Cardinal backs St Patrick’s Day Parade following gay ban axing

The cardinal will be the grand marshal of the 254th St Patrick’s Day parade

Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York said he continues to support the city's St Patrick's Day Parade Committee after it lifted a ban prohibiting gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender groups from marching openly in the annual event.

The cardinal, who will be the grand marshal of the 254th St Patrick's Day parade in March, said in a statement that neither he nor his predecessors determined who could or could not march in the parade.

He said he has "always appreciated the cooperation of parade organizers in keeping the parade close to its Catholic heritage”.

"My predecessors and I have always left decisions on who would march to the organizers of the individual parades," the cardinal said. "As I do each year, I look forward to celebrating Mass in honour of St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland and the patron saint of this archdiocese, to begin the feast, and pray that the parade would continue to be a source of unity for all of us."

Controversy

The parade committee's decision comes in an effort to defuse the controversy that arose prior to this year's parade over the exclusion of gay banners in the annual celebration of Irish and Catholic heritage.

The ban led New York Mayor Bill de Blasio to refuse to march earlier this year. Guinness also withdrew its sponsorship.

There was no immediate word on whether the decision would lead to a wider gay presence in the parade.