Mayor SNUBS Catholic Tradition — Sparks OUTRAGE

New York City’s first Muslim mayor has shattered an 87-year tradition by becoming the first city leader since 1939 to skip a Catholic Archbishop installation, igniting fierce backlash from the city’s 2.5 million Catholics who accuse him of deliberate religious discrimination.

Story Snapshot

Mayor Zohran Mamdani broke nearly a century of mayoral attendance at Archbishop installations, skipping the February 6, 2026 ceremony for Archbishop Roland Hicks
Mamdani excluded Catholic clergy from both his January inauguration and interfaith breakfast, despite Catholics comprising one-third of NYC’s population
The mayor appointed transgender activist Ceyenne Doroshow to his inaugural committee—the same person who led a 2024 funeral at St. Patrick’s Cathedral the Church condemned as “sacrilegious”
Catholic League President Bill Donohue and City Councilwoman Joann Ariola accuse Mamdani of anti-Catholic bigotry, calling his actions “outrageous” and warning his “mask is starting to slip”

Historic Tradition Shattered After 87 Years

Mayor Zohran Mamdani made history on February 6, 2026, but not the kind his progressive supporters hoped for. He became the first New York City mayor since at least 1939 to skip the installation ceremony of a new Catholic Archbishop. While Archbishop Roland Hicks was installed as the 11th leader of the Archdiocese of New York at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Mamdani was conspicuously absent. This broke an 87-year tradition reflecting the Church’s indispensable role in serving one-third of New York’s population through extensive schools and social services. Mamdani later claimed a vague “scheduling conflict” without providing details.

Pattern of Exclusion Emerges Against Catholic Leaders

The Archbishop installation absence represents just one piece of a troubling pattern. During Mamdani’s January 2026 inauguration, not a single Catholic priest was invited to speak, despite the city’s massive Catholic population of approximately 2.5 million residents. Then came the February 6 interfaith breakfast, hosted the same day as the installation ceremony. While Mamdani gathered religious leaders to discuss immigration advocacy and distribute “Know Your Rights” guides warning against ICE cooperation, Catholic clergy were notably excluded. The UJA-Federation, New York Board of Rabbis, and Anti-Defamation League withdrew their sponsorship from this breakfast, signaling broader concerns about Mamdani’s approach to religious inclusion.

Controversial Appointment Deepens Catholic Distrust

Mamdani’s decision to appoint Ceyenne Doroshow to his inaugural committee poured salt in old wounds. Doroshow, a transgender activist, presided over a February 2024 funeral for transgender activist Cecilia Gentili at St. Patrick’s Cathedral that church officials condemned as “sacrilegious” and deceptive. Catholic leaders felt the funeral mocked their faith and violated the sanctity of their most prominent cathedral. By elevating Doroshow to a position of honor in his administration, Mamdani sent an unmistakable message about his priorities. This appointment, combined with the systematic exclusion of Catholic voices, reveals a pattern that goes beyond mere scheduling conflicts or oversight.

Catholic Leaders Sound Alarm Over Religious Hostility

Catholic League President Bill Donohue pulled no punches in his assessment, declaring this Mamdani’s third deliberate snub of Catholics and accusing the mayor of hiring “anti-Catholic bigots.” Princeton Professor Robert George thanked Mamdani for his “candor” in revealing his lack of respect for Catholic faith. Queens City Councilwoman Joann Ariola warned that Mamdani’s “mask is starting to slip,” adding pointedly that “Communism knows no faith.” These aren’t fringe voices; they represent mainstream Catholic leadership deeply concerned about religious freedom and equal treatment under a mayor who campaigned on diversity and inclusion rhetoric while systematically excluding the city’s largest religious denomination from civic life.

Mamdani eventually posted congratulations to Archbishop Hicks on social media and stated he looks forward to meeting with him, though he incorrectly referred to Hicks as “cardinal.” As of mid-February 2026, no such meeting had occurred. The mayor’s defenders cite scheduling conflicts, but critics note the timing: hosting an interfaith breakfast without Catholics on the exact day of the Archbishop installation appears calculated rather than coincidental. For conservatives watching another progressive politician champion “diversity” while discriminating against traditional faiths, this episode confirms suspicions that leftist inclusivity has sharp religious boundaries. The Archdiocese provides essential education and social services across New York, and undermining that partnership for ideological posturing threatens real communities who depend on those programs.