Sisters of Charity Answer Dolan Claim that Kirk was St Paul

The Sisters of Charity of New York issued a pointed rebuke of Cardinal Dolan’s over-the-top praise of Charley Kirk. 

I am going to put their full statement below. But first, I want to make a brief statement of my own. It is normal after someone dies, especially when a political figure is murdered in a public venue as Charley Kirk was, to focus on their good points and ignore their faults. “Do not speak ill of the dead,” we say. 

There is a reason for this. A life has been ended in violence. Someone has been taken from us who should still be here. When one of our fellow human beings is wantonly murdered, we all have lost something precious. It’s natural and necessary to grieve this loss and in the course of the grief to focus on the good qualities the murdered one possessed. 

In the case of Charley Kirk, his murder was videoed and immediately uploaded onto the internet where it was viewed by tens of millions of people. I haven’t seen the video, but it was evidently a riveting experience to watch it. 

That made Kirk’s death even more personal to the people who watched the video. It brought home the sudden finality of death, and its utter unpredictability. 

People want to see videos like that at least in part because we are all going to die. None of us is promised anything as far as life span goes. From the looks of him, Charley Kirk was a strong, healthy, young man in his prime who could look forward to decades of living.

But in a moment, he was gone. There are many ways any one of us can die at any time. In fact, there are so many ways we can die that it’s somewhat surprising that so many of us live to a ripe old age. 

Most people do their best to ignore this reality, but no one ever fully succeeds. We know it, even when we try our best not to know it. 

So, we are fascinated by videos like those of Charley Kirk’s murder because by watching it we affirm that the person who got shot, the person who died, is not us. We’re alive. And watching a video like that both reminds us that we can die at any moment and that we are in fact alive at the same time. 

It’s also natural to praise the dead immediately after they die. They could be us, and we know it. 

It’s natural to focus on their good points and, at least temporarily, shove their failures and the evil they have done out of sight. More honest assessments of them and their life can come later, after the first flush of grief for their death and guilty relief that it is not us who has died have faded. 

However, when Cardinal Dolan went on Fox News and said that Charley Kirk was a “modern day St Paul” he pretty much jumped the shark. 

I may write later about why I think he did this. But for now, I’ll just be blunt and simple about it. That comparison was asinine. 

Cardinals and bishops of the Catholic Church have a big voice. 

Let me say that again. 

Cardinals and bishops of the Catholic Church have a BIG voice. 

Millions upon millions of people think that they are one step below Christ the Lord. These people think that when a Cardinal or bishop opens his big mouth and says something totally absurd that it is not, in fact, absurd. They think it is the teaching of the Catholic Church.

This is doubly damaging since Dolan made his statement on Fox News, whose audience contains a large number of what I call “three apple” Trump followers; people who literally idolize Trump and follow him as if he was Christ Himself. That gave the statement the appearance of a Cardinal of the Catholic Church putting his imprimatur on the Trump administration’s blatant use of Charley Kirk’s murder to justify sending troops into American cities with instructions to use “full force” against unarmed American civilians. 

Cardinal Dolan ended up looking like he was an active partner in the plot to use Kirk’s murder as an excuse to turn America into a military dictatorship.

Cardinal Dolan needs to be more responsible about the things he says. If he — or any bishop — blurts out something this badly wrong, they should have the integrity to say “I misspoke” and clear the air.  

I’m grateful to the Sisters of Charity of New York for their courage in making this statement. I hope the Cardinal doesn’t reprise against them for doing it. It’s a needful thing. It’s something he should have done himself.  

Here is the statement:

Sisters of Charity of New York Respond to Cardinal Dolan’s Remarks on Charlie Kirk

by Communications Office | Sep 24, 2025 | home, NEWS | 124 comments

Several of us watched Cardinal Dolan’s recent FOX interview, where he referred to Charlie Kirk as “a modern-day St. Paul.” The Cardinal praised Mr. Kirk’s conviction and willingness to speak about the Lord and for being a model for young people looking for meaning in their lives.

We grieve every loss of life and unequivocally condemn the killing of Mr. Kirk.

What Cardinal Dolan may not have known is that many of Mr. Kirk’s words were marked by racist, homophobic, transphobic, and anti-immigrant rhetoric, by violent pro-gun advocacy, and by the promotion of Christian nationalism.  These prejudicial words do not reflect the qualities of a saint. To compare Mr. Kirk to St. Paul risks confusing the true witness of the Gospel and giving undue sanction to words and actions that hurt the very people Jesus calls us to love.

Just last week, Cardinal Dolan joined us in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the canonization of our Foundress, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Elizabeth’s legacy is not one of exclusion or hatred, but of radical welcome, tireless service, and unwavering love of neighbor.  Many of Mr. Kirk’s words stand in stark contrast to the charity and compassion that defined those of Elizabeth Seton.

For generations, the Sisters of Charity of New York have cared for immigrant families arriving with nothing but hope. While our direct service has changed, our commitment to those families endures. They deserve true examples of discipleship, not false prophets.

In this moment, we reaffirm our mission: to walk with all people who are poor and marginalized, to welcome immigrants and refugees, to defend the dignity of LGBTQ+ persons, and to labor for peace in a world saturated with violence. These are the marks of authentic discipleship. These are the qualities of saints.

We urge our Church leadership, including Cardinal Dolan, to lift up witnesses whose lives truly reflect the Gospel of Jesus Christ – lives of humility, justice, compassion, and peace. 

We will continue to pray for Mr. Kirk, his family and for all who mourn his loss.

Leadership Team, Sisters of Charity of New York

Sr. Donna Dodge, 

Sr. Margaret O’Brien, 

Sr. Mary Mc Cormick,

Sr. Mary Ann Daly, 

Sr. Sheila Brosnan, 

Sr. Margaret Egan                 

9/24/2025