New York Mayor Mamdani and Archbishop Hicks Meet


New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has been criticized for missing the Feb. 6 installation Mass for Archbishop Ronald Hicks at St. Patrick’s Cathedral; however the mayor and the archbishop did meet on Feb. 10.

Mayor Mamdani, Archbishop Ronald Hicks and Cardinal Timothy Dolan attended Tuesday, Feb. 10, morning’s State of the New York Police Department (NYPD) address, where the latter was welcomed as the force’s new co-chief chaplain, along with Reverend A.R. Bernard of Brooklyn’s Christian Cultural Center. 

Hicks and Mamdani met on Feb. 10 at the New York Police Department event according to Joseph Zwilling, director of communications for the Archdiocese of New York. Also, they “then spoke by phone later in the day.” The archdiocese revealed that Mamdani was invited to the installation Mass.

The mayor also congratulated the new Archbishop on X: Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani wrote - "Congratulations to Archbishop Ronald Hicks on today’s installment and welcome to New York City. I know that Archbishop Hicks and I share a deep and abiding commitment to the dignity of every human being and look forward to working together to create a more just and compassionate city where every New Yorker can thrive."

New York's mayors traditionally attend an Archbishop's installations. Hicks replaced Cardinal Timothy Dolan following his retirement. Mayor Mamdani sent Helen Arteaga, deputy mayor for Health and Human Services, to the Feb. 6 installation Mass. 

 In a recent article published by the Catholic League, author Bill Donohue expresses strong criticism regarding New York City official Zohran Mamdani’s relationship with the city’s religious communities, specifically targeting his perceived absence of engagement with the Catholic Church.

3 Points from Donohue’s Argument

According to Donohue, several key events suggest a deliberate exclusion of Catholics and mainstream Jewish organizations from Mamdani's administration:

  • Religious Representation: Donohue highlights that while various clergy attended Mamdani’s Interfaith Breakfast on February 6, no Catholic priest was in attendance.

  • Declining Sponsorship: The author notes that prominent Jewish organizations, including the UJA-Federation of New York and the Anti-Defamation League, withdrew their sponsorship of the event this year.

  • The "Ghosting" Incident: Donohue claims that Mamdani failed to attend the installation of the new Archbishop of New York at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, despite being invited and being in close proximity at the time.

Donohue's Interpretation

Donohue contends that these actions reflect a broader hostility toward traditional religious groups. He argues that:

  1. Exclusion of Catholics: Despite Catholics making up one-third of New York’s population, Donohue believes Mamdani’s "interest in diversity and inclusion" does not extend to the Catholic community.

  2. Ideological Conflict: The author attributes this "animus" to Mamdani’s policy positions on abortion and LGBTQ+ rights, which conflict with Catholic teaching.

  3. Strained Jewish Relations: Donohue asserts that Mamdani is alienating Jewish New Yorkers through his support of the BDS movement and his stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Perspective Note: Donohue concludes by suggesting that Mamdani’s first month in office signals a historic shift in city politics—one that he believes marginalizes those who do not align with the official's specific ideological platform.

Sources: “Mamdani’s Catholic Problem,” by Bill Donohue, Catholic League.

https://thegoodnewsroom.org/police-commissioner-tisch-names-cardinal-dolan-co-chief-chaplain-of-nypd/

https://www.catholicleague.org/mamdani-stiffs-catholics-for-third-time/

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