An Opportunity Lost: Cupich Gives Invocation at Convention

In our last post, In Your Face, GMC pointed out how the Democrat party at their national convention in Chicago is brazenly promoting their pro-death agenda by providing a Planned Parenthood mobile clinic that is doling out contraceptives and performing free medical abortions and vasectomies. Although this is somewhat shocking to the casual observer, those following these radical Marxists have come to expect this kind of unhinged behavior.

However, faithful Catholics did not expect that a prince of the church, Cardinal Blasé Cupich, the Archbishop of Chicago, would humiliate our faith on a national stage at this same convention. Based on his terrible track record of upholding basic Catholic beliefs, we probably should not have been blindsided.

Cupich provided the invocation on the first day of the DNC convention. He failed to begin his prayer with the customary sign of the cross, and nowhere within his almost four-minute “prayer” was the name of Jesus Christ mentioned. Although Cupich wore a Roman collar, the traditional pectoral cross worn by bishops and cardinals was not visible, seemingly tucked into his suit jacket.

 Instead of invoking the name of Jesus to heal our country of its spiritual rot and deep divides, especially concerning protecting life, Cupich talked about the “scared call of citizenship’’ and hope for “this new chapter of our nation’s history.” Does the new chapter in history involve the defense of human dignity? These sound bites are more in keeping with a second-rate politician than a man of God. He did not mention anything about the sanctity of life, especially since the Planned Parenthood mobile clinic was just down the street executing its evil deeds – perhaps even while he was speaking.

Many were very troubled to learn about Cupich’s highly secularized and sanitized invocation. Illinois Right to Life put out the following statement, “It is incredibly disheartening to see a local church leader who once aligned himself with our cause participate in such a deeply anti-life, anti-family event as the DNC.”

Bishop Strickland remarked, “We will never have peace until we return to God and respect life. The Cardinal’s presence there is a missed opportunity to call the Democratic party back from the abyss.” The abyss is exactly where this party is headed with its policies that allow abortion up until the moment of birth, so-called gender-affirming care, which is the mutilation and sterilization of minors; the normalization of pedophilia; the destruction of the family; and the outright blasphemy of the LGBT movement.

Cupich also stated, “We are a nation composed of every people and culture, united not by ties of blood, but by the profound aspirations of life, freedom, justice, and unbound hope.” We beg to differ. Christians are all united by the blood of Christ poured out for our sins. This is the blood that unites us.

Cupich’s delivery of these off-putting remarks was awkward at best. He lacked enthusiasm and inspired no one. Perhaps he was nervous to appear on such a big stage with so many people. He came off as a weak, small, insignificant man – a coward. He ostensibly surrendered to the powerful evil forces that run the Democrat Party. Cupich’s presence at this convention and his lack of conviction were a capitulation.  His denial of Jesus Christ was a disgrace and reminiscent of Peter saying, “I do not know the man.” Matthew 26:72.  

With God’s mercy, Cardinal Cupich could repent and become a figurative or literal martyr for the faith, just like Peter did. Pray that he does.