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Morning News

Bishop Lori of Washington, D.C. Remembers Cardinal John O'Connor as a 'Man Who Spoke the Truth'

Aired May 4, 2000 - 9:21 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: The death last night of Cardinal John O'Connor marks the passing of one of the country's most prominent religious leaders.

Joining us now to talk about Cardinal O'Connor's life and the legacy, Bishop William Lori, the auxiliary bishop of Washington, D.C., live this morning in the nation's capital.

Bishop Lori, good morning to you.

BISHOP WILLIAM LORI, AUXILIARY BISHOP OF WASHINGTON, D.C.: Good morning.

HEMMER: You knew Cardinal O'Connor for about 15 years. What should we know about him and remember about him?

LORI: Well, I think that we Catholics here in Washington will certainly remember him as a man of great faith, a man of courage, a man who was able to bring the light of faith on all of the issues that are central to life today. In many ways, he was a man who epitomizes the times in which we live, and he brought the faith to these times in which he lived.

HEMMER: You mentioned the issues. He was very outspoken on his feelings toward pro-life. He was also outspoken on his objections toward homosexuality. Yet at the same time when he spoke out against homosexuality, he was going and making private visits to AIDS centers -- AIDS patients, rather, different health centers around New York. What does that tell us about the cardinal?

LORI: He was a man who spoke the truth. He spoke the truth lovingly and courageously, and he understood that the truth is not opposed to compassion. In fact, I think he would say that one of the most compassionate things you can do is to speak the truth, and then he would bring the truth in love to people in a very personal way. For example, persons with AIDS, he didn't simply talk about it as -- in terms of statistics, he would go, he would hold them, wash them, be with them in their dying hours. He was that kind of a man: very strong and very compassionate at the same time.

HEMMER: He once said, Bishop Lori, that on his tombstone he wanted it to read -- and I'll quote it now. He said, "I would like it to simply say, "he was a good priest." Would it be that easy to make him happy?

LORI: That was central to his life, and that would make him happy. To the end of his days, he was awed by taking the bread and wine and making of it in God's spirit the body and blood of Christ. That was absolutely central to his life, and I'm sure that's how he wants to be remembered.

HEMMER: He fought his brain cancer for nearly nine months. Back in September, I know he went back to St. Patrick's Cathedral on 5th Avenue in Manhattan. And he said there standing up on the alter, "This has been a truly marvelous funeral. I've enjoyed every bit of it."

He had a sense of humor, didn't he?

LORI: A great sense of humor, and one who was ready with a quip, one who was able to put it over in fine style, but at the same time the substance was tremendous.

HEMMER: A long time career in the church; also in the U.S. Navy. We've lost a good one.

LORI: We sure have.

HEMMER: Bishop William Lori, thanks for your time today.

LORI: Thank you.

HEMMER: OK.

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