Cardinal Timothy Dolan decried the characterization who support the rights of the pre-born and their mothers as fanatics, and called for all parties to find middle ground in an op-ed published in New York’s Daily News on Sunday, June 9, titled “Witness the actual abortion extremists.”  

“Once again, a prominent political leader has maligned those of us who work hard to defend the most basic civil right — to life itself — of the preborn baby as ‘extremists,'” Cardinal Dolan wrote.

Following a May New York Court of Appeals ruling that would require all employers to provide insurance coverage that included abortion services without religious or conscientious exemption, Gov. Kathy Hochul referred to those who opposed the policy as “right-wing extremists.”

“Now, abortion supporters insist upon the unquestioned right to an abortion at any time, from conception to the very process of birth, for any reason or none-at-all; this ending of the baby’s life to be paid for by the all of us through our taxes; doctors, nurses, and hospitals coerced into performing these grisly procedures, even if it tramples upon their consciences,” Cardinal Dolan wrote.

Despite the negative nature of the dialogue to date, Cardinal Dolan expressed his hope that a positive consensus is still possible to achieve.

“We long for political leaders who try to protect the rights of all, who speak eloquently of the health of both the baby and the mom. Could not common ground be that we are all pro-baby, pro-mom, pro-life?”

Read the full op-ed piece here (subscription may be required).