A new Archbishop in Chicago
Today, Chicagoans will brave the cold (14 degrees!) to welcome a new archbishop. Archbishop Cupich is Pope Francis's first major appointment in the USA and there has been no shortage of excitement or speculation about what he might mean for Chicago's large Catholic population.
Local Call To Action members sent a welcome letter to Cupich and are hoping to meet with him. "Like our worldwide Church, our city is wonderfully diverse and has a rich history and challenging present. We hope you’ll explore our city’s beauty and its pain and hear the stories of its people Chicago has a deep history of social justice and progressive movements led by people of faith, we are happy to welcome you to that community," they wrote, and invited him to meet with them to talk about his own hopes for the diocese and hear the voices of local lay people.
The Equally Blessed Coalition also wrote to the Archbishop. Their letter spoke of the hurt caused in the LGBT community by retiring Archbishop Cardinal George, and of the eagerness of local Catholics for a new, more pastoral, approach. "The Chicago area has a faithful, vibrant LGBT community which yearns for a more loving, compassionate, and understanding episcopate. In addition, Chicago’s Catholic population is supportive of LGBT justice and equality for their brothers and sisters in faith." They wrote, "There is promise, we believe, that a new pastoral approach can be fashioned between your leadership and LGBT Catholics and allies in the vicinity, one that is focused on our shared call to serve in a city overwhelmed with need."
As this year continues, Bishops have been asked to meet with the laity in preparation for the Synod on the Family. We hope meetings with Archbishop Cupich will be a start of new dialogue in Chicago and our wider Church!
