Arbp. Dolan to New York

By now pretty much everybody knows that Archbishop Dolan will be the next archbishop for New York. Not much of a surprise for many blog readers since rumor leaked out over a week ago.

I once heard Archbishop Dolan speak and I was quite impressed with him as a speaker. He went to seminary with my Bishop and had been invited to give a talk on the feast day for the Diocese of St. Augustine. I described his talk previously here.

Arbp. Dolan is friends with Arbp. Burke and was supportive of him and the actions he took dealing with Catholic politicians. Though Arbp. Dolan’s approach in his own diocese was not the same as his friend. There is no doubt that Arbp. Burke is strongly pro-life. Here was a good interview he gave in reference to Archbishop Burke.

In the past Arbp Dolan had a Call To Action event in one of his parishes removed and they had to go off site. He once wrote a letter to dissident theologian Professor Maquire at Marquette University which said in part:

The opinions expressed in the two pamphlets enclosed in that correspondence are totally at odds with clear Church teaching. Sacred Scripture, the Magisterium, and Natural Law are consistent in opposition to abortion and so-called same-sex marriage.

Arbp. Dolan first went to the Diocese of Milwaukee in the wake of the Arbp. Weakland scandal. He certainly brought some solid progress to this diocese, though the next bishop will still be dealing with some of the problems and personnel Arbp. Weakland left.

Arbp. Dolan is probably a solid choice for New York and while I don’t think he has as strong of leadership skills as Cardinal O’Connor, he works well with people while bringing a solid orthodox viewpoint. Though I am only an armchair episcopal watcher so what do I know? Regardless since the Arbp just turned 59 not doubt he will be the Arbp. of New York for the next 16 years.

In related news today the Associated Press reported Monsignor Timothy Dolan named New York archbishop