There is a marriage showdown happening right now in Albany, as Gov. Andrew Cuomo introduced a bill today that would redefine marriage in the state. “What we’re about to do is redefine what the American family is,” Democratic state senator Carl Kruger of Brooklyn told the N. Y. Daily News about the campaign. “And that’s a good thing.” From my interview this afternoon with Ed Mechmann f... More

The Good Samaritan: Example of Charity? Or Early Medicare Provider? In the wake of the much-ballyhooed correspondence between Archbishop Timothy Dolan and Congressional Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, a group called “Catholics United” issued a press release titled, “Catholics Ask Archbishop Dolan: What Anti-Poverty Programs Would Jesus Cut?” The archbishop, if he were ... More

Prof. Dan Maguire Hollywood and the media would have you believe that Catholic bishops routinely discipline Catholic professors ‘who get out of line.’ But in fact, it is extremely rare for a bishop to discipline any dissident theologian. Yet, in 2006, Archbishop Dolan (then of Milwaukee) corrected Dan Maguire for claiming that Catholics could support abortion and marriage between coupl... More

In case you were worried or had any doubts, Archbishop Timothy Dolan, the president of the bishop’s conference, is not a politician, and will not be coopted by them, on either side of the aisle. He writes: When we bishops propose moral principles — most often allied, by the way, with the basic philosophy of our beloved country, as enshrined in our normative documents like the Declaration ... More

My headline is as preposterous as concerns that New York’s archbishop endorsed Paul Ryan’s budget. The Ryan-Archbishop Dolan exchange was an exercise in discerning leadership. Everyone who says the archbishop didn’t endorse the Republican budget is, of course, absolutely right. It’s also absolutely right to say it was a bit of a milestone. Religious women — from the Council of Majo... More

Archbishop Dolan has provided “political cover” for House Republicans in his letter responding to Congressman Ryan about the federal budget and Catholic social teaching. I believe he and Paul Ryan just demonstrated the depth of our responsibilities in politics — renewing a focus on possibilities and challenges. Thanks be to God, as the archbishop is wont to say. ...READ MORE... More

Read it all here. Further proof that George Weigel is right to say the Bernadin era is over? ... More

Morley Safer of CBS’ 60 Minutes spent some time talking with one of my favorite Catholics, Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York. Dolan is a gregarious Irishman with a smile that doesn’t quit, a magnetism that holds your attention, an eloquence that instructs without overburdening, and honesty and fidelity that inspire. My final semester in seminary began with a 5-day silent retreat wit... More

AOL.com has apparently teamed up with the Archdiocese of New York to get Archbishop Timothy Dolan on tape, with a simple message for Catholics beginning Lent today as well as non-Catholics or fallen-away Catholics who are curious about what it’s all about: As St. Paul would say, you have to give people milk before they are ready for solid food. ...READ MORE... More

The press has attempted at times to suggest that there is a cozy relationship between the US Bishops and the White House. But the statement released by Abp. Timothy Dolan today could not make it any more clear that, at least on the issue of marriage, the bishops and the President hold opposing views: The announcement on February 23 that the President has instructed the Department of Justice to s... More