CARDINAL JOHN O’CONNOR: N.Y. Archbishop Dies
New York's Cardinal John O'Connor died yesterday at age 80 after a battle with brain cancer. The cardinal, who led the New York Archdiocese for 16 years, was the "Vatican's most forceful spokesman in the United States," voicing strong opposition to abortion and gay rights, but at the same time expressing compassion for the plight of AIDS patients, the New York Times reports (Steinfels, New York Times, 5/4). O'Connor often made unannounced visits to Catholic hospitals, where he ministered to AIDS patients (AP/Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 5/4). The Los Angeles Times reports that he "emptied bedpans while working in a hospice bathing AIDS patients" (Goldman, Los Angeles Times, 5/4). And according to the New York Times, he appealed to Catholic medical workers to help "[i]n the days when AIDS patients had trouble getting medical care" ( New York Times, 5/4). The Rev. Thomas Reese, a Jesuit scholar and editor of the national Catholic weekly America Magazine said, "He had a strong life position. It has not only been abortion, but concerns for the homeless, people on welfare, the street people, people suffering from AIDS. ... He has always been willing to tell it like it is when he knows people disagree with him. I think people respected him for that" (Los Angeles Times, 5/4). The Washington Post reports that at times, O'Connor's views were criticized by some AIDS advocates. He once said, "The truth is not in condoms or clean needles. These are lies; lies perpetuated often for political reasons on the part of public officials. ... Sometimes I believe that the greatest damage done to persons with AIDS is done by the dishonesty of those health care professionals who refuse to confront the moral dimensions of sexual aberrations or drug abuse. Good morality is good medicine" (Rosin/McCarthy, Washington Post, 5/4). But even though "[s]uch views stirred controversy among many New Yorkers and even some of his own parishioners," O'Connor always "balanced them with a plea for those in need, even when the needy were at odds with his strong Catholic message," a New York Times editorial notes today. The editorial concludes, "Cardinal John O'Connor will be remembered as the pope's dutiful emissary in New York City, a powerful advocate for Catholic theology and human charity" (New York Times, 5/4). A funeral service is scheduled for 2 p.m. EDT Monday at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City (Los Angeles Times, 5/4).
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