Senator's complaint slammed as 'anti-Catholic intolerance'

HAD QUESTIONED INVOCATION

New York State Senator Thomas Duane (D-Manhattan) wrote to Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno (R-Brunswick) last week, objecting to Bishop Howard J. Hubbard of the Albany Diocese leading the Senate's opening prayer and remaining on the dais for the remainder of the chamber's ceremonial first session.

Richard E. Barnes, executive director of the New York State Catholic Conference, which represents the bishops in matters of public policy, said that "Senator Duane's assertion that a Catholic bishop should be barred from praying in the Senate chamber is an expression of anti-Catholic intolerance. The Senator's claim that such a prayer 'give[s] the impression of exerting undue influence on Senate members' is an extremely serious and offensive charge, both to the Bishop and his fellow senators.

"We are unaware of any cases where the senator has leveled that charge on other clergy who have prayed in the Senate. We note Senator Duane's own words that he is especially concerned about 'those who are members of the New York State Catholic Conference' and 'any Bishop from any New York Diocese.' We also note that many of the Conference's public policy positions have been met with Senator Duane's disapproval. We sincerely hope that Senator Duane's complaints are not motivated by anything so constitutionally prohibited as suggested by a plain reading of his letter.

"Senator Duane cites potential legislation regarding sexual abuse by clergy as a reason for the inappropriateness of Bishop Hubbard's presence in the chamber. The Senator must be aware that the Catholic Conference did not object to any such legislation. Unfortunately, he appears to be using the crisis in the Church as a platform to promote his own agenda.

"At this time of need, with the world at war against terror, millions on the brink of starvation, financial crises in our nation and state, and sins and crimes in the greater society and within our Church, Bishop Hubbard accepted an invitation to come to pray. His prayer called for a non-partisan and unified purpose among our leaders and people in addressing the needs of the most vulnerable. His words were immediately cited as inspirational by Lt. Gov. Donohue, Senator Bruno and Senator Paterson. It is sad that Senator Duane then chose to betray the spirit of that prayer with his irrational letter."