New York archbishop, who warned of persecution over marriage fight, tapped as cardinal
NEW YORK, - Timothy Dolan , who as Archbishop of New York and president of the U.S. Bishops’ conference has emerged as one of the nation’s most prominent life and marriage defenders, is to be named a cardinal. Pope Benedict XVI announced Friday that Dolan, the leader of 2.6 million Catholics in New York, would rise to the rank held by most of his predecessors, including pro-life champion Cardinal John O’Connor . Dolan was appointed alongside 21 other new cardinals announced today. “As a kid, I just wanted to be a parish priest,” Dolan said at a news conference at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan. “And to think that now the pope has named me a cardinal— that’s awesome.” Dolan said he was “honored, humbled, and grateful” for the elevation. A proven leader on the abortion issue, Dolan has consistently spoken out against the evil of abortion, telling a reporter in 2010 that being opposed to abortion, “is a civil rights issue, it’s a natural law issue, it’s not a Catholic...