Timothy Cardinal Dolan gave the closing benediction at both the Republican and Democratic conventions, offering very similar prayers. His words were far better received at the Republican gathering, because he prayed for the courage to defend life, including the unborn. That�??s not quite what attendees of the Democrats�?? three-day abortionpalooza really wanted to hear.

�??Thus do we praise you for the gift of life,�?� said Dolan. �??Grant us the courage to defend it, life, without which no other rights are secure. We ask your benediction on those waiting to be born, that they may be welcomed and protected. Strengthen our sick and our elders waiting to see your holy face at life�??s end, that they may be accompanied by true compassion and cherished with the dignity due those who are infirm and fragile.�?�

I would add only that those recently born need a prayer for protection, too, because if they survived an abortion, they certainly aren�??t going to get it from Barack Obama.

Dolan wasn�??t quite done bending Democrat ears. He had a few words that did not mix well with the Sandra Fluke imperative to over-ride religious conscience and compel the funding of abortion and birth control, too. �??We praise and thank you for the gift of liberty. May this land of the free never lack those brave enough to defend our basic freedoms. Renew in all our people a profound respect for religious liberty: the first, most cherished freedom bequeathed upon us at our Founding. May our liberty be in harmony with truth; freedom ordered in goodness and justice.�?�

But at least the Democrats were able to bring themselves to scribble the language of God-given rights back into their platform before Dolan�??s arrival, so they didn�??t have to feel too ashamed when he praised the Lord for �??granting us the life and liberty by which we can pursue happiness,�?� and asked Him to �??show us anew that happiness is found only in respecting the laws of nature, and of nature�??s God.�?� Hmm�?� I seem to remember Democrats furiously rebuking someone for using exactly those words at the Republican convention. In fact, I think it was the fellow they chose to be their vice presidential candidate!

As Twitchy.com reports, the reaction to Cardinal Dolan�??s speech from liberals on Twitter was�?� colorful. The last time I saw a prayer get this kind of reaction, Linda Blair and a gallon of pea soup were involved. And evidently a few TV networks couldn�??t handle transmitting the benediction. Pity�?� their viewers missed the best speech of the night.