Gov. Cuomo shrugs off bishops' calls for his excommunication

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday shrugged off criticism and even calls from Roman Catholic leaders for his excommunication from the church over his support of a new state abortion law.

Saying he is duty-bound to separate his religious views from his work as governor, Cuomo, a Democrat, defended his support for the state's Reproductive Health Act, which he signed last week. The bill mostly codifies abortion rights protected in Roe v. Wade and other federal abortion rulings.

"I have my own Catholic beliefs, how I live my life. ... That is my business as a Catholic," Cuomo said. "I don't govern as a Catholic. I don't legislate as a Catholic.