Statement from Call To Action Metro NY on the Appointment of Archbishop Ronald Hicks

With prayerful hope, Call To Action Metro NY welcomes the appointment of Archbishop Ronald Hicks as the next Archbishop of New York at this pivotal moment in the life of the Archdiocese and the universal Church.

Archbishop Hicks comes to New York with a reputation for deep listening, social engagement, and a pastoral vision firmly rooted in the spirit of the Second Vatican Council. His leadership reflects a Church shaped by dialogue, accompaniment, and shared discernment, demonstrating a spirit of service and synodality rather than control. We are especially encouraged by Archbishop Hicks' public witness on behalf of immigrants and all those whose dignity is threatened by unjust systems. His endorsement of the recent USCCB statement condemning immigration raids (particularly those targeting immigrant communities in Hicks' hometown of Chicago) demonstrated moral clarity and pastoral courage. In urging Catholics to respond to these signs of the times, Archbishop Hicks offers a compelling alternative to fear-based politics and exclusionary rhetoric, underscoring the urgent need for meaningful immigration reform through language grounded in Catholic social teaching.

As Archbishop Hicks assumes leadership, he inherits a corner of the US Church deeply marked by the legacy of Cardinal Timothy Dolan. That legacy includes the institutional and financial restructuring to fund a $300 million compensation program for survivors of clergy sexual abuse through asset liquidation, budget cuts, layoffs, and the sale of real estate. The program is a direct outcome of the 2019 Child Victims Act, the passage of which was one of CTA Metro New York's long-term campaigns. Cardinal Dolan's tenure was also characterized by profound cultural challenges: polarization, declining trust in Church structures, a decrease in religious participation and vocations, and a widening gap between ecclesial leadership and the lived experience of the faithful. Of particular concern has been Cardinal Dolan's highly publicized and troubling proximity to President Donald Trump, and a brand of partisan engagement seemingly orchestrated to align the Church with political power rather than with the message of the Gospel. This posture has further undermined the Church's moral credibility and alienated many Catholics, especially those most vulnerable and those committed to faithful solidarity with the marginalized.

CTA Metro NY hopes for a different kind of pastoral leader in Archbishop Hicks: one who places accompaniment over access, solidarity over spectacle, and Gospel values over political calculation. New York Catholics long for leadership that heals rather than divides, listens rather than lectures, and restores trust through transparency, accountability, and shared responsibility.

In keeping with our mission, CTA Metro NY looks forward to engaging Archbishop Hicks as a partner in building a Church that is inclusive of divorced Catholics; fully responsive to the dignity and equality of LGBTQ+ people; committed to racial justice; open to women's full leadership; and attentive to the cries of the poor and the Earth. We pray that Archbishop Hicks' leadership will help guide the Church in New York toward humility, justice, and hope.