Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-12-13
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  WINDY CITY TIMES

LGBTs welcome new archbishop
by Matt Simonette
2014-09-24

This article shared 4056 times since Wed Sep 24, 2014
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email


Bishop Blase Cupich of Spokane, Washington, will be the successor to Cardinal Francis George in leading the Archdiocese of Chicago, it was announced Sept. 20.

This is Pope Francis' first major appointment, and is one Catholic insiders will closely watch. Cupich purportedly shares the pope's stated commitment to fighting poverty and economic injustice, but nevertheless took stands, albeit measured ones, against the referendum that ultimately led to gay marriage in Washington state.

The Chicago Sun-Times asked Cupich Sept. 20 if he thought the Church was too focused on homosexuality and abortion.

"I think there is something to be said about the important insights of the Holy Father on this," he replied. "… We have to make sure that we don't collapse our agenda around issues that distract us from the full breadth of human rights issues. That however doesn't diminish the importance of defending life of the unborn and also defending people's rights."

Miguel Diaz, the former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican and now a theology professor at Loyola University Chicago, told The Chicago Tribune that Cupich "will be very much in line with Pope Francis' vision of a pastor bishop. He cares about the people who have been left out of the system. He will minister to the needs of the marginalized and the poor. Pope Francis has clearly chosen a man of great compassion."

Dignity/Chicago, an advocacy organization for LGBT Catholics, said in a Sept. 21 statement that it was "enthused" about the selection.

"Pope Francis has stepped up and acted on his intentions for a new, more welcoming Church by appointing Bishop Cupich, who, by all appearances, invites dialogue and envisions a more inclusive Church that respects everyone's faith and interest in living Gospel values," said Chris Pett, past president and spokesperson for Dignity/Chicago.

Another past president, Martin Grochala, added, "The Archdiocese of Chicago, in prior years, has led the national Church in efforts toward social justice and responding to the real needs of the faithful and our society with wisdom and outstanding leadership. Bishop Cupich brings his experience of ministry in a smaller, local Church that has been reflective of Pope Francis' call to embrace the poor and marginalized. He now has the opportunity to lead us in this ministry on a much broader scale—to be a true leader and shepherd of all who seek God and wish to live fully in the Gospel."

Pett noted, "We look forward to learning more about Bishop Cupich's views on the many issues impacting justice in the Church, including women's ordination, justice for church workers, and support for the sanctity and value of LGBTIQ families and lives. We also hope the Bishop Cupich will fully engage our community and other marginalized communities in the justice work of the Church."

But Joe Murray of Rainbow Sash Movement, an organization that has long struggled with the archdiocese's combativeness towards the LGBT community, said he was not convinced that that perceived compassion will translate to a cordiality between the archdiocese and gays and lesbians.

"Nothing's going to change," Murray said. "I think the tone will be different, but the substance is going to stay the same. He'll just be a gentler person, one who's not as raw as George."

He added that the appointment might indicate that Pope Francis is interested in taking the Church in a new direction, but he did not see any benefits trickling down to LGBT church members. He pointed back to a commentary that Cupich wrote as Washington state voters prepared to go to the polls over Referendum 74, a bill that eventually opened the door for gay marriage in that state.

Cupich said he was opposed to the bill, explaining, "… Many opponents of the law redefining marriage have close friends and family members who are gay or lesbian. They too recognize the importance of creating a supporting environment in society for everyone to live a full, happy and secure life. Yet, they also have sincere concerns about what a redefinition of marriage will mean for the good of society and the family, both of which face new strains in our modern world. They are asking the public to take a serious and dispassionate look at what a radical break with centuries of marriage law and practice will mean."

His letter urged opponents of the bill not to use the occasion as an excuse for intolerance and hostility towards gays and lesbians, however: "My genuine hope is that we all can value the coming vote on Referendum 74 as an opportunity to have a substantial public debate regarding this critical issue, carried on with respect, honesty and conviction … I offer these thoughts with respect, but also out of a sense of duty to contribute to the debate for the good of our state."

Murray said that Cupich was taking a "two-pronged" approach to the matter—urging compassion for gays and lesbians but rejecting their call for marriage nonetheless—that might be misleading for gays and lesbians. "It's hard for a lot of gay Catholics. They want to latch onto these folks."

Activist Rick Garcia, who is Catholic, is more optimistic about Cupich, although he acknowledged, "He is a bishop, which means he's a company man, and a company man tows the company line. But he is markedly different in style and tone than George, who was a hard-line, dogmatic and insensitive leader."

Garcia noted that, in Cupich's letter, the archbishop only spent one paragraph discussing the supposed shortcomings of gay marriage, and spent the rest of the document urging compassion.

"This is a very positive thing," he added. "He comes from a small diocese and is not one of the big boys who are groomed for this kind of job. There was a list of people whom everyone thought was in line for the job, and none of them had a snowball's chance in hell. I think we're going to see a different tone coming out of the archdiocese than the one we've had with this character we've been burdened with for many years."

Rainbow Sash Movement announced Sept. 20 that it would send a delegation to Holy Name Cathedral Nov. 17 for Cupich's inauguration.

"The Rainbow Sash Movement welcomes the appointment of Bishop Blase Cupich of Spokane, Washington as the next Archbishop of Chicago," said Murray in a statement. "The relationship between the Chicago's LGBT Community and the Chicago Archdiocese can best be described as hostile over the years. …We recognize we have differences. The question uppermost on our minds is should we allow those differences to stop us from acting as good neighbors? Is it so bad to talk to each other in a respectful way? ...The choice is simple for the new Archbishop: either welcome us or not. Is it possible for us to find Common Ground?"

George has been taking a less active role in the day-to-day affairs of the archdiocese since early this year, when he announced that he was battling cancer. He submitted a letter of resignation in January 2012, but that was a formality expected of all cardinals upon their turning age 75, and it was up to the discretion of the pope whether to accept it.


This article shared 4056 times since Wed Sep 24, 2014
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

Bring Chicago Home Campaign releases open endorsement letter from 100+ faith leaders 2024-02-19
--From a press release - CHICAGO — With just over a month before the March 19th primary election, prominent Chicago faith leaders will today release a letter—signed by over 100 religious leaders—endorsing the Bring Chicago Home campaign to restructure the Real ...


Gay News

WORLD Marriage in Greece, UK politics, cruise death, HRC grants 2024-02-02
- The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece unanimously agreed at a recent meeting that it is "strongly opposed" to the Greek government's promised bill on same-sex marriage and adoption, Balkan Insight reported. The conservative New ...


Gay News

Ohio man sentenced for firebombing pro-LGBTQ+ church 2024-01-30
- On Jan. 29, 2024, Ohio resident Aimenn D. Penny was sentenced to 216 months (18 years) in prison followed by three years of supervised release for attempting to burn down a pro-LGBTQ+ church, according to a ...


Gay News

VIEWS Is the Pope Catholic? Francis faces opposition in steps toward LGBTQ+ inclusivity 2024-01-02
- The recent change in Vatican policy allowing priests to bless same-gender couples has provoked an unprecedented backlash against Pope Francis and his openness to LGBTQ+ people—a backlash that some fear might devolve into a schism in ...


Gay News

WORLD Brianna Ghey, archbishops, HIV, George Michael, Albanian women 2023-12-29
- A boy and a girl, each 16, were found guilty of murdering a transgender teenager in northwest England earlier this year in a knife attack, per a Yahoo! News item that cited the AP. Brianna Ghey, ...


Gay News

Catholic Church allows priests to bless same-sex couples but reaffirms disapproval of gay marriage 2023-12-22
- LGBTQ+ couples can now receive blessings from priests, but the Catholic Church maintained its strict ban on gay marriage, according to a Vatican document approved by Pope Francis Dec. 18. This historic change in doctrine marks ...


Gay News

Greek government vows to back marriage equality 2023-12-22
- Despite opposition from the Church of Greece and within the ruling New Democracy, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' government said it will eventually move to legalize same-sex marriage, The National Herald reported. However, no timetable was ...


Gay News

Dignity/Chicago welcomes new rule on church blessings for same-sex marriages 2023-12-18
--From a press release - Dignity/Chicago, the advocacy organization for LGBTQI Catholics and friends, welcomed the news that the Vatican's doctrinal office has officially declared it possible for Catholic priests to bless same-sex unions and ...


Gay News

New Ways Ministry: Pope's blessings approval is Christmas gift to LGBTQ+ Catholics 2023-12-18
--From a press release - MOUNT RAINIER, Maryland—Statement by Francis DeBernardo, Executive Director, New Ways Ministry: Pope Francis gave LGBTQ+ Catholics an early Christmas gift this year by approving blessings for same-gender couples. The Vatican ...


Gay News

Pope Francis changes policy, allowing priests to bless same-sex unions; GLAAD responds 2023-12-18
--From a press release - GLAAD: "By removing barriers to priests blessing LGBTQ couples, the Pope accurately recognizes that LGBTQ people and our relationships are worthy of the same affirmation and support in the Church, and this strengthens couples in their ...


Gay News

Pope Francis's community of transwomen 2023-11-28
- It's a rare opportunity to meet the pope. It's even rarer if you're a transgender Catholic. However, on Nov. 19, in Torvaianica, Italy, a community of transwomen, many of them sex workers, were welcomed and seated ...


Gay News

Ghana cardinal: It's time to understand homosexuality 2023-11-27
- Ghana Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson told the BBC that being gay should not be considered illegal and that people should be helped to understand the issue of homosexuality better. Turkson's comments come as his country's ...


Gay News

Pope: Trans people can be baptized and act as godparents 2023-11-09
- Pope Francis has stated that trans people may be baptized and act as godparents or witnesses to marriage under the same conditions as any other adult—as long as a scandal does not result, according to PinkNews. ...


Gay News

NATIONAL Montana court, gay bishop, EEOC, Equality Forum, banned operas 2023-10-05
- A Montana court blocked enforcement of the state's ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth—leading trans state Rep. Zooey Zephyr to express her gratitude, The Advocate reported. Missoula County District Court Judge Jason Marks issued a ...


Gay News

COMMENTARY Pope Francis permits blessings of same-gender couples on a case-by-case basis 2023-10-04
- Pope Francis affirms the spiritual value of blessings of same gender couples in Church sanctioned ceremonies on a case-by-case basis when judged pastorally appropriate. In a letter, released by the Vatican on Oct. 2, Francis states ...


 


Copyright © 2024 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.

All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.