Bishop Cupich named Archbishop of Chicago

September 22, 2014

Pope Francis has named Bishop Blase Cupich of Spokane as the new Archbishop of Chicago.

Ordained to the priesthood in 1985 and appointed bishop of Rapid City, South Dakota, in 1998, Bishop Cupich was transferred to Spokane in 2010.

On the eve of the 2008 presidential election, Bishop Cupich spoke out against abortion and racism. “Voting for a candidate solely because of that candidate’s support for abortion or against him or her solely on the basis of his or her race is to promote an intrinsic evil,” he wrote.

Upon his transfer to Spokane, Bishop Cupich inherited a diocese that had declared bankruptcy in the wake of the clerical sex-abuse scandal. He was able to negotiate a pact that prevented the foreclosure of 22 parishes. “While he represents an interest and strongly defended the Church, nevertheless he didn’t defend inappropriate activity,” a federal judge said at the time. “And he was a tremendous partner in finding resolution of these matters.”

Later, the diocese filed suit against its bankruptcy attorneys.

In 2012, Bishop Cupich opposed a ballot initiative that would implement same-sex marriage in Washington. In doing so, he wished “to be very clear that in stating our position the Catholic Church has no tolerance for the misuse of this moment to incite hostility towards homosexual persons or promote an agenda that is hateful and disrespectful of their human dignity,” he said in a letter.

The appointment in Chicago was greeted enthusiastically by some liberal Catholics, who applauded his emphasis on social justice and his plea to find "common ground" during the debate over the contraceptive mandate in federal health-care reform. Archbishop-designate Cupich has also clashed in the past with pro-life activists and with traditionalist Catholics.

 

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Further information:

• Pope Names Bishop Blase Cupich as Archbishop of Chicago (USCCB)
• Diocese refiles suit against bankruptcy attorneys (CWN, 1/20/14)
• Bishop emphasizes: no hostility towards homosexual persons in same-sex marriage debate (CWN, 8/10/12)
• Following mediation, diocese avoids foreclosure of parishes, schools (CWN, 6/1/12)
• South Dakota bishop warns against racism as election approaches (CWN, 10/23/08)
• Pope Francis names Spokane bishop to Chicago, dashing conservative hopes (RNS)