I couldn’t be happier with the news that Archbishop Chaput is coming to Philadelphia. Maybe this news will bring some much needed sunshine and put an end to the storm clouds that have lingered over this area for the past few years.
There’s tons of stories out there concerning this amazing bit of news. For a good look at many of them, check out New Advent.
It’s funny that this awesome news marks a day where I agree with both Fr. Thomas Reese and George Weigel.
Reese was quoted saying:
“I think that with Chaput you will see a much more politically active archbishop than we saw with Cardinal Rigali,” said the Rev. Thomas Reese, former editor of the Jesuit magazine America and author of numerous books on the Catholic hierarchy.
Reese described Chaput as an “in-your-face” leader who is “going to be a real pain in the neck for the Democratic Party.”
George Weigel called Chaput a “great pastor” and predicted he would be a “real jolt of evangelical energy for the archdiocese.”
I agree with both. (Although I think Reese meant it as a bad thing, I don’t.) But the archbishop’s job is not a political one. Right now, so many Catholics are dispirited. Many Catholics have wondered aloud to me if they’re putting money in the collection basket just to pay off lawsuits or pay for lawyers. I’ve heard of seminarians leaving, mainly due to the scandals and the sometimes seemingly wrongful heavy handedness of lumping the innocent in with the guilty.
In my parish just outside Philadelphia it’s impossible not to understand that Catholics feel disillusioned by the Archdiocese. They don’t understand how the mess got this bad. They wonder if anything’s been learned. And they wonder if the Archdiocese will ever be the same.
I honestly believe Philadelphia needs Archbishop Chaput right now.
I don’t think Rocco Palma is overstating it when he says of Abp. Chaput:
“He is brash, outspoken and fearless — energetic, colorful, cultured… indeed, even hard-core….
And if multiple indications from near and far have it right, he stands set to bring the most revolutionary change American Catholicism’s most traditional major outpost has known in at least a century, to begin its rebuilding from the ashes of the darkest hour in its long, storied history.
We should all pray for quick and long sustained success here for Abp. Chaput.
Just hearing about this appointment has put a spring in my step.
July 19, 2011 at 5:01 am
It's the Liturgy, stupid.
July 19, 2011 at 5:44 am
This news may have put a spring in your step, and you should be very happy to be getting such a wonderful shepherd, but to those of us in Denver, this is a very sad day indeed!
July 19, 2011 at 7:36 am
"Reese described Chaput as an "in-your-face" leader who is 'going to be a real pain in the neck for the Democratic Party.'" Of course, many members of the Democratic Party have been a pain in the neck for Christ and His Church, so I guess turnabout is fair play, isn't it?
July 19, 2011 at 1:40 pm
Could be a fast ride on a very short track to oblivion for Chaput and many pro-abort cardinals and bishops will be clapping their hands and stomping their feet. We are down one pro-life Cardinal and bishop, but Malooly of Delaware (for instance) is still in office along w/O'Malley (Gay mass), Hubbard (adulterers communion) etc. etc. etc. This is a (another) sad day for the Catholic church.
July 19, 2011 at 1:52 pm
Whaaa? Anon? Seriously? Have you read Chaput's writings? Have you heard him speak? He's a beautifully pro-life man, a faithful steward of the flock and a thoughtful philosopher about the nature of government, what it can and cannot, what it should and should not do, and he holds great courage. Trust the Holy Spirit to guide the Church and its princes. Arch Bishop Chaput will be a great blessing to Philly and the North East Corridor, thinking of making a trip now North just to hear him say the mass.
July 19, 2011 at 2:00 pm
I'm also from outside Philly Matt and am pumped about Chaput. The Catholic Association of Teachers are probably going to strike, the scandal and the lack of trust on part of Catholics here are going to give him a head of gray hair and heartache and yet I can't think of any bishop up to this task. PLEASE TELL ME HE WON't live in that mansion the previous cardinals lived in—–so not Capuchin.
July 19, 2011 at 2:03 pm
@Giovanni,
I keep hearing this. But you know what, it's not the liturgy, it's the shepherd and the flock. If the shepherd isn't faithful, the flock certainly won't be. And if the flock isn't faithful to begin with, it's going to be an uphill struggle no matter how many Latin Masses are said.
I live in the diocese of Orlando and my parish has NO masses only. We sing out of the Breaking Bread hymnal and occasionally you may hear an acoustic guitar as accompaniment. And the priest never has his back to the congregation, either. Know what? My parish is more alive and vibrant and active than some of those I've visited that only have EF Masses. Just this Sunday, the subject of the homily was being faithful to Jesus, rejecting moral relativism, and the necessity to refuse support for those who promote abortion, same sex marriage, etc. And that message was welcome. Our pastors are faithful and passionate for Jesus and it shows in the response of the congregation.
I'm a new Catholic and very conservative. But I am already frustrated with those who would suggest that our problems would just go away if every parish would reject the NO and go back to the EF. That attitude is not dealing in reality. The problem is with the people- either the leaders or the parishioners themselves- who have embraced the secular culture and reject Catholic ways of thinking. Im sorry, but no amount of inundating folks with Gregorian chant is going to make people reject the world. Only rock solid leadership can do that.
July 19, 2011 at 2:15 pm
A Catholic cleric says the point is all about how the "Democratic Party" will react! Priceless…At any rate, the Democratic Party is free now as ever to get up to speed with prolife rather than wait around for the inevitable. It's a party that needs to begin welcoming everyone including prolife in order to maintain any shred of moral credibility.
And of course these are the same people who would pit Catholics one against the other, those attached to one Mass or the other. We should support and be open to praying in both forms. Unfortunately irreverent NO is the norm in some areas and sometimes it relates to music and sometimes it does not at all.
Of course the usual whiners and complainers will whine and complain and attempt to interfere with the Pope's rightful authority in appointment. Let them whine away. Who would want to follow that? It is not appealing or attractive.
July 19, 2011 at 2:54 pm
Can just hear it, "But, Archbishop, you mean to tell us that it is not God's will that we support choice and abortion so more infants may be eliminated after torture in their mother's womb? How could you say that? We need to have abortion and choice. We simply must have it more and more. And the Democratic Party is the chosen one to supply it. Not for the poor, mind you, because we are just as happy that their heads are numbered for the chopping block. It's because we have decided that the freedom to slaughter infants in a democratic nation is the very thing on which all of our sexual freedoms are based. Without that, well, libertinism will have a bad name. Libertinism will no longer sell as profitably. And sexual libertinism will look crass and lacking in compassion. This will make libertinism seem disconnected with the power of goodness. It will make libertines look selfish, empty, unhappy. It will seem like we rule only out of self interest and not for the good of all. It would make families more important than we desire. It would force us to care about the real needs of women, equal pay, maternity leave, schools. No, this won't due at all. We need abortion and we simply will not abide any request that our Democratic Party change, convert, realize, clarify, discuss, assess, admit what's occurred. No, Archbishop, according to the Democratic Party, abortion is important as all sexual freedoms without responsibility hinge on encouraging some women to slaughter their own children while we look the other way, support it, give cover…we can't tolerate the idea that this is not God's will." And so on and so forth…
July 19, 2011 at 3:25 pm
Great how clergy and laity with experience in pastoral work and in leadership or institutional roles have such supportive, respectful things to say about Archbishop Chaput's appointment. Their opinions and take on things is much more meaningful in this moment and in terms of the future than the undermining of professional soundbyte providers.
July 19, 2011 at 3:46 pm
"going to be a real pain in the neck for the Democratic Party."
Really? Well that just says it all! A Democrat admitting the Democrat party is NOT in alignment with Catholic teaching. Who'd a thought.
God bless Archbishop Chaput and please dear Lord help him to have a good influence on his neighbors the Dioceses of Trenton & Camden.
July 19, 2011 at 3:50 pm
Slightly off topic – but we in the Los Angeles archdiocese have a similar blessing. As his sermon last Sunday a visiting priest to my parish read an article written by the new archbishop of Los Angeles, Archbishop Jose Gomez. It was all about standing up for traditional prolife family values. After years of left wing politics and liturgical experimentation in the LA archdiocese, this was somewhat startling, but very beautiful to hear.
July 19, 2011 at 4:14 pm
@mrflibbleisvryx,
I can't speak for Mr. Cattaneo (I loved the quip, spot on Giovanni!), but I think you read quite a bit more into said quip than was intended.
The slogan "Save the liturgy, save the world," that Fr. Zed has borrowed as coined by a friend and fellow church musician, is really not a clever or flippant notion. Nor does it necessarily mean that RotR advocates (of which Abp. Chaput, I believe, is among that number) have any expressed agenda towards an eventual restoration of the EF as THE rite under which Mass is celebrated.
I think you should look for the implication that as a fully realized act of worship, the Mass necessarily self-refers to both the mystagogical intent and, as so-dubbed progressives are wont to appropriate as their own declaration of doctrinal intent, the "missio." If we are faithful to "lex orandi, lex credendi" there is plenty good room and impetus to go forth and do both The Great Commission and Mt.25/Mandatum servanthood.
Of course, I could be wrong and Mr. Cattaneo could be the local president of his Latin Mass Assn. chapter! In that case, as Roseanne Roseannadanna would say, nevermind!
July 19, 2011 at 5:13 pm
I think, on the contrary, that Archbp Chaput will be a bright light and encouragement to the Democratic Party. If that's what our biggest concern ought to be right now. Anyway it is probably foolish to speculate or try to make predictions at this point. But there are many who would hope that the Democratic Party could regain some moral authority that has been squandered in the total support given to big abortion and the blackout and suppression of any real prolife voice, in an authoritarian and totalitarian manner. Prolife is not one party only and if the leadership of the Democratic Party can take courage in expressing support for life which is the more authentic feminist outlook, that can only be a great thing for everybody.
July 19, 2011 at 5:14 pm
Streaming live on http://www.archphila.org
July 19, 2011 at 5:46 pm
Who would have thought that a traditionally secular city like Denver (my hometown) would have produced the likes of Stafford, Gomez, and Chaput? The next leader of Northern Colorado has HUGE shoes to fill.
July 19, 2011 at 5:51 pm
Beware clerics who want you to think that an appointment by the Pope must be identified, above all, as "a Republican". Don't buy that a Bishop's responsibility to the faithful is all about being a tool of the secular state. Beware false teachers who force others to carry heavy loads without lifting a finger to help.
July 19, 2011 at 6:40 pm
@Charles,
You may be right, and if that is the case then I apologize. In my short time as a Catholic, whenever I hear talk about liturgical reform or restoration solving our problems it's always been in the context of making the Latin mass the ONLY mass. And I've seen so many comments and blogs, etc. that have heavily implied that good Catholics only go to the EF and that parishes that practice the NO are hotbeds of heathens. It's utter nonsense. But that's my frame of reference so that's how I took the comment.
Again, if that isn't how it was meant I apologize.
July 19, 2011 at 7:36 pm
He will be greatly missed in Denver. He has a great spiritual presence and the Holy Spirit truly speak through him. A great evangelical inspiration to us all. God bless him and all he those will shepherd. Strengthen the Catholic Church on the East coast. May you be a light to guide them to our Precious Lord.
July 19, 2011 at 9:43 pm
@mrflibbleisvryx, Good Catholics are found whatever is offered whether NO or EF Mass of course. But in places where pastoral choices have been made that have interfered with the transcendent quality of the Mass, there are doctrinal problems which underlie those choices which can be readily observed — these inform both the way the faith is taught as well as the sacraments. I don't know what blogs you are looking at but I read many Catholic blogs and do not see what you are seeing (of course some people just prefer the EF, and that is something to be respected as a legitimate choice, it doesn't make someone superior or holier but we should not disparage the choice either). There was a recent article on the First Things blog and featured elsewhere that nicely articulated the transcendent aspects of the NO Mass, perhaps you could take a look at that. Reverent NO Masses are supported by a commitment to the truth of the faith. In some places in the country reverent NO Masses are prevalent and in others they are just not happening unfortunately. I have attended Mass in different places in Florida and for the most part reverent NO is the norm there. Pray for the people in other places where reverent NO has become very hard to find.