online video.
More details to follow soon about “Rejoice, Always” on September 14!
The RCC as comedy show…
This should be great!
Sounds like lots of fun! But, which Colbert is coming?
Wow!
I suspect that the US Catholic Church is in deep crisis, as the Irish Church is. In Ireland our bishops no longer contest this diagnosis, but in the US it is stoutly denied. “It’s not as if we’re in crisis” said Card. Dolan (if I remember aright). A Har-har evening in Fordham U. will be something like Pres. Obama’s Meet the Press comedy routines. It will be more an effort to assure the flock that all is rosy than to face the real issues or undertake real dialogue.
Yes, that’s what he said: “My major priority would be to continue with all vigor I can muster what’s already in place,” Archbishop Dolan said. “It’s not like we’re in crisis; it’s not like all of a sudden we need some daring new initiatives. Thank God for the leadership of Cardinal Francis George, things are going well.”
Which Colbert? Claudette?
I wonder how many painful topics will be taboo at the Fordham gathering — we wouldn’t want to spoil the fun…
Joseph: We get it, enough. (And obviously you do want to spoil the fun.)
Despite the prophets of doom and gloom, I think this could be a wonderful event and all could come away having learned something–even the Cardinal!
Anthony, I agree – I think this sounds wonderful.
Will the topic of being able to laugh at yourself come up?
Also, if the notion of satire and the Church is broached, how much will Fr. Martin think it should go?
Should be interesting.
BTW, Fr. O’Leary has apint about the Church in Ireland, but that’s a topic for another thread I think.
I was not making a point about the Church in Ireland but about the US Church — but I will go on to make a point about both. There seems to be a policy now of treating Ireland as the sick man of the worldwide church (manifest for instance in Card. Dolan’s report on the Irish College, Rome, with its insulting remarks on the Archbishops of Armagh, Cashel, Dublin, and Tuam). I say that the crisis is deeper in America, where the Church is more divided, more sectarian, more scandal-ridden, and with a less worthy episcopal leadership. Dr Padraic Conway in a recent Irish Times comment detected a policy of “Americanization” of the Irish Church: an American Papal Nuncio, 4 of the 5 apostolic visitators of Irish seminaries from America, and above all a narrow fetishistic view of Catholic orthodoxy, loudly propagated by theologically undernourished US prelates, that stands the hierarchy of truths on its head. I do not think the Irish will stand for being pawns in American and Vatican culture wars!
Mr Gallicho, instead of telling me to shut up, you might remove the libelous statement of Ann Olivier on the Gay Pride thread.
As we look forward to the online videos by Dolan, Colbert, and Martin, we should remember with suitable appreciation the Emmy-award winner from Peoria, just acclaimed for his heroic virtue, who mastered video as he strove to persuade Americans that “Life is Worth Living” — Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1202757.htm
Which Colbert? Claudette?
Well, if he can pull this off, Stephen is the man!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pNNE_U8GOw
Ok – I meant Colbert the actor, the pundit or CCD teacher! [But as my wife says, if I have to explain it, that means it wasn't funny to begin with.]
Glad to hear about Fulton Sheen! Perhaps someone will borrow from the Kennedy line and introduce the Fordham event with: “This is the most media-savy group of Catholics ever in one place, except when Fulton Sheen was in the TV studio, alone.”
Cardinal Falstaff should be in his element.
I object that an attractive, intelligent, articulate laywoman is not featured instead of a fat balding bishop. At any rate will we get fifty shades of Dolan. fifty shades darker with Egan or the real deal; fifty shades of the fortnight for freedom? Will Obama be allowed in to declare that he does not find this funny at all? But seriously what does humor have to do with “Rejoice always” written by Paul. As much as I love Paul I daresay he really lacked a sense of humor. At any rate it really is a night we all sorely need because the rest of this stuff is really terrible. We devoutly need comic relief.
Some wonderful observations (as always) in these comments. I’m alway a bit surprised at what is edited from the comments and what’s allowed to stay.
A question to the powers-that-be (such as they are): before I lay out my $500 to $2500 to join in the “Commonweal Conversation” this fall, can you tell me if those conversations resemble these?
Bill M. — That “attractive, articulate, intelligent” laywoman of whom Cdl. Dolan spoke so highly in Hicksville seems to be meant for the public square. On stage at Fordham with Colbert (not Claudette) and Martin (not Dean), one fat, balding, Irish [sic] bishop from Missouri should round out a faith-and-humor panel well. After all, the distinguished President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Cardinal Archbishop, and recent Apostolic Visitor is always good for a laugh:
http://nationalpostlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/catholicbishops.jpg?w=620
Interesting coments here , includomg Mr. Smith.
Humor in the world of blogdom on matters Catholic?
Bob Kelly– I got it, so that means your funny again! Go tell your wife!
I’d like to add that again I think Fr. O’Leary has a point worth a thread (the continuing dynamic of the church in Ireland -with its new planned “lay steering xommittee:”) and there are alo many worthy threads we might consider (America’s award winning “In All Things” has not only one, but two yesterday on “loyalty oaths.” ) I think Fordham should be congratulated.While lots of Catholics, I fear, don’t want to “hear about” any problems, it’s nice to have two oustanding wits in conference, and if Mr. Donahie would join his beloved Cardinal, maybe two and a half.
But then, for “fair and balance” maybe they’d have to invite Ms. Dowd for a more “scintillating” evening.
As we get older (and I speak very personally), the importance of keeping laughing is vital in our troubled worls ofChurch and politics.
So I repear rhe old cheer:
One damn, Two damn, Three damn, Fordham!”
There’s better ahead. Grand Comic Opera is coming as soon as the right composer gets going on the Vatican. Giuseppe Verdi never saw such a fertile field of inspiration —-
Princes spying on each other, the Bertone and Ganswein covens maneuvering around the third floor, the lowly butler, mysterious leakers, nuns drifting invisibly through the apartment, masked Vatican Bank customers lurking, medieval-costumed gendarmes with lances on high alert, clerical entrepreneurs obsequiously bowing and scraping, black-robed Latinists whispering to each other in their ancient secret code, and plots hatching for The First Tweeting Conclave.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Pontiff regally surveys the stage from his new electric car, whispering author’s notes into his Scholar’s Smartphone. And great scenery!
Let us distinguish between what must be taken seriously and what must not.
It’s been a pleasant break speculating about this upcoming “Old Maroon” comedy hour. I can’t wait for the reviews. Will there be a live stream here?
As my sainted sixth-grade teacher, Sister Mary Adelaide, would often caution us: “Be careful what you pray for … God is always listening.”
Stephen Colbert has a rapier wit and a refined sense of justice. Dolan may just find that he is being thinly sliced and flayed by Colbert’s sharpen comic blade, all delivered with a smile, playing to the cheap seats in today’s youthful balcony.
I seem to remember that Colbert’s comic stylings didn’t play very well a few years ago with Washington’s political establishment at the White House Correspondents Dinner.
Can’t wait to see Dolan yucking it up on a public stage, not getting that the joke’s on him!
Jim J.=
Right. Poor Dubya didn’t seem to understand what had hit him. Some even thought our Stephen went a bit too far. It will be interesting to see if the Cardinal can keep his temper in check as Stephen does his slicing and dicing.
Archbp. Fulton Sheen helped solve one of life’s mysteries of the 1950s — what can you do with live video sent over the airwaves directly to people in their living rooms? He showed that a message and a manner, both carefully shaped for those folks as you find them at home, could persuade and keep them coming back for more. Stephen Colbert inherited the lesson a half century later.
Perhaps Cdl. Dolan could be taught a bit of it that would help him past his Milwaukee residue, Irish College visitation blowback, fortnight for not contraception issues, and recruiting challenges (1 ordination for his NY archdiocese this year, from Canada). Fr. Martin could no doubt be an adept coach while tying it all together with scholarly aplomb and tongue in cheek. Let’s hope.
Jack B. –
Yes, “Monsignor Sheen” talked to people where they were, but he didn’t talk down to them. He was a splendid teacher who showed his confidence in his pupils, avoided unnecessarily fancy language, and went slowly or fast as needed — all with humor and humility. And, yes, smart-as-a-whip Colbert has those same qualities.
Anybody else besides me remember Steve Allen’s “Meeting of the Minds” on PBS, was it? Funny and unabashedly intellectual at the same time, and — get this == quite popular. He was a Jesuit boy, wasn’t he? Gonzaga or some place like that. AND he invented the original late night talk show in the days before “egghead” and “elitist academic” were dirty words.
What I want to know is why isn’t there a decent Catholic channel by this time. The airwaves are crammed with Protestant ones, and at the rate the atheists are going I expect one from them soon. (Of course, there’s Bill Maher already.) EWTN is so closed minded and ignorant that it’s literally a turn off.
To clarify: Stephen Colbert will not be “in character.” That does not mean he will not be hilarious, of course. The video options are still being discussed by the planners, and many options are on the table. Don’t worry: you’ll have plenty of options to view the event. If not “real time,” it will be very soon afterwards. I’ll post more when we have all the details later in the summer.
Hey, Michael P. ==
The New Orleans Jesuits used to be leaders in the radio and then TV business. Our local radio station WWL was owned by Loyola University and actually helped pay the schools’ bills. It was so powerful you could pick it up all the way to Chicago, and it won national awards. Later Loyola had the WWL TV station, but it sold them both.
I know starting a TV channel is probably prohibitive, but wouldn’t it be great if Fordham started one? Think of all the talent right there in NYC. You’d think that in self-defense all those alums would be willing to pay into a foundation to start a decent station. Put a bug is some rich alums’ ears, will you?
Ann O. — Click to donate.
http://www.library.fordham.edu/itservices/eictv.html
Bob Nunz mentions a “lay steering committee” for the Irish Church. Maybe I am missing something, but I think he means the “umbrella group” set up to coordinate lay movements in Ireland. This is a lay initiative with no episcopal support, but on friendly terms with the Association of Catholic Priests, somewhat in the line of Pobal (and as usual the participants are mostly over 50 years old). The refusal, out of fear, to hold a national assembly of the Irish Church back in the 1970-80s was an expensive mistake. Instead we had the razzmatazz of the 1979 papal visit, with no follow-up. There are great spiritual forces in the Irish Church, among its priests, its religious, its bishops, and its laity, but these forces have not come together, and mutual suspicion continues to lame what could still be a vibrant and functioning church.
This is probably the source of the “lay steering committee” phrase, from the ACP website: “Following the agreement at the All Hallows meeting on the 30 May to establish a Steering Group to develop a Policy Framework, the Steering Group met for the first time on Tuesday 26 June. The group is comprised of eight volunteers (four female and four male members) representing a number of the established lay groups and also includes individuals who are not aligned with any group.”
What we do need is a lay steering committee for the Irish Church as a whole. But such a thought would still be anathema to the Vatican and to the bishops in Ireland.
Jack B. =
Is the library planning to go national? I’d send it a few dollars if it were. I’m starved for good TV. (Yes, there used to be a bit of it.) Our diocese has a local PBS station, but it’s mostly canned, repetitious stuff. Never a new idea. Or old ones.
By t he way, here’s an article about the Philosophy in Pubs movement in England. It seems that over the last ten years many groups who meet in pubs have been established, and the movement it growing. The London Club has 2000 members! The article below doesn’t say the lack of good TV has something to do with it, but I think it must. You don’t have to be a brain to be interested in important questions, and when popular media don’t supply ideas, people will look elsewhere.
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/5ed048f6-c0fc-11e1-8179-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1zhQ2hTNA
This article is from the Financial Times, of all papers. See?
Update on the Irish situation: http://www.associationofcatholicpriests.ie/2012/07/a-meeting-between-the-acp-and-the-steering-group-of-the-new-lay-association/
I fear that bishops and the Vatican regard these initiatives only as a challenge to their own authority. They should be delighted that lay people and priests are making a determined effort to save their church, and are still willing to devote energies into what so many have decided to be a lost cause.
Tickets available only with a Fordham ID:
http://www.fordham.edu/campus_resources/enewsroom/dolancolbert_88446.asp
Is it too late to register for the Fall semester??