Archbishop Robert Hicks, who is to replace retired Timothy Cardinal Dolan as the leader of the Archdiocese of New York, has delivered welcome statements on the nation's borders and due process, Father Gerald Murray told Newsmax on Thursday.
"I was very pleased that he mentioned the rights of the countries to defend their borders," Murray, pastor of St. Joseph's Church in New York City, said on "Newsline." "Pope Leo had said the same thing recently, so there is concern, and I agree with that."
Earlier on Wednesday, Hicks said in an interview that it is vital to ensure the United States protects its borders while upholding "human dignity, respect, treating each other well, and making sure that anything connected to these policies is connected to due process."
"Due process has to be involved in every law enforcement effort," Murray said. "I reject the idea that ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] agents are agents of evil, and I don't think the bishop was saying that at all."
Illegal immigration, Murray added, has a "tremendous deleterious impact" on the nation, so "we have to realize that and deal with it."
Murray also noted that Hicks and the Pope have similar backgrounds.
"Both grew up on that suburban south [side] of Chicago," Murray said. "Pope Leo is 70 years old; [Hicks is] 58, so they're different generations."
Still, they have a "similar dynamic" that shows that "the American church is a church where faith in Christ is expressed. It has an effect in public policy," Murray added.
Turning to Dolan's next chapter, Murray said the cardinal has indicated he intends to stay in the city, remain active in public life, and continue participating in Catholic Church affairs as a cardinal.
"Yes. Cardinal Dolan has announced that he will stay in New York," Murray said. "He's not a New York native originally, but he's become an adopted New Yorker, so he'll be around, and I'm sure he's going to continue his media presence and do other things."
"Dolan remains a cardinal, so he'll be able to vote in a conclave and participate in some activities regarding the Roman Curia, where they need advice from Americans," Murray added.
Murray also said Dolan's accessibility and comfort with the news media were a defining part of his tenure, and he hopes that approach continues under the new archbishop.
"If there's any way to communicate with the modern scene, it's through Newsmax and other outlets and the internet and all that good stuff," Murray said.
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Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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