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N.Y.'s Archbishop Timothy Dolan

March 20, 2011 5:49 PM

In a wide-ranging interview with Morley Safer, New York's Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan discusses the sex abuse crisis in the Catholic Church, his current mission and the state of the church in America.

Archbishop Dolan: New face of the church?

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by spot3131 April 3, 2011 9:44 PM EDT
"We are moving towards a dictatorship of relativism which does not recognize anything as certain and which has as its highest goal one's own ego and one's own desires. However, we have a different goal: the Son of God, true man. He is the measure of true humanism. Being an "Adult" means having a faith which does not follow the waves of today's fashions or the latest novelties. A faith which is deeply rooted in friendship with Christ is adult and mature. It is this friendship which opens us up to all that is good and gives us the knowledge to judge true from false, and deceit from truth".....Pope Benedict.

The Catholic Church will continue to exist because the Faithful understand their true road to God is not subject to debate, personal interpretations of doctrine or the influence of popular culture. Catcholicism is our path. It may not be yours, but I am convinced in my mind and heart that turning away from my faith to follow an easier, or more "palpable" path to God will only lead me away from Him.
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by Cincinnatifan March 28, 2011 3:23 AM EDT
Dear Wzman,

Thank you for your prayers, but I want to make it very clear that Satan did not prompt me to leave the Roman Catholic Church and to seek Jesus Christ even more intently in another Christian faith. That reminds me of Jesus's rebuke of the Pharisees when they accused him of casting out devils by the power of the devil.

I and countless numbers of others like me, have left the Roman Catholic Church because, in the light of our consciences, we can no longer believe what it teaches about its power over us and we can no longer accept an institution that, because of the very nature of its "male only/sexually immature" leadership and refusal to change, perpetuates the great evil of its own making that is currently forcing millions of believers to turn away in disgust.

I'm not against the Roman Catholic Church. It does great good in the world in the name of Christ. I just think that--unlike what it tells the world--it does not possess the only answer, the only pathway to Christ and the power--it claims to have--over our souls. Somehow the freedom of an American conscience tells me that can't be true.

Are Jews and Muslims and Buddhists outside the saving grace of God? Are Presbyterians, Armenian Catholics and Baptists outside of the saving grace of God? Somehow, deep in my soul, I can't believe that. That can't be true. Who are we and who is the the Pope to decide and then dictate what is the "Mind of God"?

No, I believe that the Roman Catholic Church--as all churches and religions--needs to move forward from the constraints of medieval thought and the "straightjackets of tradition" that keeps it from reforming itself and embracing the rights of others to think freely and to live free and just lives.

I encourage Roman Catholics to deeply examine their consciences and to be brave enough to follow that path to where their deepest feelings on these issues leads them. I council them not to be afraid to leave the Roman Catholic Church and seek Jesus Christ in another religious tradition if that is what their "heart of hearts" tells them is what is right for them.
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by wzman March 27, 2011 12:45 PM EDT
Dear American Catholics,

Please pray for Cincinnatifan, and all who have left the Catholic faith, and for all who have left God completely. It appears that a combination of events and ideas affected peoples decision to leave the church. I can't blame them: obviously certain events are very disturbing, and a wide variety of miss-beliefs or distorted history, such as the comments just on this webpage alone can certainly influence ones decision to leave the church.

I'm not that clever to convey the reasons on a web comment page for people to return to God, to return to His church. Yet, Satan is very good on promoting the opposite. I can only say this: pray to God . Pray to help you understand, pray for guidance, pray to help you make decisions, and pray for the truth, for the truth will set you free. You are Americans, but make sure your conscience is well formed before making critical or faithful decisions. You are Americans, but you are Christians first. Don't make a decision to leave the church based on miss-beliefs, or on warm and fuzzy feelings from other institutions. Remember, each mass, the Holy Eucharist, the true Body and Soul of our Lord, is present. Seek Him for comfort and truth.
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by Cincinnatifan March 27, 2011 8:39 AM EDT
Dear American Catholics,

You don't have to suffer with all of this (celibate male-only priesthood, endless sex abuse scandals, etc., etc. and so forth). You are Americans! You don't have to be Roman Catholic! Yes, it's true. Look around you. There are millions of other Americans who aren't Roman Catholic. Do you think they're less Christian than you are? Of course not!

You have a choice. Follow your consciences. There are other "catholic" churches that you can join. You don't have to give up believing in Jesus Christ. All you have to do is give up believing in the Pope (at least as possessing all the power over you that the Roman Catholic Church wants you to believe--and whose leadership must believe in order to continue holding on to their jobs at the top).

I made the leap years ago and I know that I made the very right choice. Remember, you are Americans! If you really examine yourselves, you'll probably find that your belief in American values runs much deeper than your Roman Catholicism. And that's a very, very good thing in God's eyes, I'm certain.
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by surfingceo March 24, 2011 11:11 PM EDT
Another Pusillanimous Priest!!!
When their time comes, I just hope Jesus can forgive these 'Priests' for being so Bullheaded & more.

Whom defends an antiquated doctrine, that was written 300 years after Jesus died; need I say more. Of course he doesn't want to change anything...he wants to keep for white males priests just like himself. That is the exact reason there remains a massive exodus from the Catholic Church.

Gays= Didn't god create all humans; what the Vatican will have us believe then is that god made a mistake with respect to the gay population.

Women in an authoritative capacity in the church= The world population is comprised of 60% Women- of course the 'men' want to keep the power in the church all to themselves. They know women are better- referring to the book 'Man Down'.

As an Italian female & former catholic, whom has 2 children & 2 grandchildren (so far) - neither of my children were baptized, nor attended church. I taught them "you can speak directly to God, a priest is not required."

Hispanics are the fastest growing demographic= I don't know why, because the priests that came through Latin America & Mexico- slaughtered everyone who did not believe in Jesus. It only took 200 years for the Latin population to come around to Rome's way of thinking. If I were of a Hispanic origin, I would be so outraged....believe in 'our god' or Die. ***.

Population Control= Don't get me started! (ok just a bit) Men making 'rules' about women's rights & bodies; I'd bank money they would be singing a different tune if they had to 'drop out 14 kids'..women are not 'puppy mills'.

Jesus must be spinning in his grave at actions that have been committed in his name.
(forgive me if some of this has already been touched on; I didn't have the time to read all the other (30+) posts.)
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by sueleem March 24, 2011 1:55 PM EDT
After reviewing the 60 minute interview with Archbishop Dolan...I was very sad and it only re-affirmed what I have observed going on in the Catholic Church among the hierarchy...same old deflection of issues that are not resolved (number one the ongoing sexual abuse of children and youth and vulnerable adults) but covered up, preoccupation with image rather than substance and an obsession with perpetuating the idea that the laity are dumb sheep being dumbed down by hierachy who rule with oppression and fear. The fact that Archbishop Dolan was elected by his fellow bishops because they know they have an image problem is even more distressing...if this is the best we have as our "Front Man" we as church are in such dire,dire straits. Mea Culpa. Archbishop Dolan is not charismatic at all...it is all superficial fluff...political manuevering at its worse. Where have all the good men gone? When will we have a dialogue in the Catholic Church where all are welcome and treated as mature thinking people in partnership and collaboration for the sake of Christ Jesus, our brother and the Holy Trinity ??? Archbishop Dolan you are another proto-type of a corporate man climbing the ladder in an institution that has sold its soul,(top down). Many Catholics are hungry and thirsty for our church to reclaim itself and follow Jesus not money, power, image. The truth in all matters would set us free and unleash the Holy Spirit (that has been supressed of locked away in a Vatican Vault)) to guide us into the Promised Land where faith, hope, and charity are valued and lived and practised for all---not just the elite. Amen.
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by stephan2468 March 23, 2011 5:39 PM EDT
What an *******, him and all his pale's. They all make me sick.
All of them should be in jail.It's all about women in the church.
They all think they know god , just look at his body. now that the sin.
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by fmmorris2000 March 23, 2011 1:16 PM EDT
I was a alter boy in the 70's and early 80's. This might shock some people, but I was never abused or molested in any way. I am not taking away from the people who were, my heart goes out to them. The priest who commited those crimes should be prosecuted. I am saying that there are many people who had a prositive experience with the church as young boys.
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by EJP1124 March 22, 2011 9:41 PM EDT
Ladies and Gentlemen, if a man claims to be a Catholic and commits a heinous crime (i.e. sexual abuse) it is NOT a crime of the Church. The Church does not teach its members to molest children. The Church does not support or sanction these actions (despite the popular, erroneous belief that the Church does). The Church is not outdated. An institution, a faith, is not defined by the actions of one man or many believers. The heinous crimes of "believers" are in contradiction to Catholic doctrine and morality. Why is that the Church's fault? The Catholic Church has withstood thousands of years of scrutiny, yet it stands. I hope that She never submits to popular relativism or liberalism, for Her teachings are too founded in truth, logic, and reason (YES, Truth, Logic, and Reason) to change. She is the pillar of truth, and even the fickle waves of moral decay and relativism cannot shake her teachings
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by thetruth1968 March 22, 2011 10:54 AM EDT
pat_omalley....You could not be more wrong if you actually tried. The Catholic Church has done everything under the sun to help the victims of abuse...whether it is counseling all paid for or the money given in settlements without having to go to court or the many apologies given from 2 Popes and many bishops and priests...what else should be done? People like you "Pat" won't be happy until there is no Catholic Church so your opinion is less than cow poop
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