Guest essay by Eric Worrall
Cardinal Blase Cupich has made the outrageous claim during an interview that talking about the environment and refugees is more important than addressing church child sex abuse allegations.
Chicago Cardinal: Global Warming, Migrants Are ‘Bigger Agenda’ than Sex Abuse
28 Aug 2018
Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D.Cardinal Blase Cupich, the Archbishop of Chicago, has downplayed bombshell allegations that Pope Francis knowingly rehabilitated an abusive American cardinal, saying the pope has a “bigger agenda” to worry about, such as protecting the environment and migrants.
In a television interview with NBC News, Cardinal Cupich commented on a recent 11-page statement by Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, former papal nuncio to the United States, that alleges a series of misdeeds by high-ranking Catholic prelates, including Pope Francis himself.
“The pope has a bigger agenda. He’s gotta get on with other things, of talking about the environment and protecting migrants and carrying on the work of the Church,” Cardinal Cupich said.
“We’re not going to go down a rabbit hole on this,” he added.
…
Read more (includes a video of the interview): https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/08/28/chicago-cardinal-global-warming-migrants-are-bigger-agenda-than-sex-abuse/
I sincerely hope Cardinal Cupich walks back his disgusting comments. Church sex abuse of children is the ultimate betrayal of trust. Suggesting that “talking about the environment” could be more important than fixing a broken system which failed, may still be failing to protect vulnerable children – words fail me.
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Doubling down on stupid.
A major problem is the understanding of what constitutes “the environment”. Our environment is far more than the plants and animals and weather. It is the social, spiritual, intellectual, administrative, educational, political, ethical and physical environments within which civilisation is immersed.
“Suggesting that “talking about the environment” could be more important than fixing a broken system which failed, may still be failing to protect vulnerable children ”
Talking about the environment also means talking about the social environment within which the children are raised. The “social contract” is nurtured in the social environment; violations of the contract require corrective action, and ameliorating, recuperative interventions for those abused.
The classic error is the say that the “natural” environment somehow takes precedence over everything because “we are destroying the very foundations of life on this planet”, to quote one extremist. It is unreasonable. It is not the only aspect of the total environment in which we exist. There is far more to our “environment” than plants and critters and icebergs. Having any realistic interpretation of the term “environment” renders the monomaniacal concentration on the so-called “green” environment a terrible distraction.
It is fundamental that children realise they are citizens of this planet and they all have a right not to be abused. I do not stand up for only those children in my country of residence. This is a universal right and a universal responsibility to guarantee. Perhaps transnational organisations should face International Court judges because the crimes and the coverups are very obviously transnational. Cardinals in the USA have already been transferred to the Vatican to escape the national law. Obviously “national” is not good enough to render justice on an international scale.
My family were Roman Catholics approximately since St. Peter, if not St. Paul. No more.
Whatever good its best people may have done or are doing, it has shown itself the criminal conspiracy which its worst detractors have always claimed. It’s the very model for mafia protection rackets. But worse, since it purports to be a force for good, not for evil self-aggrandizement.
IMO the only way the Church can save and redeem itself is for Francis and his Commie fellow travelers and child rapist enablers in the Vatican to resign and beg the world’s forgiveness. Then it needs to allow married priests, like the Episcopalians and Orthodox Catholics.
The shortage of “celibate” priests, too often active homosexuals and pedophilic pederasts, is one reason why the hierarchy has tolerated abusive monsters. This problem can be solved by allowing married and female priests.
Roman Catholic priests weren’t required to be “celibate” until the 11th century, although some say the 5th century. But priests were always sexually active, with both sexes. Renaissance popes were famous for their large families. It has been a hypocritical doctrine from the git-go.
St. Paul said, “It is better to marry than to burn”. His only stricture was against more than one spouse. Although the higher standard was of course celibacy. But in the Early Church, the return of Christ was expected soon.
Europeans have already turned their backs on the Church en mass. Time for Americans to join them, IMHO. I’m too old for it to matter, but my kids, grandkids and great grandkids will end almost two millennia of obedience to the all too human, indeed often devilish, Bishop of Rome. Some of my descendants and their spouses are Protestants, Jews and atheists. It’s all good.
What matters is not what you believe or worship, but how you behave, IMHO,
The Polish Pope, Reagan’s comrade in arms in freeing the world, was a hero of mine, but now I see that even he turned a blind eye to the abuses of his institution. He can be excused because in Eastern Europe, the Communists often tarred the Church with brush of pedophilia. One of the few Communist propaganda slanders that has proved true.
Since I’ll die soon, hard to say if I’ll merit consecrated ground. No matter, there are WWII cemeteries where I can lie with my comrades of all faiths in the fight for freedom.
After “IMHO,” please read, “And the leaders of the Church have behaved very badly indeed. Evilly.”
Thanks.
Sgt, WW2 vet, there are so few of you left. when I was growing up almost every male was a Vet. My dad his brothers, the Journeyman machinists I worked with. I hope young people still talk with you, it is the best way to learn. It was for me.
michael
Thanks. My kids and grandkids talk to me. They keep me as up to date as I can be.
Korean War vets are thin on the ground now, too, and even the Vietnam vets are dying off.
The VFW was in danger of dying off, too, before 9/11, with only the few Gulf War vets to fill our ranks.
There was a Marine tunnel rat from Nam in our post who related well with the WWI vets. When the last of them went to his reward, he quit hanging out with us. He had rotated home right before Tet. At Camp Pendleton, he was able to watch his platoon mates on TV during the siege of Hue.
I really admire the Vietnam vets. Most of my comrades were drafted, but more of the Vietnam vets volunteered, like my son. His son and daughter served in Iraq, Afghanistan and Germany, where she was an Army surgeon.
I went to college after the war on the GI Bill and achieved my goal of becoming a doctor. My dad was in WWI. The German prisoners said there weren’t any Americans in the American army because of so many immigrants like him.
Peter was a follower of Christ before Paul was, unless you weren’t talking about the apostles.
I was talking about when they came to Rome.
There were few Christians in Rome when Paul was executed there. Then came Peter, who is considered the founder of Roman Catholicism. At least by Catholics.
Both matter. If you lack either you are doomed. Jesus addressed the first when he said those who had the actions but not the belief will be told “I never knew you,” and the apostle addressed the second when he pointed out that the demons believe and they shudder in fear.
Deflection. It’s easier to natter on about something, like climate change, that’s a created problem than it is to deal with a REAL problem like pedophilia in the priestly ranks. Modern day ostrich behavior.
What do you have against Ostriches?
They don’t do what you think they do.
Unfortunately, ostrich behavior of sticking ones head in the sand to avoid looking at trouble has become an (at least American) English idiom. The fact it is based on a mistaken observation of ostrich nesting behavior is unfortunate.
Ostriches dig their nests into the soil and deposit the eggs in that depression. They stick their heads down in the hole to turn the eggs and from a distance look as though they are just sticking their heads in a hole in the ground. How that became associated with danger behavior is a mystery to me.
These aren’t the only issues. The Pope appears to be a Muslim now.
Rather than “Florida Kids Sue Gov. Scott Over Climate Change: You Have ‘Moral Obligation’ to Protect Us” maybe they should sue the Pope over his “Moral Obligation” to prevent the more proximate and probable hazard.
There were such high expectations when he became Pope. What did Christ say about the environment? What did he say about little children?
I believe the “higher cause” defence of sexual predation is at least as old as the French Revolution.
why do you think they call it preying?
Yes, it’s usually more fun to deal with imaginary crisis that you can in no way be held responsible for than dealing with the real-world problems that you actually are directly responsible for.
“…Cupich served on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee for Young Adults during 2000-2003, the period when the USCCB adopted its Dallas Charter establishing procedures for handling accusation of priest misconduct. He served again on the USCCB’s renamed Committee on Protection of Children and Young People in 2005-2006. Cupich became head of the committee in 2008…”
Just scratch the surface…it only gets worse!
As a life long Catholic I am beyond disgusted and appalled with the leftist “leaders” of the Church. I have been concerned since the selection of Pope Francis, the College of Cardinals was not directed by the will of God, but by the will of men, or the other. The leadership is driven by politics not faith and I pray that the conservative leaders of the Church find a way to expel these Socialists and child predators from the Church and turn them over for prosecution.
A phone call comes into the Vatican on the Pope’s private line…
“Hello, Francis, it’s Jesus of Nazereth calling. Yes, Really. I called to give you the good news. I have returned to Earth, just like I promised back in the day. Yes, it is good news. But now for the bad news… I’m calling you from Salt Lake City…”
Other churches have had the same problem, but not on the scale we’re seeing here.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Child_sexual_abuse_in_religious_groups
Only about 4% of Catholic priests have been accused of abuse. Other denominations have similar rates, sometimes worse, but the Catholic statistics are more extensive, giving an inaccurate picture of their rate of abuse. The general male population is estimated to contain 10 to 20% active, abusive pederasts. It’s not a Catholic problem, it’s a more widespread problem of pedophiles being attracted to work that puts them in contact with vulnerable youth.
https://www.newsweek.com/priests-commit-no-more-abuse-other-males-70625
Many of the comments here are based on ignorance and prejudice, rather than facts.
Still, Francis is a disaster, and Cupich is stupid. Climage change is not a threat. Socialism is. The Church’s stand on celibacy is counterproductive; its stand on Global Warming is outright Lysenkoism. And the Church’s long-standing practice of covering up known abuse is intolerable. Francis should resign before he does more damage.
“ONLY 4%” !!! Thats 4% too much !!
Agree that even one instance is too many, however given human nature 0% is not going to ever happen.
The crime here is the actions the church has taken to protect the offending priests.
I agree with much of what you say, except for the 10-20% statistic and you can’t really imagine that he would want to avoid further harm to the church?
He will have to die or be arrested by civil authorities if we are to be rid of him. Why would he resign at the moment when he’s just achieving his goals?
Jorgekafkazar,
Well said. +100
Slowly but steadily Roman Catholicism is decaying into good old-fashioned paganism. Soon we may see the chapels devoted to the goddess Gaia replacing those devoted to the Virgen.
Has been that way since about 325 AD
Many of us protestants believe that the Catholic devotion to Mary and the Saints is borderline paganism.
Many protestants also believe that only their interpretation of Christianity is valid and all others are bound for hell, not so today’s Catholic Church.
The members of the Church of Omnipotent Greenhouse In Carbon (“Believe, or be chastised”) tell non-believers that they’re sending Gaia to hell, too. And people with it.
So many similarities.
Very few protestants believe that. I’ve met more Catholics who proclaim that all protestants are going to hell, than I have met protestants with a similar belief.
Very few. And those that do (I am speaking from experience) are every bit much as “don’t question what you are told” as the Catholic church. For what it’s worth, based on behavior matching beliefs, less than 20% of either Roman Catholic or Protestants, are and were true Christians since Constantine forced everyone into the Church.
I suppose it’s no surprise that a Catholic based organization is stalking the major gun makers. Anything to divert the conversation from the misdeeds of Catholic heirarchy.
Disgusting clap-trap. Makes me think that this idiot is wanting to deflect attention away from the pedos – could it be that he is involved? Makes me happy to be an atheist!
Ever notice how the mainstream media gives leftists a free pass when they (all too frequently) reveal themselves as sexual predators? Governor and US President Bill Clinton got a free pass from the press, despite his numerous sexual assaults of women over several decades. Canadian NDP leader Jack “Mehoff” Layton was caught by the Toronto police in a raid of notorious massage parlour, famous for their “happy endings”, and was given a free pass by the police AND the press.
So the media says it’s OK to be a sexual predator IF you are a leftie – maybe that’s because it is so commonplace among the left – that they’re all in it together – horny little hypocrites, blackmailing each other – “I won’t tell if you don’t tell!”
Compare this to the obsessions of the US leftist press to Donald Trump’s alleged affairs. Compared to Bill Clinton, the man is practically celibate!
And at least, like JFK, Trump allegedly goes for beautiful women.
“Bill Clinton, you were the President of the effing United States of America! Monica??? Really???”
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2018/05/07/exxonknew-leader-eric-schneiderman-resigns-in-disgrace-amid-physical-abuse-allegations/#comment-2348756
What is it with all these lefties? Why can’t they keep it in their pants?
Are they so hard-up that the only way they can get laid is to force themselves upon women?
Or do they get a power-rush from engaging in abusive behavior?
Seems to be a problem, particularly with the political left. Maybe it’s the lack of a moral center.
Read below about “Slick Willie” Clinton and Jack “Mehoff” Layton:
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2018/03/21/boom-federal-judge-dismisses-claim-of-a-conspiracy-to-suppress-global-warming-science/#comment-2311117
“MILLWEE: He [Bill Clinton] came in [to the editing room] behind me, started hunching me to the point that he had an orgasm. He’s touching, trying to touch my breasts and I’m just sitting there very stiffly, just waiting for him to leave me alone. And I’m asking him the whole time, ‘Please do not do this. Do not touch me. Do not hunch me. I do not want this.’ And he finished doing what he was doing and walked out.”
http://www.politico.com/blogs/on-media/2016/10/former-tv-reporter-accuses-bill-clinton-of-sexual-assault-229987
Bill reminds me of my friend’s dachshund. When I was a kid I used to visit my genius friend Peter, and he would always admonish me to put my shoes in the closet and close the door. Seems his dog had a shoe fetish, and would make wild passionate love to your footwear if you left them in sight. Gives whole new meaning to the term “wiener dog”. If I ever encounter a dog like this again. I’m going to call him “Clinton”. 🙂
Even notice how the press gives lefties a free pass when they (all too frequently) reveal themselves as sexual predators? Canadian NDP leader Jack “Mehoff” Layton was caught by the Toronto police in a raid of notorious massage parlour, famous for their “happy endings”, and was given a free pass by the police AND the press.
Perhaps no one has told him that the global warmers are always telling us to “think of the children”.
A curious reversal of roles.
Nah, I think child sex abuse is a tad more important than the environment.
Read what Jesus said: He never spoke against the high taxes of the Roman Empire, slavery,or misogyny, or or capital punishment or a host of other social ills. When he chose to criticize an institution it was the ‘church’ of his day. He was very hard on the scribes and the pharisees who took advantage of the people’s devotion to God for their own benefit. Jesus was very much a ‘get your own house in order’ sort of person.
That confirms my recent claims and statements that climate change positioning by the Pope were designed to deflect from child sex abuse news of the Catholic Church. sad
Way to fill up your empty churches, Cardinal.
Pope wants to protect the environment? He can’t even take care of his own people.
I would not expect anything less coming out of Chicago.
Cardinal Cupich of Chicago: The Pope’s Climate Change Message is a “Bigger Agenda” than Church Child Sex Abuse
Now THERE”S a real deni*r.