Standing Ovation at Mention of Unborn for New York Archbishop During Installation Mass

By Kathleen Gilbert
NEW YORK, April 16, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) -

New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral erupted in applause yesterday during the installation Mass of Archbishop Timothy Dolan, the new leader of the Catholic Church in New York, when the prelate mentioned the sanctity of human life in the womb.

In a press conference the day before, the popular new archbishop affirmed that he would not back down from defending life and family in his influential new position.


"The Resurrection goes on, as His Church continues 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," said Dolan in his homily, which witnesses say was immediately interrupted by "deafening" applause.

"At the phrase 'tiny baby in the womb' a sharp staccato applause began (from what I could hear) originating from the priests," popular American Papist blogger Thomas Peters, who was in attendance, told LifeSiteNews.com. Peters said the "violent" applause, which lasted about half a minute, led to a standing ovation by the congregation and nearly all the priests.

"My personal feeling was that it was a 'moment' for the assembled gathering - a strong declaration of the Church's proud and uncompromising defense of unborn human life, especially at this crucial time in our nation and in particular at this transition taking place for the New York archdiocese," he added.

Dolan's homily continued: "As the Servant of God Terrence Cardinal Cooke wrote, 'Human life is no less sacred or worthy of respect because it is tiny, pre-born, poor, sick, fragile, or handicapped.'

"Yes, the Church is a loving mother who has a zest for life and serves life everywhere, but she can become a protective 'mamma bear' when the life of her innocent, helpless cubs is threatened," he said - at which moment the church erupted in applause a second time.

"Everyone in this mega-community is a somebody with an extraordinary destiny," Dolan said. "Everyone is a somebody in whom God has invested an infinite love.

"That is why the Church reaches out to the unborn, the suffering, the poor, our elders, the physically and emotionally challenged, those caught in the web of addictions."

Dolan, the former archbishop of Milwaukee famed for his jovial and inviting demeanor, told press members at a conference Tuesday that he would defend authentic Church teaching on "controversial" issues with charity and firmness.

Asked if he would use his new position as a bully pulpit on issues such as same-sex "marriage," Dolan objected to the negative connotation of the term "bully," but emphasized that he would "still preach the truth" whether in a position of influence or not.

On controversial topics "that the church has a message to give," Dolan said, "I don't shy away from those things, and I wouldn't sidestep them."

"We bishops aren't into politics, we're into principles," he added.

Archbishop Dolan indicated he would take an active role in defending marriage as New York activists look to pass same-sex "marriage" legislation, which Gov. David Paterson is introducing to the state senate today.

Abp. Dolan Determined to Fight Anti-Catholic Bias on Same-Sex "Marriage," Abortion

By Kathleen Gilbert
MANHATTAN, New York, April 14, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) -

The day before his installation as the next archbishop of New York - one of the most influential sees in the American Catholic Church - Milwaukee's Archbishop Timothy Dolan told the Associated Press that as archbishop he will challenge the idea that the Catholic Church's teaching on same-sex "marriage" and abortion is unenlightened.


Dolan said his top priority would be to re-inspire pride in Catholic identity, and that he would encourage Catholics to battle bias against the Catholic Church in American society.

"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. "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 emphasized the legitimate role of Catholics in spreading the message of life in America.

"It's not that we're trying to impose Catholic values on the rest of the country, as much as to remind America of its birthright: that we are a nation found on certain inalienable rights, as Thomas Jefferson said, and then went on to list them - the first one being life," he said. "It's at the core of the American experiment that every human life would enjoy the full protection of the law."

Referring to the Church's attitude to homosexuals, Dolan said that "we love them" and "would defend their rights," but nonetheless marriage must remain between a man and a woman.

"If we let that definition of marriage go and begin to include other relationships, it will be to a detriment to the civilization," he said.

The celebration of Dolan's April 15 installation begins with a vespers service in St. Patrick's Cathedral tonight. Dolan succeeds New York Cardinal Edward Egan.