NY Archbishop-Designate Dolan Church Still Has Credibility to Regain, by Bart Jones and John Valenti, Newsday, April 15, 2009

NY Archbishop-Designate Dolan: Church Still Has 'Credibility to Regain'

By Bart Jones and John Valenti
Newsday
April 15, 2009

http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/longisland/ny-licard1612655953apr15,0,4747458.story

Hours before he was scheduled to be installed as the newest archbishop of New York, Timothy Dolan held his inaugural news conference Wednesday and immediately displayed a style much different from that of his predecessor.

Archbishop Dolan

Speaking at Cathedral High School in Manhattan, Dolan told reporters the sex abuse scandal that rocked the Catholic Church "isn't behind us," and the church - and its priests - still need to regain credibility among both congregants and the public.

And Dolan even joked with reporters - telling one she likely had a better, bigger expense account than he did.

The news conference came just a few hours before Dolan officially replaces Cardinal Edward Egan.

Dolan will be installed in a ceremony at St. Patrick's Cathedral that is expected to be attended by more than 3,000 politicians, dignitaries, church officials and other invited guests.

Gov. David A. Paterson, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and both New York senators are expected to attend.

At the news conference, Dolan, 59, the former archbishop of Milwaukee, did not directly address the issue of gay marriage, but he indicated he will back the church's stance against it.

He made it clear that much still needs to be done to resolve the shocking sex abuse scandal that rocked the church in recent years.

"We can take a deep breath - and say thanks be to God," Dolan said. "We've looked this straight in the eyes. We have tackled it. We have made some very tough decisions. Things are beginning to work."

But, Dolan said, that despite new training methods and efforts to protect children, "I, for one, think we have to resist the temptation to say, 'Oh, good. That's behind us now.' It isn't behind us. We've got a lot of credibility to regain.

"We've got a lot of trust to regain from our people," Dolan said. "We still have a lot of victims, survivors and their families out there who are hurting big time."

Serious at times, jovial others, Dolan was asked if he plans to be an agent of change or of continuity in his new post.

"The most sacred responsibility that a bishop has to pass on is that faith remains changeless," Dolan said. "So, in substance . . . I couldn't change things if I wanted."

He said the only change may be in style.

"The what won't change," Dolan told reporters, "but the how, the style, might."

Dolan said he plans to attend opening day at the new Yankee Stadium Thursday - after he visits a food pantry in one of the poorest sections of the Bronx. He also plans to visit Citi Field on Friday.