Incoming Buffalo Bishop Richard Malone is careful about wading into commenting on state politics, particularly the specifics of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s liberal views on abortion and reproductive rights for women.

But Malone, who will be installed Friday, told our YNN Buffalo colleague Kevin Jolly that it is “unfortunate” when Catholic politicians take views on social issues that are at odds with the church.

I’m aware of that. I always think it’s unfortunate when a person who presents himself as Catholic and is also in high public office takes a position against such a strong tenant of the Catholic faith. Prohibition against abortion goes back to the earliest Christian centuries. This is not a new development. And it’s only been in recent decades that any Christian denomination would support abortion. It would have been unthinkable until recently that any Christian Church, whatever it is, not just Catholic, would argue for the prochoice positions. So I will do the best I can to work with Catholic politicians to help them learn what’s at stake in their responsibility to uphold their Catholic values.

Cuomo is occasionally spotted at Mass in Albany and by all accounts has warm relations with both Albany Bishop Howard Hubbard and Cardinal Timothy Dolan.

But Hubbard and Dolan, certainly no liberals on abortion or same-sex marriage, have sought to emphasize areas of commonality with liberal Catholic politicians when it comes to caring for the poor and the rights of immigrants.

The full interview with Malone can be seen here.

YNN Buffalo will carry the installation ceremony live on Friday.

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