Cardinal Dolan on Trump’s Handling of Illegal Immigration: ‘Bravo’

BALLASY: “So let me ask you this. President Trump spoke here at the Museum of the Bible. Did he hit all the right notes, you think? What’s your take on where the administration has been on the issues important to the church?”

DOLAN: “Yeah, it’s good. It’s very important to the church. As I said, though, Nick, it’s important to America. I’m not for religious freedom because I happen to be a pastor, a Catholic Bishop, it’s not self-serving. I’m for religious freedom because I’m an American and try to exercise the biblical virtue of patriotism, which is always saying that religion is good for democracy. Moral convictions, ethics, that our vision is tethered to a biblical view of the human person. That’s — that means that democracy flourishes. And that’s why I’m for religious freedom. And I think the president’s on the right track. You know, as with any candidate, I’m honored to be on this Presidential Commission for Religious Freedom. I don’t know why he asked me, but I’m sure honored and there’s sure some people there a lot better off than I am. So, are there things I disagree with them? Sure. But on this one and on many more, Hallelujah. And he’s doing the right thing. There was kind of a — I’m afraid there was kind of an anti-religious bias, not in our culture, in our society, and yeah, among some politicians, and he’s trying to correct that. So, Hallelujah.”

BALLASY: “How about on immigration? What do you think about how he’s doing on that?”

DOLAN: “Oh, listen, I might — I might disagree with some things on that. As I — as I publicly said, Mr. President, you want to secure the border? Bravo. You want to [indiscernible]? Bravo. You want to work to have a revised immigration policy because everybody admits ours is broken? Bravo. All right. But please do that without compromising that magnificent American pedigree of a gracious welcome to the immigrants. And let’s not pick on the good, reliable, responsible ones that we love and need here. So thanks for asking. All right.”

BALLASY: “Thank you so much.”