The Republican National Convention faced criticism for allowing Archbishop of St. Louis, Robert J. Carlson, with a troubling history of sheltering accused priests, to open the event. The decision to have Carlson deliver the opening prayer at the RNC sparked controversy as he has been accused of mishandling cases of clergy sexual abuse during his time in Minnesota.
Critics argued that having Carlson, who has been accused of covering up sexual abuse scandals and protecting priests who were accused of misconduct, speak at the convention sends a troubling message. The Archbishop’s handling of abuse allegations has been widely criticized, with some calling for his resignation in the past.
The RNC’s decision to invite Carlson to give the opening prayer at the event drew backlash from both Democrats and Republicans who were concerned about the Archbishop’s troubling track record. Some pointed out that it was a missed opportunity for the Republican party to distance itself from individuals with such problematic histories.
Despite the controversy surrounding Carlson’s appearance at the RNC, he proceeded to deliver the opening prayer at the event. This move was seen as a contentious decision by the party and a missed opportunity to address the issue of clergy sexual abuse within the Catholic Church.
Overall, the decision to invite Archbishop Robert J. Carlson to open the RNC with a prayer was met with criticism and controversy due to his history of mishandling clergy abuse allegations. Critics argue that the Republican party missed an opportunity to address these important issues by allowing someone with such a troubling past to have a prominent role at the convention.
Source
Photo credit news.google.com