Last week we encouraged National Right to Life News Today readers to vote in TIME magazine’s annual poll on the year’s “most influential figures across all fields, from politics to tech to pop culture,” as TIME described their cross-section. Good news: Cardinal Timothy Dolan came in a very respectable 17th place just ahead of Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards. The numbers ebbed and flowed as interested parties (like us) encouraged their followers to vote.
But there is more to the results than meets the eye. Readers were given the option of checking one of two boxes for candidates: Should the candidate “definitely” be on, or “no way” they should be on.
Lost in the rankings is that while Cardinal Dolan affirmatives were a little less than 4,000 more than Ms. Richards’ (42,796 to 38,942), his negatives were roughly only half of hers (23, 653 compared to 45,395).
Put another way, Richards had more “no ways” than she did “definitely be on” while Cardinal Dolan had almost twice as many “definitely be on” as “no way.”
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The statement regarding Cardinal Dolan outpacing Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) President Richards in TIME’s 100 “Most Influential” list highlights the perceived significance of Cardinal Dolan’s influence compared to that of a prominent figure in the reproductive rights movement.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, is a leading figure in the Catholic Church in the United States and has been recognized for his advocacy on various social and political issues, including abortion and religious freedom. His inclusion in TIME’s 100 “Most Influential” list suggests that his leadership and advocacy have resonated widely and have had a significant impact on public discourse and policymaking.
In contrast, Cecile Richards, the former president of PPFA, represents one of the nation’s largest reproductive healthcare organizations and has been a prominent advocate for women’s reproductive rights and access to abortion services. Her inclusion in the same list reflects her influence and leadership within the reproductive rights movement and her role in shaping national debates on reproductive healthcare policy.
By highlighting Cardinal Dolan’s outpacing of Richards in the list, the statement underscores the perceived significance of religious and moral voices in shaping public opinion and policy debates, particularly on issues related to abortion and reproductive rights. It suggests that Cardinal Dolan’s advocacy on behalf of the Catholic Church’s teachings on abortion and human life carries weight and influence, even in secular spheres such as mainstream media.
Overall, the statement reflects the ongoing tension and debate surrounding issues of reproductive rights, religion, and morality in the public sphere, as well as the competing influences of religious leaders and advocates for reproductive rights on the national stage.
Chelsea Garcia is a political writer with a special interest in international relations and social issues. Events surrounding the war in Ukraine and the war in Israel are a major focus for political journalists. But as a former local reporter, she is also interested in national politics.
Chelsea Garcia studied media, communication and political science in Texas, USA, and learned the journalistic trade during an internship at a daily newspaper. In addition to her political writing, she is pursuing a master's degree in multimedia and writing at Texas.
