Dolan appears to bask in media spotlight

MEET THE PRESS -- Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan addresses members of the media at a June 25 press conference at Cousins Center, hours after Pope John Paul II announced Dolan's appointment as archbishop of the Milwaukee Archdiocese. (File photo by Sam Lucero)

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MILWAUKEE -- The media spotlight in St. Louis was bright and intense for Auxiliary Bishop Timothy M. Dolan earlier this year when he was asked by Archbishop Justin F. Rigali to serve as the archdiocese's contact person for handling reports of priest sexual abuse. Dolan was constantly called upon by the news media to respond to sexual abuse allegations by St. Louis clergy.

Despite the harsh questions and an embarrassing topic, several members of the media described Dolan's relationship with them as cordial and professional.

According to news media members who have known Dolan since his time as rector at North American College in Rome, the new Milwaukee archbishop's reputation with the media is unblemished.

Patricia Rice is religion editor for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and a 34-year veteran reporter. She met Dolan in 1997 while covering the Synod of Bishops of the Americas in Rome. According to Rice, one of her first impressions of Dolan was his concern for others. After arriving in Rome and meeting Dolan, Rice said he asked if her accommodations were adequate and offered his assistance if problems arose.

'People skills are unmatched'

"He takes care of people. He's just a really, really nice guy. The kids at North American College just loved him," said Rice. "He was very serious about the difficulties of being a priest, but he brought to them a sense that it was a joyful vocation. He has an enthusiasm that young people are just crazy about."

Dolan's people skills are unmatched, said Rice.

"Everybody thinks he's their best friend. I think that he probably has an invitation to marry someone every single weekend of the year," she said. "He has never been a pastor of a church here or anywhere, but he really has such a way with people. ... He makes them feel like they're the most important people on the face of the earth."

Rice, an observer of the church and its leaders, said Dolan was a highly requested guest and speaker at church functions. "His personality has just about overshadowed every other diocesan priest in town," she said. "He's the man everybody wants; whether it's for a novena or an anniversary, he's the guy they want."

Rice noted that she's even overheard a conversation at a store where people were talking about the auxiliary bishop of St. Louis who had recently been a guest at a local gathering.

Rice offers one prediction: "I predict that many St. Louisans, who spend summer vacations on the eastern shores of Lake Michigan, will be soon spending their money on the western shores because of Dolan. He has that kind loyalty."

Reputation for straight-forwardness

Mandy Murphey, a news anchor for Fox 2 KTVI, said the news media in St. Louis appreciated Dolan's professionalism. "I can tell you that he has a wonderful reputation with the media. He is the one that we can go to for honest, straight-forward answers. If he can't tell us, he will simply say why."

Dan Gray is anchorman for KSDK-TV in St. Louis, an NBC affiliate. He was introduced to Dolan during Rigali's installation as archbishop of St. Louis.

"We carried the installation live here in St. Louis, and then-Msgr. Timothy Dolan was our expert priest commentator," said Gray. "He was excellent as far as his comments for television and getting along with the media and having a media sense about him. He knew exactly what to do. We were following his lead, when to speak and not to speak."

According to Gray, Dolan would always make himself available to the media and offer assistance in any way he could.

"When he was recently reassigned back to St. Louis, he was kind of put on the hot seat with the sex abuse scandal," said Gray. "He was the point person who the media would contact if there was a statement to be made or an interview to be requested. He always handled it with grace and dignity and always was friendly and gracious to reporters, even though this was a very difficult time for any priest to be talking about the problem. I think he views this scandal as a time of renewal and recommitment for the Catholic laity and the priesthood."

Dolan is internationally-recognized

Gray believes Milwaukee Catholics will like what they're getting.

"What you're receiving in terms of an archbishop in Milwaukee is an internationally recognized bishop and he is often called by major media outlets for reaction, for his thoughts on a variety of topics, particularly dealing with the priesthood," he said. "He is well known, he is a Catholic leader, no doubt about it. I think he'll speak well for Milwaukee and I think he'll speak well for the Catholic Church."

With all the praise heaped on Dolan by the St. Louis media, Roche Madden, a reporter for FOX 2 KTVI, expressed one forewarning that was shared by other colleagues about Dolan's reign in Milwaukee:

"I'm wondering how long you all will have him," said Madden. "Some day he'll have to leave you for greater things."

Madden said he first met Dolan in Rome in 1998 when he was sent to produce stories in preparation for Pope John Paul II's 1999 visit to St. Louis.

"I called him and asked if we could have an interview," recalled Madden. "He said, 'Yes, that'd be great. Just bring some St. Louis Post-Dispatch papers and a hamburger from Steak 'n Shake,'" a St. Louis equivalent to Culver's.

"That's what I remember about him," said Madden, who was able to only oblige on the first request. "He's spiritual, but in a way that relates to everyone. He seems to, a lot of times, have a smile on his face. I think we're going to miss him. We will."