Posted on 11/16/2014 11:43:54 AM PST by NKP_Vet
Cardinal Francis George of Chicago will turn over the reins to his successor, Archbishop Blase Cupich, on Tuesday. George has long been seen as a leading intellectual light among America’s Catholic bishops, and even now, as he fights for his life, his mind remains remarkably nimble.
As it turns out, one thing occupying his mind these days is Pope Francis.
Now 77, George is currently undergoing experimental treatment intended to stimulate his immune system to fight off the cancer spreading from his bladder, liver, and kidneys through the rest of his body. If it fails, he’ll likely be looking at palliative care ahead of the inevitable.
I’ve described George before as the “American Ratzinger” for his blend of intellectual chops and tenacious commitment to Catholic tradition, in the spirit of the former Joseph Ratzinger, the man who became Pope Benedict XVI. (For the record, George shuns the label, insisting he’s not of Benedict’s intellectual caliber. He is, in any event, the closest thing to it on these shores.)
George sat down for an exclusive interview on Friday. A fuller account will appear Monday on Crux, but for now, one fascinating element is this: If time and health allow, George would really, really like to have a heart-to-heart with Francis.
Aside from the sheer fun of knowing what one of America’s best Catholic minds wants to ask the pope, George’s dream Q&A has political relevance because he remains a point of reference to the Church’s conservative wing. These aren’t just his questions, in other words, but what a large and influential Catholic constituency would like to know.
So, what’s on his mind?
To begin, George said he’d like to ask Francis if he fully grasps that in some quarters, he’s created the impression Catholic doctrine is up for grabs.
Does Francis realize, for example, “what has happened just by that phrase, ‘Who am I to judge?’ ”
Francis’ signature sound-bite, George said, “has been very misused … because he was talking about someone who has already asked for mercy and been given absolution, whom he knows well,” George said.
(Francis uttered the line in 2013, in response to a question about a Vatican cleric accused of gay relationships earlier in his career.)
“That’s entirely different than talking to somebody who demands acceptance rather than asking for forgiveness,” George said. More from Crux
Shahbaz Bhatti, the lone Catholic in the Pakistani national cabinet, was assassinated in 2011 for opposing his country’s harsh anti-blasphemy laws. He had been an activist on behalf of religious minorities. (AP Photo) What the Pope could do to defend religious freedom Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Russian Orthodox Church’s department for external relations, used a speech at the Oct. 5-19 Synod of Bishops in the Vatican to take a swipe at Ukraine’s Greek Catholic Church. The perils of weak-kneed ecumenism with Russia OscarsC And the 2014 Synod Oscar goes to ...
More
“Does he not realize the repercussions? Perhaps he doesn’t,” George said. “I don’t know whether he’s conscious of all the consequences of some of the things he’s said and done that raise doubts in people’s minds.”
“The question is why he doesn’t he clarify” these ambiguous statements, George said. “Why is it necessary that apologists have to bear the burden of trying to put the best possible face on it?”
He said he also wonders if Francis realizes how his rhetoric has created expectations “he can’t possibly meet.”
“That’s what worries me,” George said. “At a certain moment, people who have painted him as a player in their own scenarios about changes in the Church will discover that’s not who he is.”
At that stage, George warned, “He’ll get not only disillusionment, but opposition, which could be harmful to his effectiveness.”
Second, George said he’d like to ask Francis who is providing him advice — which, he said, has become the “big question” about this pope.
“Obviously he’s getting input from somewhere,” George said. “Much of it he collects himself, but I’d love to know who’s truly shaping his thinking.”
Third, George noted that Francis often makes references to the Devil and the biblical notion of the end-times, but said it’s not clear how that shapes his vision and agenda.
Among other things, George recalled that one of Francis’ favorite books is “The Lord of the World” by Robert Hugh Benson, a converted Catholic priest and son of a former Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury. It’s an apocalyptic fantasy, written in 1907, culminating in a showdown between the Church and a charismatic anti-Christ figure.
George said he’d like to ask Francis a simple question: “Do you really believe that?”
“I hope before I die I’ll have the chance to ask him how you want us to understand what you’re doing, when you put [the end-times] before us as a key to it all,” he said.
Perhaps, George said, the sense that the end is near explains why Francis “seems to be in a hurry.”
So far, George said, he hasn’t been able to talk these things out with the new boss.
“I didn’t know him well before he was elected, and since then I haven’t had a chance to go over [to Rome] for any meetings because I’ve been in treatment,” he said.
Getting some quality time, as George describes it, wouldn’t be just about indulging his personal curiosity, but also being a good bishop.
“You’re supposed to govern in communion with the successor of Peter, so it’s important to have some meeting of minds,” he said. “I certainly respect [Francis] as pope, but I don’t yet really have an understanding of, ‘What are we doing here?’ ”
Here’s hoping America’s Ratzinger eventually gets that heart-to-heart with Pope Francis … and, for the record, I’d pay serious money to be a fly on the wall if he does.
— Chicago Cardinal Francis George
Who is Cardinal George to judge?/s/
I shun the label as well and I don't see much that Cardinal George has in common with Pope Benedict XVI. Benedict was MUCH more forceful and unapologetic when it came to enforcing Catholic doctrines. The liberal media demands Cardinal George "apologize" for saying its not appropriate to have a "gay pride" parade march past Holy Name Cathedral on Sunday, and he caves and grovels for forgiveness. The fact Obama worshiping "priest" Michael Pfleger is allowed to invite abortion proponents to speak at his "Catholic" church in Chicago should be a clear example that George is no Ratzinger.
Many people, including Pope Benedict himself, were brilliant and conservative, but not very good at personnel decisions. They belong to the George Bush School of Gentlemanship - never remove or punish your enemies, just to prove how fair-minded you are and in hopes that if they somehow get into power, they’ll treat you well.
It backfired on Bush and it backfired on them, unfortunately; Bergoglio was one of Ratzinger’s severest critics, from his dysfunctional Argentine archdiocese, and the Pope should have removed or demoted him (particularly when he attacked Pope Benedict for the Regensburg lecture). And Bergoglio has been ruthless with what he perceives as his enemies, the “conservatives,” and has actually removed a number of conservative bishops worldwide.
Interesting article. Pope Francis has definitely sowed confusion, but I’m not entirely sure he’s unaware of it. That’s what’s disturbing.
I was reading a glowing appraisal of George in FIRST THINGS.
I don’t think he undid one hundredth of the damage done by his predecessor, Bernardin.
Although the USCCB officially backed away from the “Seamless Garment” (the doctrine that pro-aborts will govern justly and wisely, and will prevent nuclear war, and that pro-lifers will kill the poor and blow up the world), the vast majority of American bishops threaten their priests if they deny Communion to pro-aborts. Fr. Pfleger faced down Cardinal George, and George folded. George is being succeeded by another abortionist-snuggler.
I think George will be soon forgotten.
We need to pray for Cardinal George.
This is one of the reasons why I do not see him, Pope Francis, being Pope after another 2 or 3 years. He is not young for one thing and I think he has only one lung. The burdens of being Pope will even tire out even a Bergoglio in time.
Yep, he sure has. Just this past synod I was wondering if it was going to create what I call a “civil war” situation between “conservative Catholics vs. “liberal Catholics” in the process.
Rather, the real “America’s Ratzinger” Pope Francis just demoted, Cardinal Raymond Burke.
I heard that Cardinal George cleaned up Mundelein Seminary. I don’t know much about it, but I’ve heard people say it. Anyway, Cardinal George is very ill and needs our prayers.
We have hope. Raymond Cardinal Burke may have been demoted but (1) he lives, (2) he is much younger and in apparently better health than Francis, and (3) God protects his own. I suspect that the College of Cardinals have had a snootful of the mistake they have made and will remedy it when the next conclave is held.
Wait until Cupich takes over Chicago. Cardinal George is going to look like a new St. Paul. Cupich will be restoring the carnival of cowardice and amorality that was Bernardin in Chicago. Cupich seems to have developed a personal track record of being offended by and having hissy fits over actual pro-life activity which he tries to restrain. He is a disgrace, a near certain future cardinal and only 66 years old. Chicago Catholicism will soon again be a smoking radioactive ruin.
It makes me so thankful that my local Archbishop, Leonard Blair, is in charge of the Hartford, CT area Archdiocese.
Keep a close eye on Burke. He may have a future as a possible Pope.
As one who lived most of my life in the Hartford Archdiocese, I share your thankfulness over Archbishop Blair. God bless you and yours!
Shortly after his election and his acceptance of the resignations of all Vatican officials and re-appointment of those who merit re-appointment, he should name a new Vatican executioner. It is far too long since the last one died or retired and so many worthy objects of the purifying flames.
God bless you and yours!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.