Cardinal Cupich -- the undeserving prelate unfortunately placed by Francis at the helm of one of America's greatest dioceses (and birthplace of the current Roman Pontiff), Chicago -- in his customary divisive and brusque style, tried to give a Catholic award to one of the most pro-abortion voices in the United States Congress, Senator Richard Durbin of Illinois. At least 10 bishops opposed this move.
“I’m not terribly familiar with the particular case. I think that it is very important to look at the overall work that the senator has done during, if I’m not mistaken, 40 years of service in the United States Senate. I understand the difficulty and the tensions, but I think, as I myself have spoken in the past, it’s important to look at many issues that are related to what is the teaching of the church. Someone who says I am against abortion but says I am in favor of the death penalty is not really pro-life. Someone who says I am against abortion, but I am in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States, I don’t know if that’s pro-life. They are very complex issues, I don’t know if anyone has all the truth on them. But I would ask first and foremost that there be greater respect for one another and that we search together both as human beings, in that case as American citizens or as citizens of the state of Illinois, as well as Catholics, to say we really need to really look closely at all of these ethical issues and to find the way forward as a church.”
Is this a Bernardinian argument of "seamless garment," placing on the same level the never changing and never changed Catholic teaching on the intrinsic moral evil of abortion, and the traditional Catholic teaching on the death penalty (that is, that it is possible under some circumstances) -- and, even worse, teachings on migration, which, while based on a Christian duty of charity towards all, are as varied as the variable circumstances of nations, peoples, geography, and time?
Maybe. What this makes clear once again is that Popes should avoid giving interviews on current topics. They do not make for suitable moments for the papal job: confirming the Faith of the faithful.
In any event, hours later, Cupich finally relented, stating that Durbin had (supposedly) declined the award -- we say "supposedly," because it was not Durbin who published a statement, but Cupich himself...
All in all, another embarrassing moment for the Church in America, and here is hoping for a future in which, as in the past, papal interviews or direct comments on current affairs are unthinkable.
