PopeWatch: Cupich the Destroyer
- Donald R. McClarey
Donald R. McClarey
Cradle Catholic. Active in the pro-life movement since 1973. Father of three, one in Heaven, and happily married for 43 years. Small town lawyer and amateur historian. Former president of the board of directors of the local crisis pregnancy center for a decade.

Let’s keep ICKSP and the other Tridentine Mass-dedicated orders in our prayers. All the vindictive little b***h in Chicago can do is push them out of his Archdiocese. They will be welcomed somewhere else. But it will be very expensive, and so they also need our financial support.
Don, I hope you don’t mind this link to Rorate Caeli. It’s a very good essay by the Archbishop Emeritus of La Plata, Argentina (!) about the attacks on everything pre-1965 in the Church.
https://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2022/07/to-go-back-is-to-go-forward-to-be.html
They have apostolates all over the country, but their shrine is in Chicago, and they just spent a fortune rebuilding it after a fire. Humbling to have to leave now.
They had a fire. Cupich took the insurance money and told them to fund raise for the reconstruction funds which they did. Now this. Cupich is a gangster although that is probably an insult to gangsters.
“…liberal Catholicism…” is, of course, an oxymoron of the most evil nature. Liberalism is the antithesis of humility and servitude to God. It reeks of “all-knowing” and sophisticated neo-Gnosticism that puts them clearly at the wrong end of Christ’s perfect statement-that “we are either with Him or against Him”.
So-called liberal Catholics (particularly those in the clergy and hierarchy such as a Cupich) only remake God into their own “perfect ‘image.
The article by the Archbishop Emeritus of La Plata, linked to above, is excellent. Recommended reading.
Years ago, Edwin Faust penned an article for The Latin Mass in which he gave a sketch of his bishop and of the auxilliary bishop in his diocese and gave the opinion that he was not particularly interested in whether or not his bishop would approve of the independent chapel where he was taking his family. The behavior of bishops over a period of 60 years has been so clownish and abusive that the only thing over which they can claim functional authority is the bloody real estate. This means more off-the-books chapels.
From CatholicCulture.org:
“Cardinal Cupich reportedly made the decision to withdraw faculties from the ICKSP priests when they declined to celebrate the Novus Ordo liturgy once a month.”
Why the decline? Seems an easy enough thing to do unless the group takes the view that the Novus Ordo liturgy is invalid, in which case the group is taking a position inimical to the deposit of faith and frankly should be suppressed. I’m hardly a fan of Cupich, but what am I missing?
Apparently there was more to the contract of adhesion Mike that Cupich wished to Institute to sign:
LifeSiteNews has learned from Keith Armato, a leading Catholic layman close to the situation, that the archbishop of Chicago had demanded for months now that the Institute signs a document with five or six points. Among the points they had to sign – each priest individually – was that the Novus Ordo rite is the only true expression of the Roman rite. This formulation stems directly from Pope Francis’ own document Traditionis Custodes, an explanation that makes it clear that the traditional Roman rite has to disappear altogether. Moreover, the Institute was also asked to accept a procedure, according to which the priests of the Institute have to ask Cardinal Cupich for permission to celebrate the traditional Latin Mass and that he might grant it for two years, but that he also could revoke that permission at any given time.
Armato further told LifeSite that the Institute could not sign this document because it goes “against their charism.” Therefore, the cardinal is now punishing the Institute because they have not signed the document presented by him. For someone like Canon Matthew Talarico, the rector of the Shrine who often travels to the Institute’s other 18 U.S. apostolates, the penalties mean that he cannot hear confessions of the faithful, except when traveling to the Institute’s other apostolates in the U.S. The Shrine is the headquarters of the Institute of Christ the King for the U.S. and serves some 400-500 faithful each Sunday who will now be deprived of the traditional Mass and sacraments.
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/cardinal-cupich-strongly-rumored-to-be-planning-to-remove-community-of-latin-mass-priests-from-chicago/
In addition it should be recalled that the original charter of the ICKSP was granted by the Holy See and they were invited into the Chicago Archdiocese by Cardinal Francis George, whom the destroyers now seek to cancel along with Benedict XVI. I’m no canon lawyer, but I don’t think Soupy is the Pope just yet.
The best part of Gauleiter Cupich’s action:
Families have taken out mortgages to help repair the Shrine. And then this vicious egocentric twerp does this. An ICK Canon brought me back to the sacraments, so this mashes my rage button.
The Institute should tell him loudly and publicly to shove up his padded keister.
As an aside, imagine if Vigano had used his notoriety for something constructive: building an organization to buy properties; set up seminaries, monasteries, cloisters–no shortage of constructive options. Instead, he’s final-decade Tom Clancy in trademark mode. Because Lord knows, Catholicism needs yet another talking head in an ecclesial culture choking on them.
And the wolves march from victory to victory.
Thanks for that info, Don. The suppression of the Tridentine Mass seems over the top silly to me, and it is hard not to discern some malice there. I understand that some TM devotees consider the NOM invalid, and it is perfectly sensible to properly discipline these knuckleheads, but to deny the TM to all who simply finds its aesthetic profundity spiritually beneficial makes no sense. As a matter of practical liturgical unity, however, I have no problem requiring reasonably regular NOM celebration. The language in th lifesitenews report also puzzles me. I’m not sure I fully understand the theological intent behind the words “only true expression of the Roman Rite,” and the interplay of that issue with the Institute’s charism also confuses me. I’m no fan of Cupich but to be fair feel I need a considerably deeper understanding to form a judgment.
and it is perfectly sensible to properly discipline these knuckleheads,
What, you want agents of the bishop taking names at traditional masses to ‘properly discipline’ them?
Don
Count your blessings.
Dwight is not in cook County.
It is not the big stuff, as bad as that is, it is the constant stream of little stuff.
No Art. I was referring to the Institute or other organizations and their clergy. I don’t know what the Institute’s precise charism is or how it relates to what it believes re the NOM, but given Cardinal George’s endorsement assume its beliefs are perfectly orthodox. That said, it is true that some TM enthusiasts, perhaps even many, reject the validity not only of the NOM but also VII itself, and are sadly encouraged by some clergy. Francis and Cupich are not wrong to be concerned about the resulting disunity, even if I worry that their authoritarian approach to the problem is likely to do more harm than good.
To say the NO Mass is “the only true expression of the Roman Rite” is to say B16 was wrong. It is to say that either Summorum Pontificum was never valid, or has been declared invalid by Francis. Cupich may be suggesting that the Tridentine Mass is a false expression of the Roman Rite … but what he’s actually saying is that it is a forbidden expression of the Roman Rite.
Francis and Cupich are not wrong to be concerned about the resulting disunity,
They’re not the least bit concerned with that.
but what he’s actually saying is that it is a forbidden expression of the Roman Rite.
The problem with that is that the conduct of the bishops has been such that ‘forbidding’ something is them howling at the moon.
The problem with that is that the conduct of the bishops has been such that ‘forbidding’ something is them howling at the moon.
Maybe, but the problem is that it’s the modernist priests who don’t mind disobeying the local ordinary. Traditionally minded priests take their vows seriously. Generally, to get a Tridentine Mass said in a private chapel in a diocese where the TLM has been outlawed by the bishop would require finding a sedevacantist who rejects the validity of their ordination.
Traditionally minded priests take their vows seriously.
A traditionally-minded priest once said to me about the bishops in the Church, ‘it’s like the masons. You don’t rise unless you commit a crime’. That vitiates the willingness of the traditionally-minded priest to obey abusive and arbitrary instructions. Cupich is in the business of promoting this disposition. So is Francis.
That vitiates the willingness of the traditionally-minded priest to obey abusive and arbitrary instructions. Cupich is in the business of promoting this disposition. So is Francis.
Yeah, satan is always trying to get people to break their vows … That alone should inform us that we shouldn’t. I guess I should’ve said most Traditionally minded priests.
The statement of “only true expression of the Roman Rite,” also expresses that all of the other Church approved Rites, such as the Eastern Rite Catholic Divine Liturgies, are also not true and if not true now were never true. This implies that until the 1970s we didn’t have a true expression of the Roman Rite at all. Who would sign that statement? I suspect it was never meant to be signed.
Yeah, satan is always trying to get people to break their vows … That alone should inform us that we shouldn’t.
What vows are they breaking?
What vows are they breaking?
All clergy take a vow of obedience. They used to take a vow of poverty too, but diocesan clergy no longer have to. If the local ordinary says “no Tridentine Masses in my see”, a priest would be breaking his vow by offering one. Also, a visiting priest needs permission by the local ordinary to offer sacraments in his diocese.
The statement of “only true expression of the Roman Rite,” also expresses that all of the other Church approved Rites, such as the Eastern Rite Catholic Divine Liturgies, are also not true and if not true now were never true. This implies that until the 1970s we didn’t have a true expression of the Roman Rite at all.
Maybe he meant to say “Latin Rite? That would make more sense
All clergy take a vow of obedience.
All such vows are contingent on the congruence of the instruction with the moral order, unless you fancy the curate is bound to countenance embezzlement and child molestation.
nless you fancy the curate is bound to countenance embezzlement and child molestation.
Hardly the same thing, Art. “Thou shalt not … ban the traditional Mass” isn’t a commandment.
Let me also remind you that Padre Pio was forbidden by his bishop from saying the Mass publicly. Being a traditionally-minded priest who had taken a vow of obedience, he naturally obeyed.
“Obey God, rather than men.” To believe that with the current Bishops of the Church, it does not require some Priests to make this choice is delusional. No vow of obedience has ever countenanced obeying a satanic order coming from the mouth of a Bishop. Pray for those Priests caught up in this choice imposed on them straight from the bowels of hell.
JRP: Can a bishop’s directive be wrong, even horribly wrong, without it being “a satanic order … straight from the bowels of hell” ? I mean, I’m no fan of Cupich, but it’s not like he’s demanding that they sacrifice a virgin!
Are you suggesting that Padre Pio obeyed a satanic order?
Speaking of bishops’ directives, McCarrick protege Cardinal Wilton Gregory has just issued his own attempt to kill the TLM and anathematize its supporters. The lines are falling in the expected places.
McCarrick protege Cardinal Wilton Gregory has just issued his own attempt to kill the TLM and anathematize its supporters. The lines are falling in the expected places.
There’s a trio of Byzantine-rite churches around Washington. I think the government of the Diocese of Arlington has long been significantly different than Washington or Richmond, so there may be TLM there.
“Let me also remind you that Padre Pio was forbidden by his bishop from saying the Mass publicly. Being a traditionally-minded priest who had taken a vow of obedience, he naturally obeyed.”
After two weeks the people came to the monastery with their pitch forks and rakes and demanded Padre Pio’s Mass.
After two weeks the people came to the monastery with their pitch forks and rakes and demanded Padre Pio’s Mass.
Yes and no. He was going to be sent away to a different monastery. The people showed up to stop him from leaving. He told them to go home, but because of this protest the Vatican decided not to move him, but instead to forbid him from offering public Mass.
His popularity had everything to do with the Vatican’s decision to silence him. I hear the TLM is gaining popularity as well 😉
There will be a special place in Hell for this clever gangster, Cupich.
CAG —
Thank you for your thoughtful and sober commentary. Much appreciated.
“There’s a trio of Byzantine-rite churches around Washington. I think the government of the Diocese of Arlington has long been significantly different than Washington or Richmond, so there may be TLM there.”
That’s my understanding as well, Art. The bishop of Arlington is tradition-friendly, for now at least.
Byzantine-Rite parishes are not governed by the Roman/Latin Rite Bishop. They have their own bishop, who governs the “Eparchy.” In looking at the Dio of Arlington, the Eparchies in question are listed under the name of the parishes. Each of these parishes seem to belong to a different Eparchy. The Bishop of Arlington has no authority to make any demands on the Byzantines any more than he could make demands on the local Methodists.
.
https://www.arlingtondiocese.org/easterncatholicchurch/
Hello. I have bren stsying off of the I ternet as much as possible due to the extreme woke policies of my employer and its habit of firing employees who post pieces on social media that run afoul of its woke BS philosophies.
I go to the ICKSP parish in Pittsburgh. Its weekly collections have go e up from $2-3K a week to $8-10K a week since the ICKSP arrived. All of this in a church that wasnt as well suited for the TLM (no communion rail), and cometely inadequate parking. Whats more is that I drive tbrough a small but crummy neighborhood with abandoned houses, litter, and overgrown weeds the City of Wokeburgh always fails to mow.
I have met Canon Talarico. He is a hpod and holy priest and a wonderful man. He is in charge of the ICKSP in the US and is a Pittsburgh native. If Blaise Stoopidch tries to remove his faculties….well, then, it’s time for Canon Talarico to come home and set up shop here.
Bishop Zubik is no Cardinal Burke, but Zubik knows that wach amd every one of us at Most Precious Blood of Jesus Parish will go to St. James Parish in Pittsburgh’s West End (SSPX) if Jorge the Joke’s Traditiones Abolishus is enacted here.
Wuerl’s name is mud in Pittsburgh and so is any fraud of an archbishop he had any hand in appointing.
Good to see you PF! I have missed your observations.
Yes he is, thankfully. Bishop Burbidge has publically supported Archbishop Cordileone on no Eucharist for pro abort pols like Nancy Pelosi.
The Byzantine Church Epiphany has a relatively new, larger church. The services I’ve been to are in Slavonic. Also wonderful homemade dinners on Lenten Friday nights and in Sept a folk festival.