Pope’s rebuke to Americans; prospects for the conclave

Interesting and disturbing article…

By Phil Lawler May 30, 2022

“What message did Pope Francis send to the American Church by naming Bishop Robert McElroy to the College of Cardinals? How will his latest choices shape the prospects for the next papal conclave? Which other choices deserve a second look, and which prelates were conspicuously absent from the Pope’s list? Let me answer those questions, one by one.

The message to American Catholics.

Some analysts have suggested that the choice of Bishop McElroy is a slap at the US bishops’ conference. It is more than that; it is a whole series of slaps:

• A slap at the full US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), which rejected Bishop McElroy’s bid to scuttle their mild statement on voters’ responsibilities— and at the former president of the USCCB, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, who was forced to rebuke the cantankerous Bishop McElroy when he pressed the argument too aggressively.
• A slap at Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles, the head of the largest archdiocese in the US, who is still waiting for his red hat, in what can no longer be dismissed as an oversight. Archbishop Gomez is not only the current president of the USCCB; he is also the metropolitan of the region in which Bishop McElroy serves.
• A slap at the Hispanic Catholics who make up a majority of the Los Angeles archdiocese, and are still waiting anxiously to celebrate the elevation of a Hispanic cardinal.
• And of course a slap at Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, who made headlines last week by taking the stand that Bishop McElroy has sharply criticized, barring Speaker Nancy Pelosi from Communion— and for the many American bishops (not to mention lay Catholics) who have supported Archbishop Cordileone’s disciplinary action.

The tensions between Pope Francis and the US bishops’ conference have become increasingly evident. By giving red hats to prelates far to the left of the USCCB consensus— Cupich, Tobin, and now McElroy— the Pontiff is sending an unmistakable signal about both his personal preferences.

The shape of the next papal conclave

Unlike his immediate predecessors, who elevated cardinals representing a broad range of theological and ideological perspectives, Pope Francis unabashedly promoted his own favorites. He has now chosen a majority of the cardinals who will elect the next Roman Pontiff.”

For the full article, click HERE.HERE.

Also read Crux article HEREHERE