N.Y. installs new archbishop

NEW YORK — Archbishop Timothy Dolan was installed Wednesday as the leader of Roman Catholic New York, taking the most prominent American pulpit in the church during an elaborate ceremony that drew thousands of parishioners and civic leaders to St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Known for his wit and warmth, Dolan beamed as he walked down the aisle toward the altar, waving to the crowd, hugging well-wishers and stopping to shake hands in a front pew with Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Gov. David Paterson, among others who attended.

At a news conference hours earlier, Dolan said he would challenge efforts to legalize gay marriage in New York state. Gov. David Paterson is expected Thursday to introduce such a bill; gays and lesbians can already marry across the border in Connecticut, Massachusetts and, later this year, Vermont.

In his sermon, Dolan lamented that the church was "ridiculed for her teaching on the sanctity of marriage." He said his goal was to revive observance in the church and protect human life, "from the tiny baby in the womb to the last moment of natural passing."

"The church is a loving mother who has a zest for life and serves life everywhere, but she can become a protective 'mama bear' when the life of her innocent, helpless cubs is threatened," he said, sparking a standing ovation. "Everyone in this mega-community is a somebody with an extraordinary destiny. Everybody is a somebody in whom God has invested infinite love."

Dolan, 59, the former Milwaukee archbishop, succeeded Cardinal Edward Egan, 77, who retired after nine years in the job. Dolan is expected to eventually be named a cardinal.

The Archdiocese of New York is the nation's second-largest diocese after Los Angeles, yet it is the most visible Catholic post in the country.

Among Dolan's predecessors was Cardinal Francis Spellman, who was so influential that his residence was dubbed "the powerhouse." Cardinal John O'Connor was the most forceful Catholic voice in the national debates of his era, especially on abortion. Dolan said in the news conference that his new job "does have an enhanced prominence that might take getting used to on my part."

Yet he appeared to revel in the spotlight of the two-day installation, which began with an evening prayer service in the cathedral Tuesday night. At Wednesday's Mass, about 150 bishops, archbishops and cardinals took part in the procession inside St. Patrick's, accompanied by hundreds of priests and other representatives of the archdiocese.