Exclusive: Cardinal Egan on Rudy Giuliani

In light of Rudy Giuliani receiving the Eucharist during the Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral, the Archdiocese of New York released the following comment from Cardinal Edward Egan this morning. I received the statement from Joe Zwilling, director of communications for the archdiocese.

“ The Catholic Church clearly teaches that abortion is a grave offense against the will of God. Throughout my years as Archbishop of New York, I have repeated this teaching in sermons, articles, addresses, and interviews without hesitation or compromise of any kind. Thus it was that I had an understanding with Mr. Rudolph Giuliani, when I became Archbishop of New York and he was serving as Mayor of New York, that he was not to receive the Eucharist because of his well-known support of abortion. I deeply regret that Mr. Giuliani received the Eucharist during the Papal visit here in New York, and I will be seeking a meeting with him to insist that he abide by our understanding.”

-- Tim Drake

Comments

[Maryan]

Good for Cardinal Egan! Prayers for Guliani. :(

[Lauren]

Thanks for posting. Bravo to Card. Egan for having the guts to say this. I wonder if Archbp. Wuerl will say anything...

[Franklin Tsu]

This is a bit of an about face for the Cardinal. Maybe he is bucking for the late Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo's, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family position. It's no secret he would love to move back to Rome and Curia.