The Archbishop designate of New York has plans to "restore pride in being Catholic". These words are music to the ears of faithful Catholics all around the world. Archbishop Timothy Dolan is wasting no time in letting his Archdiocese and the whole world know that being Catholic is nothing to apologize for. We are called on to stand up for the truth, especially when the world wants us to cower and deny what is right. NEW YORK (AP) -- New York Archbishop-designate Timothy Dolan said Monday, on the eve of his installation, that he will challenge the idea that the Roman Catholic Church is unenlightened because it opposes gay marriage and abortion.
In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, Dolan said he wants to restore pride in being Catholic, especially given the damage the church endured in the clergy sex abuse scandal, which he called a continuing source of shame.
"One would hope that through education and through the joy that we give by our lives that people will begin to see that these fears and this skepticism we have about the church are unwarranted," Dolan said.
He said Catholics also must defend themselves against bias, which he said was still deeply ingrained in American culture.
"Periodically, we Catholics have to stand up and say, `Enough,'" he said. "The church as a whole still calls out to what is noble in us."
Dolan, 59, will be installed as leader of the Archdiocese of New York before thousands of well-wishers in services Tuesday night and Wednesday in St. Patrick's Cathedral. The former archbishop of Milwaukee, Dolan succeeds New York Cardinal Edward Egan, who is retiring at age 77.
In his sermons this week, Dolan says he will ask Catholics not to be so consumed by their problems in these difficult times that they turn inward and away from the community.Click here to continue this AP news story.
(Photo courtesy of AP/Mary Altaffer)
