Parishioners Pleased with Dolan Appointment, WCBS, February 23, 2009

Parishioners Pleased with Dolan Appointment

WCBS
February 23, 2009

http://wcbstv.com/local/timothy.dolan.archbishop.2.942076.html

Timothy Dolan, Catholic Archbishop of Milwaukee, June 25, 2002

Most Excited By Announcement, But Alleged Abuse Victims Say Dolan Swept Abuse Cases Under The Rug

The Archdiocese of New York serves 2.5 million parishioners at 400 churches and includes Manhattan, Staten Island, and the Bronx, and stretches practically all the way up to Albany.

Other counties it covers include Westchester, Rockland, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Sullivan, and Ulster.

Catholics in New York's archdiocese began setting their sights on a new beginning with renewed hope with Monday's introduction of Archbishop Tim Dolan.

"When I was young we used to go to church all the time and I think people have gotten away from that and I think it's because we don't have strong leadership in the Catholic Church," said Rose Navarro, a member of the Archdiocese of New York.

Most would agree Cardinal Edward Egan was a strong leader but he doesn't have the charisma of his predecessor, Cardinal O'Connor, a trait parishioners think Dolan brings to the table.

"With his people skills we'll have a better connection with him and the church. I feel a little more confident that he's with us and one of us," said Karen Bordzuk, another archdiocese member, who added she didn't quite feel that way with Egan.

Those who knew of Egan's retirement only knew bits and pieces about the 59-year-old replacement who takes over the nation's second largest archdiocese after seven years in Milwaukee.

"I heard he's very involved in interreligious dialogue and ecumenism and that's very important because in this world we really need to learn to be as one," said archdiocese member Anne Cecere.

But not everyone is applauding the appointment.

"I just wish he would have handled clergy abuse cases much differently," said Bill Nash, an alleged clerical abuse victim.

Nash and few others who claimed to have been abused by priests when they were children claimed Dolan swept abuses cases under the rug.

"He has never brought any of the cases that were reported to the church to the civil authorities and he has continued to not deal with the victims, moving priests around, covering up and it's more of the same," says Beth McCabe, who also claims she was abused by a member of the clergy.

Despite those allegations, most seem pleased with Dolan's appointment, including Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

In a statement, he thanked Cardinal Egan for his years of friendship and service and then offered a warm welcome for Dolan.

"The Archdiocese of New York and the city of New York are partners in so many areas, and I look forward to working with Archbishop Dolan to continue making New York City a place for families of all faiths to work together toward common goals and shared dreams," he said.