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* From Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich’s address last week to the Chicago Federation of Labor…
Admittedly, I’m new to Chicago, but I grew up in the Midwest and feel very much at home here due to the welcome and the advice I have received. One piece of advice I got early on was: “Archbishop, you’ve got to learn the Chicago way.” Something told me he wasn’t talking about deep dish pizza. He then added: “Here, it’s business, government and Labor together. We all come to the table and seek to find ways so that things can work out for everybody involved.” In the Church, we call that solidarity, a word I know is very familiar to union members. Simply put, solidarity means that we are in this life together, that we are connected to one another, and that we can never operate as if we were isolated and self-sufficient agents. Pope Francis who knows something about solidarity put it this way:
“I would like to make an appeal to those in possession of greater resources, to public authorities and to all people of good will…: never tire of working for a more just world, marked by greater solidarity! …Everybody, according to his or her particular opportunities and responsibilities, should be able to make a personal contribution to putting an end to so many social injustices…Solidarity means seeing others not as rivals or statistics, but brothers and sisters. And we are all brothers and sisters!”
He said this when he was in Brazil in July 2013, but I hope and expect he will bring this same powerful message to our country next week. My central message today is that I want the Church to become an even more committed partner in this civic solidarity, joining with business, government, and Labor in promoting the common good, especially in protecting the lives and dignity of those who are too often left behind in our city, nation and world.
* Yes, it’s most certainly true that Cupich firmly sided with the forces of labor during his address…
Unions are important not simply for helping workers get more, but helping workers be more, to have a voice, a place to make a contribution to the good of the whole enterprise, to fellow workers and the whole of society.
But that part about business, labor and government working together is just as important, if not more so, and ought to be considered by the governor when he wonders why he’s facing such a brick wall of opposition.
The best solutions tend to be compromises by all sides.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Sep 21, 15 @ 9:02 am
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Note:
This is in complete contrast to the Tribune’s Editorial Board’s “rational” response of…
If the legislature doesn’t “play ball”, all new revenue will be taken off the table October 1st (Even though Rauner’s own budget requires revenue to even get into the ball park of balanced) and further, it will be the legislature’s “fault” services are not being administered and paid.
So… Look at Archbishop Cupich, his remarks and the Pope’s message/messaging, or look at Katrina-like ignorance and bullheadedness of “his way or the highway”, no matter the catastrophe, or roofs we all stand on for safety.
Striking.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Sep 21, 15 @ 9:18 am
Yet another voice of reason that the governor and GA are bound to ignore.
Comment by Tournaround Agenda Monday, Sep 21, 15 @ 9:23 am
It was interesting to see this get a lot of attention from folks and groups on twitter and facebook who would not agree with him in any way, shape or form on some social issues.
Comment by OneMan Monday, Sep 21, 15 @ 9:24 am
OW has an awakening.
Comment by Apocalypse Now Monday, Sep 21, 15 @ 9:26 am
OneMan, isn’t that a positive development?
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Sep 21, 15 @ 9:30 am
Speaker Madigan is on a mission from God…
Comment by ILPundit Monday, Sep 21, 15 @ 9:32 am
Good for Archbishop Cupich.
I watched part of his speech. We are facing a moral crisis in that a relatively few super-rich people, via many Republicans, are trying to destroy the hard-won rights of millions of workers. It is reassuring to have powerful voices like Cupich speaking for workers’ rights.
I must credit some Republican lawmakers in Missouri, however, who unlike the GOP in Illinois, stood with their union constituents by voting against the governor’s veto of RTW.
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Sep 21, 15 @ 9:38 am
This is unsettling. To imply that God is a union man will only solidify the labor / speakers resolve to give no ground. This grandstanding by the arch bishop may do more harm than good.
A better statement would have been “our union culture in Illinois is a strong part of our mid-western tradition, and a strong middle class bolstered by unions makes the whole stronger. At the same time, the challenges faced will require compromise by all sides, both union and business.”
Comment by John A Logan Monday, Sep 21, 15 @ 9:40 am
…we can never operate as if we were isolated and self-sufficient agents…
This addresses one of the biggest challenges we face as a union of citizens within united states. Over the past generation, as we are challenged by change, we have been splintering away from one another. Like panicked passengers on a sinking ship, fears are overwhelming logic. Worse, we have politicians who have been telling us that we cannot survive together and need to start thinking about ourselves as individuals, taxpayers and consumers, instead of as citizens.
Our individual needs are being increasingly met in a society so rich in resources and education that it has given many of us a sense that the only thing of value we have is the money in our purses. Market ethics reinforce a belief that falling short of an ability to be self sufficient, means being less of a person of value within our society.
The idea that we have replaced “citizens” with the term “taxpayers” indicates that it is simply not good enough to be considered a full member of our society unless you can buy your place within it.
Basically, this is an immoral and frankly unchristian way of thinking. We cannot build a supportable society while debasing half of its citizens. Shaming citizens based on an ability to pay, doesn’t build successful societies, nor does it help a successful society reach new heights.
We should not expect any church to embrace the idea that you should only praise those who can pay, yet we see today that many of those being praised in our society today, are receiving that praise because these individuals have made it clear that they don’t need us to live their praiseworthy lives.
We cannot expect a government, led by people valuing our ability as consumers or taxpayers over our rights as citizens, to unite us. We cannot expect these leaders to fix us. What we have been discovering is that these kinds of leaders can only encourage us towards disunion, division, divorce and disaster. We need real leaders to unite us, not politicians who enjoy dividing us.
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Sep 21, 15 @ 9:48 am
- AN -,
Not surprisingly, you didn’t watch/read the remarks.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Sep 21, 15 @ 9:49 am
Amen
Comment by illlinifan Monday, Sep 21, 15 @ 9:50 am
@grnadson:
Agree with your post, except for one thing. There is no such thing as “Right to Work” or “RTW”.
In recent history the Constitution was Ameneded TO GIVE 18 year olds the Right to Vote. A Right they previously did NOT have. What Bruce is proposing is not the same and shouldn’t be given the light of day…..ever. He is giving no one…..anything and if anything he is taking Rights away.
Comment by Jack Stephens Monday, Sep 21, 15 @ 9:54 am
It’s Rauner who needs the awakening!
Comment by Norseman Monday, Sep 21, 15 @ 9:57 am
This is very cool. The headline is “The not so hidden message,” and on the shortcut board at the top right, there is only an asterisk marking this story.
So it really is a hidden message then. Or Divine intervention. Or something.
To the rest of the post: I am really enjoying watching conservatives try to criticize and distance themselves from Archbishop Cupich and Pope Francis. These two guys are making me more proud than usual to be Catholic. More please.
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Sep 21, 15 @ 10:40 am
VanillaMan, fantastic post, just amazing. I read it twice. I couldn’t agree more.
Comment by Honeybear Monday, Sep 21, 15 @ 11:48 am
Does anyone think Rauner and his billionaire buddies who rule the earth really care about what an archbishop thinks?
Comment by Austin Blvd Monday, Sep 21, 15 @ 12:33 pm
So I assume the Pope and the Archbishop are in favor of women becoming Priests (”everybody should be able to make a contribution…”). Until that happens, we are NOT all ‘brothers and sisters’.
Comment by Formerpol Monday, Sep 21, 15 @ 12:41 pm
I’m surprised no one is yelling “separation of church and state”, when an arch-bishop makes an obviously political statement (I’m not that surprised). It’s interesting, though, that a Catholic bishop is paying lip service to unions, while the Church still actively fights unionization in its schools. Also of note, is the fact that his statement on unionization violates official church policy. Maybe, Cupich should re-read the encyclical Rerum Novarum.
Comment by What? Monday, Sep 21, 15 @ 12:48 pm
What:
In my experience that’s generally limited, rightly or wrongly, to recommendations or commands to vote for or against a specific candidate. It tends to be deliberately fuzzy, and very rarely enforced. “Advocacy” isn’t generally prohibited, whether the issue is politically hot or not. And technically even endorsement is not illegal; all they’re risking is their tax exemption.
Regarding bishops and church policy: I imagine some of Paprocki’s stances violate the letter or spirit of some policies, too. Loyal opposition is an ancient Catholic tradition.
Comment by Threepwood Monday, Sep 21, 15 @ 1:28 pm
From Pope Benedict’s CARITAS IN VERITATE (yes, the Pope still living that conservatives love)
“Through the combination of social and economic change, trade union organizations experience greater difficulty in carrying out their task of representing the interests of workers, partly because Governments, for reasons of economic utility, often limit the freedom or the negotiating capacity of labor unions. Hence traditional networks of solidarity have more and more obstacles to overcome. The repeated calls issued within the Church’s social doctrine, beginning with Rerum Novarum, for the promotion of workers’ associations that can defend their rights must therefore be honored today even more than in the past, as a prompt and far-sighted response to the urgent need for new forms of cooperation at the international level, as well as the local level.”
Comment by here's what Monday, Sep 21, 15 @ 1:58 pm
@here’s what
Right, this follows in line with Rerum Novarum. You do realize, though, that when the church refers to “workers’ associations”, they are not talking about the modern labor union. The Vatican’s stated economic agenda (which they have repeated time and again) is “distributism” and their preferred “workers’ associations” are “guilds” and not modern labor unions, which are organized along class distinction.
I also find it funny when people label “conservative Catholic” and “liberal Catholic”, when this could be better summarized as a “Catholic that follows church teaching” and those that “follow church teaching when it suits them”.
Comment by What? Monday, Sep 21, 15 @ 2:07 pm
Anxiously awaiting the unionization of all parochial school teachers and staff.
Comment by nixit71 Monday, Sep 21, 15 @ 4:17 pm
Great. So when may we expect the good Archbishop to call for forming unions for parochial schools in his archdiocese as well as support staff? How about unions for priests, nuns and lay people? After all, they also have a right to SOLIDARITY, right? Doesn’t he believe they should be able to strike for better wages and working conditions? How about allowing nuns to serve as priests? He believes in equality and women’s rights, correct? How about the right to marry, even outside their gender? The marriage prohibition is from church dogma without biblical basis. Its basis was for preventing priests and nuns from having children to whom they’d pass their estate, instead of the church. Not the most unselfish of motives.
When it comes right down to it, there is very little difference between government and church bureaucracy. Of course he knows that.
It’s just his hypocrisy in being willing to have unions burden taxpayers and companies instead of allowing them to claim church resources and promote church employee rights…
Comment by Arizona Bob Monday, Sep 21, 15 @ 5:00 pm