2014 was quite a year for those of us who write about the Catholic Church. Looking back at the most important stories of the year, many of them are tied in with Pope Francis but in this column, I will confine my retrospective to events in the United States. So, here are the top stories of the year, ranked in no particular order.
1) Reactions to Pope Francis continued to fascinate. The pope continued to demonstrate wide appeal to almost all Catholics in the U.S. Whatever their ideological and political particularities, people respond to this man in large part because he is so recognizably human, and not afraid to be seen as such.
What I termed last year Pope Francis Derangement Syndrome largely abated. Yes, John Zmirak denied there is any such thing as a papal magisterium, and some well-heeled Catholics tried to reduce the popes clarion calls for social justice to an appeal for personal charity. A few continued to question the legitimacy of his election. But, by and large, the derangement stopped. Sadly, some commentators and some clerics continue to try and parse the popes words, emptying them of their obvious meaning and replacing them with their own perspectives. Indeed, I think one of the things that will warrant further attention in the year ahead is the plain spoken way this pope communicates. In an age riddled with jargon and faux-expertise, when elites in politics and the academy are so far removed from the daily concerns of most people they talk like aliens or with a politically correct vacuity, the popes ability to speak from his heart in language all can understand may be one of the most counter-cultural things about him.
Which leads to another aspect of the reaction to him: The divide within the left between those most concerned about sexual issues and those most concerned about social justice issues continued to grow. Many in the first camp object to the way the pope speaks about women. I prefer his homey metaphors, even when they sound like clunkers, to any PC-approved speech. He speaks like a 78-year old Argentine because he is a 78-year old Argentine. And, the focus on his metaphors involving gender roles can too easily keep us from listening to what he is trying to say. This is related to a consistent criticism I have of the Catholic Left: They approach the teachings of the Church they dislike only with a desire to change them, rarely with the disposition to discover what God, through the Church, may be trying to tell us. All of us have experienced difficult moments or tasks from which we grew in ways we never would have otherwise, yet this knowledge is quickly forgotten by ideologues of all stripes who approach Church teachings the way a child approaches play-do. I think the left, not just the right, has to do a better job listening to what t he Holy Father has to say about humility.
2) The appointment of +Blase Cupich as the ninth Archbishop of Chicago is an enormous event in the life of the Church in this country. Here is a born leader, unafraid to be bold or to swim against the current, a brilliant mind and a thoroughly competent administrator, elevated to one of the most important dioceses in the country. Ad extra, +Cupich was one of the few bishops to have diocesan and Catholic Charities staff trained as navigators for the Affordable Care Act. Ad intra, he had one of the most robust consultations on family issues in advance of the synod. He is a dynamo. As well, if in New York, the rise of financial titans and media stars has taken some, actually a lot, of the Churchs cultural juice once embodied in the person of the Cardinal-Archbishop of that city, in Chicago, it is still the mayor and the archbishop who dominate the socio-cultural landscape. And, if the local Chicago media is any guide, +Cupich has taken the city by storm.
The appointment is significant in its own right. If the pope had called me and asked who should go to Chicago, I would have put +Cupichs name at the top of my terna. Of course, the pope did not call me, but he did consult widely and whomever he consulted came up with +Cupichs name. The pope surely knew this would probably be the most important appointment he makes in the U.S. Church and he found the right guy. I suspect it also shows the influence of Washingtons Cardinal Donald Wuerl and Bostons Cardinal Sean OMalley, both of whom have been out front of the rest of the brethren in their enthusiasm for Pope Francis and whose advice to the pope was likely taken. The fact that the pope got this right bodes well for other matters, for example, the planning of his trip to the U.S. next September. He will not let his appearances be turned into an opportunity to blast the Obama administration, which is certainly what some would have liked.
+Cupich has extensive experience in the USCCB, holding a variety of positions on different committees over the years. At times in its history, the leadership of the USCCB came almost entirely from the great Midwestern dioceses: Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis and St. Paul. They were often a bulwark of collegiality against the more authoritarian cardinalatial sees in the Northeast. Look for +Cupich to reinvigorate the USCCB and help pull it back from the culture war limb it has climbed out on.
3) At the end of last year, Pope Francis removed Cardinals Raymond Burke and Justin Rigali from the Congregation of Bishops, and replaced them with Cardinal Wuerl. For a variety of reasons, most of the attention focused on the removal of Cardinal Burke, but the end of the +Rigali-era may be the most important development in the U.S. Church.
The two cardinals, especially +Rigali, embody the clerical mindset that has crippled the Church, turned it into what Pope Francis calls a self-referential Church, tone deaf at times, unwelcoming, joyless. And, together, these former archbishops of St. Louis have spread their influence far and wide throughout the U.S. Church. Bishop Robert Finn, who should have resigned long ago, is a creation of the two. Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone was a student of +Burkes and a close friend. +Rigali promoted both +Fabian Bruskewitz, who thumbed his nose at the Dallas Charter for a decade, and Bishop Thomas Olmsted, who announced the removal of the designation Catholic from a local hospital in a statement that did not once mention the Lord Jesus nor quote from the Scriptures, although the references to canon law and the USCCB ethical directives were aplenty. Bishop David Malloy was ushered into the Vatican diplomatic corps by +Rigali, as was Cardinal James Harvey. Archbishop John Nienstedt worked with +Rigali in Rome, and Bishop Robert Vasa, who also refused to comply with the Dallas Charter, and Archbishop Leonard Blair, who led the initial investigation of the LCWR, both have Cardinal Burke as their patrons. Some of the men on this list are talented. All, I am sure, are prayerful. But, all of them, along with others, have been complicit in the marginalization of the Church in our culture by adopting a defensive posture and a culture warrior approach that is the antithesis of Pope Francis approach.
4) The rise of immigration as an issue that unites the Church was the most obvious policy-oriented development in 2014. Following the example of Pope Francis visit to Lampedusa, the USCCB Committee on Migration held their spring meeting not in Washington, D.C. but in Tucson, Arizona and they started with a Mass at the border led by Cardinal Sean OMalley. The event garnered extensive and positive media coverage of the kind U.S. bishops have not gotten since before the clergy sex abuse crisis. The searing images of Cardinal Sean and Bishop Gerald Kicanas serving Holy Communion through the slats in the border fence went viral. Then, this summer, when there was a significant uptick in the number of unaccompanied minors coming across the border, the bishops responded with compassion and effectiveness. The compassion contrasted decisively with the angry protesters urging deportation. The effectiveness the Church was able to help re-locate thousands of children away from detention centers and into homes made the point yet again that the opposite of the much-derided organized religion is disorganized religion.
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MSW's Top 7 Stories of 2014
- Serfdom Reform vs. Liberty The Future of Freedom Foundation - The Future of Freedom Foundation - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- N.Y. Libertarian Party launches petition drive for ballot - Spectrum News - April 10th, 2024 [April 10th, 2024]
- Arizona voters question petition for Libertarian candidate: Not even close to my signature - Washington Examiner - April 10th, 2024 [April 10th, 2024]
- Understanding Freedom and Faith in Freedom The Future of Freedom Foundation - The Future of Freedom Foundation - April 10th, 2024 [April 10th, 2024]
- Henry Simons And The Libertarian Night Watchman As Tax Collector - ProMarket - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- Why libertarians don't trust RFK Jr. - UnHerd - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- Learn from Libertarians | Commentary | thestatehousefile.com - The Statehouse File - March 10th, 2024 [March 10th, 2024]
- Review: Sheriff in 'Fargo' Gives Libertarians a Bad Name - Reason - March 10th, 2024 [March 10th, 2024]
- Why Libertarianism Is Not Mainstream (But Should Be) | Henry Gardella - Foundation for Economic Education - March 10th, 2024 [March 10th, 2024]
- Donald Rainwater to lead Indiana Libertarian ticket as party chooses its 2024 nominees - WFYI - March 10th, 2024 [March 10th, 2024]
- Could the Libertarian Party nominate RKF Jr.? - NewsNation Now - March 10th, 2024 [March 10th, 2024]
- 2024 election: These Libertarians will be on Indiana's ballot - IndyStar - March 10th, 2024 [March 10th, 2024]
- Why Do All These Homosexuals Keep Sucking My Cock? - The Onion - January 4th, 2023 [January 4th, 2023]
- Russell Kirk - Wikipedia - December 21st, 2022 [December 21st, 2022]
- Maj Toure: Why Black Gunsand LibertarianismMatter - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- Georgia's 'blank ballot' voters | Who are they? And why did they do it? - 11Alive.com WXIA - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- Exclusive: No official records of personal meeting between Institute of Economic Affairs and Jacob Rees-Mogg - NationalWorld - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- Markets Fail. . .And Libertarianism Still Works, 10/16 - November 25th, 2022 [November 25th, 2022]
- The Bill of Rights: A Transcription | National Archives - November 7th, 2022 [November 7th, 2022]
- 'Centre, states need to work together for a developed India': FM Sitharaman on 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' - The Economic Times - November 7th, 2022 [November 7th, 2022]
- Libertarianism: Definition & Examples | StudySmarter - October 21st, 2022 [October 21st, 2022]
- In N.H., its live Free State or leave thats libertarianism? - The Boston Globe - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Cryptos Libertarianism Is Running Headfirst Into Reality - The Atlantic - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- The 'red wave' was such a sure thing, of course Republicans are blowing it The Nevada Independent - The Nevada Independent - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Jim, Sigal, and Michele just living their best lives - Nevada Current - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Long Live the King (My President)! - Econlib - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- How Housing Is Captive to Investment Demands - Santa Barbara Independent - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Arkansas governor candidates hitting the campaign trail - 4029tv - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Aaron Rodgers Sounds Off On Government: NFL World Reacts - The Spun - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- David Boaz - Wikipedia - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Arlington Heights board gets petition from Koch brothers-backed group calling for law that may impact Chicago Bears' stadium plans - Chicago Tribune - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Georgias Senate Race Is Much Closer Than The Governor Election. Will That Hold Until November? - FiveThirtyEight - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Letter: The threat against democracy | Letters To Editor | berkshireeagle.com - Berkshire Eagle - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Vote in the State Primary - mysouthborough - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Group catering to nonpartisan voters launches ahead of the election The Nevada Independent - The Nevada Independent - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Libertarian Party of Wisconsin: Wisconsin Libertarians oppose student loan forgiveness ideas as theft - WisPolitics.com - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- Guardrails of Democracy, Extended: Comparing Notes On The Team Libertarian Report - Reason - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- Attempted Murder Arrest; Libertarians On The 2022 Ballot? PM Patch NH - Patch - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- Chase Oliver could send Georgia's Senate race to a runoff - he's OK with that - The Atlanta Journal Constitution - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- Rep. Stephen Handy, ousted at GOP convention, to wage write-in bid - Standard-Examiner - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- J. R. R. Tolkien among the Illiberals Catholic World Report - Catholic World Report - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- We Made It Through The Primary. Now It's On To The November General Election - Honolulu Civil Beat - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- The Great Separation: Why American Politics Is Coming Apart at the Seams | Cornell Chronicle - Cornell Chronicle - August 30th, 2022 [August 30th, 2022]
- Palfrey eyes the exits- POLITICO - POLITICO - August 30th, 2022 [August 30th, 2022]
- Armstrong: Behind those misleading headlines on Colorado teacher pay - Complete Colorado - August 30th, 2022 [August 30th, 2022]
- What is a Libertarian? Beliefs & Examples | Study.com - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- Libertarian Vs. Liberal (Whats The Difference?) - The Cold Wire - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- Libertarianism Philosophy and History - Study.com - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- Republican effort to remove Libertarians from November ballot rejected by Texas Supreme Court - The Texas Tribune - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- Media organizations and civil libertarians sue to stop a law that restricts recording videos of cops - Arizona Mirror - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- How a Tiny Minority Can Lead the World Toward Liberty | Dan Sanchez - Foundation for Economic Education - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- GOP Candidate Saying it's 'Totally Just' to Kill Gay People Resurfaces - Newsweek - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- Third Party Candidates: Alabama Libertarians to appear on general election ballot - WHNT News 19 - August 15th, 2022 [August 15th, 2022]
- Sick and tired of the two-party system: Pa. Libertarian Party sees surge in interest | Today in Pa. - PennLive - August 15th, 2022 [August 15th, 2022]
- Voter registrations in North Carolina continue to trend mostly unaffiliated and slightly Republican - The Mountaineer - August 15th, 2022 [August 15th, 2022]
- After Koch's Kinder, Gentler Rebrand Attempt, He Spent Over $1 Billion On 2020 Elections - Daily Kos - August 15th, 2022 [August 15th, 2022]
- Libertarian, Green, and Independent Candidates not Invited to Gubernatorial Debate The Amarillo Pioneer - The Amarillo Pioneer - August 15th, 2022 [August 15th, 2022]
- Runoffs to decide final nominations begins with early voting next week - Yahoo News - August 15th, 2022 [August 15th, 2022]
- Podcast: Muddling Through the Mar-a-Lago Mess - Reason - August 15th, 2022 [August 15th, 2022]
- The Story Behind the Wrenching Finale of 'The Anarchists' - WIRED - August 15th, 2022 [August 15th, 2022]
- The Search of Trumps House + the 5th Amendment - Econlib - August 15th, 2022 [August 15th, 2022]
- Libertarians see opening to gain ground in Georgia 2022 elections - The Atlanta Journal Constitution - August 4th, 2022 [August 4th, 2022]
- State Libertarian Party asks for 'relief from oppressive ballot laws' - The Albany Herald - August 4th, 2022 [August 4th, 2022]
- Election 2022: Primaries clear Michigan fields; more will come at conventions - The Center Square - August 4th, 2022 [August 4th, 2022]
- The Industrial Revolution and the Colonial Conundrum - Econlib - August 4th, 2022 [August 4th, 2022]
- School choice is the free market solution to failing public schools - Washington Examiner - August 4th, 2022 [August 4th, 2022]
- The primary is over Here's who you can expect to see on JoCo ballots in November - Shawnee Mission Post - August 4th, 2022 [August 4th, 2022]
- Climate change and the Supreme Courts version of police abolitionism - The Hill - August 4th, 2022 [August 4th, 2022]
- Discontent Is Never Enough - by Jonah Goldberg - The G-File - The Dispatch - August 4th, 2022 [August 4th, 2022]
- Progressive Conservatism: How Republicans Will Become America's Natural Governing Party - The Ripon Society - August 4th, 2022 [August 4th, 2022]
- Local News: Donnie Brown elected as 149th representative (8/2/22) | Standard Democrat - Standard-Democrat - August 4th, 2022 [August 4th, 2022]
- Former TV anchorman wins GOP nomination in Missouris 4th Congressional District - Missouri Independent - August 4th, 2022 [August 4th, 2022]
- Penn Jillette: Did His Libertarianism Survive Trump and COVID? - Reason - July 29th, 2022 [July 29th, 2022]
- Libertarian and Anti-functionalist: What Is the Memphis Design Movement? - ArchDaily - July 29th, 2022 [July 29th, 2022]
- 11 Pick Up Lines For Libertarians To Use If They Ever Meet A Girl - The Babylon Bee - July 29th, 2022 [July 29th, 2022]
- Nudged into the oncoming lane - Econlib - July 29th, 2022 [July 29th, 2022]
- Quebec's Conservative party surges in the polls as some of its candidates spread conspiracy theories - CBC News - July 29th, 2022 [July 29th, 2022]
- Accusations of racism and abortion politics- POLITICO - POLITICO - July 29th, 2022 [July 29th, 2022]
- Zeldin's Fraudulent Independence Party Signatures Show How Difficult it is to get on Ballot in NY - Yonkers Times - July 29th, 2022 [July 29th, 2022]
- How Republicans can build on Trumpism and become the party of progressive conservatism - The Hill - July 29th, 2022 [July 29th, 2022]