Sean O'Malley

"In Boston, it'd be the religious equivalent of the Red Sox beating the Yankees," some newsdrone intoned solemnly on the evening news tonight.

Cardinal Sean O'Malley blogs about his participation in Ted Kennedy's funeral, defends his decision from Kennedy haters and adds that he used his brief time talking to President Obama to tell him the church will only support universal health care if it does not include abortion provisions.

Cardinal O'Malley makes it perfectly clear on his blog: If Caritas Cristi and a partner do win a contract to become the default provider for the state health system, women will be on their own when it comes to abortions or emergency contraception:

... Caritas Christi will never do anything to promote abortions, to direct any patients to providers of abortion or in any way to participate in actions that are contrary to Catholic moral teaching and anyone who suggests otherwise is doing a great disservice to the Catholic Church. We are committed to the Gospel of Life and no arrangement will be entered into unless it is completely in accord with Church teaching. ...

Still, he adds that he is asking the National Catholic Bioethics Center to review the arrangement.

Via Michael Paulson.

Michael Paulson posts an interview with Cardinal O'Malley after his meeting with Boston-area Jewish leaders yesterday over the un-excommunicated Holocaust-denying bishop.

Michael Paulson reports, posts video of the event on Boston Common today.

Tprussman watches Cardinal O'Malley at the St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester.

Paul Flannery wonders how a cardinal in Boston would chose the word "scandal" when talking about anything:

... Thanks to the Catholic Church's insensitive response to the priest sex abuse case here - which didn't just "border" on criminal - it's difficult to hear a high-ranking member of the Church employ the word "scandal" with no hint of irony. It's offensive, too. To Catholics (which I am) and non-Catholics alike. ...

Cardinal Sean's Blog.

Via Mass. Marrier, who says it could use some work.

Globe religion reporter Michael Paulson is in Rome blogging Sean O'Malley's elevation to cardinal.

My standard newspaper disclosure.

Domenico signs a petition asking Archbishop Sean O'Malley to either get Catholic Charities to disinvite Tom Menino from a banquet next week or fire its board. At issue: Menino's stances on abortion and gay marriage.

... While this is obviously a difficult request, we believe in our hearts that this is a necessary step that must be taken. The people of Boston have lost confidence in the spiritual leadership of Catholic Charities. ...