By SHARON OTTERMAN
MAY 23, 2014
Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, at Iona College’s graduation last week, is “giving himself a bit of a tuneup,” a papal historian says. CreditChang W. Lee/The New York Times
Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan lives in a 19th-century Madison Avenue mansion that connects to St. Patrick’s Cathedral. A cook and two housekeepers serve him and three other priests. A driver chauffeurs him around, though in a Chrysler minivan.
It is a comfortable, if not necessarily extravagant, lifestyle, one in keeping with that of past archbishops of New York. But in the age of Pope Francis, who has captured the world’s imagination by rejecting many luxurious trappings of the papacy, is the cardinal’s lifestyle humble enough?
The question is just one of many that Cardinal Dolan is contending with as he navigates the changes in the Roman Catholic world wrought by the election last year of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the former archbishop of Buenos Aires.
Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan lives in a 19th-century Madison Avenue mansion that connects to St. Patrick’s Cathedral. A cook and two housekeepers serve him and three other priests. A driver chauffeurs him around, though in a Chrysler minivan.
It is a comfortable, if not necessarily extravagant, lifestyle, one in keeping with that of past archbishops of New York. But in the age of Pope Francis, who has captured the world’s imagination by rejecting many luxurious trappings of the papacy, is the cardinal’s lifestyle humble enough?
The question is just one of many that Cardinal Dolan is contending with as he navigates the changes in the Roman Catholic world wrought by the election last year of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the former archbishop of Buenos Aires.
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Some see the influence of Cardinal Dolan, once considered a possible candidate for pope himself, waning in the era of the new pontiff. With Francis upending conventions not just about the pomp and pageantry of the office but also about the expectations for his priests and bishops, the church has inarguably changed around Cardinal Dolan, even as he maintained last week that he has stayed more or less the same.
Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan says he has reflected upon Pope Francis’ call for bishops to act more like humble parish priests. CreditChang W. Lee/The New York Times
In a written response to a series of questions from The New York Times about Francis’ effect on him and the diocese, Cardinal Dolan said he did not believe he had altered how he ran the archdiocese, or made any adjustments in his personal habits. But some who study the Catholic Church say that they are beginning to detect subtle differences, at least in his public persona, as he seeks to adapt to the new spirit in Rome.
“He certainly is not doing a massive overhaul of his personality, but he is giving himself a bit of a tuneup,” said Christopher Bellitto, a papal historian at Kean University in New Jersey.
In the last years that Benedict XVI served as pope, Cardinal Dolan, 64, was America’s top bishop as the president of the United States Conference for Catholic Bishops. Ever the genial guardian of Catholic orthodoxy, he led the charge against the Obama administration’s efforts to require some religious employers to cover birth control for employees. Some church experts say he was also the go-to cardinal for many in the Vatican when they wanted to know what was going on in the American church.
Since then, Cardinal Dolan’s term as the bishops’ leader has ended. Francis is elevating different priorities, such as pastoral outreach to the poor and immigration, over the culture war issues of abortion and same-sex marriage. The new pope has selected as his closest American adviser Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston, a Franciscan in robes and sandals who speaks fluent Spanish and champions the poor, appointing him to a privy council of eight cardinals.
To the powerful commission that selects the world’s bishops, Francis named Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington, widely considered a moderate, to replace Cardinal Raymond Burke, a more conservative prelate who has advocated denying communion to Catholic politicians who support abortion rights. Such moves are shifting the center of gravity of the American church.
In a written response to a series of questions from The New York Times about Francis’ effect on him and the diocese, Cardinal Dolan said he did not believe he had altered how he ran the archdiocese, or made any adjustments in his personal habits. But some who study the Catholic Church say that they are beginning to detect subtle differences, at least in his public persona, as he seeks to adapt to the new spirit in Rome.
“He certainly is not doing a massive overhaul of his personality, but he is giving himself a bit of a tuneup,” said Christopher Bellitto, a papal historian at Kean University in New Jersey.
In the last years that Benedict XVI served as pope, Cardinal Dolan, 64, was America’s top bishop as the president of the United States Conference for Catholic Bishops. Ever the genial guardian of Catholic orthodoxy, he led the charge against the Obama administration’s efforts to require some religious employers to cover birth control for employees. Some church experts say he was also the go-to cardinal for many in the Vatican when they wanted to know what was going on in the American church.
Since then, Cardinal Dolan’s term as the bishops’ leader has ended. Francis is elevating different priorities, such as pastoral outreach to the poor and immigration, over the culture war issues of abortion and same-sex marriage. The new pope has selected as his closest American adviser Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston, a Franciscan in robes and sandals who speaks fluent Spanish and champions the poor, appointing him to a privy council of eight cardinals.
To the powerful commission that selects the world’s bishops, Francis named Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington, widely considered a moderate, to replace Cardinal Raymond Burke, a more conservative prelate who has advocated denying communion to Catholic politicians who support abortion rights. Such moves are shifting the center of gravity of the American church.
Cardinal Dolan gave the commencement address at Iona College's graduation on May 17. In addition to local public service, the post of New York’s archbishop comes with national and international responsibilities. CreditChang W. Lee/The New York Times
“It’s not that he’s out of favor or irrelevant,” said John Allen, who wrote a book with Cardinal Dolan and now reports for The Boston Globe. “But both in terms of who Rome listens to in the American church, and setting priorities for the American church, I think there’s no question that Tim Dolan is no longer the prime mover in that regard.”
Cardinal Dolan is still on several important Vatican committees, and in the United States, remains the preferred bishop to speak on television. He is a master communicator, pithy and gregarious. But the buzz that followed him into the conclave to select Francis as pope in March 2013 — that he himself could be a papal candidate — has dissipated.
“He’s not out in the cold, but neither is he the rising star anymore,” said Pat McNamara, a church historian and author of a forthcoming book on New York Catholicism.
When it comes to lifestyle, the pope is challenging the model of the bishop as royalty of the church and increasing popular expectations that bishops act more like humble parish priests, truly getting to know their people. It is a call that Cardinal Dolan said he had certainly reflected upon.
“I hope and pray that I was living a fairly simple life beforehand,” the cardinal said. “But I do have to examine my own conscience and ask: ‘Am I too comfortable? Do I take too much for granted? Are my priorities where they should be?’ ”
“It’s not that he’s out of favor or irrelevant,” said John Allen, who wrote a book with Cardinal Dolan and now reports for The Boston Globe. “But both in terms of who Rome listens to in the American church, and setting priorities for the American church, I think there’s no question that Tim Dolan is no longer the prime mover in that regard.”
Cardinal Dolan is still on several important Vatican committees, and in the United States, remains the preferred bishop to speak on television. He is a master communicator, pithy and gregarious. But the buzz that followed him into the conclave to select Francis as pope in March 2013 — that he himself could be a papal candidate — has dissipated.
“He’s not out in the cold, but neither is he the rising star anymore,” said Pat McNamara, a church historian and author of a forthcoming book on New York Catholicism.
When it comes to lifestyle, the pope is challenging the model of the bishop as royalty of the church and increasing popular expectations that bishops act more like humble parish priests, truly getting to know their people. It is a call that Cardinal Dolan said he had certainly reflected upon.
“I hope and pray that I was living a fairly simple life beforehand,” the cardinal said. “But I do have to examine my own conscience and ask: ‘Am I too comfortable? Do I take too much for granted? Are my priorities where they should be?’ ”
Cardinal Dolan with Mayor Bill de Blasio in January. Known as a master communicator, he is still the preferred bishop to speak on television in America.CreditFred R. Conrad/The New York Times
Besides reining in excess, however, Francis has asked priests and bishops to limit their travel and focus on ministering to their people — “to be shepherds with the smell of sheep.”
“Espouse your community, be profoundly bonded to it!” he told his bishops in September. “Avoid the scandal of being ‘airport bishops.’ ”
In the New York archdiocese, which covers the Bronx, Manhattan, Staten Island and seven counties north of the city, Cardinal Dolan is popular among parishioners, but he is known among some priests as a delegator who is often out of town. He relies on a vicar to handle day-to-day priestly problems, and a consultant has been managing the process of deciding which parishes the archdiocese will merge and close. Cardinal Dolan will make the final decisions personally in September.
The post of New York archbishop will always come with national and international responsibilities. But some priests said a silver lining of Cardinal Dolan’s lowered profile would be a more hands-on approach toward running the diocese.
Besides reining in excess, however, Francis has asked priests and bishops to limit their travel and focus on ministering to their people — “to be shepherds with the smell of sheep.”
“Espouse your community, be profoundly bonded to it!” he told his bishops in September. “Avoid the scandal of being ‘airport bishops.’ ”
In the New York archdiocese, which covers the Bronx, Manhattan, Staten Island and seven counties north of the city, Cardinal Dolan is popular among parishioners, but he is known among some priests as a delegator who is often out of town. He relies on a vicar to handle day-to-day priestly problems, and a consultant has been managing the process of deciding which parishes the archdiocese will merge and close. Cardinal Dolan will make the final decisions personally in September.
The post of New York archbishop will always come with national and international responsibilities. But some priests said a silver lining of Cardinal Dolan’s lowered profile would be a more hands-on approach toward running the diocese.
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“We’d like to see more evangelization in the parishes, we’d like to see more outreach and neighborhood involvement, we’d like to see more planning in the church,” said Msgr. Neil Connolly, who has been a New York City priest for more than 50 years. “Those of us in the parishes, we don’t work closely with the archbishop on a day-to-day basis.”
Cardinal Dolan resides in a 19th-century Madison Avenue mansion with three other priests. The home is connected to St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Credit Anthony Lanzilote for The New York Times
Cardinal Dolan said Francis had led him to mull over issues like whether the diocese was too focused on its buildings, institutions and hierarchy at the expense of serving people.
“Certainly Francis has inspired me to look for ways that we can be more welcoming, more focused on being with those who feel distant from Jesus and the church, and less focused on structures and institutions,” he said.
And he said the pope was also serving as a role model when it came to presenting the church publicly, emphasizing mercy, for example, over judgment in his message.
“I do have to realize that what I say, and how I say it, is important, and what I intend to convey is not always what comes across,” Cardinal Dolan said.
On that front, he did seem to acknowledge a tonal shift some church experts had noted.
Dr. Bellitto said, “His more bombastic political rhetoric has been dialed down.”
An example may be instructive. Two years ago, Cardinal Dolan’s most-quoted comments on the subject of same-sex marriage were ones in which he said he felt “betrayed” and “burned” by the New York Legislature for not giving him more notice before legalizing it. But two months ago, when asked on television how he felt about Michael Sam’s becoming the first openly gay player in the National Football League, he expressed enthusiasm.
“Good for him,” Cardinal Dolan told David Gregory on “Meet the Press” on NBC.
“Look, the same Bible that teaches us about the virtue of chastity and fidelity in marriage also teaches us not to judge people,” he added, echoing Francis. “So I would say, ‘Bravo.’ ”
A version of this article appears in print on May 24, 2014, on page A1 of the New York edition with the headline: In Era of Humble Pope, Earth Shifts Under Dolan.
Cardinal Dolan said Francis had led him to mull over issues like whether the diocese was too focused on its buildings, institutions and hierarchy at the expense of serving people.
“Certainly Francis has inspired me to look for ways that we can be more welcoming, more focused on being with those who feel distant from Jesus and the church, and less focused on structures and institutions,” he said.
And he said the pope was also serving as a role model when it came to presenting the church publicly, emphasizing mercy, for example, over judgment in his message.
“I do have to realize that what I say, and how I say it, is important, and what I intend to convey is not always what comes across,” Cardinal Dolan said.
On that front, he did seem to acknowledge a tonal shift some church experts had noted.
Dr. Bellitto said, “His more bombastic political rhetoric has been dialed down.”
An example may be instructive. Two years ago, Cardinal Dolan’s most-quoted comments on the subject of same-sex marriage were ones in which he said he felt “betrayed” and “burned” by the New York Legislature for not giving him more notice before legalizing it. But two months ago, when asked on television how he felt about Michael Sam’s becoming the first openly gay player in the National Football League, he expressed enthusiasm.
“Good for him,” Cardinal Dolan told David Gregory on “Meet the Press” on NBC.
“Look, the same Bible that teaches us about the virtue of chastity and fidelity in marriage also teaches us not to judge people,” he added, echoing Francis. “So I would say, ‘Bravo.’ ”
A version of this article appears in print on May 24, 2014, on page A1 of the New York edition with the headline: In Era of Humble Pope, Earth Shifts Under Dolan.
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