**I originally wrote this a week ago for another publication.
This past Pentecost Sunday, I sat in my pew and listened to the reading. I heard how the Apostles, our first Bishops, after receiving the Holy Spirit preached to the multitudes gathered in Jerusalem. I heard how each person, no matter their language, could clearly understand everything said. I thought to myself, what a great miracle. Some of our Bishops speak the same language as I do, but I don’t understand what they are saying at all.
Last week, during a radio interview, Cardinal Dolan was asked several questions about Governor Cuomo’s proposed legislation that would actively promote and further legally entrench abortion in New York State. Cardinal Dolan rightly criticized the legislation. When the interviewer asked if Governor Cuomo could still consider himself a Catholic in good standing while also promoting abortion legislation, Cardinal Dolan responded, “That’s something that I talk turkey with him about.”
A short time after the interview, Cardinal Dolan sent out his spokesman Joseph Zwilling to say the Cardinal did not mean to suggest that Cuomo would not be a Catholic in good standing if he went forward with the bill.
In response Governor Cuomo, now publicly declared a Catholic in good standing, said of abortion, Cardinal Dolan, and Church teaching “We agree to disagree, respectfully, and that is where we are.”
Yes, that is where we are.
I find it very difficult to understand Cardinal Dolan. How can Governor Cuomo, a man who has moved beyond vague support for a pro-choice position to the active promotion and legal entrenchment of abortion, a divorced man who very publicly lives with his girlfriend, and a man who obstinately and publicly disputes Church teaching with his ‘agree to disagree’ statements still be considered a Catholic in good standing? And why would a Cardinal of the Church go out of his way to make this clear?
In my mind, this moves way beyond any reasonable ‘pastoral’ approach toward the Governor and can only lead to confusion among the faithful and to further imperil the Governor’s soul. To publicly declare such a man to be a Catholic in good standing, which the Cardinal’s spokesman has clearly done by rejecting the opposite assertion, is the very definition of scandal.
The Gospel reading on Pentecost speaks of Jesus appearing to the Apostles in the upper room where he breathed on them saying, “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
After hearing the words of Cardinal Dolan last week, an ordinary Catholic could surely wonder, if a man can actively promote abortion and a married man can publicly live with his girlfriend and be publicly declared a Catholic in good standing by the leading Bishop in the U.S., exactly what has not been loosed on earth?
May 29, 2013 at 3:38 am
"Lori
You are completely missing the point. Cdl. Dolan went out of his way to make the statement. That speaks for itself."
Patrick,
Yes, he did so if I remember correctly, because the newspaper in which the first report about "talking turkey" appeared misquoted him saying he wouldn't e a Catholic in good standing. Apparently that is the reason he had to make a statement clarifying things. Are you saying he shouldn't have made any clarification if he was misquoted?
Cardinal Dolan should keep Cuomo's feet to the fire about the wrongness of the legislation and the need to stop it. He is definitely within his rights to argue with him admonish him and even lecture him. But he doesn't have any right to level any canonical penalties against him or act as if this was a given thing if he continued. That's not under his jurisdiction.
Not to consider this part of the matter in your article is to gravely misrepresent things.
May 29, 2013 at 3:42 am
Well.. then why doesn't the Bishop of Albany do so?
Howard Hubbard is one of the remnants of the Jean Jadot era of bishops. His retirement is this year.
I'm sick and tired of this garbage that the church's leaders are merely human. God demands righteousness, especially from those who claim authority in His name. Otherwise, those leaders effectively drag that name through the mud.
Most of the priests I know are men dedicated to their flocks or (in the case of my monastic friends) their way of life. They stretch themselves thin to make themselves available to their parishoners. I don't know if you saw the CBS News segment on the priest shortage, but it featured my pastor, who, with the assistance of one other priest, covers four parishes and seven church sites. He's as dedicated as they get.
Does this excuse those who are stinkers? No, and believe me, I've known a few (I'm from Milwaukee. Guess who I had to put up with for nearly 25 long years). But the ones who are faithful servants (and there are a few bishops who qualify) make it worth it. I'll give you an example in your neighborhood: have you checked out the Norbertines at St. Michael's Abbey?
I'll also say this much: while Dolan did undo some of the damage done by his predecessor here in Milwaukee (the mess will take quite some time to completely clean up), I'm distressed by his actions in New York. It's sad to see someone go native…
Dave (disclosing my identity, as my Google ID puts me down as "unknown". I have no idea why, and I have no wish to deceive you or anyone else as to who I am. I did leave you a reply on the Gosnell thread, if you wish to read it.)
May 29, 2013 at 6:58 am
Dave, I looked up the thread in question and saw your response. Thanks so much for your kind words.
May 29, 2013 at 8:23 am
Joe:
You're welcome. You and I may often disagree, but it need not be personal. And if you want to escape your socialist one-party state…the weather's not so nice, but some stuff is finally getting done around here in Wisconsin, both in the Church and in the secular realm…and you must make your pilgrimage to Green Bay, the Holy Land of Football…
Dave
May 29, 2013 at 3:52 pm
Joe:
Thanks for the correction on the other thread. My memory can get a bit fuzzy at times. I forgot where I found the article, but I know I enjoyed it very much.
May 29, 2013 at 5:18 pm
Lori,
You are the one yammering. Talk about semantics. Cuomo is living with his girlfriend and pushing anti-Catholic legislation. ANY bishop should be able to address that without waffling, period. The fact that is in the least bit in question says everything you need to know about "leadership" in our failing church today.
May 29, 2013 at 9:55 pm
JM, who says Dolan isn't addressing it? He has criticized Cuomo quite heavily on the anti-Catholic legislation. He can criticize as any citizen can, and admonish as a leader of the Church. But once again, he doesn't have the right to level or threaten canonical penalties on someone not a member of his diocese in regard to his public or private sins. You don't like the situation, fine. But it is the situation. That you don't have a logical answer of any kind is obvious.