THE TABLET
April 21, 2007
Salute to the Finest and Bravest

The City of New York is the safest, largest city in the country.  This is due to the uniformed public service workers, police, firefighters, emergency and sanitation people, who make this city what it is, a safe place in which to live.  New Yorkers take great pride in the Big Apple because of the personal pride and commitment that make this a livable city, a place where everyone can prosper.

Often overlooked are those committed to public safety.  They put their lives on the line to different degrees every day.  Without these men and women on the front lines, our city would not be what it is.  Their commitment and dedication are something that needs to be recognized.  From my own perspective, I can give thanks for the good that is done for our city and its citizens.

Let me begin with the Police Department, the majority of whose members are Catholic, as has been reported over and over.  Our Diocese is proud to have two priests, Monsignor Robert Romano and Monsignor David Cassato, as chaplains to the Police Department.  Police chaplains, in a certain sense, are the parish priests of police men and women who at times find it difficult to avail themselves of the regular services of parishes, particularly in times of crises.  Chaplains are on 24-hour call for emergencies, especially when there are life-threatening situations for police officers.  They are there to make sure that the Church’s presence is felt at bedsides, at funerals, accompanying grieving families and also in the midst of family turmoil, which can frequently afflict those who live difficult and demanding lives. 

The spiritual program for the Police Department is varied.  There is a Holy Name Society that each year holds a Communion Breakfast, attended by well over 1,000 from Brooklyn and Queens.  There is also an annual retreat held at the Archbishop Molloy Retreat House, exclusively for police officers, where over 100 attend.  These special services are an indication of the Catholic spirit among our police officers, something that needs to be extolled.  The sight of a church filled with uniformed police men and women is truly spectacular to behold, as well as their marching in the various parades, particularly St. Patrick’s Day and Columbus Day, where they wear their uniforms and demonstrate both their Catholicity and ethnicity.

The Fire Department is also well represented in the ranks of Catholics.  Monsignor John Delendick and Father Joseph Hoffman are the Fire Department chaplains from our Diocese.  There are many other priests who assist in the various firehouses on a volunteer basis.  This is also the case for priests who assist as clergy liaisons for police.  The tragedy of 9/11 brought to our attention the risk that the firefighters take on a daily basis.  It should not only be major tragedies that bring us to appreciate the special attention that our firefighters give to protecting our lives.  There are other uniformed men and women dedicated to service: emergency workers, sanitation workers and others in our city, who make this a livable place. It is really important for us to be appreciative of those who work for the common good and for the community at some risk to themselves.

Unfortunately anyone working on the edges of society in many tense situations is in danger of making errors in judgment.  These are minimal, however, in comparison to the numerous daily contacts that police, firefighters and others face.  It is particularly disturbing when mistakes are magnified and generalized as if this were the pattern of behavior of those committed to protect us.  The term “police brutality” is too frequently used, and yet one never hears of police compassion, which is exercised day in and day out in thousands of situations. 

Those who wear the uniforms of police, firefighters, emergency workers, sanitation workers and others daily “put out into the deep,” not knowing where their dedication and service will take them.  We should accompany them with our respect and understanding, and most importantly with our prayers, that the good they try to do will truly be effective and that their work of protecting us will make our city always a better place in which to live.