The Wrong Meme in Chicago | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: I have never really read much of Cardinal George and it pains me that he is withering away with cancer. Hopefully they can do a gene therapy for his strain so we can keep him around for awhile. My experience of im has been in homilies he has preached - both at Masses he concelebrated for Catholic Charities USA. His attachment to this movement - including its relationship with the government - shows me he is no libertarian absolutist. Indeed, I suspect that certain anti-government bishops on the right hate to think of him as a right winger - and the Ayn Rand Libertarians would blanch at anything he says or does.
He and Bishop Cupich both recently had marriage equality measures in their states, Washington had a ballot initiative and Illinois was in the legislature. Both fought these and both lost. As far as I know, both have been gracious in defeat (something some of the bishops could learn from regarding the Affordable Care Act). Both diocese have conservative and very liberal voices and predecessors, so Bishop Blaise should feel right at home. Each has ad to to decide whether the office of bishop means pastor or medieval lord. From what I have seen, both have chosen well - while others choose badly.
Choosing well is what is going to define how a bishop acts in a post-marriage equality world. If anyone thought the fight for or against marriage ended with legalization, they are not thinking ahead. The key question any prelate must ask himself is whether God is an ogre who will punish him personally if he reacts pastorally and changes with the times. The proof that liberal Catholicism is alive and ticking can be found among those who adapt to the change rather than continuing to fight it.
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