Cardinal Dolan's Wimpy Response To Cuomo

Normally I avoid the Patheos blogs like a plague, but once in a while they do have news.  In today's State of the State address, New York's Governor Andrew Cuomo promised to pass a "Reproductive Health Act" bill designed to render New York even more hospitable to baby-murder than it already is.  New York's abortion rate is twice that of the national average.  But Planned Parenthood, giddy over the 2012 increases in  its baby-murdering business wants even more blood money.  Since Cuomo knows at least some of that blood-money will flow into his political coffers (and he probably has his sights set on the White House), he is all too ready to do the bidding of those who hold his purse strings.

Cardinal Dolan of New York issued his response to Cuomo's address.  I saw it on "The Deacon's Bench".  This blogger entitled his piece "..Cardinal Dolan Shows How It's Done.."   Well, I beg to differ.  In the light of Cuomo's obvious indifference, if not actual hatred of his Catholic heritage and Church teaching, I see this response as one of the most wimpy, simpering things that I've ever read.  This is not a response to evil that would be incumbent upon a Shepherd of the Church.

So that I can add my own commentary in red, I'll reproduce the Cardinal's letter below.  I hope the New York chancery takes note (hey - I can dream, can't I?)

Dear Governor Cuomo: 

Congratulations on your third State of the State message earlier today. There is much to cheer in your report, and my brother bishops and I look forward to working with you to advance much of this agenda. 

In particular, we share your absolute horror at the many incidents of gun violence that have had such a terrible impact on our society, none more so than the unspeakable massacre of 26 innocent children and women at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14. We commit ourselves to working with you to address this urgent problem as you look toward meaningful reforms of our gun laws, improvements in care for the mentally ill, and safer schools. Meanwhile Cuomo promised to make the culture more hostile via abortion.  Cuomo has no horror of the "unspeakable massacre of innocent New York children that occurs daily.

Allow me also to single out for praise your continued interest in reforming and improving our state’s health care system, as well as your support for a long-overdue increase in the state’s minimum wage. I am hopeful that real progress can be made in these and other areas that enhance the lives of those who are living below or near the poverty level in our state.  Why go on and on about this trivia when babies are being butchered?

Yes, there is much to praise.  What????   However, I would be remiss if I did not renew my great disappointment regarding your continued support for the radical Reproductive Health Act. I know that you appreciate the fact that millions of New Yorkers of all faiths, or none at all, share a deep respect for all human life from conception to natural death. I also know that you are aware that New York State’s abortion rate is, incredibly, double the national average. Sadly, nearly 4 in 10 pregnancies statewide end in abortion. In some parts of New York City, the rate is higher than 60 percent, mostly in the impoverished Black and Latino communities.  Of course Cuomo knows all that!  He doesn't give a damn!  He's lock, stock and barrel in bed with the abortion cartel!  How can that be more obvious??

As we have discussed in the past, we obviously disagree on the question of the legality of abortion, but surely we are in equally strong agreement that the abortion rate in New York is tragically high.  Your Eminence, this is not mere "disagreement".  Cuomo is disobeying Church teaching to the possible damnation of his own soul and blood guilt of an entire state.   There was a time when abortion supporters claimed they wanted to make abortion “safe, legal, and rare.” Yet this measure is specifically designed to expand access to abortion, and therefore to increase the abortion rate. I am hard pressed to think of a piece of legislation that is less needed or more harmful than this one. 

I do hope you will reconsider this position. Your Eminence, you are his bishop.  Why not tell him that he stands in real danger of going to hell, with all its pains and torments, unless he repents?  As his bishop, order him to repent and if he disobeys even that, then instruct your priests to obey Canon 915 and not allow him to partake of Holy Communion.    I stand ready and eager to discuss this or any other matter with you at any time. My brother bishops and I would very much like to work closely with you to reduce New York’s scandalous abortion rate and to provide an environment for all women and girls in which they are not made to feel as though their only alternative is to abort, something which goes against all human instinct, and which all too often leads to lifelong feelings of regret, guilt and pain for them, and for the baby’s father as well.  Of course there is the reality of damnation should they die unrepentant of their sin.  Why, oh why, do you not mention that everlasting reality?

I look forward to discussing all of these issues with you further when I visit Albany on March 19 and 20 for the New York State Catholic Conference’s Catholics at the Capitol event. 

Wishing you and your family speaking of "family", is he still living in fornication with Sandra Lee?  When, oh when, will you broach that?  Again you are his bishop; do your duty!  every blessing in the New Year, may I remain 

Faithfully yours, 

Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan


Your Eminence, you have a duty to speak truth to this man about his own sin and the sins of immorality that he is foisting upon the state of New York.  I realize your job is not easy, but it's still your job!  Do it!  I ask the intercession of St John the Baptist, St Thomas Becket, St Thomas More, St John Fisher, St Charles Lwanga and all the other saints who stood up to immoral political leaders