Just a week after Archbishop Coakley, the new president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), met with President Trump, Vice President Vance, Secretary Rubio, and Secretary Noem, three U.S. cardinals ignored Archbishop Coakley’s elected authority and issued a statement harshly critical of the Trump administration.
And this in the wake of a very significant win that is fair to credit to Archbishop Coakley’s engagement with the administration: the new regulation that allows religious workers (priests) to remain in the country without having to return home for a minimum of a year, thereby permanently removing many priests from service in the United States.
The hubris of Cardinals Cupich, McElroy, and Tobin cannot be overstated—first with respect to process and second with respect to substance.
With respect to process, it is the president of the USCCB, Archbishop Coakley, who has been entrusted by his fellow bishops to speak on behalf of the U.S. bishops and engage the federal government. It is not the job of three Cardinals who cannot get elected to any positions within the USCCB to appoint themselves as the moral voice speaking on behalf of their brother bishops, which is what the cardinals’ statement tries to communicate.
This is a further breakdown in the collegial unity that is so important to the Holy Father. The narrative from Rome under Pope Francis was that the U.S. bishops are deeply divided. This simply is not the case. The bishops of the U.S. are largely united, but there are a small handful of rogue cardinals and bishops, certainly less than ten percent of the USCCB, who are willing to create division.
Hopefully, Pope Leo understands that the division that does exist is the result of a small group of bishops who do not respect their brother bishops enough to work through the formal channels of the USCCB. It is the USCCB that has the institutional responsibility to work on behalf of the roughly 250 U.S. bishops in a unified and deliberate way.
The action of these cardinals ignores the canonical authority of the USCCB and treats it more as a voluntary organization that can be ignored or bypassed at will. It’s impossible to ignore the sense of self-importance involved. The harm done to Archbishop Coakley’s engagement with the Trump administration is unknown but is likely significant. We can imagine President Trump and his officers wanting nothing to do with the USCCB when cardinals go off and undermine internal negotiations based on efforts to engage in good dialogue and build goodwill.
To be clear: this is not to say the USCCB should not criticize the administration for various actions. It does and will no doubt continue to do so. But the criticism should be within the context of a wider environment that the three Cardinals’ statement ignores.
The three cardinals have no claim to speak on behalf of the Church in the United States. And yet they cannot help themselves. They are the source of division.
With respect to substance, it is reasonable to criticize the Trump administration on various issues, including the rattling of sabers regarding Greenland, the abortion drug, and the use of force by ICE.
What this statement does not do, however, is recognize the many good things the administration has done, which are real and significant, or the nuance of these international situations. President Trump helped end the war in Gaza. He is working toward a multi-national solution in Ukraine, more so than his predecessor. There are other wars he has helped end.
One wonders, as well, what the Venezuelan bishops think about the U.S. interdiction? We know what the Venezuelan people think. President Trump has been clear that he plans to help Venezuela transition to a government of self-rule, something that certainly was not the case under Maduro. Perhaps we should take the judgment of Maduro’s opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado, who gave her Nobel Peace Prize to Trump as a sign of gratitude, as a guide.
The good done by President Trump’s action has saved millions of people from tyrannical rule, stemmed the flow of families having to leave their homeland, and provided a path to much-needed stability in the region. None of that is remotely acknowledged in the Cardinals’ statement.
Yes, the question of international law can and should be discussed. But it is not so black and white as the cardinals imply. Where was the outrage over Maduro’s violation of domestic and international law? The cardinals end up sounding like the partisan voices so prevalent on social media and cable news.
We should not overlook that these same Cardinals were silent when President Biden did everything in his power to expand abortion and support “gay marriage”. They were silent when the Little Sisters of the Poor were again dragged into court.
They were silent when the previous administration permitted numerous violent criminals to enter our country and commit horrific crimes, including murder and rape.
They were silent when the borders were opened for the flow of deadly drugs that killed thousands of young people.
They were silent when peaceful pro-life protestors were arrested.
All of this and more profoundly undermines their credibility now. It is as if they see things through a partisan lens rather than a Catholic one.
This “rare joint statement'” by the 3 cardinals should have been issued privately, whether in person or by letter
It seems to be obvious that those three cardinals are not true shepherds of the flock. Fourteen other cardinals did not sign that letter condemning Trump and his government. The USCCB better get their act together soon and speak up against the bad apples contaminating their message to America and the world.
Maybe they’re bothered by the fact that Archbishop Coakley is a Catholic.
I’m just sick of how incompetently disarrayed the church’s leadership is
Look around are things better now than they were ten years ago?
I said this, sadly, in 1970– and still believe it is tragically true. I don’t think things will get much better in our lifetimes. It takes generations, huge expanses of time, even centuries– for some very serious problems to be effectively dealt with, by human beings. The Catholic Church, and historians over the ages– have always thought in terms of centuries, long Biblical eras– not small historical eras. For example— America wrangled with issues of slavery for several centuries, before it wss finally outlawed. And China wrangled with an extreme problem of dope addiction, which greatly ruined their entire civilization— from around the 7th century A.D., all the way to the late 1950s (A.D.), when Communists proclaimed a final victory over it– probably with use of extreme force. A seriously ruined Church or civilization– requires a lot of patience, prayer and backbreakingly hard work. Naive American leaders, and naive Catholic leaders in the tragic 1960s– all needed to think much more deeply, about these things– as foolish, incompetent, mindless, Godless liberals, and destructive, deviant social activists, were allowed to deliberately destroy religion, morality, Marriage and Family, and Western Civilization– to put it in a nutshell.
Biblical scholars point to Gen. 3:15, to explain that the coming of the Messiah was predicted at the very earliest date, roughly 4,000 years prior to His birth. It is explained (as the “Protoevangelium”– or “First Gospel”) that after the Fall of Adam and Eve, there will be “emnity” (or spiritual warfare), beteeen the “seed,” or works of the serpent (Satan) and Eve (humanity). But the Messiah (the “seed of the woman”– of Mary, the “New Eve”) though He will have His heel bruised (temporarily) in the Crucifixion– by Satan— the Messiah will crush the serpent’s head, in a fatal victory, of Christ’s Crucifixion and Resurrection. As a small child, I loved the dear little French Carol, “He is Born, the Divine Christ Child” (“Il est ne le divin Enfant”) which we sang one Christmas, in a lovely Children’s Choir, when I was very young. The first verse of the carol tells how the Christ Child’s birth was foretold over 4,000 years (“Depuis plus de quatre mille ans”) before His coming. I tried my best to pronounce the French words. I never forgot that for over 4,000 years, mankind had to wait for Baby Jesus to be born! God lives in Eternity, and He works slowly, in eons of time– not necessarily in our brief lifetimes.
The problem of drug addiction, particularly, opioid addiction, prominent in America today, is similar to the opium trade and addiction in China, that began as a drug for medical use, in the 7th century. But over the centuries, opium use became widespread as a recreational drug. It grew to an extreme crisis point in China, by the early 19th century– and finally weakened and destroyed the ruling dynasty– and finally, Communists took over, in 1949. A long and brutal — and humiliating– history. The Communists claim to have totally eradicated opium addiction, in the 1950s. So– how long will it take Americans to finally eradicate drug addiction? Many long centuries?? A horror for a “civilized” world leader, like America!
There is a proper place for all things in life, that God has made. A drug may be used correctly by doctors, for healing. Sex belongs only in Holy Matrimony, not in evil adultery, nor “shacking up,” “hooking up,” gay sex acts, prostitution, pornography, etc. Alcohol can be used correctly, for medicines, or religious rites (such as the Catholic Mass) or wine to go with a nice family dinner. All things in life should be used correctly, just as God has intended. When mankind disobeys God and commits sin, then correction is necessary. Christ’s mission is to save mankind from our sins. And to purify us, sanctify us– and prepare our souls for Eternal Life in Heaven. The Catholic Church must return to this truth– and get busy, and do Christ’s work.
In reply to my comment of Jan. 23 at 6:53pm– I believe that social activism should be used rightly for a very good cause– such as the 19th century Abolitionists who fought slavery, or Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s cause for justice for his people– or the annual March for Life, and prayer and activism at abortion clinics, helping pregnant women to keep their unborn babies. But I don’t think social activism belongs in the hands of subversive, violent liberals, for wrongful causes.
They are also silent on child abuse, the Washington Cardinal did nothing to remove a priest from ministry who committed a crime with a novice nun during a mass celebration. Totally Satanic. Yet remained silent.
These three stooges need to be removed from ministry by the Pope or by us the faithful who pay for their living expenses
We the people need to act and speak up for their immediate removal. Stop putting money in to their dirty hands.
Even more– police reports, lawsuits and public shame really are needed, to motivate and push irresponsible Church leaders to admit to shameful clerical cover-ups of sex abuse crimes– and take action to remove criminal priests and higher-ranking clerics– like “Cardinal” Theodore McCarrick. The “Three Stooges” are irresponsible, untrustworthy, unfaithful, and heretical– and should be kicked out of the Church.
Homeland Security, including ICE agents, will be at the Superbowl on Feb. 8th at Levi Stadium, in Santa Clara– especially because of the violent, filthy, depraved, anti-Trump Halftime Show performer, Bad Bunny, and a similar violent, filthy, depraved, anti-Trump rock band, Green Day. These evil performers may try to pull some shenanigans with illegal aliens. Pres. Trump will not have anything to do with the game.
In the news, it was reported that lots of immigrants attend Bad Bunny shows– so, Homeland Security and ICE agents go to these shows, and grab illegal aliens, especially, criminals. It is totally insane– and shameful– for the NFL to recruit anti-American, violent, filthy, depraved rock stars to do the halftime shows, at the Superbowl. The NFL badly needs good American family values.
President Trump is very wise to have nothing to do with this game. Sadly the NFL is not very wise and has lost its way. I personally will boycott the filthy woke infested halftime show.
I will storm out of church if I hear a pro illegal alien and anti enforcement of laws homily from a libtard priest
Someone phoned me yesterday to tell me he left quietly during this type of propaganda which happened after the closing prayer Saturday Jan 25 in a parish of the archdiocese of Detroit. If I attend a Mass and the homily is political, theologically incorrect, or in some other way bad, I get up, go to the bathroom, get some fresh air, and then come back in at the creed. Remember, the collection follows the homily. I attended a holy Thursday Mass where everything was done just right until they started washing women’s feet. I put the $100 bill for the collection back in my wallet and dropped in a 10. The Eucharist is the highlight of the Mass as is the playing of football at the super bowl. I never watch the 1/2 time shows. So if the transition from Liturgy of the Word to Liturgy of the Eucharist during the homily is offensive, step away to calm the spirit, but get back in there to receive Jesus, the whole reason for which a Catholic comes to worship.
Pray for the good archbishop. He has a difficult role in which to serve. Media describe him as “known for his socially conservative views.” Like wanting to protect babies and mothers, wanting all persons (migrants and law enforcement officers) treated with dignity and respect, stating the obvious about marriage (it’s one man and one woman) and striving to help the poor? Labels usually aren’t helpful. Let’s talk about policies, not personalities. Let’s put persons ahead of politics. Don’t expect the world to understand disciples of Jesus. They haven’t for two millenia, so, we shouldn’t expect that now. Let’s pray Archbishop Coakley has wisdom, courage, charity and clarity for the task now before him. And, we should pray for that for ourselves as well.