The inescapable politics of being Washington's cardinal

The inescapable politics of being Washington's cardinal 

That Washington was subject to Baltimore showed Rome's fear of American democracy - and more importantly - the concept of natural rights outside of the rubric of natural law. That our political elite was dominated by Freemasons, and had been from the start, put us in the same boat as those who opposed papal rule of Italy. At the end of the 19th Century, the American hierarchy had to deny that the American atmosphere of rights over authority was not a danger to the Church. 

The 20th Century saw Catholic social teaching play out in America on union rights and racial justice. It also saw Rome persecuting John Courtney Murray. The rise of America as a superpower shifted the Church itself. In an about face, the heresy of Americanism became the Dogma of Vatican II. The Curia fought back with Humanae Vitae and the counter-revolutionary St. John Paul as pope. Benedict XV was with Kuhn and Murray at the Council but carried water for John Paul and insisted that the Council was not a rupture. Of course it was.

Installing the Archbishop Gregory of Atlanta, the most prominent African American Churchman, as Cardinal Archbishop of Washington is a sign that the promise of civil rights had been realized. He is the Catholic response to Trumpism.  Time will tell whether he or Cardinal Cupich will take over for Cardinal Sean on the Council of Cardinal Advisors. My bet is on Wilton. Jerusalem was the See of the family of Jesus, Rome was the Apostolic See, Constantinople the Imperial See. Washington is the Superpower See. It is why the elevation of Gregory was a sure thing and it is a sign of things to come. The Eternal City is not as eternal as it claims to be. Just ask St. Malachy and Sister Lucy.