Sandro Magister at his blog Chiesa, gives his assessment of the Cupich appointment:
Go here to read the rest. So Magister agrees with PopeWatch that Cupich is Bernardin II for Chicago. PopeWatch would really like to able to put a silver lining on this appointment, but except for the diocese of Spokane that Cupich is leaving, PopeWatch can discern none.
Silver lining:
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7 “Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 8 As I live, says the Lord God, because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts, since there was no shepherd; and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep; 9 therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 10 Thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my sheep at their hand, and put a stop to their feeding the sheep; no longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.”
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Ezekiel 34:7-10
I know you abide in the Chicago Archdiocese Donald. My prayers and best wishes go with you, your family,, the Church in Chicago and your new Archbishop
Actually, Botolph, Don & I live in the Diocese of Peoria. (Which was in the news recently over that ruckus about Ven. Fulton Sheen.)
Don
It is probably good that the dead cannot sue for libel. Your referring to Archbishop designate Cupich as Bernardin II is most unfair to the deceased Cardinal.
For better or worse his personality and strength of character made him the defacto head and spokesman for the US episcopate; whoever was keeping the official seats warm.
I doubt that Archbishop designate Cupich will ever be in that league. I more suspect he will be steam rolled by the progressive elements in and out of the church to say nothing of the “Chicago Machine”.
Please note: I agree with you completely on the net value of Cardinal Bernadine’s tenure both in Chicago and for the national church was for the worse.
Pray for your neighbors by the Lake.
There is just one possible silver lining – that there are enough hardened, stubborn people in the Chicago Archdiocese that can make life as difficult for +Cupich as he will for them.
I really thought that either Bishop Tobin of Providence or Bishop Zubik of Pittsburgh would be headed for Chicago. + Tobin would have been someone Pope Benedict would have considered – he is nobody’s fool and confronts the local Culture of Death that Pope Francis prefers to have “dialouge”with. + Zubik is Polish (would have been a plus for Chicago) and was previously bishop of Green Bay, where he invited in the FSSP and is far friendlier to traditional Catholics than + Wuerl ever was.
And to think I actually thought Cardinal Burke would have been a great Pope!
I’m in Chicago. I am not happy about the appointment.
But let him come. We are ready to meet him at the gates.
3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
I more suspect he will be steam rolled by the progressive elements
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The Holy Father elevates about 10 cardinals a year. This is not the Bishop of Woolongong, appointment rubber-stamped. The responsibility for this mess goes right to the top.
I have had a couple of occasions to interact with appointments that were not well inspired, in those cases it was a priest. The attitude I took was somewhat different than I read above. The situation was simple, we were a mission and needed to become a parish. I asked what was the plan, how could I help, and what else was needed. These poorly chosen clerics were never able to answer my questions and when the failures became evident tried to cast blame on the laity. I had the opportunity to reply and said that things would be different if a plan had been laid out and that offers of help would have been taken. Also, I always reiterated that even yet it was not too late and would happily help if attitudes changed going forward. I was sincere.
I left no escape. The priests were replaced. I was sad to see each one of them go.
So perhaps Cupich is a bad appointment, perhaps not. I am too far away to judge. Get the goal on record, get the plan on record, sincerely do your best for the Church. If the appointment was inapt, there will be failure. Leave no escape allow for blame shifting. Sorrow for the failure of the shepherd to grow into the stature the office demanded. If the appointment was correct, be happy you were wrong and take joy in your own part of the success because it will be your success too.
Inspiring and hopeful message TNLutas. It is hard because wrongs don’t get righted until after poor appointments in parishes and dioceses have a bad, and long-lasting effects on individuals and on particular churches.
There are just too many of these “bad appointments”! and they network – Cupich is friends with Jenkins at Notre Dame…