Local Pastors Welcome New Archbishop
By Joe Boyle
Pastors on Chicago’s Southwest Side and in the southwest suburbs say they have a positive outlook after Pope Francis appointed Bishop Blase Cupich to replace Cardinal Francis George to lead the nation’s third largest diocese. News began spreading last Friday night that Cupich, 65, who has served as bishop of Spokane, Wash., for the past four years, would replace the ailing George, 77. A news conference was held Saturday to officially introduce Cupich, who was born and raised in Omaha, Neb. George introduced Cupich, who he said “brings a deep faith, quick intelligence, personal commitment and varied pastoral experiences” to the church. Cupich has been described as a moderate, but he was quick to point out that “labels are hard for anybody to live up to.” The Rev. John McDonnell, pastor of St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish, 6435 S. Kilbourn Ave., Chicago, conceded that he knew little about Cupich. However, he was pleased what he heard this past weekend. “I think he was impressive,” McDonnell said. “I think people are basically upbeat. They look at it as a nice beginning.” McDonnell said parishioners at his West Lawn church seem to like what they have heard so far from Cupich. McDonnell said Cupich’s appointment is an indication that Pope Francis wants a leader with a more pastoral approach. “He (Cupich) has strong feelings on immigration reform,” McDonnell said. “Of course, the College of Cardinals have spoken in favor of immigration reform for years. He seems to want to deal with social issues.” McDonnell and other pastors said Cupich’s appointment was not that surprising in light of George’s physical condition. George had submitted his letter of resignation, which is required of all bishops, in 2012 at the age of 75. While he had hoped to lead the Chicago Archdiocese for several more years, he was diagnosed with cancer in August 2012 and underwent chemotherapy. The disease was confined to his right kidney. George is the first Chicago archbishop to meet his successor. In August, George said he was taking part in a clinical research trial of a new cancer treatment at the University of Chicago Medicine. He was first diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2006. George has served as the leader of Chicago’s Archdiocese of 2.3 million for 17 years, replacing Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, who died in 1996. Comparisons have been made between Cupich and George, the latter considered to be more conservative. The Rev. Michael Furlan, pastor of St. Germaine Parish, 9711 S. Kolin Ave., Oak Lawn, said he is pleased with Cupich’s appointment. But he added that he likes George. “He even admits that he can be blunt,” Furlan said in regard to George’s personality. “But he was always willing to sit and talk things out. I kind of like that. You may disagree with him, but he is willing to talk.” Furlan added that many people do not know the personal side of George, pointing out that George often displayed a self-deprecating sense of humor in private. Furlan said parishioners are looking forward to Cupich’s appointment. “Most of the parishioners look forward to his pastoral approach,” said Furlan, who added that describing Cupich as a moderate depends on the issue. “If the question is about the right to life, he stands along with Catholic doctrine on this issue,” Furlan said regarding abortion. “He may just have a different style. Even Cardinal George said that.” George had to deal with major issues during his tenure, including the closing of many Catholic schools as a result of dwindling enrollment and the sexual abuse scandal. “As far as abuse, Cardinal George was an architect of the zero tolerance policy,” Furlan said. “There are groups out there that no matter what we do, it is not enough.” One of those groups would be the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, who have questioned Cupich’s term in Spokane regarding abuse by priests. The group believes the bishop has not done enough to deal with the problem of sexual abuse among some priests. Cupich will be installed as the ninth archbishop of the Chicago Archdiocese on Nov. 18 at Holy Name Cathedral.
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