NEW YORK-What was Rudy Giuliani thinking? Surely the Christian Brothers taught former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani better manners than he displayed at the recent papal Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Maybe he thought no one would notice him, but video of pro-abortion Giuliani returning from Communion have speckled the airwaves and scandalized just about everyone, Catholic or not. Giuliani defends his boorishness. His-former-Honor asserts his religion is a private matter. Unfortunately, ego-driven folks sometimes confuse their own erroneous judgment with worthiness. Giuliani might think of himself as a righteous charger against hierarchical heavy-handedness, but if he had any manners he would recall that public figures have a public responsibility. Giuliani violated the most basic of the basic rules of protocol: don’t be an ungracious guest.
(Phyllis Zagano is senior research associate-in-residence at Hofstra University and author of several books in Catholic Studies.)
