There are a few things that we must understand here. They are not necessary to become bishop, just interesting tid-bits.
The Holy Father has a very special affection for the Franciscan family and the Jesuits. They hold a very special place in his heart. He has given both families a lot of personal attention. He does not ignore other religious families, not at all. The Jesuits and Franciscans were very powerful in sustaining German Catholics during WW II. He has gone out of his way to be with them and to talk to them.
The Franciscans and the Dominicans are very well known for their preaching. Though they do it differently, they are good communicators. Right now, the Church needs bishops who are good communicators. I think we’re going to be seeing more bishops who are skilled in that area, not just Franciscan and Dominican.
There is a genuine need for the bishops of the USA to become more vocal in the political scene. The Holy Father wants to see this. He definitely wants to see the bishops tell the politicians what is right and wrong. He wants to see the bishops tell the laity how to deal with the politicians in a way that protects the right of the Church to be free of influence from the State, but does not leave the state room to be free of the Church’s moral guidance.
Catholics in the USA have allowed the government too much freedom. Bl. John Paul said this to American Catholics on several occasions. I remember when he came to Baltimore, he blasted American Catholics for allowing the State to regulate morality. He argued that American Catholics had not made good use of democracy by making it a goal in life rather than a means for evangelization. Pope Benedict feels the same way. When he speaks to American clergy and religious, this is his constant theme.
We live in a society where religion is to be free from the interference of the State. We should take advantage of that freedom to tell the State what is right and what is wrong and to guide the State. We have misunderstood. We have supported the myth that says there is such a thing as separation between Church and State. This is impossible, because the men and women who make up the Church are citizens of this nation. We have the right to demand that the State listen and that the State not trespass in areas of faith and morals.
The Founding Fathers never said there was such a separation. In fact, Jefferson said that the state could not exist without religion. The State was to stay out of religion, not religion out of the State. The Constitution does not say separation of Church and State. The presidents who have governed our nation have always invoked God. Congress begins the day with prayer. In fact, it’s new chaplain is a Jesuit priest, theologian and lawyer.
This brings us back to the Archbishop. Archbishop Chaput has a good command of the concept Church-State relations. He has a good understanding of the Church’s rights over citizens of every nation. At the same time, he communicates it with great love. He is very much like St. John Bosco who said, “Tell them that you love them by loving them.”
We now have several bishops in key dioceses who are not afraid of the State and who are not afraid of Catholics. They come with courage, but also with trust. Archbishop Chaput is one of those men. These men trust God and they also trust the American Catholic.
They know that the American Catholic can be loud, rude, arrogant, disobedient, and at times immoral. However, beneath all of that bravado, the American Catholic has a history of work, sacrifice, suffering and success. Our ancestors came to this country as poor hungry immigrants. We have survived against the odds. I believe that men like Archbishop Chaput know how to speak to that inner man hidden inside every American Catholic.
Some people already hate him. The majority of those who hate him are Catholic. Fortunately, very few people hate him, so it’s a small majority. He’s a very holy man and a strong man. I think he will be good for the East Coast. I’m finding the lineup in the key dioceses of the East Coast to be very interesting. They are all bishops who are not afraid of criticism, each one, in his own way, is an advocate for the most vulnerable.
Just take a look:
Boston
New York
Philadelphia
Baltimore
Washington
Atlanta
Miami
Each is very different from the other, but they all have two things in common:
a) compassionate
b) not afraid of the State
I do believe we’re seeing the beginning of a face-off between the State and the Church in the USA and at some point, Catholics will have to make some tough choices. I believe we’re going to see many Thomas Mores and unfortunately, a few Cardinal Wolseys.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
