Mayor Mandani Snubs New Yorks 2.5 million Catholics
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
New York NY, For nearly a century, the relationship between New York City’s City Hall and the Archdiocese of New York was a pillar of civic stability. Through wars, financial crises, and political shifts, every mayor since 1939 has made a point to show up for the installation of a new archbishop.
That 86-year streak just ended.
New York’s new Mayor, Zohran Mamdani, the city’s first self-described democratic socialist leader, has made waves in his first weeks by effectively “freezing out” the Catholic clergy—a move that has left Cardinal Timothy Dolan more than just disappointed. He’s “ticked off.”
The Three-Part Snub
According to Cardinal Dolan, the frostiness from the Mamdani administration isn’t a one-time scheduling error. It appears to be a pattern:
-
The Inauguration: No Catholic clergy were invited to participate in the Jan. 1 inauguration ceremony.
-
The Transition Team: Cardinal Dolan noted a glaring lack of Catholic representation on the mayor’s transition committee.
-
The Installation: In a historic first since 1939, the mayor skipped the installation of Archbishop Ronald Hicks, Dolan’s successor at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
“That defied precedent,” Dolan remarked in a recent interview. “I was ticked off that he didn’t invite me… and I was really ticked off that he didn’t show up at the installation.”
Why It Matters: By the Numbers
This isn’t just about hurt feelings at the pulpit; it’s about a massive segment of the New York population. Recent data from the Pew Research Center highlights the stakes:
-
32% of adults in the NYC metro area identify as Catholic.
-
2.5 Million Catholics reside within the Archdiocese.
Dolan argued that the mayor’s presence at these events isn’t about the “clout” of the Church, but about civic respect for a community that forms the backbone of the city’s social fabric.
Socialism vs. the “Common Good”
The tension also highlights a deep ideological rift. Mamdani, who aligns with high-profile progressives like AOC and Zohran Mamdani (a key figure in the NYC DSA movement), has described himself as an “economic socialist.”
Dolan hasn’t held back on his skepticism of this label, suggesting that the “collectivism” Mamdani champions often stands in direct opposition to the American values the Church has historically defended. While previous mayors—from La Guardia to Bloomberg—frequently clashed with the Church on policy, they maintained a level of “ecumenical health” that allowed for public cooperation.
A Public Break
By skipping the installation of Archbishop Hicks, Mamdani has signaled a departure from the “civic arena” that defined New York politics for decades. In a city where one-third of the residents belong to the “one holy, catholic and apostolic Church,” this isn’t just a ceremonial tension—it’s a public break that could define the next four years of New York governance.
-
Primary Tag: #NYCPolitics #ReligiousFreedom, #CatholicChurchNews, #ZohranMamdaniControversy, #CardinalDolanInterview. Catholics
An absolute piece of crap. Those who voted for this guy deserve every bad policy he rolls out.
His mother has links to Jeffrey Epstein…..should get interesting.
He’s a Muslim what did you expect???
All the self hating jews on the upper west side voted for this POS and now they are feeling the repercussions.
Wallow in your own filth – You deserve it.
Sorry.
President Trump LOVES the guy. They looked like the best of friends in the oval office today.
You need to get with the program.