For weeks, rumors were swirling that the retiring, scandal-plagued cardinal archbishop of Philadelphia, Justin Rigali, would be replaced by Charles Chaput, archbishop of Denver. Yesterday, word came that it was official: Chaput, a member of the Franciscan order of Capuchins, would go to Philadelphia. It’s an excellent choice. Chaput is a meek and intelligent man, a powerful voice for the Gospel who also knows how to talk about abortion to an unreceptive culture.
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a post about the possibility of an American pope, as relayed by Inside the Vatican editor Robert Moynihan from one of his Vatican sources, “Father Jeremiah.” At the time, I totally missed the pun Father Jeremiah closed with, when he said it may be time for a “cappuccino.” But in an e-mail this evening, Moynihan confirmed what many readers had told me in the interim — that the cappuccino Jeremiah was talking about was a member of the Capuchin order: “This is what I meant when I told you a few weeks ago that it may be time for a cappuccino. Rome has seen the need for this type of profound, traditional Catholic spirituality . . . and not only in Philadelphia.”
This humble son of Saint Francis has a huge mess to clean up in Philadelphia. And if he succeeds, Philly may not be his final destination. The Pope has just made two major moves — Chaput to Philadelphia, Cardinal Scola to Milan — that greatly elevate the visibility of the churchmen involved, and the great trust he places in them. They are, in his view, men of the future.
I'd really like to know why National Review thinks everyone is Catholic. I mean that seriously. Why does it think everyone is Catholic? It's the only reason I can think of for a ridiculous post like this. I would bet even Catholics don't care that much about internal machinations of the church. Members of other religions - yes, believe it or not, Poterma, there are other religions - sure don't.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseUmmm, you do realize that Potemera isn't Catholic, right? Therefore I think he's aware that there are other denominations.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSo why doesn't he write about them for a change, and leave us alone?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseBrad, here's are the articles in the sidebar this morning:
* Romney Leads, Followed by Palin
* Perhaps She Was Just Recommending an Exercise Program
* Disruptive Technologies and the U.S. Health System
* Horror as Stimulant
* A Pro-Growth Plan from the Gang of Six
* The Blue Jays Finally Retire a Number
* No Wrongdoing by Casey Anthony Prosecutors?
* Miami Is the Eighth Most Walkable City in America?
* Larry Summers Calls Winklevoss Twins 'A$*&@!^s'
* The Democrat Downgrade: Reality and Repercussions
It turns out that many of them don't interest me at all. I mean, the Toronto Blue Jays? They do know that not everyone here is Canadian, eh? But the way this works well is that I read what I want and skip what is of no interest to me. The way it does NOT work well is for you to edit what someone else may write and what is available for me to read at NRO.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseBrad, You are correct. Regular Catholics have little interest in Church politics.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"And if he succeeds, Philly may not be his final destination."
If he is half the fellow he seems to be, surely Heaven will be his final destination. The rest doesn't matter so much, for Philly will always be a mess, although perhaps not so much the Catholic church there now. :-)
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseOdd to limit Benedict's XVI's recent major personnel moves to two. In terms of papabile, Marc Ouellet, the extravagantly multi-lingual Doctor of Dogmatic Theology and former Cardinal Archbishop of Quebec, is probably second only to Cardinal Scola of Milan. Ouellet's long association with the Communio school and his current positions as prefect of the Congregation for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America are marks of a career of extraordinary service and ability and of the high regard in which he's held.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseMany NR readers are Catholic, and yes, this information is of interest to them. Your objection smacks of a crude anti-Catholicism that has no place in conservatism.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"meek"? I can't imagine a more confrontational, in-your-face, ultra-right-wing soldier of the culture wars
Do you agree with Chaput that voting for John Kerry was "cooperating with evil" and that if you did you "needed to go to confession"?
Do you agree with Chaput that President Obama is putting himself forward as a "messiah"?
Do you agree with his support of a Denver Catholic school to deny enrollment to two children of a lesbian couple, while at the same time saying he supported the enrollment of children of parents of other faiths, atheists, and divorced people?
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse" ultra-right-wing soldier of the culture wars"
Well, we can guess that nothing else you say is going to be of much value, but let's give it a go, shall we.
"Do you agree with Chaput that voting for John Kerry was "cooperating with evil" and that if you did you "needed to go to confession"?
Yes, insofar as voting for a pro-choice candidate is cooperation with grave evil, which was Chaput's point.
"Do you agree with Chaput that President Obama is putting himself forward as a "messiah"?"
I don't recall Chaput saying this, but were you asleep during the 2008 election cycle?
"Do you agree with his support of a Denver Catholic school to deny enrollment to two children of a lesbian couple, while at the same time saying he supported the enrollment of children of parents of other faiths, atheists, and divorced people?"
Yes. Now that we're done, can you put out that burning cross behind you? It's making my eyes water.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAwesome Charles Chaput also wrote "Render unto Caesar"
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse