When New York Archbishop Timothy Michael Dolan receives his red cardinal’s biretta from Pope Benedict XVI on Feb. 18, he takes on grave responsibilities.
From that day forward, he must be prepared at all times to lead the charge against secular enemies attempting to destroy the spiritual foundations of the Roman Catholic Church. And, if necessary, he must shed his blood for Holy Mother Church.
That’s an awful burden for one man. But I’m certain that, like his noble New York predecessors, Dolan has the character, drive and, most importantly, the faith in Christ and his church to live up to the job’s demands.
In getting to know Cardinal-designate Dolan, I have realized that he exhibits the best qualities of each of his recent predecessors who were named to the College of Cardinals.
Like Cardinal Spellman (archbishop from 1939 until 1967) and Archbishop Emeritus Edward Cardinal Egan (2001-2009), Dolan possesses the administrative skills needed to run an archdiocese with more than 400 parishes, 200 grammar schools and nine hospitals in three boroughs and 10 counties.
Like Terence Cardinal Cooke (1967-1983), Dolan has the common touch. He is comfortable and exuberant with all the members of his flock, regardless of their station in life.
And like John Cardinal O’Connor (1983-2000), Dolan not only has an incredible sense of humor and the ability to laugh at himself, but also the will and guts to stand up in the public square and defend and promote the principles of his church.
In the mold of Cardinal O’Connor, Dolan does not fear clashing with pro-abortion Catholic politicians and being a political lightning rod for the church in New York.
For instance, earlier this year, after the city Health Department revealed that the number of abortions performed in the Big Apple was twice the national average, Dolan proved his mettle when he said that, for the first time since becoming archbishop, he’s “embarrassed to be a member of a cherished community I now . . . call home.”
“We’ve been hearing for many years from pro-choice supporters that abortion should be ‘safe, legal and rare.’ Well, if that’s the goal, we’ve clearly abysmally failed — especially here in New York City,” he said.
As president of the US Conference of Bishops, Dolan has also acted forthrightly and courageously.
He has informed the White House and the Congress that portions of their health-care reform violate church teachings on the sanctity of human life. He has refused to compromise and insists that genuine reform must “truly protect the life, dignity, consciences and health of all.”
While it’s true that Archbishop Dolan will now participate in the next papal conclave as an elector, we shouldn’t imagine this makes him a candidate to become pope.
American prelates — more so in many cases than their colleagues in Europe, Latin American, Africa and Asia — are inevitably embroiled in domestic politics, which too often result in the sort of media exposure that may seem to cardinal-electors from around the world not to reflect the almost otherworldly charisma that traditionally attends the papacy.
But that’s what makes Dolan right for New York: In the spirit of other great New York Catholic leaders — men such as Archbishop “Dagger John” Hughes and Al “The Happy Warrior” Smith — Timothy Dolan is a combative yet jovial leader for one of the nation’s largest and, arguably, most important archdioceses.
The cardinal-designate was asked how his mother, Shirley, reacted to the news of his elevation. She said: “It’s about time.”
New York’s Catholics couldn’t agree more.
George J. Marlin is the author of “The American Catholic Voter: Two Hundred Years of Political Impact.”