Archbishop Gomez Rock-Solid in His Inauguration Day Message
National Catholic Register, 28 January 2021
As the bishops work with a new administration, Archbishop José Gomez, not Cardinal Blase Cupich, is emerging as the authentic interpreter of Pope Francis in the U.S. on life, liberty and immigration.
The inauguration of the second Catholic president made clear the challenge before the U.S. bishops, evident in the pointed and public criticism by Cardinal Blase Cupich of the statement of USCCB president Archbishop José Gomez.
The controversy indicates how the U.S. bishops plan to address the unique situation of a Catholic president who has been at odds for generations with their long-standing positions on the sanctity of life, marriage and religious liberty.
The Inauguration Statement
While the inaugural address of President Joe Biden called repeatedly for “unity,” the first day of his administration marked a sharp division among Catholic bishops in the U.S. — or at least between one cardinal and his brother bishops.
In his capacity as USCCB president, Archbishop Gomez of Los Angeles had prepared an Inauguration Day statement that praised the Catholic president’s “piety” and “long-standing commitment to the Gospel’s priority for the poor,” while also stating clearly that Biden’s position on abortion, gender and religious liberty were incompatible with the Catholic faith.
Archbishop Gomez’s statement included nothing out of keeping with what U.S. bishops have said for years. Nevertheless, Cardinal Cupich of Chicago strongly objected to both the tone and timing of the statement. While he was not successful in rallying brother bishops to his side, he apparently managed to get the Vatican Secretariat of State to delay the archbishop’s statement from morning until afternoon. Thus the statement was released after a congratulatory message from Pope Francis to the new president; that papal message was a generic goodwill statement.
Why did Archbishop Gomez want to act on Inauguration Day?
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