Cardinal Dolan not questioning governor's Catholic standing, spokesman says
May 17, 2013
After New York’s Cardinal Timothy Dolan told a radio interviewer that he has talked directly with Governor Andrew Cuomo about the latter’s standing in the Church, a spokesman for the archdiocese said that the cardinal had no intention of suggesting that Cuomo is not a Catholic in good standing.
When questioned on a radio broadcast as to whether the governor’s support for legal abortion and same-sex marriage had endangered Cuomo’s status as a Catholic, Cardinal Dolan said: “That’s something that I talk turkey with him about.” The cardinal declined to elaborate.
But Joseph Zwillin, the spokesman for the New York archdiocese, assured reporters that the cardinal “would not, and did not, suggest the governor might not be a Catholic in good standing going forward.”
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Further information:
- Archbishop Clarifies Remarks About Cuomo (New York Times)
- Archbishop Presses Cuomo Over Abortion (New York Times)
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Posted by: dmva9806 -
May. 19, 2013 12:22 PM ET USA
rhmazyck8126664, If it makes you feel good inside, then think that way. It is apparent that Cardinal Dolan prefers not to endanger his IRS standing and his sources of funding for his archdiocesan social programs. It is actually very difficult to be a Bishop/Archbishop in the U.S. Catholic church - the fence is very narrow and hard to stand on. Pray for those who try to popular in both worlds.
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Posted by: -
May. 18, 2013 11:09 AM ET USA
The spokesman only relayed what his eminence did NOT say in the public statement; the reality may be that Cardinal Dolan is choosing to keep the pastoral counsel he offers to the governor between he and the governor. He wouldn't openly "suggest" the governor's standing, but that doesn't mean it isn't vigorously discussed when they "talk turkey". Lastly, since his eminence couldn't just say, "He's in good standing," I'm inclined to think his eminence opines that the governor is NOT.
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Posted by: John J Plick -
May. 18, 2013 1:27 AM ET USA
"...a spokesman for the archdiocese said that the cardinal had no intention of suggesting that Cuomo is not a Catholic in good standing. When questioned on a radio broadcast..." Cardinals in a very real sense are OUR SERVANTS, with a duty to discharge. What is his duty in this matter towards us other than to reveal the truth..., again to "us," his masters?
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Posted by: -
May. 18, 2013 12:51 AM ET USA
Cardinal Dolan should have taken this opportunity to be more truthful instead of playing diplomat. The American Church must stop playing politics and start teaching Catholics the difference between right and wrong, including moral consequences. And yes any Catholic who publically supports abortion is at serious odds with Catholic teaching and they are breaking God's law. That they are not a Catholic in good standing if they understand the moral severity of their position and do not change.
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Posted by: -
May. 17, 2013 11:26 PM ET USA
It is really the pope's responsibility to remove Cardinal Dolan. Rather than speak vaguely about bad leaders, we need an example of protecting the people from them.
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Posted by: Minnesota Mary -
May. 17, 2013 9:53 PM ET USA
Dolanism is what they call the Cardinal's two-step.
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Posted by: Frodo1945 -
May. 17, 2013 9:25 PM ET USA
Standing in the church? Standing in the church? If cardinal Dolan isn't speaking to the governor about the state of his soul based on his support for abortion, same-sex marriage, and cohabitation then he is not doing his job as a bishop. This situation is so apparently out of order that it is a joke, and the joke is on cardinal Dolan.
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Posted by: wsw33410 -
May. 17, 2013 8:22 PM ET USA
Just to add - this is another scandal disheartening for the laity -- if cardinal lets it go .. why should we care what happens in the churches. Have Card. Dolan not heard our Pope saying who are those bad priests === those who do not speak the TRUTH and compromise when it is time to say STOP and NO!
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Posted by: St.John Neumann -
May. 17, 2013 6:38 PM ET USA
As usually with many bishops in the US, their concern is primarily with the powerful and not with the spiritual damage done to the little ones. How can someone be a Catholic in good standing if that person persists in ignoring or denying Church teaching regarding what is intrinsically evil and sets that example for others? The English bishops should have caved to Henry 8 and claimed to have been Catholics in good standing! The longer I am Catholic, the better I understand the Reformation.
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Posted by: lauriem5377 -
May. 17, 2013 6:31 PM ET USA
I am confused. Can one publically advicate for abortion and still be a Catholic in good standing?
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Posted by: -
May. 17, 2013 6:08 PM ET USA
I bet anyone a dime to a donut that were I to write a letter to the editor of my local newpaper, identified myself as a Catholic, and supported abortion and same-sex marriage, my bishop would seek me out to counsel me on my waywardness. But I believe that if I told him I was a loyal democrat, he'd find a way to accept my opinions.
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Posted by: Defender -
May. 17, 2013 4:16 PM ET USA
This is the problem with almost all bishops when they deal with politicians - they don't and it causes nothing but scandal.
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Posted by: AgnesDay -
May. 17, 2013 2:58 PM ET USA
I'm not sure why not. Gov. Cuomo is the most publicly visible Catholic in the Cardinal's metropolitanate.
