Cardinal Dolan hails Charlie Kirk as ‘modern-day Saint Paul’
Cardinal Timothy Dolan on Friday hailed Charlie Kirk as a “modern-day Saint Paul” – saying the slain conservative activist’s “gracious” debating style “can teach us something.”
Dolan, one of the leading figures in the Catholic Church, said he didn’t know who the Turning Point USA co-founder was when Kirk was fatally shot on a Utah college campus Sept. 10 — but then was quickly impressed as he started researching him.
“The more I learned about him, I thought, ‘This guy’s a modern-day Saint Paul,’ ” Dolan told “Fox and Friends.” “He was a missionary, he’s an evangelist, he’s a hero.
“He’s one I think that knew what Jesus meant when he said the truth will set you free.”
New York’s archbishop — and onetime candidate for the papacy — said that while Kirk was “blunt” and “pretty direct,” he treated his opponents “always with respect” when they were verbally sparring.
“And not only was that a gracious, kind of virtuous thing to do, it’s effective,” Dolan said. “Because when your opponents sees this guy kind of respects me, we kind of disagree here, but he kind of enjoys me and is thanking me for being here, and he’s telling me he appreciates the trust I have in him in sharing my view — I thought, ‘This guy can teach us something.’ ”
Here’s the latest on the Charlie Kirk shooting in Utah
- Police identified Tyler Robinson, 22, as the alleged assassin who fatally shot Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10.
- Robinson was charged with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury and obstruction of justice.
- Law enforcement confirmed that Robinson was living with a transgender roommate, and communications between the two helping the feds catch the alleged assassin.
- Kirk, the 31-year-old Turning Point USA creator, was attending an event on his American Comeback Tour when he was fatally shot in the neck by a single shot.
- President Trump was among many who have called for the assassin to receive the death penalty.
- Kirk’s body was brought to Arizona from Utah on Air Force Two, accompanied by Vice President JD Vance, and taken to Phoenix’s Hansen Mortuary Chapel.
- Kirk’s funeral, which President Trump has promised to attend, is scheduled for Sept. 21 at State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals.
- Kirk, a rising MAGA star, is survived by his wife and two young children.
Dolan’s comments come more than a week after the horrific shooting at Utah Valley University claimed the life of the 31-year-old married father of two and two days before his funeral is set to take place in an NFL stadium in Arizona.
