Message from the
Archdiocese of New York
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October 18, 2021
October 18, 2021
Year of Saint Joseph
Dear Members of our Catholic family:
Many of you are asking about this “synod process” initiated by Pope Francis. Maybe my homily from yesterday at the Cathedral can help.
With prayerful best wishes on this beautiful Fall day, I am,
Faithfully in Christ,
Cardinal Timothy Dolan
Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan
Archbishop of New YorkAMDG JMJ
29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Mass for the opening of the Synod Process
October 17, 2021
Timothy Cardinal Dolan
Synodality
A blessed Sunday!
Can we consider a bit today the role of authority and leadership in the Church? Jesus teaches us about all that in our Gospel passage at Mass this morning.
Yes, the Church is of divine origin, but she is composed of flawed human membership; yes, Jesus gave us a rather fluid blueprint about the structure of His Church – his apostles, the sacraments, a basic creed and moral expectations, bishop, priest, deacon, women and men with duties in marriage, family, communities of faith, using gifts – which the bible calls charisms – of teaching, worship, charity, administration, healing, and service; the mandate to teach the nations about Him.
Throughout her colorful history of two millennia, the one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic Church has expanded and developed its style of organization and authority.
We’ve had popes at the head of conquering armies and popes all by themselves in jail;
Bishops called “princes,” and bishops beheaded by princes;
We’ve had women and men living as solitary hermits, or as members of thriving, vibrant, communities;
The Church hast taught sternly with threats of punishments in this life and the next, or softly and gently under the shade of a tree outside the parish church;
She has managed property, buildings, and money to compete with a Wall Street firm, or existed solely on faith, prayer, bread, wine, the Bible, and the goodness of her people;
The Church has members trying to raise families, run businesses, make a living, while ever in allegiance to the teachings of our Lord…
This only touches on the array, the sample of how the Church we cherish has tried to lead, teach with authority, govern and serve since Jesus commissioned us to do so.
And now the successor of Saint Peter as bishop of Rome and pastor of the Church Universal, Pope Francis, has asked us all to commence an examination of conscience on how we as a Church are living up to the model of the Church given us by Jesus. Pope Francis has asked us to begin a process of preparation and prayer for a Synod of Bishops in Rome in two years, on the topic he calls all this: synodality.
Thus do I welcome this morning leaders from the archdiocese who generously participate in the consultative organs of these vast areas of the Lord’s vineyard – members of our boards, committees, religious orders, schools, charities, health care, witness in the public square, business and governance.
And just what is this synodality of which Pope Francis so often speaks? I don’t know if I completely understand it; and the Holy Father is honest in admitting that neither does he have the full comprehension, which is precisely why he has summoned us to this endeavor. He wants us to join him in praying, listening, discerning, examining ourselves personally, and the Church communally, to see if we’re truly on the path Jesus has set for His beloved bride, His mystical body, the Church.
He has reminded us of certain clear essentials intended by Jesus, constant, although, at times, we admit clouded and dimmed, in the Church’s amazing 2,000 year drama. Here are some those non-negotiables.- The energy and direction driving the Church comes from the Holy Spirit, not ourselves;
- While in the world, we are not of the world, and thus our guiding principles come from the Gospel, revelation, and the patrimony of the Church’s settled teaching;
- That the principles of the innate dignity of every human person and the inherent sacredness of all human life are the towering moral lighthouses on our path;
- That our journey through this life back to our true and eternal home of heaven is most effectively accomplished precisely as a journey as we walk with and accompany each other, with Jesus as our guide, His mother and the saints, and we sinners at each other’s side;
- That on this journey we pay special attention to those at the side of the road, especially those who are sick, weak, poor, or unable to keep up with us;
- That our wealth only comes from faith, trust, prayer, the sacraments, and His grace;
- That mercy, love, invitation, humility, joy, selfless, generous service, and good example are our only tools, never harshness, condemnation, or pride.
Thank you for accepting his invitation to enter this walk of synodality. Stay tuned for other invitations as the process continues. Stay tuned as our own team led by Elizabeth Guevara and Monsignor LaMorte, keep us posted.
And stay tuned to those words from the gospel this morning:
“You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.” (MK 10: 42-45) -
August 16, 2021
August 16, 2021
Year of Saint Joseph
Dear Family of the Archdiocese of New York,
I apologize for intruding during these final weeks of what I hope has been a blessed and relaxing Summer, but allow me to update you on two important items that continue to affect the Archdiocese of New York: the coronavirus pandemic, particularly as it relates to our schools, and the Child Victims Act.
As you know, the Catholic schools of the archdiocese opened on time for in-person instruction in September 2020, and successfully and safely remained open for the school year. In many ways, our schools became the model for the rest of the country, offering the option of either remote learning or in-classroom instruction. Our principals, administrators, teachers, pastors, parents, and officials from our Superintendent of Schools office, all did superlative work in developing the strategy that led to this remarkable achievement.
After intensive study and preparation for the school year starting this September, Superintendent Michael Deegan, his staff, and the Health and Safety Task Force of the Office of the Superintendent, have determined that, based on last year’s success and what is best for our students, the academic year starting in September will be totally “in-school” instruction, with no hybrid or remote learning option. Of course, all health and safety protocols developed by the CDC, New York State Department of Health, and other medical and scientific professionals will be followed.
I hope you will join me in thanking Mr. Deegan and his dedicated team for the innovation, preparation, and dedication they have consistently demonstrated during these difficult months.
This past Friday, August 13th, marked the close of the Child Victims Act “window,” legislation passed in Albany in 2019, which suspended the civil statute of limitations for two years and allowed individuals to file lawsuits seeking monetary compensation in state court for alleged sexual abuse, no matter when the alleged abuse was said to have occurred. Originally meant to last for only one year and close in 2020, the window was extended for a second year due to the courts being closed because of the pandemic. You have undoubtedly seen or heard the seemingly incessant ads from attorneys seeking clients on television and radio, on billboards, and in the newspapers.
The position of the archdiocese has always been clear: we strive to settle meritorious claims as quickly as possible, and always treat victims of abuse with compassion and respect. This was the motivating force behind our past successful Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program, and remains our guiding principle today. Caring for those who suffered abuse by clergy or other representatives of the Church is a moral imperative.
We have begun the expensive and demanding process of responding to these lawsuits. Over 1500 cases have been filed naming the Archdiocese of New York as a defendant. (This is the number of claims, not the number of alleged abusers.) The individual alleged most frequently to have been an abuser is a former parish janitor and basketball coach, who died in 1992. The archdiocese is also listed as a defendant in lawsuits claiming abuse by priests, teachers, scout leaders, foster parents, men and women in religious orders not controlled by the archdiocese, and others.
In many recent cases the suits fail to specifically identify an alleged perpetrator but merely claim that the plaintiff was abused. There are lawsuits alleging abuse as far back as eighty years ago - -suits from the 1930’s, 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. Fortunately, there are only a few lawsuits alleging abuse by clergy from the past 25 years, as the important anti-abuse child protection measures instituted by the church took hold.
We are committed to a conscientious review of these suits so we can do our best to compensate those persons with meritorious claims. We are committed to calling upon our insurers to respond to covered claims and redeem the insurance coverage we purchased over many decades, so, on our behalf, they can expeditiously resolve meritorious abuse claims with appropriate compensation.
As you would probably expect, there are also cases where we believe the evidence will show that the accused person did not commit the abuse that is alleged, many cases where the archdiocese was not at fault under the law since it had no knowledge of the alleged abuser’s conduct, and other cases where we believe that the archdiocese had no connection to the alleged abuser. We will, of course, seek to have these lawsuits dismissed.
We also thank the New York State court system, including Deputy Chief Administrative Judge George J. Silver and Justice Steven M. Jaeger and their court staffs, for their steadfast efforts during the middle of a pandemic to coordinate the suits for the benefit of all parties. We are open to their efforts to mediate claims and to any other avenues the parties can agree upon to foster just resolution.
While it is impossible to predict precise numbers at this point, there is likely to be a very significant financial impact on the archdiocese. Four of the eight dioceses in New York State have already declared Chapter 11 as a way for them to equitably handle their cases. That is not now our plan. However, the coming years promise to be fiscally challenging ones for the Church in New York as it seeks to carry out its mission. The archdiocese has already implemented budget cutbacks and savings in our central offices, as we deal with shortfalls caused by the pandemic, and in preparation for the coming impact of these CVA cases.
One area in which we will never cut corners is our commitment to the safety and protection of our young people. We remain in regular contact with Judge Barbara Jones, to ensure that the archdiocese is living up to its promises, policies, and protocols for protecting youth. Our Safe Environment office has now completed 138,220 background checks and provided age-appropriate safe environment training to 122,801 adults and children. And, in 2020, the archdiocese was once again found compliant with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, for the 16th year in a row.
This has been a very somber two years for victim-survivors and their families, for you, God’s people, and for our priests, the vast majority of whom have led faithful and virtuous lives.
Be assured that I will do my best to keep you updated as these cases begin to either be settled, dismissed, or tried in court. As always, I ask that you keep in your prayers all those whose lives have been touched by the sin and crime of sexual abuse, no matter who the abuser was, as well as all of the good and faithful priests who have humbly served God’s people throughout this trying time.
With prayerful best wishes, I am,
Faithfully in Christ,
Cardinal Timothy Dolan
Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan
Archbishop of New York -
June 30, 2021
June 30, 2021
Year of Saint Joseph
Dear Family of the Archdiocese of New York,
May I raise two points with you today?
First, as we approach the Independence Day weekend, allow me to wish all of you an enjoyable Summer. It is my hope that, after the trials and difficulties of these past 16 months, you will have an opportunity for some much-needed rest and relaxation. I am very much looking forward to spending some time with family and friends that I have not seen for more than a year!
Second, let me remind you that there is still a sacred obligation to attend Sunday Mass, even if you are on vacation. Unfortunately, there has been some confusion recently over whether or not a “dispensation” from Sunday Mass has been in effect. Here in the Archdiocese of New York, there has never been a dispensation from Sunday Mass, because no man can “dispense” or set aside a Divine (as opposed to man-made) law. The Third Commandment says, “Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day,” and I can no more say that this no longer applies than I can say that we can forget about “Thou shalt not steal” or “Honor thy father and thy mother.” To deliberately miss Mass is a sin.
Of course, the Church has always held that there may be some justifiable reasons why a person can miss Mass, including old age, illness, and infirmity; this is still the case. During this pandemic, public Mass was not being celebrated for several months, and when Mass resumed, there was still a possibility of catching or spreading the coronavirus, and individuals could, after carefully consulting their conscience, decide not to return to Mass right away. However, now that vaccination rates are up, Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted, and people are returning to a more normal way of living, this excuse cannot be said to exist any longer. If you’re going to the mall, having dinner out in restaurants, heading to the ballgame, visiting the hairdresser, and the like, then you should also be at Mass!
Please be assured of a remembrance in my Mass and prayers during these Summer months. Might I ask for a remembrance in yours?
A blessed Summer.
Faithfully in Christ,Cardinal Timothy Dolan
Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan
Archbishop of New York -
March 27, 2021 - Holy Week and Passover
March 27, 2021
Year of Saint Joseph
Dear Catholic Family of the Archdiocese of New York,
As we prepare to enter Holy Week, and our Jewish neighbors begin their observance of Passover, I wanted to assure you of my love and prayers during this sacred season.
I’ve been thinking a lot recently of a cherished friend, someone I’ve known for over half-a-century, since we waited on tables together in the same fried chicken place back home in St. Louis. She’s been a steady source of wisdom and encouragement to me since I met her in 1968.
Lately I’ve often been on the phone with her, concerned about the health of her dear mom, herself the great-granddaughter of a slave. The call I’ve dreaded came the other day, “Tim, mom passed.”
That’s a loaded word: passed. In this case, it meant a noble woman had passed from this life to the next. Sometimes we use the phrase “passed away.”
It’s actually a poetic, meaningful word. My dear friend was telling me in that one word -- passed -- that her mom had just made a natural, much anticipated, long prepared for, journey, from this life to everlasting life, from tears to smiles, from sickness and frailty to freedom forever.
That word is sacred to us believers. This evening, our Jewish neighbors begin the solemn feast of Passover, keeping an exquisite tradition of millennia, observing and remembering, with family and friends, prayer and a Seder meal, how God saved His chosen people, guiding them in passing over from death to life, slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land.
Not by coincidence, but because Jesus was a faithful Jew, we Christians commence Holy Week this same evening as well. Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter are all about passing as well, as Jesus passes from the darkness, evil, and death of a Friday weirdly termed “good” to the light, goodness, and life of Easter Sunday.
And, no surprise, Passover and Holy Week occur just as nature passes over, from the dreariness, bleakness, and chill of Winter, to the growth, brightness, and warmth of budding new life of Spring.
The people of Israel once wondered, is this bondage in Egypt all there is? Are the Lord’s promises null? Passover tells them, not at all!
The disciples of Jesus asked, is this earthquake, eclipse, torture, and death on a Friday afternoon the end? Have all the hope and dreams this unique man called “Lord” inspired, come to this bloody conclusion? Easter replies, think again!
We too are called to participate in our Lord’s passion, death, and resurrection, through our prayers, self-sacrifice, and participation in the sacraments, especially Sunday Mass. This Monday, March 29, is Reconciliation Monday, and every parish in the archdiocese, as well as parishes in the Diocese of Brooklyn, and the Diocese of Rockville Centre, will offer the sacrament of Penance from 3:00 -- 9:00 p.m. It’s a wonderful way to prepare ourselves to experience more fully the reality of Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection, passing over from sin to grace!
We might all be tempted to wonder, after a year of Covid, is this long lockdown, and isolation, death, and fear of Winter all we got? Spring answers, not on your life!
It’s all about passing over.
Holy Week graces!
Faithfully in Christ,Cardinal Timothy Dolan
Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan
Archbishop of New York
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02.24.21 - Message from Cardinal Dolan: A Financial Update
Dear Family of the Archdiocese of New York,
A blessed first week of Lent! I pray that this season of increased prayer, penance, self-sacrifice, and acts of charity is off to a strong start. It is easy to feel downbeat or discouraged these days with last week’s bad weather compounding the continued hardships brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. Might I suggest that, in this year when we have all sacrificed so much already, that one way we can observe the season of Lent is to try and let go of some of the negativity we might be inclined to feel about the hardships we’ve all had to endure, and unite whatever suffering we face with the suffering of Jesus on the Cross! What a powerful Lent we will have if we – and I certainly include myself – can accomplish this.
My thanks to all those who reached out with appreciation for my Flocknote of February 11. Many were anxious to tell me of their gratitude for being able to have their children in their local Catholic school, or for the way their pastor has done remarkable work reaching out to parishioners who are homebound, or for the help they have received through Catholic Charities and ArchCare, our health care ministry. A few asked, understandably, for an update on how the archdiocese was doing financially, like I did last Spring. While I realize that this is never anyone’s favorite subject, since we are about half-way through our fiscal year, it might be good to give you some highlights of where things stand. Our annual audited financial reports covering the past fiscal year, which ended August 31, 2020, are currently under review by our independent, outside accounting firm, and will be reported as it is each year in July in Catholic New York.
Long story short: Thanks to the generosity of you, our people, the dedication and commitment of our pastors and priests, and the hard work behind-the-scenes of people in the field and in the chancery, we have managed to hold our own in some ways, but continue to face some uphill battles in others. Allow me to give you some details.
Offertory (aka “The Sunday Collection”)
The offertory shared by the faithful each week is critical to sustaining the operations of our parishes and reaffirms support for the work our pastors and parish staff undertake. Many people went out of their way to continue supporting their parishes during a very difficult time. This stewardship helped to make up the shortfall that resulted from limited parish activity during the lockdown, which has seen the overall offertory income in our parishes decrease by more than 10% since the pandemic began. Fortunately, most of our needy parishes properly made use of the Paycheck Protection Program funds, which went to pay the salaries of parish and school staff, and partially offset this overall decline in offertory throughout the archdiocese. In so many cases, a parish is not just a place of worship but a second home for people. It is important that we continue our effort to support these communities of worship.
WeShare
One key to the continued parish support was much greater use of online giving, primarily through the WeShare program. I will admit that I am often lost when it comes to technology. Fortunately, our people and pastors are rapidly becoming much more comfortable in utilizing these modern tools. Our parishes, which had already been promoting our online giving platforms, saw a marked increase in parishioners utilizing this tool, and since March 2020, our parishes have seen online giving activity more than double, from 10% to 25% of all offertory. If you have not signed up yet, please consider doing so – it will be a great help to your pastor and parish. You can find a link on your parish’s website to enroll.
Cardinal’s Annual Stewardship Appeal
As you know, the Cardinal’s Annual Stewardship Appeal helps fund important ministries and initiatives throughout the archdiocese each year. During the 2020 year, appeal activity was lower than previous years, given the uncertainty stemming from the pandemic, yet the demands were towering! This did not deter our pastors, who continued to seek support from parishioners and allowed us to meet our goal of $20 million for 2020. Thank you!
Renew + Rebuild
The Renew + Rebuild Capital Campaign is centrally managed to utilize the resources available to our parishes at the archdiocese. Parishes were not mandated to participate in the program but involvement was encouraged. At the beginning of the campaign, each participating pastor was asked to complete an assessment of its buildings and identify projects needed in his parish, such as replacing boilers or roofs, painting, or fixing cracked windows and walls. Through contributions from parishioners, parishes have been able to make substantive improvements to their buildings, rather than a “band-aid” approach. Pastors are now relying on donors to honor the pledges made at the beginning of the campaign, in order to bring projects to completion. Everywhere I go, priests and people are eager to show me the repair and expansion done in our parishes due to Renew + Rebuild.
Central Services
Central Services is the administrative body of the archdiocese. It receives funding from a number of sources and redistributes these resources to assist needy parishes and schools. One source of that funding comes from the parishes in the form of the cathedraticum, a small percentage of regular parish income – mainly the Sunday collection. The cost for shared services, which are centrally negotiated to achieve purchasing power, like medical insurance, pension for parish employees, as well as property insurance is billed through what is known as the “consolidated bill.” Because Central Services also acts as the purchasing arm of the archdiocese, with our expansive geographical area and hundreds of operating entities, it provides economies of scale that benefit all. We thank the majority of our parishes that pay this “consolidated bill” in a timely manner. You should know that the annual operating budget for Central Services for the 2021 fiscal year, which began last September 1st, has been reduced by just over 10%. Although “finance people” can get a bum rap for being only interested in money, I can attest that their interest is solely on helping the archdiocese to be able to carry out its pastoral, educational, and charitable work. We’re all indebted to them.
Child Victims Act
Finally, another word about the Child Victims Act. We are still assessing what the economic impact will be on the archdiocese, although it is likely to be extremely significant. Cases continue to be filed, and we are anxious to reach just settlements with those who have meritorious claims, just as we already did through the Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program. We are prayerful and hopeful that our primary insurance carrier recognizes the moral imperative to resolve meritorious suits as soon as possible though unfortunately we have met resistance in our effort. We will continue to press and will report back soon.
Just like you must do with your family’s budget, the archdiocese and its parishes and institutions must pay careful attention to its income and how it spends its money. It is our sacred responsibility to be good stewards of the funds you entrust to us, and to make certain that they are used for the purposes for which they are given. I thank you for sticking with me through lengthier than intended letter.
Be assured of a continued remembrance in my Mass and prayers each day, that Lent 2021 will be an especially fruitful one for you and your loved ones.
Faithfully in Christ,Cardinal Timothy Dolan
Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan
Archbishop of New York -
Dear Member of the Family of the Archdiocese:
Last Thursday, I told you that we were awaiting the release of the McCarrick Report by the Holy See, and that time has come. I'd like to share with you my statement on the report, as well as the statement of Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. In addition, the report is available for you to read on the Vatican website here.
Please join me in praying for all those affected by the release of this report.
With gratitude to you, and prayerful best wishes, I am,
Faithfully in Christ,
Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan
Archbishop of New YorkStatement of Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York,
on the Holy See’s Report on Theodore McCarrickThe release of this report today by the Holy See is a necessary step in helping us to understand the case of Theodore McCarrick. Although I have only had time to review the summary, as I have only just received the report today, I look forward to studying it carefully.
Let me begin by once again expressing my sincere and deep sorrow to any who have suffered sexual abuse, and for the family members and loved ones of victim-survivors who have also suffered as a result of these sins and crimes.
Great credit must be given to those victim-survivors who bravely came forward in 2018 and made the initial allegations of abuse to this archdiocese. You took us at our word that we wanted to assist you, and in so doing, you helped bring this matter to light, proving that anyone who has abused a minor, even a cardinal, will be punished.
A word of gratitude must also be extended to Pope Francis and the Holy See for the way this case has been handled. When the first allegation was reported to the Archdiocese of New York’s Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program, we asked the Vatican for permission to have it investigated by the D.A. and our outside professionals, and have the entire matter judged by our lay review board. The word came back: Pope Francis requests that you handle this case as you would for any priest accused of abuse. The trust that our Holy Father displayed in the process followed by this archdiocese -- and in similar processes followed by all other dioceses in the United States -- was very affirming, and will lead, I hope, to others having the confidence to come forward, knowing that their allegations will be handled seriously, sensitively, and appropriately.
That the Holy See followed through on its assurance that, at the request of the American bishops, a complete study of the dismal case of Theodore McCarrick would be undertaken and published is also most encouraging.
I renew my plea to any person who has suffered abuse to go immediately to the District Attorney to report it. If you have suffered abuse by a priest or deacon of the archdiocese, I invite you to also reach out as well to our Victims’ Assistance Coordinator, so that we might take appropriate steps.
Finally, let me request that all people of good will, Catholic or not, remember in prayer all victims of sexual abuse, a heinous crime that afflicts all segments of society, ruins lives, and destroys families, that we will one day be able to put an end to this evil, and bring comfort and healing to all who suffer.Statement of Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles,
President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops,
on the Holy See’s Report on Theodore McCarrickI welcome the report of the Holy See’s investigation into its knowledge and decision-making regarding Theodore McCarrick during his long career as a priest, bishop, and cardinal. We are studying these findings, and we are grateful to our Holy Father Pope Francis for his pastoral concern for the family of God in the United States and his leadership in calling the Church to greater accountability and transparency in addressing issues of abuse and the mishandling of abuse claims at every level.
This is another tragic chapter in the Church’s long struggle to confront the crimes of sexual abuse by clergy. To McCarrick’s victims and their families, and to every victim-survivor of sexual abuse by the clergy, I express my profound sorrow and deepest apologies. Please know that my brother bishops and I are committed to doing whatever is in our power to help you move forward and to ensure that no one suffers what you have been forced to suffer.
To all those who have suffered abuse by a priest, bishop, or someone in the Church, I urge you to report this abuse to law enforcement and to Church authorities. You can find detailed information on how and where to report abuse at usccb.org/committees/p.... [link]
This report underscores the need for us to repent and grow in our commitment to serve the people of God. Let us all continue to pray and strive for the conversion of our hearts, and that we might follow Jesus Christ with integrity and humility.
Para leer este mensaje en español, haga clic aquí. Click here to read this message online.November 5, 2020
Month of the Faithful DepartedDear Member of the Family of the Archdiocese:
It is time for me to give you another update on the Archdiocese of New York and its response during this coronavirus pandemic, and let you know what’s been happening regarding our efforts to combat the sin and crime of the sexual abuse of minors. I did a similar update a number of months ago, and you let me know you found it helpful.
Let me begin by recognizing our parishes and priests who did an outstanding job meeting the pastoral and spiritual needs of the people, even while public celebrations of the Mass were put on hold. Many began livestreaming their parish Masses, so that people could join together in prayer. While the livestream from Saint Patrick’s Cathedral was very popular – the Easter Sunday Mass livestream and broadcast reached over 2 million people! – many people have told me that they preferred to tune in to their local parish, because that, to them, is “home.” Since public celebrations of Mass and the sacraments have resumed, our churches are carefully following all health and safety guidelines, and Mass continues without any virus outbreaks. Our pastors tell us that attendance is increasing weekly.
Our Catholic schools deserve praise as well. When the pandemic hit last March, our teachers, principals, pastors, staff, and students all quickly pivoted to on-line learning, and finished the school year in remarkable fashion. That was impressive, and those involved had certainly earned a restful summer break. Instead, everyone buckled down, and began to prepare for a September return to the classroom. Rather than beaches and pool-sides, our wonderful faculty and administrators began to formulate plans for safe, smart, and creative ways to teach in this age of Covid-19. After more than two months, the results have been remarkable, and could easily serve as a role model for other school systems. That we were back with schools safe and open right off the bat was a big plus, and enrollment has even risen since September.
We mustn’t forget the tremendous work done by Catholic Charities of the archdiocese in finding new and innovative ways to respond during this pandemic. Residences for those with disabilities remained open, and staff were provided with PPE. In addition to regular food programs, pop-up pantries provided nutritious food in the New York City and Hudson Valley neighborhoods, often at parishes. Over 1 million meals have been distributed since March. Calls for help, more than 22,000, were answered remotely by dedicated Catholic Charities staff. Generous private donors enabled more than $4.5 million in emergency cash assistance to be distributed to families ineligible for other forms of assistance. Other services for children and youth needed to be adjusted, to allow for social distancing, but tens of thousands of New Yorkers continue to receive assistance amidst the pandemic.
ArchCare, the health care ministry of the archdiocese, has been a leader in the community with its response to the pandemic. Initially, the lack of testing and PPE impeded its response. But those issues have long been resolved and the system made many enhancements that demonstrate how well they can prevent the spread of the virus. Through a program called “Protect,” ArchCare has been increasing its infection control staff and training, enhancing its protocols and policies and invested in new equipment and technologies. Although it has been difficult to make such investments during an economically challenging time, ArchCare is committed to be well prepared in case of a resurgence of the virus. Improvements and reliability in testing have ensured the safety of limited visits to the facilitates and support the well-being of families and residents during this difficult time. Special attention and care of the system’s 4,300 dedicated employees has also been a priority in ensuring their safety and well-being. The quality care and services ArchCare is privileged to deliver because of its Catholic mission is needed today more than ever.
Let me now update you on the ongoing efforts to respond to sexual abuse. Sorry to bring it up, but, again, you tell me you would rather hear it from me.
In September, 2019, Judge Barbara Jones and I held a press conference to release her findings and recommendations on how well this archdiocese was living up to its promises in responding to the nauseating horror that is sexual abuse. You may recall that Judge Jones and her firm, Bracewell, spent a year carefully examining our priest files, studying our policies, procedures, and protocols, and interviewing archdiocesan staff, and concluded that, thankfully, the archdiocese, “faithfully followed its policies and procedures and responded appropriately to abuse complaints, and is committed to supporting victims-survivors of abuse.” She also made some helpful recommendations on how the archdiocese might do even better.
We have made good progress on implementing Judge Jones’s recommendations. Highlights include:- An Administrator has been appointed for our Archdiocesan Review Board, Kevin Reynolds, an attorney who most recently served as senior vice president, human resources and chief legal officer of a major life insurance company
- A new, outside, professional, firm with a more diverse background and investigative experience has been retained to investigate allegations of abuse.
- New members have been added to our Lay Review Board, including a psychiatrist who is board certified in both child and adolescent psychiatry and adult psychiatry, and a federal judge.
- An electronic case management system has been installed, to track every sexual abuse complaint from first report through final resolution.
I have asked Judge Jones to give us a check-up to assess our progress on following through on her recommendations, and I will keep you posted on her findings. Our commitment to transparency, accountability, and action continues.
Following our annual audit conducted by StoneBridge Partners, the archdiocese was once again found to be in compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, as we have every year since the first audit in 2003/2004.
As has been the case for quite some time, the claims of abuse that are being filed against the archdiocese, mainly through cases filed under the Child Victims Act (CVA), deal with actions that allegedly took place many years, often decades ago. There have been no substantiated claims of abuse concerning acts alleged to have occurred recently. There is no priest or deacon of the Archdiocese of New York currently serving in public ministry who has a credible and substantiated claim of abuse against him.
And, our Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program, begun in 2016, continues to offer a compassionate response to those who seek it out, having come to resolution with more than 300 cases thus far.
While this is reassuring, we must continue to be vigilant in meeting this scourge head-on.
We must also recognize that the road ahead will continue to be challenging as the remaining Child Victims Act cases are filed. John Cahill, our Chancellor, has provided me a snapshot of where we stand with the CVA cases. It’s sobering. Here is how he summed it up:- On February 14, 2019, Governor Cuomo signed the Child Victims Act into law. The CVA enlarged the statute of limitations for civil litigation related to claims of child sexual abuse, and created a limited “look back” window suspending the applicable statute of limitations.
- The CVA “look back” window was initially set to last one year, from August 14, 2019 to August 14, 2020. In May 2020, the legislature voted to extend the window for an additional 1-year period, and Governor Cuomo signed the 1-year extension into law in August 2020. The window is now set to close on August 14, 2021.
- This law will have a major impact on our archdiocese as we move forward.
- Like many other secular and religious institutions, we have been served with hundreds of suits related to CVA claims, some going as far back as the 1940s.
- The Archdiocese and its parishes, schools, and charities has selected strong legal counsel to represent them in these cases.
- The Archdiocese purchased comprehensive insurance coverage over most of the alleged time period, with Chubb being the primary insurance carrier from 1956 - 1996.
- For victim-survivors who have waited for justice, the Archdiocese is committed to assisting the courts with the prompt resolution of claims which are meritorious under the law and to the litigation of other claims to determine their validity.
We are also still waiting for the release of the so-called “McCarrick Report” by the Holy See, detailing the damning story of former-cardinal Theodore McCarrick. That could be another black-eye for the Church. But, better that the story come out, in all its awful detail, to both bring some measure of peace to the victim-survivors, as well as serve as a lesson on how to prevent a similar recurrence in the future. We can thank Pope Francis for keeping his promise to undertake and release this report.
Let me conclude with a word about archdiocesan finances. As I’ve mentioned in previous letters, the archdiocese faces some significant financial challenges. Thanks be to God, your generosity to your parishes continues to be strong, and almost all of our parishes now have ways for people to give electronically through We Share – online giving, which has been a big help; if you haven’t yet signed up to support your parish in this way, please give it serious consideration. Still, parish income continues to be less than it was a year ago, and our Cardinal’s Annual Stewardship Appeal and other fundraising efforts will all likely fall short of last year’s total. Add to that increased need from our parishes, schools, and charities, along with other mounting expenses, and it is not difficult to understand the uphill climb ahead of us. I’ll continue to keep you informed.
Might I ask for your prayers, for those continuing to suffer the effects of the coronavirus that they may have a return to health, those victim-survivors of sexual abuse that they might find peace and reconciliation, those of the archdiocese, particularly its clergy, who work every day to serve you well and faithfully, and, finally, during this month of all souls, all those faithful departed still in purgatory, that through God’s mercy they might soon be with Him for all eternity in Heaven.
With gratitude to you, and prayerful best wishes, I am,Faithfully in Christ,
Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan
Archbishop of New York
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September 18, 2020
Dear Family of the Archdiocese of New York,
This Sunday, September 20, we celebrate Catechetical Sunday. In many parishes, this is the day that we recognize those who serve in the official role of catechist to children, youth, and adults. In the archdiocese, we have approximately 8,000 individuals who have said yes to call to help young people encounter Christ and grow in their Catholic faith through religious education and parish youth ministry. There are many more who teach in our Catholic schools, lead adult faith formation programs and preparation for marriage and baptism, and prepare adults for the Rite of Christian Initiation. We are grateful for their service and commitment to the people of God.
On this Catechetical Sunday, I also want you to know that we have been thinking about you and your family during this pandemic, and especially your children and grandchildren. Our archdiocesan staff has been working hard with your parishes to find safe and creative ways to provide opportunities for religious education and youth ministry this fall. We have instituted safety protocols for parishes who choose to offer on-site formation and for those who will be doing remote formation, there are innovative and engaging programs for the whole family. Now, more than ever, it is vital to help young people the power of God at work in their lives and the role that their Catholic faith plays in living a life of meaning, service, and grace.
All of us, whether we have children or not, have a role in forming young people in the faith. We can pray for them—praying for good friends and good choices, for seeing Jesus in their everyday lives, and for hope and comfort in their distress. We can be role-models—witnessing to our faith through our worlds and actions. Those who are parents or guardians, you can take that extra step to ensure your young person receives the foundation in faith they greatly need. Please, if you have not done so, reach out to your parish and ask how your children and youth can engage in religious education and youth ministry this fall.
With gratitude and prayerful best wishes, I am,
Faithfully in Christ,
Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan
Archbishop of New York