[Originally published at DC-LausDeo.US]
Wikileaks has released some batches of John Podesta's emails which reveal that Hillary Clinton confidants have some scathing views of Catholics. Some had suggested that there should be a "Catholic Spring" to overthrow "a middle ages dictatorship" and impose a democratic cult which honors gender equality (and presumably progressive approaches to hot button social issues). Other emails mocked how conservative Catholics were pseudo-intellectuals who spouted sophisticated sounding nonsense.Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput responded to these scathing critques stemming from the highest echelons of Hillary Clinton's 2016 Presidential campaign.
It is quite a clever turn of phrase of Archbishop Chaput to quip:"In a nation where 'choice' is now the unofficial state religion, the menu for dinner is remarkably small." Chaput pithily impeaches America's obsession with choice (abortion), reflects on dangers to America's tradition of religious liberty while lamenting the paucity of choices to be elected Commander-in-Chief.
Not withstanding the sardonic style of the riposte, Archbishop Chaput has consistently eviscerated both major party Presidential candidates, as seen from his recent speech at Notre Dame University.
We love to label in order to create intellectual order in our minds. But terms like liberal and conservative do not translate well into Church politics. Archbishop Chaput can be considered a conservative in Church circles, as he is cautiously embracing implementation of the New Mercy contained in Pope Francis' Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia. However, it would be mistaken to automatically assume that Chaput is a political conservative or would ever vote for Donald Trump.
It is a pity that Archbishop Chaput was passed over to be named a Cardinal by Pope Francis' recent announcement for the November 19th consistory. Philadelphia, like the large Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, is traditionally blessed with a Cardinal. Pope Francis, however, chose three "red hats" which went to Dallas, Indianapolis and to Archbishop Blase Cupich from the longstanding Cardinal seat of Chicago.
