State aid for Cabrini statue, says Cuomo

Ask and you shall receive.

Gov. Cuomo announced Monday that the state will aid Italian-American groups and the Diocese of Brooklyn in subsidizing a statue honoring Mother Frances Cabrini after Mayor de Blasio took heat for shunning the first American saint.

“I’m a Roman Catholic, I was an altar boy. I represent them, I stand with them,” the governor said as he stepped off for the start of the city’s annual Columbus Day Parade on Fifth Ave. “They don’t have to do it alone, we will do it together.”

The miracle move comes after city First Lady Chirlane McCray’s “She Built NYC” program left the saint off a short list of statues honoring historic women. McCray and the mayor faced intense backlash for not selecting Cabrini (above right), even though the patron saint of immigrants netted the most nominations in a public poll.

The incident cause a kerfuffle among the city’s Catholic and Italian-American communities and led actor Chazz Palminteri to label McCray a “racist.” The “Bronx Tale” star apologized to de Blasio on WNYC last week.

De Blasio said last week that Cabrini “is right at the top of the list for consideration” for the next round of statues.

The mayor brushed off the hype over the statue.

“I think it’s a manufactured controversy. I think it’s very sad that some people have chosen to do this,” he told Fox 5 News. De Blasio said a little prayer for the governor, but questioned his motives. “God bless him. But again, it’s a lot of people out there for whatever agendas, playing a lot of games. It’s not fair to people, it’s not fair to the memory of Mother Cabrini,” the mayor said.

Cuomo, who admitted earlier Monday that he hadn’t talked to the mayor directly about the state’s decision, said his efforts to speed up the process are all about inclusion.

“You have a Catholic community that feels disenfranchised. Let’s fix it,” he said. Cuomo (inset) was nearly cut off from the church himself this year after signing a bill expanding abortion rights.

Catholic leaders and their flock were upset over a piece of the Reproductive Health Act that allows late-term abortions at the discretion of a health care practitioner and based on the viability of the fetus or if the woman’s life or health is in jeopardy. Bishops from across the country came out in support of excommunicating Cuomo after he signed the bill.

On Monday, the governor wanted the church to know he’s on its side when it comes to Cabrini. “New York works with all our diversity and differences because everyone feels like they have a seat at the table. You know the key is inclusion to make New York work,” he said.