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A Church of Mercy, A Servant Pope

March 13, 2015 by Eric Fought Leave a Comment

As we reach the two-year mark of the papacy of Pope Francis and look back it is undoubtedly a stunning view.

I often find myself in conversation about the Pope, frequently with non-Catholics who are inspired and intrigued by him. Of course, he’s amazingly popular among Catholics as well. In the United States alone his favorability among practicing Catholics rivals that of ice cream and chocolate.

And yet there are many Catholics who, while they might like him, are also critical. For my more progressive friends, he’s not doing enough. For my more conservative friends, he’s doing too much. And, at the end of the day, I think they are all wrong. This makes me especially popular at dinner parties.

Francis is a rare kind of pope, a type we haven’t seen in a very long time, if ever. He is pastoral, energetic, approachable, down-to-earth, joyful, funny, hope filled and at times most prophetic. I would argue that he is also incredibly smart, strategic and politically savvy, which makes his detractors so weary.

Each pope has his strengths and weaknesses. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is a brilliant theologian and has been throughout his life. Pope John Paul II began his long pontificate with incredible pastoral energy and engaged and inspired young people more than any modern pope has until now.

But there is no doubt that the world was ready for Pope Francis and what he is bringing to the Church. After decades of doctrinal rigidity, he has called for mercy and love. He has demanded that the members of the hierarchy serving the Church do so as shepherds that smell like their sheep and not as princes counting their fine wool sweaters. He has a vision of the Church as a field hospital triaging the complex lives of the faithful that walk through its doors.

And he has backed up his words with action. The people of Chicago and San Diego, for instance, now have incredible pastoral leaders serving them. Other, more out-of-touch prelates like Germany’s “bishop of bling” and embattled Cardinal Raymond Burke have both been pulled from their previous posts and demoted. The Pope continues to make significant reforms throughout the curia, all of which will take a great deal of time and patience following years of mismanagement and abuse.

Has he done enough to bring about full inclusion of LGBT persons in the Church? No. But he’s come further than anyone has or would have. Is there more work to be done considering the place of women in the leadership of the Church? Most definitely. And the list of reforms and issues goes on and on.

However, there is no doubt that in two short years, the Holy Father has done much to return the Church to its roots as a people concerned with the Gospel values of justice, mercy and peace. In the Pope the poor, marginalized and oppressed have a true friend, and his witness and direct actions are having an impact on all of us. If they haven’t had an impact on you, you need to ask yourself why not.

And, at the end of the day, that was my greatest hope when the Conclave gathered two years ago. I prayed that the cardinals would elect, and God would bring to us, a pontiff who was truly devoted to ensuring that the poor came first and that our Church would be a place of mercy, hope and love. Through his actions and his words, we have such a servant leader.

After all, if we aren’t doing that right—if we aren’t a poor Church serving the poor before all else, we can’t expect to do much else. And we certainly can’t expect to preach the gospel with a straight face.

There is much work left to do, and the Catholic Church is not a fast-moving operation. But I remain hopeful today and am so very grateful for the gift of Pope Francis.

Winds Shift in Chicago and the U.S. Church

September 20, 2014 by Eric Fought Leave a Comment

For more than a year, journalists, clergy and lay people—Catholic or not—have been all a buzz about Pope Francis and the reforms that he is bringing forth in the Church. Early on and even into today, skeptics downplayed the Holy Father’s calls for change as mere words, flowery rhetoric even. Perhaps it is a change in tone, but not in substance, I hear often.

In the United States, that all changed today.

This morning the Vatican announced that the Pope selected Bishop Blase Cupich of Spokane, Washington to be the next Archbishop of Chicago, the nation’s third-largest archdiocese. Archbishop-designate Cupich will succeed Cardinal Francis George, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 two years ago and whose health has been declining recently.

It is safe to say that the selection of Cupich was a surprise to just about everyone, including the Omaha, Nebraska native himself. This is the first time in about 100 years that a new Archbishop of Chicago did not come from another archdiocese. Cupich is certainly known among the bishops, but has rarely received much attention in the national media.

David Gibson over at the Religion News Service gave some background on Cupich:

Named by Pope Benedict XVI to head the Diocese of Spokane in September 2010, Cupich (pronounced “SOUP-itch”) has steadily staked out positions that align him with Catholics who want the church to engage the world rather than rail against the forces of secularism.

In March 2012, for example, in the midst of the bishops’ nasty battle with the Obama administration over religious freedom and the employer mandate to provide free contraception coverage, Cupich wrote an essay in America magazine titled “Staying Civil.”

In that column, Cupich called for dialogue with the White House and the Department of Health and Human Services rather than constant confrontation, and said the crisis was a chance to find “common ground.”

“While the outrage to the H.H.S. decision was understandable, in the long run threats and condemnations have a limited impact,” he wrote.

The phrase “common ground” also resonated because it was associated with the approach of George’s predecessor in Chicago, the late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, who embodied the hopes of a more progressive church — hopes that seemed to end with George.

It would be a mistake to label Cupich as a liberal or progressive. Of course by comparison to Cardinal George and other colleagues throughout the country, his moderate approach certainly will steer a different course. Such moderation is a welcome shift and a necessary one for the future of the Catholic Church.

Today’s announcement points to a very significant decision by the Pope that will have ramifications not only for the 2.2 million Catholics in Chicago but also for the Church throughout the United States and beyond.

John Allen, Jr. of the Boston Globe reports about the change that the Pope is bringing about through unconventional episcopal appointments:

By now, the profile of a “Francis bishop” has come into focus: Ideologically, moderates rather than hardliners; pastorally, men who place special emphasis on concern for the poor and those at the margins; and personally, leaders who aren’t flashy personality types, with a reputation for being accessible and hands-on.

In some ways, those are precisely the sort of leaders perceived to have been out of favor in the American hierarchy during the late John Paul II and Benedict XVI years, but with Francis, the dynamic has changed.

Chicago is on a short list of pace-setter dioceses around the world whose leaders help set direction for the church in their regions, and it’s long been a bellwether for deeper realignments.

During the 1980s and 1990s, the late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin embodied the moderate, reforming spirit of the Second Vatican Council. The transition to Cardinal Francis George embodied the stronger emphasis on Catholic identity in the later John Paul II years, with the effort to resist the inroads of secularism in the faith as a defining cause.

Cupich will be installed as Chicago’s ninth Archbishop on November 18.

On Poverty, History and Catholic Credibility

January 12, 2014 by Eric Fought Leave a Comment

Last week many noted the 50th anniversary of a notable speech given by President Lyndon Johnson in which he declared a “war on poverty” in the United States. Now, a half-century later, we face the unacceptable reality that poverty remains prevalent in this nation of plenty. However, there is no doubt that the programs put into place in Johnson’s administration and in the years since have helped countless Americans survive.

There is an important conversation happening right now in this country regarding poverty and our nation’s response to it. Some believe that somehow we’ve done too much to help the vulnerable among us—arguing that some sort of dependency stems from public assistance. These are the voices in Washington that are advocating for cuts to SNAP benefits and that are blocking the extension of emergency unemployment for 1.3 million Americans.

Yet there are other voices in this conversation. Some are surprised that one such voice is the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis. The New York Times recently noted, “from 4,500 miles away at the Vatican, Pope Francis, who has captivated the world with a message of economic justice and tolerance, has become a presence in Washington’s policy debate.”

Such surprise isn’t warranted. In the NYT article, author Sheryl Gay Stolberg reports that “in many respects, Francis’ economic views are consistent with church doctrine” (Emphasis mine). Actually, in all respects the Pope’s views are not only consistent with church doctrine, they are church doctrine. While I join many in being grateful for the call to economic justice found in the Pope’s recent apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium, in it he covers no new ground. He is simply reiterating the teaching of the Church in these matters, a rich tradition that has included papal, conciliar and episcopal documents that span centuries, not decades.

However, many Americans—including many American Catholics—believe that the Pope and those of us advocating for a return to our roots of being a Church that is concerned with a preferential option for the poor and other tenets of Catholic social teaching are somehow offering something brand new. There are many reasons for this, but one reason is most pressing. It is an issue of credibility.

The U.S. bishops have long been strong public advocates for the poor and vulnerable. Economic Justice for All, the pastoral letter on Catholic social teaching and the U.S. economy released in 1986 took strong positions on matters such as employment, poverty, food and agriculture and the economic relationship between the United States and other global nations. In the document the bishops wrote, “the obligation to provide justice for all means that the poor have the single most urgent economic claim on the conscience of the nation.” They continued, “the needs of the poor take priority over the desires of the rich; the rights of workers over the maximization of profits; the preservation of the environment over uncontrolled industrial expansion; the production to meet social needs over production for military purposes.”

Sound familiar?

In the United States, the bishop’s conference and many clergy and lay people have been on the front lines of these issues for years. And that remains the case today. From calling for comprehensive immigration reform to the need for a moral budget, the bishops have been some of the strongest advocates for the common good.

However, for more than a decade now, that advocacy has often fallen on deaf ears—the result of a lack of credibility in public discourse due to the bishop’s poor handling of the ongoing clergy sex abuse crisis in this country. In the years since the scandal broke far and wide in 2002, the credibility problem hasn’t improved. Indeed, in many dioceses and on the national level it can be argued that the problem has gotten worse.

Further, instead of fully addressing the crisis at their feet, the bishops have instead chosen to wage an unsuccessful culture war in their dioceses and at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in Washington. At the same time, less emphasis has been placed on reminding Catholics in the pews of our faith tradition’s rich heritage of caring for the poor and vulnerable, calling for a consistent ethic of life (not just opposing abortion) and being good stewards of God’s creation.

Now more than ever, we need to have credible voices on many domestic issues that should concern all people of faith. We need to fix America’s broken immigration system and we need to do it now. We need to bring about a just and equitable economy that lifts people out of poverty and reduces the evil found in unfettered greed. We need to place a greater value on the life of all Americans from cradle to grave. These are all discussions that would benefit from the perspective offered by the U.S. bishops and clergy.

Until we fully address the ongoing clergy sex abuse crisis together, these voices will continue to lack the credibility needed to have an impact. And while the bishops must be willing to lead the way in such a move, we as the laity must continue to push for the necessary reforms and work with the bishops to bring them about. We are all responsible—prelates, clergy, religious and laity—in the urgent need to move our Church from scandal and division to a place of hope and love.

We Need A Little Christmas

December 24, 2013 by Eric Fought Leave a Comment

Greetings from Chicago, where I’m spending Christmas once again this year. I always enjoy returning here to spend the holidays with my parents, take in a movie or two and relax. I hope that this holiday season is treating you well.

At Christmas, many seek to remind us that the United States was founded as a Christian nation. While this argument is, at the very least, suspect, let’s consider for a moment what that means, especially on this most holy night.

The Christ child came to dwell among us, not in the comfort of a steady home but in the cold and dirt of a manger to an unstable couple in a strange land. His birth was scandalous, born to a virgin and her unwed spouse. He wasn’t born into royalty or stability, but into poverty and a world of unanswered questions. It was here that our God chose to come, chose to dwell among us. God came to bring light to the darkness, to prove once and for all that the least shall be first and the first, last.

Yet, how often have we forgotten this? How often have we chosen to believe that the story was somehow different, that the circumstances were perhaps more suitable to our comfortable lives? How often have we set aside the reality of that Incarnation and our own call to a Christian life that was born on that night in a very uncomfortable world?

I wonder what would happen if instead of choosing to come to us on that night God chose to dwell among us now? Would dignitaries visit the cave and offer gifts? Or would the “wise men” tell Mary and Joseph to “pull up their bootstraps” and get to work? Would the couple be allowed to stay in Bethlehem or would they be seen as “illegal” and violently deported? Would the story of such a great arrival be covered tonight at 10:00 or would we instead be reminded of partisan bickering and gridlock that overshadows any miracle, Christmas or otherwise?

Yes, as that old song reminds us, we need a little Christmas, right this very minute. We need to be reminded once again of why Christ came to us that night so long ago. We need to seek the betterment of each other, moving beyond our selfish comfort and out of our respective ideological corners.

We need a little Christmas, not just today, but in the days ahead. To set aside the cynicism that keeps us from finding solutions in Washington, in our neighborhoods and our churches. We need a little Christmas to move past the compassion deficit that allows us to believe that giving “welfare” is only compassionate when it is given to “job creators.” We need a little Christmas to forgive those that have hurt us, and to forgive ourselves.

Yes, we need a little Christmas to fulfill that promise that was born in the midst of dirt and scandal. May we truly fulfill it, together.

Peace to you and all those you love on this most holy night.

On Shopping, Black Friday and Poverty

November 25, 2013 by Eric Fought Leave a Comment

If you are planning on doing any shopping in retail stores this week, chances are you might see some protests along with the usual long lines. You may view this as an inconvenience. You might even be angered or annoyed. But, let’s take a moment and talk about what is really going on.

First, this isn’t about denying your right to a damn good deal. The more retail spending, the better. Actually, it would be great if more Americans could spend more this holiday season and throughout the year. And, if they can save a buck or two in the process, even better.

However, many Americans aren’t financially secure enough to shop “until they drop.” This is especially true for the workers you will encounter when you walk through the doors of some of your favorite retailers. Yes, I’m referring to Walmart. But I’m also referring to Target, Best Buy and many others. The fact is that most of the people working at these stores, including supervisors and workers with seniority, are living in poverty.

The cashier who will check you out on Friday morning likely can’t afford to shop at the store you are about to leave. As you walk around Target Thursday night, note how clean the aisles are. The retail cleaning workers who made sure your shopping experience is as positive as possible won’t be able to enjoy any of the markdowns, they are barely able to put food on the table to feed their families.

You may have noted recently that a Walmart store in Canton, Ohio understands this reality. The store saw to it that their associates would get some much-needed help this Thanksgiving holiday. Not through paying a living wage. No, rather, they encouraged their employees to help each other out by donating cans of whole kernel corn and lima beans. Read more here.

And so, in cities throughout this country, retail workers are standing up, speaking out and in many cases walking out. Strikes have started happening already and will continue. Your shopping experience might be affected. And now you know why.

No American worker should be living in poverty. Period, exclamation point. It’s time to raise the wage and raise it without hesitation. Study after study shows that raising the minimum wage increases spending and stimulates the economy. Just ask executives and associates at Costco. Those who oppose it do so at their own expense.

As we pause to consider with gratitude all that we have this Thanksgiving holiday, let’s remember all those that make it happen. I’ll be picking up a pie or two to share later this week. Someone had to make it, put it on the shelf and ring it up. Another worker cleaned the aisle, ensuring that I didn’t fall on my posterior as I browsed the bakery section. They make my holiday traditions happen, and they deserve to earn a living wage just as much as I do.

When you see striking workers and protests happening in your neighborhood this week, take a moment to thank those braving the cold to stand up for the rights of workers everywhere. Better yet, put your new TV in the car and join them for a half hour. In the end, they are marching for you and for me as they march to improve the lives of all families.