New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing mounting criticism for skipping the installation of the new archbishop of New York, which the mayor of the city traditionally attends.
The Catholic League said Mamdani did not go to the installation of Ronald Hicks as the new Archbishop of New York, despite being invited.
“He could easily have been there,” said Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League. “Instead, he attended to business as usual.”
Donohue added that “the installation began a few hours after the Interfaith Breakfast at the New York Public Library; it is a short walk up Fifth Avenue to St. Patrick’s Cathedral.”
He noted that one in three New Yorkers is Catholic, representing “the largest faith community in the city,” adding that “Mamdani’s professed interest in diversity and inclusion obviously hits a brick wall when it comes to Catholics. He wants nothing to do with them.”
He said this is the third snub from Mamdani. According to Donohue, “Representatives of the clergy from several religions were present at the inauguration of Zohran Mamdani. But no Catholic priest was there.”
Catholic clergy were also absent from Mamdani’s Interfaith Breakfast on Feb. 6.
As JNS reported, the Anti-Defamation League, UJA-Federation of New York and the New York Board of Rabbis did not sponsor this year’s interfaith prayer gathering as they have in past years. The ADL was not invited. Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, executive vice president of the Board of Rabbis, went. Federation declined to respond regarding attendance.
Former Mayor Eric Adams offered his support to the Catholic Church. “Our religious communities are foundational to New York City, and the Catholic Church’s daily service to our city is indispensable,” he said. “As your former mayor, I proudly reflect the gratitude of countless New Yorkers and extend a warm welcome to Archbishop Ronald Hicks.”
New York City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov called Mamdani’s decision to skip the installation “disgraceful,” adding that “what starts with the Jews never ends with the Jews.”
