Timothy Cardinal Dolan Meets with Governor Cuomo

By Taryn Fitsik
News 10
March 13, 2012

http://www.news10.com/story/17141242/2012/03/12/timothy-cardinal-dolan-meets-with-governor-cuomo


[with video]

ALBANY, N.Y.--Abortion, statute of limitations for sex abuse and preserving Catholic schools, all on the list of things discussed Monday between Governor Andrew Cuomo and Timothy Cardinal Dolan.

It is Dolan's first visit to Albany since being elevated to the College of Cardinals in February.

NEWS10 ABC spoke with Cardinal Dolan after his meeting with the Governor and joins us with what he had to say.

Cardinal Dolan says there are more than 70 issues the church regularly advocates for or against, but for meetings with the Governor, they have to narrow it down to just a few.

After his meeting with the Governor, Cardinal Dolan met with reporters, candidly answering questions.

First, Cardinal Dolan was asked to describe how the meeting with the Governor went, and he answered "very friendly".

"He did bet me I couldn't leave without taking a doughnut off the table and he won!" laughs Dolan.

But there was a serious tone to the meeting as well, the Cardinal bringing up many big issues within the Catholic Church; the first, the implementation of gay marriage in New York.

"He said listen, I need to assure you that I feel as passionately about the protection of religious freedom as I do about the redefinition of marriage, so that gave us consolation," says Dolan.

Where Cardinal Dolan says he didn't receive any assurances was the Reproductive Health Act, which the church believes will expand abortion rights.

However, he also recognizes it is more of an issue on the national level.

"We're going to continue our dialogue with the White House," he says. "We hope the President means it when he says he's going to continue to listen to us and iron out the wrinkles. We haven't seen much progress though, and that bothers us."

Cardinal Dolan also answered questions about pending legislation for that would open a one year window of time for victims of child sex abuse to bring forth civil suits.

"We feel it's terribly unjust, we feel it singles the church out," he says. "It would be devastating for the life of the church."

What Cardinal Dolan says he is most proud of, is a compliment the Governor gave about the outreach the church does.

"He says those are people who don't have a voice, and it means very much to me that you would come in and advocate for them."

Cardinal Dolan also met with Senate Majority Leader and Assembly Speaker Monday.

Tuesday, 1,200 Catholics plan to be at the Capitol in Albany, to either advocate for or against issues that are important to the church.

Contact: tfitsik@news10.com