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Bishops, Albany mayor honor nun who touts free needles for drug abusers

March 09, 2010

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Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York and Bishop Howard Hubbard of Albany have presented an award to Sister Maureen Joyce to honor her decades of service to Catholic Charities.

“It is not just of her breadth of vision and scope of accomplishments which have made her a prime recipient of this award,” said Bishop Hubbard. “It is because of the way she lives her life each day-- her incandescent smile and her passion for justice which radiates off of her.”

Mayor Jerry Jennings of Albany proclaimed March 8 “Sister Maureen Joyce Day” in her honor.

In January, Bishop Hubbard approved a proposal by diocesan Catholic Charities to distribute free needles to drug abusers in the hope of preventing the spread of AIDS.

“I understand there will be questions, but this is common sense,” said Sister Joyce, the CEO of Catholic Charities. “I strongly believe in this. It will save lives.”

“From a theological standpoint, we're not being faithful to our mission if we don't reach out to people addicted to drugs, too,” Sister Joyce added.

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• Posted by: unum - Mar. 09, 2010 11:46 PM ET USA

  You're making this up, right?

• Posted by: Jester - Mar. 09, 2010 9:56 PM ET USA

  Ar we trying to imply that AB Dolan supports the immoral free needle plan promoted by S Marueen and approved by B Hubbard? He gets 1st mention and then isn't found anywhere in appended articles other than one photo. Could we cut to the quick? Are we condemning AB Dolan for for the scandal his participation in the award ceremoney gives or are we suggesting he supports the immoral program as well, or that the program really isn't immoral because AB Dolan supports someone who promotes it? Geeeesh!!

• Posted by: williiam ronner - Mar. 09, 2010 9:26 PM ET USA

  Bishop Hubbard is widely considered to be amongst the worst bishops in the WORLD.It is difficult for a devout Catholic to find a Mass in the Albany Diocese not corroded with Liturgical abuses. If it isn't a civilian giving the Homily, it's a disheveled priest saying Mass asking the parishioners to pray for women priests, or openly homosexual men being ordained. The survival of the Diocese under Hubbard is proof that the Catholic Church is protected by the Holy Spirit and Our Lady.

• Posted by: New Sister - Mar. 09, 2010 7:33 PM ET USA

  this is what I don't want my CCD students to hear. A Bishop extolling "how she lives her life each day" should be based on an example of personally holiness (including obedience), not "a [misguided] passion for [social] justice”…

• Posted by: aclune9083 - Mar. 09, 2010 5:59 PM ET USA

  Sr Maureen is filled with the love Jesus asks of us all; her actions appear well-intentioned. A needle exchange, however, facilitates the intrinsic evil of drug abuse. Our energies need to be extended in other areas: evangelization, treatment, conselling. We must not cooperate with evil in the name of mitigating evil.