New York Times surprised over Cardinal Dolan's support for beatification of Dorothy Day

Is the conservative archbishops support for the Catholic Worker founder really a political move?

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Dorothy Day has found a Catholic champion in New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan

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“And Day is one of those few figures who has traction in both those groups.”

Day believed all states were inherently totalitarian and today’s bishops see echoes of their fight with the Obama administration over health care in this.

Cardinal Francis E. George, archbishop of Chicago said “As we struggle at this opportune moment to try to show how we are losing our freedoms in the name of individual rights, Dorothy Day is a very good woman to have on our side.”

However many believe that while it’s natural for Dolan to promote her, as she was a resident in the New York diocese and his predecessor proposed her canonization, his motives are political. Some Catholics believe that Dolan is choosing to promote Day now as many liberal Catholics believe the Church cares more about women’s reproductive issues than the poor.

William A. Donohue, president of the Catholic League, a conservative anti-defamation organization told the Times “It is an opportunity for him to demonstrate that conservative Catholics are not uncaring, without accepting liberal principles in how you service the poor.”

However Dolan will have a long hard road before Day is made a saint by the Vatican. The Vatican must determine first that two miracles occurred as a result of prayers to her since her death. Secondly there must be organized and continuous support for sainthood.

Even Dolan who has supported her canonization expressed his concerns to do with her “Sexual immorality, religious searching, pregnancy out of wedlock and an abortion.”

However her said after her conversion to Catholicism she became an icon “for everything right about the dignity of the human person and the sanctity of human life.”

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