what was the context for it? we run the prisons, i m county executive so it was a county facility. cardinal dolan was there to celebrate mass before christmas. it was totally voluntary for anyone who wanted to be there for the inmates. and after the mass, i said some words, about a minute and a half. i spoke to the prisoners about redemption. they re there for presentencing or up to a year, so they re going to be getting out. sometimes good people do bad things. i just sort of looked them in the eye and said, you ve got an opportunity when you get out to repent and to be a better person. and that was the message. it was very well-received. i spoke to a lot of the inmates after the mass. i think i got more out of it than they did, maybe. i really felt great there with them. what about the criticism from the nyclu, saying separation of church and state here, let s protect the institutions of government? how dare a catholic be a catholic at a catholic mass. on christmas. on chri