… of the New York Archdiocese’s being on-air sponsors of the NY Yankees? Several times I’ve heard them announced as one of the sponsors on the radio broadcast. Does it matter? Does it hurt or help evangelization? Is it suitable for a Cardinal? What do you think?
There is some history:
I wonder what division and ill feelings might ensue on account of the New York’s Archdiocese sponsoring/supporting the New York Yankees in opposition of not sponsoring/supporting the New York Mets. It is one thing for Cardinal Dolan to personally support the baseball team of his choice, but it is an entirely different matter for the Archdiocese of New York to publicly put their support behind one team (the New York Yankees), in lieu of another (the New York Mets).
Could you imagine this happening in a time when there were the Brooklyn Dodgers, the New York Giants, the New York Mets, and the New York Yankees, all in New York City.
I’m sure there are those who will argue that the Archdiocese of New York should not be involved in sponsoring any sport or athletic event, but I think the sponsorship would have come across in a more positive light if the Archdiocese simply sponsored some baseball broadcasts or sponsored both teams equally.
Then again, the football teams, hockey teams, and soccer teams in New York City might take offense for not receiving equal sponsorship. I think in no way should a religious institution like the Catholic Church, and an Archdiocese like New York, publicly sponsor and support one team in a particular sport over another team in that same particular sport, especially in the same city.
I think often there are those in high church positions which lack discernment and insight to the outcome of their actions.
Have to wonder what the cost of such sponsorship might be and who is paying for it?
Cardinal Dolan may personally support whichever team he likes, but I agree the Archdiocese should not be in the sponsorship business.
I think it is a very pertinent inquiry to the cost of such sponsorship and who is paying for it?
Is it possible that the sponsorship is coming out of funds from the Annual Catholic Appeal for Evangelization? Or is possible that some of the proceeds from the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Dinner is being used for sponsoring the Yankees?
If real money changes hands this is inappropriate.
considering the American League is basically the Protestant version of baseball with their so-called “designated hitter”, I find this sponsorship to be quite consistent with modern Church leadership.
Is the implication that all advertising is bad? Or is it that “sponsorship” is somehow a vanity-expense that differs from vanilla “advertising?”
Cardinal Dolan’s “leadership” is less than sterling, and this move is no exception. Such “sponsorships” kick dirt in the face of other teams and their Catholic fans. The best I can say about it is that it’s dumb, just plain dumb…. and I’m a life-long Yankee fan!
Cardinal Dolan did an announcement re Catholic Charities tonight before the game started.
https://www.churchmilitant.com/video/episode/vortex-dolan-disgrace-again?mc_cid=8560d97b8f&mc_eid=a4e056bc40
Church Militant recounts their view of Cardinal Dolan’s “Throwing Pearls before Swine.” Their review begins:
TRANSCRIPT
Yes, you knew this Vortex was coming — the disgraceful presence of Cdl. Timothy Dolan at the Met Gala where Catholicism was the inspiration for this year’s usual, boring, yet another “star-studded” event with all the glitterati. And by glitterati, we mean more than half-naked women, which is par for the course — #MeToo, anyone? — strutting about and a collection of temptresses par excellence. Only this year, they were adorned in various Catholic-themed outfits, of course with the overseeing of Cdl. Timothy Dolan who continues to raise Our Lord’s warning about casting your pearls before swine to a whole new level.
Here is what he had to say, in part, in a tweet: “What’s the Church doing here? What is the cardinal-archbishop of New York doing here?” Short answer — selling out the Church. He continued, “Well, because the Church and ‘the Catholic imagination,’ are all about truth, goodness and beauty.” None of which were on display at what’s billed as fashion’s biggest night.
The event was officially called “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination,” the biggest exhibit the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum has ever held. It was the product of years of arduous, behind the scenes negotiating with the Vatican’s Abp. Georg Ganswein, Pope Benedict’s former aide and Cdl. Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Vatican Pontifical Council for Culture, who met repeatedly with Anna Wintour, editor of Vogue Magazine.
Talk about desperate to appear relevant. And by the way, what happened with all those liberal cardinals’ concern for the poor? The most noteworthy of the secular culture come knocking and the doors of the Vatican are thrown open to them and some of the most treasured vestments are made available. Gee, seems like you could have sold those and given the money to the poor. Isn’t that what that lot is always babbling on about?
And of course, since it was in New York, Dolan had to be front and center with his cheap theatrics to sell off the Faith once again to the highest bidder, in exchange for a couple photo ops with today’s celebrities…. continued at the link first shown above….
In response to Ludwig’s question: “Is the implication that all advertising is bad? Or is it that “sponsorship” is somehow a vanity-expense that differs from vanilla “advertising?””
I would not say all advertising is bad if it is done more like evangelization with a pertinent message to a person’s soul and is centered on Faith.
For example: In the 1940’s, 1950’s, 1960’s, and 1970’s, there was a weekly program called “The Christophers.” It started out on the radio and then it moved to television. Every program started out with the message “It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.” Fr. James Keller, a Maryknoll priest, started the group called “the Christophers.” His radio program, then television program, was based on Judeo-Catholic values. Fr. James Keller was concerned with all Americans, especially those who were unchurched. He wrote an article for the conservative American Ecclesiastical Review entitled “What About the Hundred Million?” His aim was especially to reach Americans of Protestant and other non-Catholic faiths who had no connection to organized religion. “The Christophers” was considered the most popular and influential Catholic television presentation.
Venerable Fulton John Sheen was one of the most notable and popular Catholic speakers on both radio and television. He is considered one of the first televangelists. Bishop Fulton Sheen drew an audience of Catholics and non-Catholic alike. He a was very inspirational and entertaining speaker/preacher. While Fr. Fulton Sheen and then Mgsr. Fulton Sheen, he hosted the night-time radio program “The Catholic Hour” on NBC from 1930-1950. He moved to television in 1951 with the title of Bishop. Bishop Fulton Sheen’s show, “Life Is Worth Living” ran from 1951 -1957. His next television show, “The Fulton Sheen Program” ran from 1961-1968. Bishop Sheen won an Emmy Award twice for Most Outstanding Television Personality with regard to his television programs.
These are two of the programs the Catholic Church/Catholic Organization sponsored decades ago.
The sponsorship at that time was generated for the concern of souls.
It wasn’t vanilla marketing. And I don’t think it was a vanity expense.
Currently, many Dioceses want to advertise for parishioners, and advertise for the “right type of parishioners.” The advertising target is young adult professionals with a substantial income. They want to make sure they have parishioners who have many years of good earning potential to fill their coffers. Better yet, if they are married, so they will produce offspring to keep the church going.
Look at some of the places they are advertising.
The current advertising done by the Catholic Church as a whole, seems more in line with marketing strategies of a business, where money is the bottom line. People see through this.
Since Cardinal Dolan appears to be blurring the lines of his personal life interest of a particular baseball team, with the public life of the Archdiocese of New York, it could be considered as a vanity expense. How much was spent on sponsorship of the New York Yankees? Was the amount more than he could have anticipated as contributions to Catholic Charities? I think the Bishop liked when he was in limelight with his favorite team.
If the Catholic Church really wanted to be relevant, they would go out to the streets to evangelize; even act out the gospel. They would also look into television programming to reach the public which sits at home (or nursing home or hospital) and watches TV. When the bottom line is souls for Christ, people can see that also. The Catholic Church would be more fruitful. And people would be more apt to give if their money is being spent on a good cause.
Tonight Cardinal Dolan made his advertising spot to “Fellow Yankee Fans”.