By REY FLORES
Hear ye! Hear ye! Chicago has a new shepherd coming and he is ready for the task, donning a Chicago Bears cap and scarf at a recent press conference. As if that were all that is needed to become a citizen of this much-troubled Midwest town.
It’s going to take a lot more than some blue and orange Chicago Bears paraphernalia for Bishop Blase Cupich to take on the monumental task that is ahead of him.
The old horror movie actor Lon Chaney was once called the “Man of 1,000 Faces” because of his incredible ability to portray a variety of characters, like the unforgettable Phantom of the Opera and the Hunchback of Notre Dame. The Archdiocese of Chicago is much like Lon Chaney; it is the “Archdiocese of 1,000 Faces.”
Up in the northern suburbs we have Holy Family Parish in Inverness which looks like it has modeled itself after the nearby Willowcreek Protestant megachurch. It is complete with a sound system and stage, including special effects. Cupich might be interested to see the risen “ice Jesus” precariously hovering over the stage; in my view, this risen Jesus resembles the frozen Han Solo from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.
Once you’ve rubbed that vision out of your eyes, take a trip down to the shoot ’em up Auburn-Gresham neighborhood where the good Rev. Michael Pfleger presides over the funkiest praise and worship services this side of James Brown in the Blues Brothers.
There, Cupich will be able to see “the soul brother” Jesus mural, accented perfectly with a bright yellow neon “JESUS” sign above it. You’ll find no crucifixes here. As a matter of fact, St. Sabina’s eschews the words “Holy Mass” in its communications, favoring the term “worship services.”
Next stop, let’s visit St. Pius V Parish in Chicago’s gentrifying Pilsen neighborhood, where the incoming archbishop can see all the social justice anyone could imagine.
Bishop Cupich might actually want to witness the annual Celebrating the Harvest banquet on Saturday, October 25 as St. Pius V Parish honors Attorney General Lisa Madigan with the Community Service Award.
Planned Parenthood Action of Illinois officially endorsed Madigan this past July for reelection as attorney general. Madigan responded to the endorsement like this: “I am proud to have Planned Parenthood’s endorsement, and I applaud its longstanding work to ensure all women have access to reproductive healthcare.”
We hope and pray that Cardinal Bernardin’s “seamless garment” days won’t be coming back in all their forest green polyester modernist glory!
Perhaps you might say that I should cut Cupich some slack and give him the benefit of the doubt; yes? I agree, but at the same time please take the following into consideration:
According to 2011 reports in LifeSiteNews — a trusted news source — Bishop Cupich wasn’t too keen on having his priests in Spokane, Wash., praying outside of abortion mills.
Along with reportedly asking priests not to take part in demonstrations outside abortion clinics, he also asked that any pro-life literature not produced by the Washington State Catholic Conference, the Spokane Diocese, or by the USCCB be prohibited.
After LifeSiteNews posted its initial report, the diocese issued a clarifying statement:
“The present political environment has become very toxic and polarizing, to the point that people have become fixed in their positions, especially in regard to abortion, and are unwilling to talk to each other.” And: “The pastoral challenge is to get people to take a second look at the issue of abortion.”
The diocese, according to LifeSiteNews, noted that Bishop Cupich had “asked the priests to approach respect life issues as teachers, for that is what they are.”
Regarding clergy participation in the 40 Days for Life vigils, the diocese distinguished its official pro-life ministries from the campaign, and stated: “The bishop recognizes that a given priest in good conscience may feel the need to participate in the vigils and he should never be forced to go against a good and informed conscience.
“The bishop only asked that all priests prayerfully reflect on what he has told them, commit themselves to making teaching effectively their first priority and keep in mind the irreplaceable power of the witness of their unity with each other.”
See www.lifesitenews.com/?/news/spokane-diocese-clarifies-40-days-position-but-privately-discourages-priest.
Overall, this doesn’t bode well for Chicago’s pro-life community, but then again, they are all used to being dismissed by the social justice folks around these parts.
While we pray and hope for the best when Cupich comes rolling into town, his record thus far obligates us to do more than that. It may take a miracle, so, therefore, Chicago Catholics are all being asked to abstain and fast entirely from any deep-dish pizza, Chicago-style hot dogs, and from watching any Bears, Bulls, or Blackhawks games this fall and winter.
Impossible, you say? With God, all things are possible. Now get those rosary beads out and let’s start praying.
Welcome to Chicago, Bishop Cupich!
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(Rey Flores is a Catholic writer and speaker and can be contacted at reyfloresusa@gmail.com.)
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