Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Delivers Remarks at the Catholic Charities New York Leadership Luncheon

January 29, 2017

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Thank you so much, Monsignor. I want to say upfront: I deeply appreciate our Senator, Chuck Schumer, for – for reading that poem, obviously with so much heart, and reminding us this day of all days why those words should animate all we do. As I heard him saying the words of the poem, I thought about my grandparents who left a country – left Italy over a hundred years ago at a time of great poverty. And I thought of all the people who fled persecution and violence. And they might have been seen as wretched, they might have been seen as refuse. But looking around this room, I think many of us could say those wretched, that refuse were our parents, and grandparents, and great-grandparents. And we honor them and we uphold them as great and strong people who then made our city and our nation great. So when I heard that poem, it’s personal. I hope for everyone in this room it’s personal – as a reminder of what we have to stand up for in this moment.

And Monsignor, thank you. I want to say – I want to celebrate what we’re here to support today and Monsignor, you mentioned the partnership with the city – City and Catholic Charities. Well we do always respect division of church and state, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t be great friends and partners in doing this work. And Catholic Charities does so much that’s so important for the City of New York. And Monsignor Kevin Sullivan – I have to say – the City of New York has no greater partner than you and all the great people who work with you.

Let’s give him a round of applause and thank him for that.

[Applause]

Now, Your Eminence – Your Eminence, I have to say, time and time again we have spoken – moments both good, and moments of celebration, and also many difficult moments in this city’s history, challenging moments. And I have sought your counsel many a time. And what I appreciate deeply – and I know New Yorkers of all faiths appreciate this about you – the human impulse you have to comfort, and support, and unify. And many times your voice has cut through in this city in difficult and painful times and been one of the voices that brought people to their better angels. I have a feeling, Your Eminence, that this is a moment where you’re going to have a lot of business. And I wish it wasn’t, but I can say this from the bottom of my heart – thank God you are here as our Cardinal. Thank you. Thank you.

[Applause]

And thank you so much to the Chair of the Board of Catholic Charities, Catherine Kinney, for her great work. And everyone on the Board. And also, another great colleague in government is here – Assemblymember Marcos Crespo from the Bronx – also, the Bronx County Democratic leader – we thank him for his partnership.

Look, 100 years is being celebrated here and that’s extraordinary. Remembering simply that Catholic Charities, like so many great organizations, started with the good will of everyday people – clergy, nuns, everyday residents of neighborhoods who saw problems that had to be addressed and banned together. It wasn’t something that came ready-made. People had to create it. And I think those who founded it would be so proud today to look at how many lives are being touched and how Catholic Charities serves all. And it’s a difference-maker in so many lives.

Now, not long ago, Catholic Charities had to deal with the unimaginable – things like the Great Depression – that there was no roadmap, there was no game plan – good people had to find a way to help those in need even under unimaginable circumstances. And time and time again, Catholic Charities has risen to the challenge. That was true after 9/11. That was true after Hurricane Sandy. It is one of the organizations we depend on as New Yorkers, and we know we’ll always find a way. We’re at uncertain times again for different reasons.

I want you to know – I’m sure many of you have heard it – Your Eminence, I know you’ve heard it. Our brothers and sisters who are immigrants are gripped by fear right now. They literally don’t know if their families will be able to stay together. Half-a-million undocumented people in this country, but as of the last 24 hours, now even folks who are permanent residents have to wonder a bit. And there’s 800,000 of them in New York City. So, the mission – ever-present mission will also have to evolve to comfort those who are afflicted right now. And fear – fear of having your family torn apart, fear of being sent back to a country that may be dangerous, strife-torn, or where you were excluded to begin with – this is gripping people’s hearts and minds right now all over this city. They will turn to Catholic Charities for help. And they’ll turn to all faiths. I know I see my good friend Michael Miller here.

Clergy leaders in this city, and the Cardinal and Rabbi Miller are two exemplary leaders who are part of [inaudible] – one of the great gatherings of faith leaders that we work with constantly. Clergy leaders are going to have a moment now where their voices will matter more than ever.

And as Senator Schumer alluded to – what Scripture tells us about the way we should regard the stranger – we can’t have an open contradiction on this. And I ask faith leaders and all people of conscience to reiterate this – if we honor Scripture, then we have to honor it every day. It’s so clear the heart we’re supposed to show for the stranger – the warm embrace. There is no mention of banning and excluding. And His Holiness Pope Francis has been, I think, an extraordinary global voice about the common humanity. Immigrant doesn’t mean not human or less human – just human. And we have to reiterate that in this moment. Your Eminence, that I know, has been one of the animating feelings of so much of your work. And you have said some powerful, powerful ideas and offered thoughts about equating love and respect for immigrants with patriotism and love of country. And I remind all of us that His Eminence is right – the two go hand and hand.

So, I thank you for all you do. I thank you for all you do for every kind of New Yorker regardless of who they are or where they come from. I thank you for being a living example – Catholic Charities every day reminds us of what could be in a harmonious society. A hundred years of achievement, and we look forward to a hundred more.

Now, I hope I’ve said something meaningful to you. But nothing is as powerful at a moment like this as an official proclamation.

And so, I will bring forward – magically, it’s supposed to appear – and watch this, I’ll reach out my hand. Well, look – the system is working. I won’t read it all. It’s filled with praise for Catholic Charities. But I will read the last words – after saying many good things, many whereases – it finishes: “Therefore, I, Bill de Blasio, Mayor of the City of New York, do hereby proclaim Sunday, January 29, 2017 in the City of New York as Catholic Charities Day.”

Monsignor, will you accept? Or Chair Kinney, will you accept?