Interesting that Pierre is at odds with Cupich and McElroy. I guess I had just assumed the opposite without really thinking about it. Not surprising that Cupich (at least) has a direct line of communication with Rome but since both he and McElroy are thought of (for better or worse) as "Francis Bishops" and as therefore marginalized with…
Interesting that Pierre is at odds with Cupich and McElroy. I guess I had just assumed the opposite without really thinking about it. Not surprising that Cupich (at least) has a direct line of communication with Rome but since both he and McElroy are thought of (for better or worse) as "Francis Bishops" and as therefore marginalized within the USCCB, I just figured they'd be tight with Pierre as well.
I think many of the more institutionally sound episcopal appointments in recent years (Malesic, Fernandes) have been the fruit of Cardinal Pierre balancing out the Cupich/Tobin influence
I had the same initial reaction, but it makes sense. Cupich and McElroy are essentially sidestepping Pierre by maintaining direct lines of communication with the Pope, and that threatens Pierre's influence and makes them rivals. Classic case of institutional politics trumping ideology.
Any leader worth his salt will maintain multiple lines of communication and information, and every monarch throughout history has played courtiers off each other.
From the vantage point of a manager of managers of managers, it is definitely within the Holy Father's ability to shut down this dynamic if he wants to. He has correctly urged the clergy not to be "ecclesial climbers" -- yet these are exactly the sorts he seems to favor with access and influence.
Interesting that Pierre is at odds with Cupich and McElroy. I guess I had just assumed the opposite without really thinking about it. Not surprising that Cupich (at least) has a direct line of communication with Rome but since both he and McElroy are thought of (for better or worse) as "Francis Bishops" and as therefore marginalized within the USCCB, I just figured they'd be tight with Pierre as well.
I think many of the more institutionally sound episcopal appointments in recent years (Malesic, Fernandes) have been the fruit of Cardinal Pierre balancing out the Cupich/Tobin influence
I had the same initial reaction, but it makes sense. Cupich and McElroy are essentially sidestepping Pierre by maintaining direct lines of communication with the Pope, and that threatens Pierre's influence and makes them rivals. Classic case of institutional politics trumping ideology.
And why does the Holy Father allow Cardinal Cupich to side step his own Nuncio?
Isn't this behavior a source of the problem?
Any leader worth his salt will maintain multiple lines of communication and information, and every monarch throughout history has played courtiers off each other.
From the vantage point of a manager of managers of managers, it is definitely within the Holy Father's ability to shut down this dynamic if he wants to. He has correctly urged the clergy not to be "ecclesial climbers" -- yet these are exactly the sorts he seems to favor with access and influence.