Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
NEW YORK (AP) — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says his late father's relationship with the Catholic church was "complicated."
Former Gov. Mario Cuomo's son spoke at his father's funeral Tuesday at a Catholic church in Manhattan.
Mario Cuomo's support for abortion rights was condemned in the 1980s by New York Cardinal John Joseph O'Connor, who considered excommunicating the governor.
At Tuesday's funeral, Andrew Cuomo recalled that his father "separated his personal views from his professional responsibilities" in a way that he believed was "consistent with laymen following Christ's teachings."
The Reverend Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, disagrees.
He says Mario Cuomo "added to the confusion that still persists today about the responsibilities of Catholics in public office."
Pavone says officials should oppose abortion, not because of church teachings, but because it destroys innocent human life.
Sound:
%@AP Links
256-a-05-(Gov. Andrew Cuomo, D-N.Y., speaking at the funeral of his father, former Gov. Mario Cuomo)-"important and complicated"-New York Governor Andrew Cuomo recalls his father's sometimes contentious relations with Catholic officials. (6 Jan 2015)
<<CUT *256 (01/06/15)££ 00:05 "important and complicated"
257-a-06-(Gov. Andrew Cuomo, D-N.Y., speaking at the funeral of his father, former Gov. Mario Cuomo)-"his professional responsibilities"-New York Governor Andrew Cuomo recalls his father's 1984 speech on Catholic officials and abortion rights. (6 Jan 2015)
<<CUT *257 (01/06/15)££ 00:06 "his professional responsibilities"
258-a-10-(Gov. Andrew Cuomo, D-N.Y., speaking at the funeral of his father, former Gov. Mario Cuomo)-"following Christ's teachings"-New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says his father believed Catholic officials could support things the church condemns. (6 Jan 2015)
<<CUT *258 (01/06/15)££ 00:10 "following Christ's teachings"
259-a-11-(The Reverend Frank Pavone, national director, Priests for Life, in AP interview)-"legacy of his"-The Reverend Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, says Mario Cuomo justified Catholic officials' support for abortion rights. (6 Jan 2015)
<<CUT *259 (01/06/15)££ 00:11 "legacy of his"
260-a-10-(The Reverend Frank Pavone, national director, Priests for Life, in AP interview)-"category as violence"-The Reverend Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, says Mario Cuomo's position on abortion ignored what actually takes place. (6 Jan 2015)
<<CUT *260 (01/06/15)££ 00:10 "category as violence"
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
