One of the chief ways of assessing any pope is to look at his appointments. Pope Francis has picked Bishop Blase Cupich of Spokane to run the Chicago Archdiocese. PopeWatch believes this marks a return to the policies of Joseph Cardinal Bernardin who was in charge of the Chicago Archdiocese prior to Francis Cardinal George. Let us count the ways.
1. Seamless garment–
2. Distancing from the pro-life cause–
3. Hostility to traditional Catholicism-
4. Toadying to the Democrat Party-
Just prior to the presidential election in 2008 he wrote an editorial in America raising the spectre that it was intrinsically evil for people to vote against Obama because of his race. The purpose of the editorial seemed to be to give cover for Obama on the abortion issue and was curious since the idea that large numbers of voters were voting against Obama simply because of his race was a mirror image of the actual role of race in that election. Go here to read the editorial.
He was the second to the last bishop to join the fight against the contraceptive mandate.
5. Dialogue will solve everything–
6. Dialogue is a miracle working device, except with those more conservative than him–
This video is from a presentation at a conference bashing libertarianism at Catholic University in June of this year: “Erroneous Autonomy: The Catholic Case Against Libertarianism.”
All Catholics who wish to have the Church neutered in the public square should be pleased with this appointment. Those Catholics who believe in the Church Militant instead of the Church Mushy should be appalled. Somewhere in the next life, Bernardin is grinning. Back to the past for the Archdiocese of Chicago. With this appointment another piece of the puzzle that is Pope Francis falls into place.
“Those Catholics that believe in the Church Militant instead of the Church Mushy should be appalled.”
+ 1 Appalled
Bad bishop, and, one surmises, bad man.
I guess the proof will be if he also bans priests from taking part in political marches and rallies for social justice issues and request that they just teach. Perhaps, in his interest in dialogue, he will allow varied and licit disagreement on social policies such as immigration and entitlement reform. Perhaps this could be part of his teaching – that Catholics may have licit differences of opinion on political issues. Perhaps then, his Social Justice Office would offer teaching only and not concrete, partisan solutions.
Perhaps…
I hate to think what’s going to happen to vocations with men like this at the wheel.
That editorial for America magazine in 2008 seems particularly cynical in its manipulation of people of good will, to get them to judge Obama by the color of his skin (and vote for him), rather than the content of his character. Less “toadying to” than “operating on behalf of” the Democrat party.
I found it telling that Bishop Cupich made some initial public comments to National Catholic Reporter about which his brother Bishop Finn has righteously expressed frustration for being anything but a Catholic publication. I’m concerned on so many levels.
[…] Bp. Cupich Is the Second Coming of Bernardin – Don. R. McClarey JD No Change in Marriage Is Possible – Gerhard Cardinal Müller, Frs Thg Annulment Argument: Quick Guide to the Two Sides – Dr. Ed Peters Beauty of Art, A Pathway to God – Philip Kosloski Liturgical Calendar; Printable Craft For Kids! – Catholic Icing Family Guide to Vocations – Susan Klemond, NCRegister.com The New Media with Sister Margaret Obrovac – Shaun McAfee Save the Storks in Delaware – Jo Anna Wahlund, Catholic Stand 10 Celebrities Who Look Suspiciously Similar to Pope Francis – ChPOP […]
1. Should the “Pro-Life” movement be concerned about all life issues or only abortion?
2. Can people disagree about which “Pro-Life” activities are most effective in conveying the good news of the Gospel?
3. Does the Bishop have the final say in determining how his diocese will *officially* respond to questions 1 and 2?
Only if your answers to all three of these questions are “No” do you have grounds for principled–i.e. theological/ecclesiological–complaint. Otherwise you’re just emoting.
“1. Should the “Pro-Life” movement be concerned about all life issues or only abortion?”
Abortion, just like the abolitionist movement was concerned with black slavery. You deal with the most pressing issue first, and a million innocents slain each year in this nation makes abortion the most pressing issue.
“2. Can people disagree about which “Pro-Life” activities are most effective in conveying the good news of the Gospel?”
I find it hard to see how the Bishop’s actions furthered either the pro-life cause or conveying the Gospel.
“3. Does the Bishop have the final say in determining how his diocese will *officially* respond to questions 1 and 2?”
Nope. God as always has the final say.
“Otherwise you’re just emoting.”
Or rather pointing out inconvenient facts that liberals in the Church would rather not have to address over this appointment.
“I hate to think what’s going to happen to vocations with men like this at the wheel”
They can’t get much lower in Chicago than they already are, so I can alleviate your concern. We had 4 homegrown 2013 ordinations and 5 more in 2014, from a diocese of 2.3 million. Certainly better than the 0 we had in 2008. In about 5-10 years time we should know where the Bishop has taken us.
I also read his editorial in “America”. It seems to me he throws dust in the air. Obfuscation.
“God always has the final say.” Yes. Undoubtedly. But that’s immaterial, unless you think you can speak for God.
P.S. If the “Pro-Life” movement is really to be equated with the abolitionists, then (1) it should change its name to the “Anti-abortion” movement, (2) it should be ashamed of its lack of resolve.
“God always has the final say.” Yes. Undoubtedly. But that’s immaterial, unless you think you can speak for God.”
God speaks through all sorts of instruments WJ, why on rare occasions he even speaks through bishops, although considering the performance as a whole of the Catholic episcopate since Vatican II I would say those occasions are perhaps getting rarer.
“P.S. If the “Pro-Life” movement is really to be equated with the abolitionists, then (1) it should change its name to the “Anti-abortion” movement, (2) it should be ashamed of its lack of resolve.”
Love your scare quotes around “pro-life” WJ. No name change is necessary since only nutty Catholic Leftists fail to understand that pro-life means anti-abortion. As for lack of resolve, you are delusional. The pro-life cause has made immense strides over the past four decades in the teeth of unremitting hostility from almost all the power centers in our country.
The temptation to fall into ideological traps is not just a liberal Catholic problem
Ah, but they are so especially prone to it Botolph, especially those who hold office in the Church or fasten like barnacles in chanceries around the nation.
“1. Should the “Pro-Life” movement be concerned about all life issues or only abortion?”
It should be concerned about all life issues. Abortion takes life and should be opposed. The killing of the poor to end poverty should also be opposed but that is not happening. Since there are legitimate questions about the utility of raising the marginal tax rate to help the poor or other poverty programs, it really seems the actual murder of innocents versus the marginal utility of a tax program is quite dramatic.
“2. Can people disagree about which “Pro-Life” activities are most effective in conveying the good news of the Gospel?”
People can disagree about prudential judgments. Is one activity more effective than another. What one cannot disagree with is that abortion is the taking of the life of an innocent while tax policies and other government programs are notoriously difficult to quantify as to any actual effect. There is good reason to believe they hurt the poor. If so, the Pro-Life position would be to oppose such misguided efforts.
“3. Does the Bishop have the final say in determining how his diocese will *officially* respond to questions 1 and 2?”
He can say how his diocese will respond though, given this is a prudential judgment, it is not above criticism. He can’t, however, make that decision for the laity who are free to exercise their proper role in ordering the World.
“Ah, but they are so especially prone to it Botolph, especially those who hold office in the Church or fasten like barnacles in chanceries around the nation.”
My experience is such. Was at a course on Catholic Social Teaching in the previous diocese I lived in. The teacher said that if you weren’t a Democrat before the course you would be after.
This diocese didn’t just change the Pro-Life office to a Social Justice office. It stopped promoting any anti-abortion efforts at the state level. It did however take particular interest during the 2008 recession in cuts to poverty programs. Anti-abortion efforts were left to local groups.
I do not disagree with you that there are liberal Catholic ideologues, even in chanceries etc Donald. However, I see a much deeper issue: the confusion of faith and ideology. Faith is not the same as ideology. Experience tells me this is one of the hardest ‘lessons’ of any believer’s life. Each one of us needs to daily differentiate faith from ideology.
Philip,
A teacher/professor teaching Catholic Social Teachings claiming that if one was not a Democrat before taking the course one would be afterwards, is appalling-and yes, ideological. The Catholic Social Teaching arose in a context within the whole Church in which the terms ‘Democrats or Republicans” would be gibberish. That teacher’s statement IS gibberish.
I do not see a divide between pro-life and social justice as both liberals and conservatives do [each emphasizing one over the other]. However, from what you said Philip, I would disagree vehemently in a diocese completely gutting any and all pro-life activity etc in the name of ‘social justice’ issues—-that is ideological and not Catholic
Pope Francis wants Bishops, like Cupich, to stay out of the culture wars – except on his pet issues of poverty, inequality, immigration and “inclusion” of course. On THOSE issues they must be vocal and strident like the Pope. This will be a big, big mistake. It will be a disaster. The culture war is not being driven by the Church. the culture war is being rained down upon the Church by the secular world. Refusing to defend ourselves will not result in victory.
Botolph,
It would seem to get hard distinguishing however. Obviously Bishop Cupich believes keeping priests out of 40 Days for Life is a Faith filled vision. There are plenty who believe such witness is the very essence of Faith. Who’s the ideologue.
Philip,
I don’t believe “40 Days for Life” is ideological. I do believe that it takes the more ‘confrontational model’ of engaging the culture. That does not make it ‘bad’ etc. It is indeed an expression of faith (rather than ideology). I was simply pointing out the distinctions between the two models-both expressions of faith and not ideology. It is when ideology gets involved-as you experienced in that class or yes, sadly in your diocese that things get ‘bad’
I don’t know that bad bishop necessarily equals bad man. I believe most of them (“bad bishops”) sincerely believe what they do is for the good. Doesn’t make their actions any less disastrous. As for Cupich, I don’t know one way or the other if he is a good man, even though I would just about 100% disagree with his approach on almost everything I’ve read so far.
Anzlyne, it seems to me like Cupich is pushing buttons. He knows what will make Catholics feel guilty, and so he goes about his task. I’m ever more amazed at how lefties, while professing to be against guilt (which wounds; the Church must be a field hospital! Bind up the wounds!), actually swim in it and breathe it.
Another bad day. Seems like Pope Francis and Bishop Cupich really don’t care about being Catholic in the sense of being orthodox, but are much more comfortable being Democratic in the sense of giving folks what they want in terms of morality.
I think both of them are basically politicians trying to accommodate those who do not follow the teachings of the Catholic Church. Saying Yes is always easier—- and the road to hell.
“I don’t believe “40 Days for Life” is ideological.”
But I think this is part of the question. We agree 40 Days for Life is not ideological and in fact supported by the USCCB. Bishop Cupich has effectively banned priests and seminarians from taking part in it and won’t even allow announcements in the Diocesan paper. The former can be taken at face value that priests are to teach and not to be involved in active protest. I can see that. But then is he prohibiting priests and seminarians from taking part in other political protests or displays.
However, the prohibiting of allowing announcements in the diocesan paper smacks of pettiness. There should be nothing about advertisement which is “confrontational.” Is this “soft” ideology at work? A more mild version of what happened in my diocese. This is where some are raising questions. I don’t have a definitive answer but I have concerns.
For what it is worth, the folks (Thomas Peters really) over at Catholic Vote are a bit more optimistic for Chicago. http://www.catholicvote.org/cupich-to-chicago-what-it-actually-means/
.
CV is merely pointing out that Bishop Cupich isn’t a flaming heretic. Those who are questioning his appointment are doing so on issues of his administrative/pastoral track record which is far from encouraging, not his adherence to basic Catholic doctrine.
“Some commenters are accusing me of being in denial. That’s not the case. I think some folks don’t appreciate the kind of struggle we’re in. Reese, Gibson and their ilk are hoping that this appointment “dash[es] conservative hopes” and I refuse to let them succeed in doing that. Not every appointment is going to be perfect. St. John Paul II gave us Cardinal Mahony. Cardinal Wuerl was appointed by Pope Benedict. Even for appointments we approve of, not every bishop turns out to be the kind of bishop we were expecting. Who’s to say that a bishop we are skeptical of can’t surprise us? And either way, where’s the wisdom in throwing in the towel on day one? The media and liberal Catholics have done an excellent job of turning us all into Chicken Littles.
Liberals applaud Bishop Cupich’s search for “common ground” — I’ve identified and offered three areas where we share doctrinal common ground with the new pastor of Chicago. How about using that as a starting point for the conversation? Liberal Catholics are hoping we greet Bishop Cupich with the knives out. That would be a disaster and an opportunity we can’t afford to miss.
As far as using this appointment as yet another opportunity to definitively categorize Pope Francis, did you see who he appointed to be the new Archbishop of Sydney two days ago? Bishop Anthony Fisher, OP, who among other good things, founded the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family in Melbourne. A straight arrow from all I’ve heard, and Sydney is an important see. Bishop Cupich just said in response to a question at his presser: “I think [Francis’] priority isn’t to send a ‘message,’ but a pastor.” And then he repeated that again.
So yes, maybe I am in denial: I refuse to believe that all is lost because liberal Catholics are urging despair. And I refuse to allow liberal Catholics to own the future of the Church simply because they’re the only ones fighting to claim it.
There is always so much to gain. Practice looking for the good and you might just create it as you go.”
http://www.catholicvote.org/cupich-to-chicago-what-it-actually-means/#comments
As they say Mr. Peters, it is not just a river in Egypt. Liberal Catholics are crowing because Cupich is one of them. Trying to make this into a defeat for liberal Catholics hoping to see the Church driven leftward is not only in denial, it is simply bizarre.
One thing I found about Cardinal-designate Cupich was his treatment of the Traditional Catholic community in Rapid City. He locked their church over Good Friday and Holy Saturday. They celebrated Good Friday in the sidewalk in front of the church.
This is absolutely NO way to treat a group of the Catholic faithful. Will Cardinal-designate Cupich crack down on St. John Cantius for the obvious sins of restoring an historical Polish Catholic church building and regularly celebrating the Extraordinary Form?
Should Cardinal-designate Cupich pull a Fr. Volpi upon the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius I will write a letter directly to Pope Francis myself, have my wife translate it into Spanish, and he will hear about it from me.
However, the prohibiting of allowing announcements in the diocesan paper smacks of pettiness. There should be nothing about advertisement which is “confrontational.” Is this “soft” ideology at work? A more mild version of what happened in my diocese. This is where some are raising questions. I don’t have a definitive answer but I have concerns.
—
I think the Pope (and Bp. Cupich) have been telling us all in front of whom they can be embarrassed, to whose sensibilities they defer, and who irritates them. Ultimately, I think that’s going to matter much more for teaching as it is delivered to parish clergy and laymen than will any black-letter utterances they make about faith and morals. As of now, we know the Pope is hostile to those devoted to the Traditional rites and that Bp. Cupich shares that. Bp. Cupich also does not care for anti-abortion protesters and these embarrass the Pope as well (“that is not possible”).
This is absolutely NO way to treat a group of the Catholic faithful.
—
Did you catch the extracts of that e-mail his secretary inadvertantly forwarded. He is irked, bored, and impatient with the Catholic faithful.
Another heretic promoted by the apostates in Rome. Guess we will witness more Cupich-ulation of the Church in Chicago.
They call it “Catholic Social Teaching” and it is a Social Gospel based on the Bible passage that teaches “Render the poor unto Caesar.”
I clicked on the link about Cupich and the Latin Mass community in Rapid City. The article dates to 2002, five years before Summorum Pontifucum. In those days, sadly, the Ordinary of the diocese was asked to make the Latin Mass available and to be generous about it. Bishop Cupich decided he could not be bothered. Denying the Latin Mass to the children eligible for First Communion was especially snotty.
I am ashamed of Cardinal Wuerl. Wuerl is from Pittsburgh. Wuerl is alleged to be one of the confidants of Pope Francis when appointing bishops in the US and and I believe his fingerprints are all over this. Wuerl has proven himself to be a worthy successor to McCarrick.
I remember when Rorate Coeli was going ******* over the election of Jorge Bergoglio. I thought they were extreme. I was wrong.
“I don’t know that bad bishop necessarily equals bad man. I believe most of them (“bad bishops”) sincerely believe what they do is for the good. Doesn’t make their actions any less disastrous. As for Cupich, I don’t know one way or the other if he is a good man, even though I would just about 100% disagree with his approach on almost everything I’ve read so far.”
Sorry to be so bald–however this “good man” stuff is a bunch of bologna. We are called to be holy–not “good.” The road to Hell is paved with both “good” intentions & “good” people.
Grumble, grumble, grumble…..
I believe most of them (“bad bishops”) sincerely believe what they do is for the good.
—
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/1107388/posts
His position is incoherent. Either he is knowingly pushing buttons and throwing dust in the air on purpose to cover his own incoherence, or he doesn’t know he is not thinking clearly.
/
Read some of the comments on his editorial about racism -they made astute points.
Racial motivation in voting for president may have put his vote count over the top. What I don’t understand is why the Bishop would have wanted to send voters Obama’s way after Obama said his first act as president would be to sign the freedom of choice act. Ever since then, as disengaged as the president seems, he has maintained a steadfast assault on the Church. How thorough of a thinker can Cupich be?
Jesus own disciples had trouble seeing the whole picture- “Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes, and fail to see? Do you have ears, and fail to hear?” (cf Mark 8:17-18)
Penguins Fan wrote, “This is absolutely NO way to treat a group of the Catholic faithful.”
But when we read, “Carda is a Latin Mass adherent who refuses to participate in the new-order English-language Mass” one cannot but wonder how “faithful they are, or whether they are, at heart, Lefebrist schismatics.
“The faithful who ask for the celebration of the forma extraordinaria must not in any way support or belong to groups which show themselves to be against the validity or legitimacy of the Holy Mass or the Sacraments celebrated in the forma ordinaria or against the Roman Pontiff as Supreme Pastor of the Universal Church.” [Instruction, Ecclesia Dei, 30 April 2011]
“Carda is a Latin Mass adherent who refuses to participate in the new-order English-language Mass” one cannot but wonder how “’faithful they are…'”
.
I don’t think it is entirely appropriate to judge people regarding their faithfulness to Rome by refusing to attend the N.O. We belong to a Byzantine Rite parish, but have attended the Latin Rite (N.O.) on more than one occasion in order to fulfill the Sunday Obligation. (Usually due to a Boy Scouting event). Normally, we go to the Roman style architecture parish downtown (our Scout Troop is chartered there.) “Pig tails” on the altar, prayers against sexism, against abortion, and communion songs by Marty Haugen, Joncas, and Shuette (sp?). There have been the occasional odd Gregorian change during Christmas and Easter season.
.
This past Saturday, instead of travelling south for an hour to attend our sister Byzantine parish (Scouting event on Sunday), we journeyed just north of town so DS #3 could attend a party at his little friend’s house and be on time. We’ve been there in the past, and again, pretty standard fair, although in a “Church in the round” format with very modern interior, etc. No organ, but the pianist is a skilled musician.
The pianist didn’t play too much this service, but the new “champagne” band certainly did! And without missing a beat. Marty Haugen never sounded so good, in a dreadful sort of way, and all I could do was quietly laugh. Mostly elderly parishioners were in attendance with a scattering of young families and teens, solemn faced, looking miserable. If anyone sang at all, no one could hear them, drowned out as they were by the band and the priest’s very loud microphone/speaker system.
.
Later my husband (raised Roman Catholic) commented that this academic year, he and the boys would be leaving scout camp outs on Saturday night so we can attend our regular Byz parish.
Phillip: “I guess the proof will be if he also bans priests from taking part in political marches and rallies for social justice issues and request that they just teach.”
.
Phillip: You forgot to mention the Nuns on the Bus. If Cupich is going to ban priests from praying in front of abortion clinics because it is political, not that priests forfeit their citizenship when they answer their vocation, Cupich also must ban the Nuns on the Bus from marching and demonstrating on political matters of social Justice that include murdering the newly begotten sovereign being brought into existence by the God of existence. Otherwise, his and Bernardin’s Seamless garment has been rent into shreds and Cupich is nothing more that a political hack with a lying tongue.
D J Hesselius
In the present climate, I confess to finding the words, “refuses to attend” sinister.
Our Holy Father has hinted at this: “Then there are particular issues, like the liturgy according to the Vetus Ordo. I think the decision of Pope Benedict [his decision of July 7, 2007, to allow a wider use of the Tridentine Mass] was prudent and motivated by the desire to help people who have this sensitivity. What is worrying, though, is the risk of the ideologization of the Vetus Ordo, its exploitation.”
Let us hope that Rome will take steps to lance this particular boil, before the Church is faced with disruption similar to that produced by the Quietist and Jansenist controversies; both movements associated with the “unco guid.”
I confess to finding the words, “refuses to attend” sinister.
—
Well, you should not. In theory, one could have a dignified and reverent Novus Ordo Mass. In practice, you’d have one shot in six of locating one if you picked a service at random (in the Diocese of Syracuse; your odds are marginally higher in Rochester and likely lower in Albany). The practice of the Novus Ordo nestles within a particular body of tastes and expectations that are antithetical to prayer or worship. You mark time through it; you do not participate.
“You mark time through it; you do not participate.”
Comment of the week Art! Take ‘er away Sam!
“You mark time through it; you do not participate.” Oh no, Art, sometimes we get to clap in time to the music.
The Pope just told us who he is. Along with O’Malley and Wuerl. Cupich isn’t a “moderate,” he’s a progressive. Peters is wishcasting when he says it’s a challenge to the left. He’s reading his fraying hopes into this godawful pick.
This is a Jadot-bad pick, and the painful work of renewal done by George will be undone in short order.
Baton down the hatches: this pontificate will have to be endured. A remarkably parochial and divisive vision is being forced on a battered Church, and it has no place for the likes of us.
There is a fellow in our parish, a convert from the 7th Day Adventist Church to Byzantine Christianity, who pretty much refuses to go. His mother-in-law is a very devote Roman Catholic who attends both the Byz Rite and the Latin Rite. She teaches the kids the Rosary, etc. He has no trouble with that, but the N.O. Mass is not, to his way of thinking, “going to Church.” It is “Protestant.”
Mr. Paterson-Seymour,
You may find the worlds of Mr. Carda of Rapid City harsh. I have no idea if those are his exact words, as I do not have a complete trust in the American media to be truthful. Bishop Cupich had no business doing what he did to the TLM faithful. It was an act of arrogance.
Another thing – being in Scotland, I doubt you have had experiences with the American bishops as the American faithful have. In the late 19th century, Minneapolis-St. Paul Archbishop Ireland told Ukrainian Catholic priest Alexis Toth that he (Ireland) “didn’t consider his kind (Toth) to be Catholic”. Toth took countless of his flock to the Orthodox Church of America. In the 1920s the American Latin Catholic bishops petitioned (nagged) the Holy See to put an end to the Eastern Catholic practice of a married priesthood within the USA. This was in direct violation of the Union of Brest-Litovsk and the Union of Uzhorod, both of which guaranteed the Ukrainians and the Rusyns the right to their own liturgies and traditions. The Pope gave in. As a result, it tore apart parishes and families, especially where I live in western Pennsylvania. Almost 40 Byzantine Catholic parishes repudiated the Union with Rome and reverted to the Orthodox Church. My neighbors belong to this Orthodox Church (ACROD). A good number of Poles in the US were sick of the heavy handedness of the Irish and German bishops and started the Polish National Catholic Church (based in Scranton, PA). My grandmother belonged to the PNCC.
Bishop Cupich spoke of “unity”. I call BS on his “unity”. His idea of “unity” means “my way”. Unity? I got your unity right here.
Chicago has a heavy concentration of Latinos and the largest Polish population of any city outside of Warsaw. Do they get an ethnic Latino bishop or an ethnic Polish one? Not with Pope Francis and his advisors of Wuerl and O’Malley. Those two will never do anything to confront the Democrat Party of Death.
All of this proves how correct is Richard Fernandez: “It is impossible to understand the politics of the Left without grasping that it is all about deniable intimidation.”
Mr. Husselius,
I have met other Byzantines who feel the same way about the Novus Ordo Mass.
I believe that the Second Vatican Council and the Novus Ordo Mass are the true sources of idolization among the Catholic hierarchy and the Catholic Left and a whole lot of the Catholic blogosphere. The Novus Ordo Mass has been taken and twisted and contorted and folded and spindled and mutilated to the point that one would have to hunt long and far to find a handful of parishes that celebrate it as it should be celebrated. How many parishes celebrate the Novus Ordo as is done on EWTN? Few at best.