Francis George
Des Plaines, Illinois | |
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Nationality | American |
Denomination | Catholic |
Parents | Francis J. and Julia R. (nee McCarthy) George |
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Motto | Christo Gloria in Ecclesia (To Christ be Glory in the Church; c.f. Ephesians 3:21) |
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Your Eminence | |
Informal style | Cardinal |
Francis Eugene George
A member of the
On September 20, 2014, Pope Francis accepted George's resignation and appointed Bishop Blase J. Cupich to succeed him as Archbishop of Chicago. In this unusual circumstance, George was permitted to remain as the incumbent archbishop until Cupich was installed to succeed him on November 18, 2014. George had been diagnosed with cancer in 2006 and died from the disease in 2015.
Biography
Early life
Francis George was born on January 16, 1937, in Chicago, Illinois, to Francis J. and Julia R. (née McCarthy) George.
George contracted
George was then sent to study theology at the University of Ottawa in Canada.[5] He made his solemn vows as a member of the Oblates on September 8, 1961.[3]
Priesthood
On December 21, 1963, George was
During his teaching assignments, George earned a
George returned to the United States, where he served as coordinator of the Circle of Fellows at the Center for the Study of Faith and Culture in Cambridge, Massachusetts (1987–90).[2]
Bishop of Yakima
On July 10, 1990, George was
George served as bishop of Yakima for five and a half years. As a member of the USCCB, he served as chair of the Commission for Bishops and Scholars (1992–1994), and as a consultant to the Committees on Evangelization (1991–93), Hispanic Affairs (1994–97), and Science and Values (1994–97).
Archbishop of Portland
On April 30, 1996, George was appointed the ninth archbishop of the Archdiocese of Portland.
Archbishop of Chicago
On April 8, 1997, Pope John Paul II appointed George as the eighth archbishop of Chicago, filling the vacancy left by the death of Cardinal Joseph Bernardin on November 14, 1996.[8] George was the first native Chicagoan to become archbishop there. On May 7, 1997, Apostolic Pro-Nuncio Agostino Cacciavillan installed George as archbishop of Chicago in Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago.
On January 18, 1998, Pope John Paul II announced George's elevation to the
on February 21.George addressed the archdiocese's annual Theology on Tap gathering in 1997. In his invitation to the event, he wrote, "You are very important members of the Church. Your energy, talent and faith will give me much help as together we build up our local Church to be a vital presence in the Chicago area. Together we can continue the mission of Jesus Christ to bring the Gospel of love, forgiveness and holiness to all the places where we live and encounter others."
As a cardinal elector, George participated in the
In March 2009, George met with newly elected U.S. President Barack Obama.[9] In Fall 2010, George finished his three-year presidency of the USCCB.
In 2011, George terminated the foster care program of
Viewpoints
Interfaith relations
In 2007, George asked Jews to reconsider descriptions of Jesus in the Talmud as a "bastard" in exchange for a softening of traditional Catholic prayers calling for Jews to be converted to Christianity.[11] In 2009, he condemned comments denying the existence of the Holocaust that were made by Bishop Richard Williamson.[12][13]
Religious freedom
In February 2010, George spoke at Brigham Young University about the need for Catholics and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) to stand together to protect religious freedom.
"In recent years, Catholics and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have stood more frequently side by side in the public square to defend human life and dignity,"
George also praised the LDS for its efforts to combat poverty and pornography and the need to define marriage as between one man and one woman.[14]
George further outlined in October 2010 how he believed religious freedoms in the United States and other Western societies were endangered. In a speech to a group of priests, he said, "I expect to die in bed, my successor will die in prison and his successor will die a martyr in the public square. His successor will pick up the shards of a ruined society and slowly help rebuild civilization, as the church has done so often in human history."[15] The quote was originally published online without the second sentence.[16] In a 2014 interview, George said:
I didn't think there was any press there when I said it. I was talking to a couple of troubled priests who are worried about the secularization of our culture. I was telling them they should take the long view, step back, and renew their confidence in the providence of God. I was saying that even if the worst possible case scenario happens, we'll be okay. It was a mental game in the
Kantian sense: ... let's imagine the worst thing that could happen. Instead of wringing your hands, let's imagine the worst possible scenario and then figure out what our role might be.[17]
LGBT rights
When a new route was proposed for the 2012 annual Chicago Pride Parade that would take it past a Catholic church, George told an interviewer: "you don't want the Gay Liberation Movement to morph into something like the Ku Klux Klan, demonstrating in the streets against Catholicism."[18] In response, LGBT advocates in Chicago called for George's resignation, but George said: "When the pastor's request for reconsideration of the plans was ignored, the organizers invited an obvious comparison to other groups who have historically attempted to stifle the religious freedom of the Catholic Church."[19][20] Two weeks later, George apologized: "This has evidently wounded a good number of people. I have family members myself who are gay and lesbian, so it's part of our lives. So I'm sorry for the hurt." He said he was "speaking out of fear that I have for the church's liberty and I was reaching for an analogy which was very inappropriate ...Sometimes fear is a bad motivation."[21] LGBT rights advocates accepted his apology.[22]
On January 1, 2013, in a pastoral letter to the archdiocese, George stated that the passage of a same-sex marriage legislation in Illinois, which appeared imminent, would be "acting against the common good of society. This proposed legislation will have long-term consequences because laws teach; they tell us what is socially acceptable and what is not, and most people conform to the dictates of their respective society, at least in the short run".[23]
In September 2014, in his column in The Catholic New World, George alleged that the US Government and society were now approving
"It already means in some States that those who run businesses must conform their activities to the official religion or be fined, as Christians and Jews are fined for their religion in countries governed by Sharia law."[24]
Later in September 2014, George met with a gay music director of a Catholic parish who had been fired after announcing his intention to marry his partner. The man said of the meeting: "I was just again grateful for the opportunity to meet with him, for him to know me, for him to hear my story. ...I think the overall tone was again pastoral."[25]
Extra-diocesan posts
Vatican appointments
Pope John Paul II appointed George to several offices of the Roman Curia:
- Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
- Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life
- Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
- Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church
- Congregation for the Oriental Churches
- Pontifical Council for Culture
- Pontifical Council Cor Unum
George was appointed by
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
George served as USCCB vice president (2004–2007) and president (2007–2010). He served as a member, and later as a consultant, to the Committee on Divine Worship; he was also a consultant to the Committee on Doctrine and Pro-Life Activities and the Subcommittee on Lay Ministry. George had also served on the committees on Doctrine, on Latin America, on Missions, on Religious Life, the American Board of Catholic Missions, and on World Missions; on the Ad Hoc Committee to Oversee the Use of the Catechism and the Subcommittee on Campus Ministry.
George was chair of the Committee for Bishops and Scholars from 1992 to 1994, and of the Committee on Liturgy from 2001 to 2004, and a consultant to the Committees on Evangelization (1991–1993), Hispanic Affairs (1994–1997), Science and Values (1994–1997), and African American Catholics (1999–2002). He was the representative to the International Commission on English and the Liturgy from 1997 to 2006.
George was a USCCB delegate to the 2001
Catholic organizations
As archbishop, George was the de facto chancellor of the
George served on the board of trustees of the Catholic University of America and the Papal Foundation. In 1994, George became a board member of the National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He served on the board of directors of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., and a member of the Kohl McCormick Early Childhood Teaching Awards advisory board. He served on the board of directors of Oblate Media in Belleville, Illinois.
Associations and honors
George served as conventual chaplain ad honorem of the Federal Association of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and grand prior of the North Central Lieutenancy of the United States for the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, George belonged to the American Catholic Philosophical Association, the American Society of Missiologists, and the Catholic Commission on Intellectual and Cultural Affairs.
George received an honorary doctorate from
Retirement
On January 16, 2012, George submitted his letter of resignation as archbishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago to Pope Benedict XVI, having reached the mandatory retirement age of 75. He named Monsignor Peter F. Śnieg, rector of St. Joseph's Seminary at Loyola University Chicago, as moderator of the curia for the archdiocese. At that time, George anticipated remaining in office for two to three years.[28]
In a 2014 interview on his retirement, George said:[17]
I've always said that the only thing I'd like people to remember about me is that he tried to be a good bishop. I think I have been a good bishop, in many ways, and I take some pride in at least having tried my best. That's enough. On the liturgical stuff, I knew it had to be done and that I was in a particularly key spot to see to that what's most important in handing on the traditions of the Church, namely our way of prayer and our liturgy, was going to be more faithfully presented to the people. That meant a lot to me, because the worship of God is the most important thing we do.
In the same 2014 interview, when asked if he saw himself as conservative, George replied:[17]
The liberal/conservative thing, I think, is destructive of the Church's mission and her life. I've said that publicly a lot at times. You're taking a definition that comes out of nowhere, as far as we're concerned, it's a modern distinction, and making it the judgment of the Church's life. It's because we're lazy. You put a label on people, you put a label on something, and it saves you the trouble of thinking.
Final illness
George was diagnosed with an aggressive but localized form of
In August 2014, George entered a
Francis George died of cancer on April 17, 2015, in the archdiocesan residence in Chicago at age 78.[43][44]
Memorial services
A
On April 25, 2015, a memorial mass for George was held at his titular church, San Bartolomeo all'Isola, in Rome. Reverend Andrew Liaugminas, an archdiocesan priest ordained by George in 2010, was the
Legacy
Tributes
One of George's wishes had been to visit Pope Francis before he died, which he was not able to do, to his regret. While George was always careful to express his overall agreement with and obedience to Francis, he said himself that he was confused by what signals the Pope was sending. Upon hearing of his death, Pope Francis sent a telegram of condolence to Archbishop Cupich:[49]
Saddened to learn of the death of Cardinal Francis E. George, Archbishop Emeritus of Chicago, I offer heartfelt condolences to you, and to the clergy, religious and lay faithful of the Archdiocese. With gratitude for Cardinal George's witness of consecrated life as an Oblate of Mary Immaculate, his service to the Church's educational apostolate and his years of episcopal ministry in the Churches of Yakima, Portland and Chicago, I join you in commending the soul of this wise and gentle pastor to the merciful love of God, our heavenly Father. To all who mourn the late Cardinal in the sure hope of the Resurrection, I cordially impart my
Apostolic Blessingas a pledge of consolation and peace in the Lord.
The Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, also sent a telegram of condolence.[50]
The USCCB president, Archbishop
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel stated:
"Cardinal Francis George led a remarkable life of faith and service. As Chicago's first native-born Archbishop, his journey took him full-circle from growing up in Portage Park to serving in far-flung missions around the globe, and eventually back home to shepherd the City of Chicago towards a better future. He lent his counsel to those in distress, his comfort to those in despair and he inspired us all with his courage in his final days. He could always be counted on to provide those granite qualities to the countless people who relied on them when it mattered the most."[52]
Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner stated:
"He shepherded the church through some of its most trying times, but leaves behind a strong community of faith that has tremendous positive impact on the people of Illinois, regardless of their creed."[53]
Canonization
Having died in April 2015 without a waiver from the Holy See (usually given to martyrs or other very esteemed individuals), the earliest that the archdiocese could open George's cause for canonization was 2020. There has been a formal petition presented to his successor, Cardinal Cupich, to allow the gathering of petitions, of opinions, and of preliminary information.[54]
Publications
Books
- The Difference God Makes: A Catholic Vision of Faith, Communion, and Culture, was published in October 2009 by Crossroad Publishing Company.
- God in Action: How Faith in God Can Address the Challenges of the World, was published in May 2011 by Doubleday Religion.
- A Godly Humanism: Clarifying the Hope that Lies Within, published by CUA Press, was completed just nine days before his death in 2015.
Pastoral letters
- Becoming An Evangelizing People was released on November 21, 1997.
- Dwell in My Love, on the sinful and destructive nature of racism, was released on April 4, 2001.
Columns
George published a bi-monthly column in the archdiocesan newspaper,
Further reading
- Heinlein, Michael R. (2023), Glorifying Christ: The Life of Cardinal Francis E. George, O.M.I., Huntington Indiana USA, Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Division, p. 425, ISBN 9781681922522.
See also
- Catholic Church hierarchy
- Catholic Church in the United States
- Historical list of the Catholic bishops of the United States
- List of Catholic bishops of the United States
- Lists of patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops
References
- ^ Roman Catholic Archbishop of Chicago. Archived from the originalon August 15, 2009.
- ^ a b c McCloskey, Pat. "Part 2: Cardinal George's Second Job". American Catholic. Archived from the original on October 6, 2011.
- ^ Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland. Archived from the originalon September 27, 2011.
- ^ Kerrill, Tamara (April 9, 1997). "The pride of St. Pascal's". Chicago Sun-Times.
- ^ a b c d Miranda, Salvador. "GEORGE, O.M.I., Francis Eugene (1937– )". The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church.
- ^ a b c d Cheney, David. "Francis Eugene Cardinal George, O.M.I." Catholic-Hierarchy.org.[self-published source]
- ^ "Coat Of Arms". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved July 30, 2011.
- ^ a b c d "Francis George Biography". Archdiocese of Chicago. Archived from the original on August 15, 2009. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
- ^ Obama Meets With Cardinal Francis George, America's Top Bishop, Gilgoff, Dan, U.S. News & World Report, March 8, 2009.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
- ^ Cardinal calls for textual revision, Martin, Ben, Telegraph.co.uk, October 6, 2007.
- ^ "President of U.S. Bishops Says Holocaust Denial 'Deeply Offensive and Utterly False'". PR Newswire. February 3, 2009. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
- ^ Pontifications (February 3, 2009). "Cardinal George on Bishop Williamson: "Deeply offensive"". Pontifications. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
- ^ LDS, Catholics must defend religious freedom, cardinal says at BYU, Israelsen-Hartley, Sara, Deseret News, February 24, 2010.
- ^ Tim Drake (October 24, 2012). "The Myth and the Reality of 'I'll Die in My Bed'". National Catholic Register. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
- Catholic New World. Archived from the originalon October 13, 2017. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
- ^ a b c "Chicago's exiting cardinal: 'The Church is about true/false, not left/right'". Crux. November 17, 2014. Archived from the original on November 19, 2014. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
- ^ "Cardinal Francis George Warns That Chicago Gay Pride Parade Might 'Morph Into Ku Klux Klan'". Fox News Chicago. December 21, 2011. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
- NBC Chicago. December 28, 2011. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
- ^ Erbentraut, Joseph (December 29, 2011). "Cardinal George Stands By KKK Comment, Calls For His Resignation Continue". Huffington Post. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
- ^ Brachear, Manya A. (January 7, 2012). "Cardinal George apologizes for remarks comparing gay rights movement to KKK". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 8, 2012.
- ^ "Cardinal Apologizes For Linking Gay Parade To KKK". Huffington Post. January 7, 2012. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
- ^ "Cardinal George warns against Illinois same-sex marriage law". National Catholic Reporter. January 3, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
- ^ George, Francis (September 7–20, 2014). "The Cardinal's Column". Catholic New World. Archived from the original on September 12, 2014. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
- ^ "Cardinal George Meets With Music Director Fired After Revealing Same-Sex Marriage Plans". CBS Chicago. September 9, 2014. Retrieved December 30, 2014.
- ^ George, Francis (May 18–31, 2014). "Mary's month". Catholic New World. Archived from the original on October 8, 2014. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
- ^ "Cardinal George to receive city's highest honor, the Medal of Merit". Chicago Tribune. December 9, 2014.
- ^ "Cardinal's statement on archdiocesan governance". Catholic New World. January 15, 2012. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
- ^ Hirst, Ellen Jean (December 2, 2013). "Cardinal George celebrates hope, Advent". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
- ^ "Cardinal George says cancer is showing 'signs of new activity'". Chicago Tribune. March 7, 2014. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
- ^ Ford, Liam (March 18, 2014). "Cardinal George hospitalized with 'flu-like' symptoms". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
- ^ Pashman, Manya Brachear (April 11, 2014). "Cardinal regrets missing meeting with pope 'to report on Chicago'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
- ^ "News and Events". Archdiocese of Chicago. August 22, 2014. Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
- ^ Yeagle, Stephanie (December 31, 2014). "Cardinal George dropped from experimental cancer treatment". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
- ^ "Cardinal George says doctors have 'run out of tricks' for him". Chicago Tribune. January 30, 2015.
- ^ "Cardinal George admitted to hospital for tests, and his blog relaunches". Chicago Tribune. March 3, 2015.
- ^ "CNS-Media Reviews Archives". Catholic News Service. Archived from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
- ^ "Chicago's Retired Cardinal George Readmitted to Hospital - ABC News". ABC News. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015.
- ^ "Chicago's Cardinal George readmitted to hospital". Chicago Tribune. March 28, 2015.
- ^ "Cardinal George released from hospital, 'feeling much better'". Chicago Tribune. April 3, 2015.
- ^ Press Office of the Holy See (September 20, 2014). "Rinunce e nomine, 20.09.2014". Retrieved September 20, 2014.
- ^ Pashman, Manya; Manchir, Michelle; Mills, Steve (September 20, 2014). "Vatican names Spokane bishop to succeed Cardinal George". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
- ^ "Chicago Cardinal Francis George Dies at Age 78". Time. April 17, 2015. Archived from the original on April 18, 2015. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
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ignored (help) - ^ Brachear Pashman, Manya (April 17, 2015). "Cardinal Francis George dies after long struggle with cancer". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
- ^ "Cardinal George Services Schedule" (PDF). Archdiocese of Chicago. April 17, 2015. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
- ^ "Former Joliet bishop to preach at Cardinal George's funeral". Chicago Tribune. April 20, 2015.
- ^ "Catholic New World - Americans in Rome hold memorial for Cardinal George". Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
- ^ ""Month's Mind" Mass to Honor Cardinal George - News - Archdiocese of Chicago". Archived from the original on May 11, 2015. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
- ^ Pope Francis (April 18, 2015). "Telegram of condolence to the Holy Father for the death of Card. Francis George, OMI, 04/18/2015" (Press release). Vatican City. Holy See Press Office. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
- ^ "Pope Francis sends his condolences on the death of Cardinal George".
- ^ "Archbishop Kurtz Pays Tribute to Former USCCB President Cardinal George | USCCB". www.usccb.org. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
- ^ Emanuel, Rahm (April 17, 2015). "Statement From Mayor Emanuel On Passing Of Cardinal Francis George" (Press release). Chicago, Ill. Chicago Mayor's Press Office. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
- ^ "Reaction to Cardinal George's death". Chicago Tribune. April 17, 2015. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
- ^ "Contact the Cardinal - Archdiocese of Chicago".
External links
- Cardinal George Fanclub – news coverage, commentary & resources
- Archdiocese of Chicago Archived May 5, 2009, at the Wayback Machine – official site
- Catholic New World Newspaper Archived August 15, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- Parish Directory Archived July 26, 2004, at the Wayback Machine
- Quotes by Cardinal Francis George, OMI - Quotes
- Quotes by others about Cardinal Francis George, OMI Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine - Quotes by others about ...
- George's catholic-pages bio
- "Glorifying Christ" - biography of Cardinal George