Timothy Dolan
Encyclopedia
Timothy Michael Dolan is an American prelate
of the Catholic Church. He is the tenth and current Archbishop of New York
, having previously served as Archbishop of Milwaukee
(2002–2009) and Auxiliary Bishop of St. Louis (2001–2002).
, Missouri
, to Robert (d. 1977) and Shirley (née Radcliffe) Dolan. His father was an aircraft
engineer
, working as a floor supervisor at McDonnell Douglas
. He has two brothers, one of whom is a former radio
talk-show host
, and two sisters. The family later moved to Ballwin
, where they attended Holy Infant Roman Catholic Church. He exhibited a strong interest in the Roman Catholic priesthood
from an early age, once saying, "I can never remember a time I didn’t want to be a priest." He would also pretend to celebrate Mass
as a child.
Dolan entered St. Louis Preparatory Seminary South in Shrewsbury
in 1964, and later obtained a Bachelor of Arts
degree in philosophy
from Cardinal Glennon College
. He was sent by Cardinal John Carberry to further his studies in Rome
, where he attended the Pontifical North American College
and the Angelicum, earning a Licentiate of Sacred Theology
.
a priest by Edward O'Meara (Archbishop of Indianapolis, then Auxiliary Bishop of St. Louis)
on June 19, 1976. He then served as an associate pastor
at Immacolata Roman Catholic Parish in Richmond Heights
until 1979. From there he began his doctoral
studies at the Catholic University of America
under John Tracy Ellis with a concentration on the history of the Church in America
; his thesis
centered on Edwin Vincent O'Hara (Archbishop)
. Dolan performed pastoral
work upon his return to Missouri from 1983 to 1987. During this time he collaborated with Archbishop John May
in reforming the archdiocesan
seminary
.
He was then named secretary
of the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, D.C.
, serving as a liaison between American dioceses and the nunciature. In 1992, Dolan was appointed Vice-Rector
of his alma mater
Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, where he also served as spiritual director
and taught Church history
. He was also an adjunct professor of theology
at St. Louis University
.
From 1994 until June 2001, Dolan held the office of Rector of the Pontifical North American College in Rome. During his tenure he published, Priests for the Third Millennium, and taught at the Pontifical Gregorian University
and the Angelicum. He was also raised to the rank of Monsignor
in 1994.
of St. Louis and Titular Bishop
of Natchesium
by Pope John Paul II
. He received his episcopal consecration
on the following August 15 from Archbishop Justin Rigali, with Bishops Joseph Naumann
and Michael Sheridan
serving as co-consecrators
. He chose as his episcopal motto
: Ad Quem Ibimus, meaning, "Lord, To Whom Shall We Go?"
, Wisconsin
. He was formally installed
at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
on August 28, 2002. Dolan cited coping with the Sexual abuse scandal in Catholic archdiocese of Milwaukee
and the resultant near bankruptcy as being the most challenging issue.
He took a special interest in priests and vocations
, and the number of seminary
enrollments also rose during his tenure. In an outdoor Mass in September 2002, Dolan wore a "cheesehead
" hat in tribute to the Green Bay Packers
during his homily
. He also wrote Called to Be Holy (2005) and To Whom Shall We Go? Lessons from the Apostle Peter (2008), and co-hosted a television program with his brother called Living Our Faith.
On February 23, 2009, Dolan was appointed the tenth Archbishop of New York
by Pope Benedict XVI
. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, the nation’s second-largest after the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles
, serves over 2.5 million Roman Catholics. He succeeded Cardinal Edward Egan, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 in 2007. According to Dolan, he was informed of his appointment "nine, ten days" prior to the official announcement. Recalling the phone call he received from Apostolic Nuncio Pietro Sambi
, as opposed to his appointments as Auxiliary Roman Catholic Bishop of St. Louis and Archbishop of Milwaukee when Dolan was told that the Pope "would like [him] to" take the posts, he said that Sambi "was quite factual" in that he told him that "the Pope had appointed [him]" to New York, giving Dolan little choice other than to accept.
The last time an Archbishop of New York was named without previously holding an office in the archdiocese's ranks came in 1939, when Pope Pius XII
tapped close friend and then-Auxiliary Bishop Francis Spellman of the Archdiocese of Boston
; before his own appointment, Cardinal John Joseph O'Connor had served as an auxiliary to Cardinal Terence Cooke in the latter's capacity as head of the military ordinariate, not as Archbishop of New York. Dolan's six immediate predecessors became cardinals
, so his eventual appointment to the College of Cardinals
is thought to be likely.
Before Dolan's appointment, his name had been repeatedly mentioned as a possible successor to Cardinal Egan., but he downplayed such speculation, saying, "Anytime there's kind of a major see
that opens
, what have we seen with Washington
, Baltimore
, Detroit
, now New York, my name for some reason comes up. I'm flattered." John Allen, Jr.
, Vatican correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter
, has noted that Pope Benedict's appointment of Dolan, like those of Donald Wuerl
, Edwin O'Brien
, and Dennis Schnurr
, follows a pattern of choosing prelates "who are basically conservative in both their politics and their theology, but also upbeat, pastoral figures given to dialogue."
Dolan was formally installed as Archbishop of New York at St. Patrick's Cathedral
on Easter Wednesday, April 15, 2009. He wore the pectoral cross
used by his earlier predecessor John Hughes
. In attendance were: Cardinals Egan, William Baum, Daniel DiNardo
, Francis George, William Keeler
, William Levada
, Theodore McCarrick, Roger Mahony, Seán O'Malley, Marc Ouellet, and Justin Rigali; as well as New York State Governor
David Paterson
, New York City Mayor
Michael Bloomberg
, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani
, and Senators
Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand
.
Dolan received the pallium
, a vestment
worn by metropolitan bishop
s, from Pope Benedict XVI on June 29, 2009, in a ceremony at St. Peter's Basilica
.
He served as chairman
of the board of directors of Catholic Relief Services
(in which capacity he visited Ethiopia
and India
) until his election as president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and he remains a member of the Board of Trustees of The Catholic University of America
. Within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
, he chairs the Priestly Life and Ministry Committee and sits on the Subcommittee on the Church in Africa. In November 2007, he lost the election for Vice President
of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
, being defeated by Bishop Gerald Kicanas
by a margin of twenty-two votes.
Archbishop Dolan is also the apostolic visitor to Irish seminaries as part of the Apostolic visitation to Ireland
following the publication of the Ryan and Murphy Report
s in 2009. Archbishop Dolan will form part of a team that will include Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the cardinal-archbishop emeritus of Westminster, who will inspect Cardinal Brady's archdiocese of Armagh
, and Cardinal O'Malley of Boston who is to inspect Dublin
. Toronto's Archbishop Thomas Christopher Collins
will investigate Cashel, while Ottawa's Archbishop Terrence Prendergast
will look at the west of Ireland archdiocese of Tuam
. Following the conclusion, he will report their findings directly to Pope Benedict XVI
.
On 5 January 2011 he was appointed among the first members of the newly created Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation
.
, becoming the first New York bishop to attain the post. Dolan replaced Cardinal Francis George, who did not run for re-election. In a vote of 128-111, Dolan beat out nine others, including Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas
of Tucson, Arizona, to win the three-year term. Archbishop Dolan took office two days later.
" to dismiss abusive priests. He spoke with parishes, victims, and the media about the scandals, and invited victims of clerical abuse to come forward. Commenting on his meetings with them, Dolan said, "...[i]t is impossible to exaggerate the gravity of the situation, and the suffering that victims feel, because I've spent the last four months being with them, crying with them, having them express their anger to me."
During the 2008 presidential election
, Dolan rebuked Democratic
vice-presidential
candidate then-U.S. Senator
Joe Biden
and Speaker of the House
Nancy Pelosi
for "misrepresenting timeless Church doctrine" on abortion
, which Dolan called the "premier civil rights issue of our day." However, he opposes denying Communion
to pro-choice
elected officials.
In March 2009, Dolan noted that U.S. President
Barack Obama
has "taken a position very much at odds with the Church" regarding abortion, said the University of Notre Dame
made a "big mistake" in selecting Obama to deliver its graduation ceremony's commencement speech.
calling on evangelicals, Roman Catholics and Orthodox not to comply with rules and laws permitting abortion, same-sex marriage and other matters that go against their religious consciences.
on April 22, 2009, Dolan reasserted the Catholic Church's opposition to gay marriage, saying, "There is an in-built code of right and wrong
that is imbedded in the human DNA
...Hard-wired into us is a dictionary, and the dictionary defines marriage as between one man, one woman for life, please God, leading to the procreation of human life. And if we begin to tamper with the very definition of marriage, then we're going to be in big trouble." Describing the Church's position as not "anti-gay," he said, "We're pro-the most basic definition of marriage."
In a blog post in June 2011 Dolan compared a proposal for gay marriage in the State of New York to life in China or North Korea, where "government presumes daily to 'redefine' rights, relationships, values and natural law." "Please, not here!" Dolan continued. "We cherish true freedom, not as the license to do whatever we want, but the liberty to do what we ought."
In July 2011 the US Department of Justice
filed a brief in a case called Golinski v. U.S. Office of Personnel Management. The brief argued that the Defense of Marriage Act
"should be struck down as a form of sexual orientation discrimination."
On September 20th, 2011, Dolan cited this brief in a 2-page letter dated September 20th, 2011 along with a 3-page analysis by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops as evidence that the Justice Department "has shifted ... to actively attacking DOMA's constitutionality," Dolan predicted current federal actions would "precipitate a national conflict between church and state of enormous proportions and to the detriment of both institutions." The USA Today
describes this "appears to signal an escalation in their battle against gay marriage."
, Dolan defended not publicly opposing President George W. Bush
's earlier appearance at Notre Dame by saying, "Where President Bush would have taken positions on those two hot-button issues that I'd be uncomfortable with, namely the war and capital punishment, I would have to give him the benefit of the doubt to say that those two issues are open to some discussion and are not intrinsically evil...In the Catholic mindset, that would not apply to abortion." He later said he will challenge any suggestion that Roman Catholics are unenlightened because they oppose gay marriage
and abortion.
optional, Dolan expressed his belief in celibacy "not just because I'm 'supposed to,' or reluctantly 'have to,' but because I want to." He further defended celibacy against its critics, saying, "The recent sad scandal of clerical sexual abuse of minors, as the professionals have documented, has nothing to do with our celibate commitment."
issued an Instruction that deals with admitting same-sex attracted men to seminaries or Holy Orders. The document uses the phrase "practice homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called 'gay culture'" to identify men whom the Church cannot admit to the seminary or to Holy Orders. Commenting on that document, Dolan has been quoted as saying that a homosexual who exhibits none of those criteria and feels he may have a vocation “shouldn’t be discouraged” from becoming a seminarian.
In a 2001 interview on the subject, while rector of the Pontifical North American College
in Rome, he is quoted as saying that Seminary formators owe it to the Church to be vigilant, never allowing a man to be ordained who gives any evidence of tendencies to sexual immorality and being very blunt in holding up to their men the clear expectations of Jesus and his Church. He said formators must present the beauty of celibacy but at the same time be candid about the dangers to celibate commitment, including a homosexual inclination. He further said that formators must be sure that candidates accept that they are both embracing a life of generous love in selfless service to the Church and that they are leaving behind all genital expression, alone or with others, male or female, in thought, word and deed.
, the site of the September 11 attacks, on the following April 24. After reciting the same prayer used by Benedict XVI during his visit to the United States, Dolan remarked, "We will never stop crying. But it's also about September 12 and all the renewal, the rebuilding, hope, solidarity and compassion that symbolized this great community and still does." He also joked, "Don't tell the people at St. Patrick's Cathedral, but this [site] is a lot more historic."
Archbishop Dolan condemned as a miscarriage of proper justice the release of the convicted Lockerbie bomber al-Megrahi and his reception in Libya.
and conservative don't cut much mustard with me." He is also seen as energetic and media-savvy, with a "gregarious pastoral style." As one Marquette University
professor said, he "is with Rome on the big issues and on the little ones, but he does not do it in a dictatorial fashion."
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Catholic Church. He is the tenth and current Archbishop of New York
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York covers New York, Bronx, and Richmond counties in New York City , as well as Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester counties in New York state. There are 480 parishes...
, having previously served as Archbishop of Milwaukee
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee
The Archdiocese of Milwaukee is a Roman Catholic archdiocese headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the United States. It encompasses the City of Milwaukee, as well as the counties of Dodge, Fond du Lac, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha, all...
(2002–2009) and Auxiliary Bishop of St. Louis (2001–2002).
Early life and education
The eldest of five children, Timothy Dolan was born in St. LouisSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, to Robert (d. 1977) and Shirley (née Radcliffe) Dolan. His father was an aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
engineer
Aerospace engineering
Aerospace engineering is the primary branch of engineering concerned with the design, construction and science of aircraft and spacecraft. It is divided into two major and overlapping branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering...
, working as a floor supervisor at McDonnell Douglas
McDonnell Douglas
McDonnell Douglas was a major American aerospace manufacturer and defense contractor, producing a number of famous commercial and military aircraft. It formed from a merger of McDonnell Aircraft and Douglas Aircraft in 1967. McDonnell Douglas was based at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport...
. He has two brothers, one of whom is a former radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
talk-show host
Radio personality
A radio personality is a person with an on-air position in radio broadcasting. A radio personality can be someone who introduces and discusses various genres of music, hosts a talk radio show that may take calls from listeners, or someone whose primary responsibility is to give news, weather,...
, and two sisters. The family later moved to Ballwin
Ballwin, Missouri
Ballwin is a second-ring western suburb of St. Louis, located in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was to be 30,404 as of the 2010 census. It was named by Money Magazine in 2005 as 64th on the list of the 100 best cities in America. It is the only city in America named...
, where they attended Holy Infant Roman Catholic Church. He exhibited a strong interest in the Roman Catholic priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
from an early age, once saying, "I can never remember a time I didn’t want to be a priest." He would also pretend to celebrate Mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
as a child.
Dolan entered St. Louis Preparatory Seminary South in Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury, Missouri
Shrewsbury is an inner-ring suburb of St. Louis, located in St. Louis County, Missouri. The population was 6,254 at the 2010 census.The city is home to the broadcast towers of KSDK- and KDNL-TV.-Geography:Shrewsbury is located at ....
in 1964, and later obtained a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
from Cardinal Glennon College
Kenrick-Glennon Seminary
Kenrick–Glennon Seminary is a private not-for-profit Roman Catholic Seminary located in Shrewsbury, Missouri in St. Louis County. The Seminary is named after Archbishop Peter Richard Kenrick and Cardinal John J. Glennon, former Archbishops of Saint Louis. The Seminary traces its origins to the...
. He was sent by Cardinal John Carberry to further his studies in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, where he attended the Pontifical North American College
Pontifical North American College
The Pontifical North American College is a Roman Catholic educational institution in Rome, Italy educating seminarians for the dioceses in the United States and providing a residence for American priests studying in Rome. It was founded in 1859 by Blessed Pope Pius IX and was granted pontifical...
and the Angelicum, earning a Licentiate of Sacred Theology
Licentiate of Sacred Theology
Licentiate of Sacred Theology is the title of the second cycle of studies of a Faculty of Theology offered by a pontifical universities or ecclesiastical faculties of sacred theology. An Ecclesiastical Faculty offers three cycles of study: Baccalaureate or fundamentals, Licentiate or specialized,...
.
Priesthood
Dolan was ordainedHoly Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
a priest by Edward O'Meara (Archbishop of Indianapolis, then Auxiliary Bishop of St. Louis)
Edward Thomas O'Meara
Edward Thomas O'Meara was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Indianapolis from 1980 until his death.-Biography:...
on June 19, 1976. He then served as an associate pastor
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
at Immacolata Roman Catholic Parish in Richmond Heights
Richmond Heights, Missouri
Richmond Heights, a city in St. Louis County, is an inner-ring suburb of St. Louis, Missouri. The population was 8,603 at the 2010 census. According to Robert L. Ramsay, the name was suggested by Robert E. Lee, who thought the topography of the area resembled Richmond, Virginia...
until 1979. From there he began his doctoral
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
studies at the Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
under John Tracy Ellis with a concentration on the history of the Church in America
Roman Catholicism in the United States
The Catholic Church in the United States is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, the Christian Church in full communion with the Pope. With more than 68.5 registered million members, it is the largest single religious denomination in the United States, comprising about 22 percent of the population...
; his thesis
Thesis
A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...
centered on Edwin Vincent O'Hara (Archbishop)
Edwin Vincent O'Hara
Edwin Vincent O'Hara was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.-Early life:Edwin O'Hara was born in Lanesboro, Minnesota, as one of eight children. His parents emigrated from Ireland during the potato famine and settled in the United States. O'Hara studied at St. Paul's Seminary before...
. Dolan performed pastoral
Parish (Catholic Church)
In the Roman Catholic Church, a parish is the lowest ecclesiastical geographical subdivision: from ecclesiastical province to diocese to deanery to parish.-Requirements:A parish needs two things under common law to become a parish...
work upon his return to Missouri from 1983 to 1987. During this time he collaborated with Archbishop John May
John L. May
John Lawrence May was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Mobile and Archbishop of St. Louis .-Early life and education:...
in reforming the archdiocesan
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
.
He was then named secretary
Secretary
A secretary, or administrative assistant, is a person whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, communication & organizational skills. These functions may be entirely carried out to assist one other employee or may be for the benefit...
of the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, serving as a liaison between American dioceses and the nunciature. In 1992, Dolan was appointed Vice-Rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of his alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, where he also served as spiritual director
Spiritual direction
Spiritual direction is the practice of being with people as they attempt to deepen their relationship with the divine, or to learn and grow in their own personal spirituality. The person seeking direction shares stories of his or her encounters of the divine, or how he or she is experiencing...
and taught Church history
History of Christianity
The history of Christianity concerns the Christian religion, its followers and the Church with its various denominations, from the first century to the present. Christianity was founded in the 1st century by the followers of Jesus of Nazareth who they believed to be the Christ or chosen one of God...
. He was also an adjunct professor of theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at St. Louis University
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University is a private, co-educational Jesuit university located in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1818 by the Most Reverend Louis Guillaume Valentin Dubourg SLU is the oldest university west of the Mississippi River. It is one of 28 member institutions of the...
.
From 1994 until June 2001, Dolan held the office of Rector of the Pontifical North American College in Rome. During his tenure he published, Priests for the Third Millennium, and taught at the Pontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
and the Angelicum. He was also raised to the rank of Monsignor
Monsignor
Monsignor, pl. monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord"...
in 1994.
Auxiliary Bishop of St. Louis
On June 19, 2001, Dolan was appointed Auxiliary BishopAuxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of St. Louis and Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Natchesium
Natchesium
Natchesium or Natchez is a Roman Catholic Diocese. As it is a titular see, it is not an active diocese. The diocese was founded on July 28, 1837 and originally was the Catholic diocese for the entire state of Mississippi. Even though the diocese was officially created in 1837, the first bishop of...
by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
. He received his episcopal consecration
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
on the following August 15 from Archbishop Justin Rigali, with Bishops Joseph Naumann
Joseph Fred Naumann
Joseph Fred Naumann is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He serves as the fourth and current Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas.-Biography:...
and Michael Sheridan
Michael John Sheridan
Michael John Sheridan is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the second and current Bishop of Colorado Springs.- Biography :...
serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
. He chose as his episcopal motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
: Ad Quem Ibimus, meaning, "Lord, To Whom Shall We Go?"
Archbishop of Milwaukee
On June 25, 2002, Dolan was named the tenth Archbishop of MilwaukeeRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee
The Archdiocese of Milwaukee is a Roman Catholic archdiocese headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the United States. It encompasses the City of Milwaukee, as well as the counties of Dodge, Fond du Lac, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha, all...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. He was formally installed
Enthronement
An enthronement is a ceremony of inauguration, involving a person—usually a monarch or religious leader—being formally seated for the first time upon their throne. This ritual is generally distinguished from a coronation because there is no crown or other regalia that is physically...
at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist is the episcopal see of the Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a Milwaukee Landmark. It is located just east of Cathedral Square Park.- Description :Archbishop...
on August 28, 2002. Dolan cited coping with the Sexual abuse scandal in Catholic archdiocese of Milwaukee
Sexual abuse scandal in Catholic archdiocese of Milwaukee
The sexual abuse scandal in the Milwaukee Archdiocese is a series of sexual-abuse cases which have occurred in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee.-Lawrence Murphy case:...
and the resultant near bankruptcy as being the most challenging issue.
He took a special interest in priests and vocations
Vocational discernment in the Catholic Church
Vocational discernment is the process in which men or women in the Catholic Church discern, or determine, their vocation in the Church. Though one may also speak of discerning a vocation to marriage or to life as a single person, discerning a vocation most frequently refers to a special vocation...
, and the number of seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
enrollments also rose during his tenure. In an outdoor Mass in September 2002, Dolan wore a "cheesehead
Cheesehead
Cheesehead is a nickname, sometimes used disparagingly, referring to a person from Wisconsin, referring to the large volume of cheese production of the state...
" hat in tribute to the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
during his homily
Homily
A homily is a commentary that follows a reading of scripture. In Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and Eastern Orthodox Churches, a homily is usually given during Mass at the end of the Liturgy of the Word...
. He also wrote Called to Be Holy (2005) and To Whom Shall We Go? Lessons from the Apostle Peter (2008), and co-hosted a television program with his brother called Living Our Faith.
Archbishop of New York
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York covers New York, Bronx, and Richmond counties in New York City , as well as Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester counties in New York state. There are 480 parishes...
by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, the nation’s second-largest after the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is an archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S. state of California. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the archdiocese comprises the California counties of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura. The diocesan cathedral is the Cathedral of Our Lady of the...
, serves over 2.5 million Roman Catholics. He succeeded Cardinal Edward Egan, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 in 2007. According to Dolan, he was informed of his appointment "nine, ten days" prior to the official announcement. Recalling the phone call he received from Apostolic Nuncio Pietro Sambi
Pietro Sambi
Pietro Sambi was an Italian Roman Catholic prelate who served in the Vatican's Secretariat of State. At the time of his death, he was the Titular Archbishop of Bellicastrum and the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States....
, as opposed to his appointments as Auxiliary Roman Catholic Bishop of St. Louis and Archbishop of Milwaukee when Dolan was told that the Pope "would like [him] to" take the posts, he said that Sambi "was quite factual" in that he told him that "the Pope had appointed [him]" to New York, giving Dolan little choice other than to accept.
The last time an Archbishop of New York was named without previously holding an office in the archdiocese's ranks came in 1939, when Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII
The Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
tapped close friend and then-Auxiliary Bishop Francis Spellman of the Archdiocese of Boston
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the New England region of the United States. It comprises several counties of the state of Massachusetts...
; before his own appointment, Cardinal John Joseph O'Connor had served as an auxiliary to Cardinal Terence Cooke in the latter's capacity as head of the military ordinariate, not as Archbishop of New York. Dolan's six immediate predecessors became cardinals
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
, so his eventual appointment to the College of Cardinals
College of Cardinals
The College of Cardinals is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church.A function of the college is to advise the pope about church matters when he summons them to an ordinary consistory. It also convenes on the death or abdication of a pope as a papal conclave to elect a successor...
is thought to be likely.
Before Dolan's appointment, his name had been repeatedly mentioned as a possible successor to Cardinal Egan., but he downplayed such speculation, saying, "Anytime there's kind of a major see
Episcopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
that opens
Sede vacante
Sede vacante is an expression, used in the Canon Law of the Catholic Church, that refers to the vacancy of the episcopal see of a particular church...
, what have we seen with Washington
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. It comprises the District of Columbia and Calvert, Charles, Montgomery, Prince George's and Saint Mary's counties in the state of Maryland....
, Baltimore
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore
The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Baltimore is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. The archdiocese comprises the City of Baltimore as well as Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Howard, and Washington Counties in Maryland...
, Detroit
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit is an archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church covering the Michigan counties of Lapeer, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, and Wayne...
, now New York, my name for some reason comes up. I'm flattered." John Allen, Jr.
John L. Allen, Jr.
John L. Allen, Jr. is an American journalist based in Rome who specializes in news about the Catholic Church. He is senior correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter and vaticanologist of CNN and NPR. Allen is also the author of several books about the Catholic Church...
, Vatican correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter
National Catholic Reporter
The National Catholic Reporter is the second largest Catholic newspaper in the United States; its circulation reaches ninety-seven countries on six continents. Based in midtown Kansas City, Missouri, NCR was founded by Robert Hoyt in 1964 as an independent newspaper focusing on the Catholic Church...
, has noted that Pope Benedict's appointment of Dolan, like those of Donald Wuerl
Donald Wuerl
Donald William Wuerl is an American cardinal of the Catholic Church. He is the sixth and current Archbishop of Washington, serving since 2006. He previously served as Auxiliary Bishop of Seattle and Bishop of Pittsburgh...
, Edwin O'Brien
Edwin Frederick O'Brien
Edwin Frederick O'Brien is an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He is the current Pro-Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI on 29 August 2011...
, and Dennis Schnurr
Dennis Marion Schnurr
Dennis Marion Schnurr is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the current Archbishop of Cincinnati, having previously served as Bishop of Duluth from 2001 to 2008 and as Coadjutor Archbishop of Cincinnati from 2008 to 2009.-Early life and ministry:Dennis Schnurr was born in...
, follows a pattern of choosing prelates "who are basically conservative in both their politics and their theology, but also upbeat, pastoral figures given to dialogue."
Dolan was formally installed as Archbishop of New York at St. Patrick's Cathedral
St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York
The Cathedral of St. Patrick is a decorated Neo-Gothic-style Roman Catholic cathedral church in the United States...
on Easter Wednesday, April 15, 2009. He wore the pectoral cross
Pectoral cross
A pectoral cross or pectorale is a cross, usually relatively large, suspended from the neck by a cord or chain that reaches well down the chest. It is worn by the clergy as an indication of their position, and is different from the small crosses worn on necklaces by many Christians, which have no...
used by his earlier predecessor John Hughes
John Hughes (archbishop)
John Joseph Hughes , was an Irish-born clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the fourth Bishop and first Archbishop of the Archdiocese of New York, serving between 1842 and his death in 1864....
. In attendance were: Cardinals Egan, William Baum, Daniel DiNardo
Daniel DiNardo
Daniel Nicholas DiNardo is an American cardinal of the Catholic Church. He is the second and current Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, serving since 2006. He previously served as Bishop of Sioux City from 1998 to 2004....
, Francis George, William Keeler
William Henry Keeler
William Henry Keeler is an American Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Baltimore from 1989 to 2007 and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1994....
, William Levada
William Levada
William Joseph Levada is an American Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. Since 2005, he has served as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, making him the highest ranking American in the Roman Curia. He was previously the Archbishop of Portland from 1986 to 1995 and...
, Theodore McCarrick, Roger Mahony, Seán O'Malley, Marc Ouellet, and Justin Rigali; as well as New York State Governor
Governor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
David Paterson
David Paterson
David Alexander Paterson is an American politician who served as the 55th Governor of New York, from 2008 to 2010. During his tenure he was the first governor of New York of African American heritage and also the second legally blind governor of any U.S. state after Bob C. Riley, who was Acting...
, New York City Mayor
Mayor of New York City
The Mayor of the City of New York is head of the executive branch of New York City's government. The mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and state laws within New York City.The budget overseen by the...
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani
Rudy Giuliani
Rudolph William Louis "Rudy" Giuliani KBE is an American lawyer, businessman, and politician from New York. He served as Mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001....
, and Senators
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand
Kirsten Gillibrand
Kirsten Elizabeth Rutnik Gillibrand is an attorney and the junior United States Senator from the state of New York and a member of the Democratic Party...
.
Dolan received the pallium
Pallium
The pallium is an ecclesiastical vestment in the Roman Catholic Church, originally peculiar to the Pope, but for many centuries bestowed by him on metropolitans and primates as a symbol of the jurisdiction delegated to them by the Holy See. In that context it has always remained unambiguously...
, a vestment
Vestment
Vestments are liturgical garments and articles associated primarily with the Christian religion, especially among Latin Rite and other Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans, and Lutherans...
worn by metropolitan bishop
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
s, from Pope Benedict XVI on June 29, 2009, in a ceremony at St. Peter's Basilica
St. Peter's Basilica
The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter , officially known in Italian as ' and commonly known as Saint Peter's Basilica, is a Late Renaissance church located within the Vatican City. Saint Peter's Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world...
.
He served as chairman
Chair (official)
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...
of the board of directors of Catholic Relief Services
Catholic Relief Services
Catholic Relief Services is the international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Founded in 1943 by the U.S. bishops, the agency provides assistance to 130 million people in more than 90 countries and territories in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and...
(in which capacity he visited Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
) until his election as president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and he remains a member of the Board of Trustees of The Catholic University of America
Board of Trustees of The Catholic University of America
As of May 2010, the Board of Trustees at The Catholic University of America was composed of:*Carl A. Anderson, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus*Richard D. Banziger, B.A. 1981, Managing Director, Salomon Smith Barney...
. Within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops and United States Catholic Conference, it is composed of all active and retired members of the Catholic...
, he chairs the Priestly Life and Ministry Committee and sits on the Subcommittee on the Church in Africa. In November 2007, he lost the election for Vice President
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops and United States Catholic Conference, it is composed of all active and retired members of the Catholic...
, being defeated by Bishop Gerald Kicanas
Gerald Frederick Kicanas
Gerald Frederick Kicanas is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the seventh and current Bishop of Tucson.-Biography:...
by a margin of twenty-two votes.
Archbishop Dolan is also the apostolic visitor to Irish seminaries as part of the Apostolic visitation to Ireland
Apostolic visitation to Ireland
The Apostolic visitation to Ireland was announced on 20 March 2010 in the pastoral letter written by Pope Benedict XVI to Irish Catholics after the publication of the Ryan and Murphy Reports in 2009...
following the publication of the Ryan and Murphy Report
Murphy Report
The Murphy Report is the brief name of the report of an investigation conducted by government of Ireland into the Sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic archdiocese of Dublin...
s in 2009. Archbishop Dolan will form part of a team that will include Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the cardinal-archbishop emeritus of Westminster, who will inspect Cardinal Brady's archdiocese of Armagh
Archdiocese of Armagh
Archdiocese of Armagh may refer to:* Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Armagh, a senior primatial and metropolitan see of Ireland* Diocese of Armagh , one of four dioceses of the Church of Ireland...
, and Cardinal O'Malley of Boston who is to inspect Dublin
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin
The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Dublin, , is a Roman Catholic archdiocese in eastern Ireland centred around the republic's capital city – Dublin. The see of Dublin was raised to the status of a Metropolitan Province by the Synod of Kells in 1152. Its jurisdiction includes much of the Province of...
. Toronto's Archbishop Thomas Christopher Collins
Thomas Christopher Collins
Thomas Christopher Collins is a Canadian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the tenth and current Archbishop of Toronto, having previously served as Bishop of Saint Paul in Alberta and Archbishop of Edmonton .-Early life and education:Collins was born in Guelph, Ontario, the son of the...
will investigate Cashel, while Ottawa's Archbishop Terrence Prendergast
Terrence Prendergast
Terrence Thomas Prendergast, SJ is Archbishop of Ottawa, Canada. He was formerly Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto and Archbishop of Halifax.-Early life:...
will look at the west of Ireland archdiocese of Tuam
Archdiocese of Tuam
The Archdiocese of Tuam can refer to:* Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tuam, a Roman Catholic archdiocese in west Ireland* Archdiocese of Tuam , a former archdiocese that lasted until 1839...
. Following the conclusion, he will report their findings directly to Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
.
On 5 January 2011 he was appointed among the first members of the newly created Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation
Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation
The Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization is a dicastery of the Roman Curia whose creation was announced by Pope Benedict XVI at vespers on 28 June 2010, eve of the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul...
.
President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
Archbishop Dolan was elected on November 16, 2010, to the presidency of the United States Conference of Catholic BishopsUnited States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops and United States Catholic Conference, it is composed of all active and retired members of the Catholic...
, becoming the first New York bishop to attain the post. Dolan replaced Cardinal Francis George, who did not run for re-election. In a vote of 128-111, Dolan beat out nine others, including Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas
Gerald Frederick Kicanas
Gerald Frederick Kicanas is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the seventh and current Bishop of Tucson.-Biography:...
of Tucson, Arizona, to win the three-year term. Archbishop Dolan took office two days later.
Abuse scandal
As an auxiliary Roman Catholic bishop, Dolan was criticized for his handling of Roman Catholic priests accused of sexual misconduct, accused of being on a "witch huntWitch-hunt
A witch-hunt is a search for witches or evidence of witchcraft, often involving moral panic, mass hysteria and lynching, but in historical instances also legally sanctioned and involving official witchcraft trials...
" to dismiss abusive priests. He spoke with parishes, victims, and the media about the scandals, and invited victims of clerical abuse to come forward. Commenting on his meetings with them, Dolan said, "...[i]t is impossible to exaggerate the gravity of the situation, and the suffering that victims feel, because I've spent the last four months being with them, crying with them, having them express their anger to me."
Abortion
He has expressed his full intentions of using his prominent new post as a pulpit to advocate doctrinal views on such national social issues as abortion. During his installation homily, he received a standing ovation after speaking of the Church's mission "to embrace and protect the dignity of every human person, the sanctity of human life, from the tiny baby in the womb to the last moment of natural passing into eternal life."During the 2008 presidential election
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
, Dolan rebuked Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
vice-presidential
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
candidate then-U.S. Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Joe Biden
Joe Biden
Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. is the 47th and current Vice President of the United States, serving under President Barack Obama...
and Speaker of the House
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro Pelosi is the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives and served as the 60th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011...
for "misrepresenting timeless Church doctrine" on abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
, which Dolan called the "premier civil rights issue of our day." However, he opposes denying Communion
Eucharist (Catholic Church)
"At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood."...
to pro-choice
Pro-choice
Support for the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-choice movement, a sociopolitical movement supporting the ethical view that a woman should have the legal right to elective abortion, meaning the right to terminate her pregnancy....
elected officials.
In March 2009, Dolan noted that U.S. President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
has "taken a position very much at odds with the Church" regarding abortion, said the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
made a "big mistake" in selecting Obama to deliver its graduation ceremony's commencement speech.
Conscience rights
In November 2009, Dolan signed an ecumenical statement known as the Manhattan DeclarationManhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience
The Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience is a manifesto issued by Orthodox, Catholic, and Evangelical Christian leaders to affirm support of "the sanctity of life, traditional marriage, and religious liberty". It was drafted on October 20, 2009 and released November 20, 2009,...
calling on evangelicals, Roman Catholics and Orthodox not to comply with rules and laws permitting abortion, same-sex marriage and other matters that go against their religious consciences.
Gay marriage
In an interview with the New York PostNew York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
on April 22, 2009, Dolan reasserted the Catholic Church's opposition to gay marriage, saying, "There is an in-built code of right and wrong
Conscience
Conscience is an aptitude, faculty, intuition or judgment of the intellect that distinguishes right from wrong. Moral judgement may derive from values or norms...
that is imbedded in the human DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
...Hard-wired into us is a dictionary, and the dictionary defines marriage as between one man, one woman for life, please God, leading to the procreation of human life. And if we begin to tamper with the very definition of marriage, then we're going to be in big trouble." Describing the Church's position as not "anti-gay," he said, "We're pro-the most basic definition of marriage."
In a blog post in June 2011 Dolan compared a proposal for gay marriage in the State of New York to life in China or North Korea, where "government presumes daily to 'redefine' rights, relationships, values and natural law." "Please, not here!" Dolan continued. "We cherish true freedom, not as the license to do whatever we want, but the liberty to do what we ought."
In July 2011 the US Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
filed a brief in a case called Golinski v. U.S. Office of Personnel Management. The brief argued that the Defense of Marriage Act
Defense of Marriage Act
The Defense of Marriage Act is a United States federal law whereby the federal government defines marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman. Under the law, no U.S. state may be required to recognize as a marriage a same-sex relationship considered a marriage in another state...
"should be struck down as a form of sexual orientation discrimination."
On September 20th, 2011, Dolan cited this brief in a 2-page letter dated September 20th, 2011 along with a 3-page analysis by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops as evidence that the Justice Department "has shifted ... to actively attacking DOMA's constitutionality," Dolan predicted current federal actions would "precipitate a national conflict between church and state of enormous proportions and to the detriment of both institutions." The USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
describes this "appears to signal an escalation in their battle against gay marriage."
Iraq war
While noting that the "Church has weighed in" against the war in Iraq and capital punishmentCapital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
, Dolan defended not publicly opposing President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
's earlier appearance at Notre Dame by saying, "Where President Bush would have taken positions on those two hot-button issues that I'd be uncomfortable with, namely the war and capital punishment, I would have to give him the benefit of the doubt to say that those two issues are open to some discussion and are not intrinsically evil...In the Catholic mindset, that would not apply to abortion." He later said he will challenge any suggestion that Roman Catholics are unenlightened because they oppose gay marriage
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
and abortion.
Clerical celibacy
In 2003, after a group of Milwaukee priests petitioned to make clerical celibacyClerical celibacy (Catholic Church)
Clerical celibacy is the discipline by which, in some Churches, only unmarried men are, as a rule, to be ordained to the priesthood. The same discipline holds in some other Churches for ordination to the episcopate....
optional, Dolan expressed his belief in celibacy "not just because I'm 'supposed to,' or reluctantly 'have to,' but because I want to." He further defended celibacy against its critics, saying, "The recent sad scandal of clerical sexual abuse of minors, as the professionals have documented, has nothing to do with our celibate commitment."
Gays and the priesthood
In 2005, the VaticanHoly See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
issued an Instruction that deals with admitting same-sex attracted men to seminaries or Holy Orders. The document uses the phrase "practice homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called 'gay culture'" to identify men whom the Church cannot admit to the seminary or to Holy Orders. Commenting on that document, Dolan has been quoted as saying that a homosexual who exhibits none of those criteria and feels he may have a vocation “shouldn’t be discouraged” from becoming a seminarian.
In a 2001 interview on the subject, while rector of the Pontifical North American College
Pontifical North American College
The Pontifical North American College is a Roman Catholic educational institution in Rome, Italy educating seminarians for the dioceses in the United States and providing a residence for American priests studying in Rome. It was founded in 1859 by Blessed Pope Pius IX and was granted pontifical...
in Rome, he is quoted as saying that Seminary formators owe it to the Church to be vigilant, never allowing a man to be ordained who gives any evidence of tendencies to sexual immorality and being very blunt in holding up to their men the clear expectations of Jesus and his Church. He said formators must present the beauty of celibacy but at the same time be candid about the dangers to celibate commitment, including a homosexual inclination. He further said that formators must be sure that candidates accept that they are both embracing a life of generous love in selfless service to the Church and that they are leaving behind all genital expression, alone or with others, male or female, in thought, word and deed.
Aftermath of September 11
Dolan visited Ground ZeroWorld Trade Center site
The World Trade Center site , also known as "Ground Zero" after the September 11 attacks, sits on in Lower Manhattan in New York City...
, the site of the September 11 attacks, on the following April 24. After reciting the same prayer used by Benedict XVI during his visit to the United States, Dolan remarked, "We will never stop crying. But it's also about September 12 and all the renewal, the rebuilding, hope, solidarity and compassion that symbolized this great community and still does." He also joked, "Don't tell the people at St. Patrick's Cathedral, but this [site] is a lot more historic."
Archbishop Dolan condemned as a miscarriage of proper justice the release of the convicted Lockerbie bomber al-Megrahi and his reception in Libya.
Theology
Dolan is considered to be theologically conservative, but once stated, "Titles of liberalLiberal Christianity
Liberal Christianity, sometimes called liberal theology, is an umbrella term covering diverse, philosophically and biblically informed religious movements and ideas within Christianity from the late 18th century and onward...
and conservative don't cut much mustard with me." He is also seen as energetic and media-savvy, with a "gregarious pastoral style." As one Marquette University
Marquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
professor said, he "is with Rome on the big issues and on the little ones, but he does not do it in a dictatorial fashion."
Episcopal succession
Published works
- Dolan, Monsignor Timothy M., Priests For The Third Millennium, 2001. A collection of talks given to the seminarians and priests at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, a school for Roman Catholic seminarians and priests.
- Dolan, Archbishop Timothy M., Called to be Holy, 2005.
- Dolan, Archbishop Timothy M., To Whom Shall We Go, 2009.
- Dolan, Archbishop Timothy M., "Doers of the Word", 2009.
External links
- Biography at Archdiocese of New York site
- Timothy Dolan, Catholic Hierarchy
- Article on Dolan's installation as archbishop from the Milwaukee Journal SentinelMilwaukee Journal SentinelThe Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is a daily morning broadsheet printed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. It is the primary newspaper in Milwaukee, the largest newspaper in Wisconsin and is distributed widely throughout the state...
- Living Our Faith: Outreach initiative and weekly television show featuring Archbishop Dolan
- Priestly Life and Ministry Committee, at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website
- Subcommittee on the Church in Africa, at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website