Cardinal Dolan Mourns Slain NYPD Officers Rafael Ramos, Wenjian Liu
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) - Cardinal Timothy Dolan called the deaths of two police officers ambushed in their car "brutal and irrational" and expressed his solidarity and love for their fellow officers.
Dolan spoke of officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu throughout his homily on Sunday during Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner Bill Bratton were in attendance, sitting in the front row, TV 10/55's Ilana Gold reported.
Cardinal Dolan Mourns Slain NYPD Officers Rafael Ramos, Wenjian Liu
The officers were killed Saturday afternoon by a gunman who then killed himself. The gunman has posted online that he was specifically targeting police.
Dolan asked Bratton and NYPD Chief of Department James O'Neill to tell their officers that those gathered at St. Patrick's "love them very much, we mourn with them, we need them, we respect them, we're proud of them and we thank them."
"I invite you to pray with reverence and gratitude for them. I invite you to pray for consolation upon their sobbing families," Dolan added.
Cardinal Dolan Mourns Slain NYPD Officers Rafael Ramos, Wenjian Liu
Dolan admitted good news might seem difficult and distant, WCBS 880's Jim Smith reported.
"Here we are anticipating the joy of Christmas and we feel like we're near to Good Friday," Dolan said.
On Sunday, religious leaders announced plans for a multi-faith pray-in to be held on Monday at 12:00 p.m. at the Union Theological Seminary at 120th and Broadway.
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