Archbishop of New York Timothy Dolan is likeable, fun-loving, and
quick to tell a joke - but he can also deliver a mean theological
argument on some of the Catholic church's most conservative beliefs.
Dolan
is known as "the American Pope" and he's often considered the most
important Catholic in America today. He's also a scholar and a
passionate defender of the church's traditional views on what he calls
"settled questions."
If you've ever wondered why exactly the Catholic
church opposes gay marriage and ordination of women as priests, listen
to Dolan articulate the church's beliefs. It's far from a simple matter
of saying "no."
For example, here's the archbishop on gay marriage:
"I have a strong desire to play shortstop for the Yankees. I don't have a
right to because I don't have what it takes. And that would be what the
church would say about marriage."
And here's Dolan
arguing against the ordination of women as priests: "Jesus gave women
positions of responsibility. The only ones at the foot of the cross
except for St. John? Women. The people that discovered his resurrection?
Women. The people that were with him on his journeys? Women. People
say, 'This guy was kind of a pioneer in women's rights.' So, if he were
going to intend them for the priesthood, he woulda done it. And he
didn't."