Pope Francis Shapes US Church, Acts Against Clerical Sex Abuse

[palbert]

In a move seen as redirecting the Catholic Church in the UA, Pope Francis has appointed a new Archbishop of Chicago.

The Archdiocese of Chicago announced on Saturday that Pope Francis has named Bishop Blase Cupich, a moderate bridge-builder with a history of supporting many progressive-leaning positions, as the next archbishop of Chicago. The Nebraska native will be replacing a highly political — and deeply conservative — bishop, and could potentially usher in a new era of American Catholic leadership that spends less time fighting culture wars and more time echoing the populist leadership of Pope Francis.

.... the elevation of Cupich represents a significant change in tone for the Catholic church in America. Politically and theologically speaking, the 65-year-old Cupich, who will be leaving behind his position as Bishop of Spokane, is notably different from his predecessor, Cardinal Francis George, on several counts. George, who is currently fighting cancer, has enjoyed prominence among Catholic conservatives for his hard-line stance against abortion and marriage equality, ....

Cupich, by contrast, is the very embodiment of a Catholic moderate. .... when serving as the bishop of Spokane, Washington during the state’s battle over marriage equality, Cupich published a pastoral letter that defended the church’s opposition to same-sex marriage while also condemning anti-gay bullying, saying it was wrong to “incite hostility towards homosexual persons or promote an agenda that is hateful and disrespectful of their human dignity.”

http://thinkprogress.org/home/2014/09/21...ould-care/

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Further to shake up the hierarchy, Francis is moving swiftly in sex abuse cases against church officials.

Vatican: Child Porn Found in 'Paedo Archibishop' Jozef Wesolowski Investigation [International Business Times]

He was the archbishop in Paraguay, having previously served in Dominican Republic. He was arrested in the Vatican. In taking this action the Church had to lift the bishop's diplomatic immunity. Word is that after a Vatican trial he may be returned to the Dominican Republic for trial. Investigations are taking place in his earlier service countries.

Another two bishops are being investigated for sex crimes.

[CuriousPhoenix]

Awesome! The world needs more moderates.

[LONDONER]

Well, I suppose it's a a step in the right diretion but there's still a long, long way to go.

[Virge]

I'd have to go back four years to check but I'm pretty sure Cupich responded to an LONG detailed open letter I put on a RCC website when I excommunicated the entire Catholic clergy from my life. I don't remember what he said but I was impressed that he spent more time defending me from the people criticizing my views than trying to take their sides.

[LONDONER]

Do you still have copies of those letters Virge? They would be interesting to see.

[LJay]

Now Virge, be calm and tell us what happened. Are you a recovering Catholic?