Editorial: Remembrances to value from a life of strength, dignity
It is for history to judge from the advantage of distance the impact that men of great stature have on their community and their time. For us who are so close, both in time and location, the better act is remembrance.
As we join in mourning the passing of Cardinal Francis George, there is much to remember of a prelate who oversaw the vast archdiocese of Chicago for nearly 17 years. Some of those memories are unavoidably affected by comparisons to his beloved predecessor, Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, which find him to be the colder, more doctrine-bound priest in an era of constant assault on doctrine. But those we prefer to call to mind today are images of a minister whose life provided a model for living with courage, dignity, faith and grace.
He led the diocese during a time of much upheaval. He would have trouble reconciling his view of Scripture with changing attitudes in society and within the church toward gays and gay marriage. He would be both criticized for moving too slowly to respond to the priest sex scandal that rocked the Catholic church and praised for eventually taking bold and decisive action to identify and remove priests accused of wrongdoing. He would oversee the difficult and divisive task of consolidating Catholic schools, with decisions that had a lasting impact for families throughout the suburbs.
He did not shrink from hard decisions, nor, say many of those who knew him well, did he make a show of the emotions that went into them.
"People never necessarily saw his broken heart," said the Rev. Tim O'Malley of St. Joseph's Parish in Round Lake, reflecting on George's efforts to restore people's faith following a priest sex abuse scandal.
They did see his loyalty and determination - and often in the suburbs. He worked hard to open the church to the region's growing Hispanic population. Even as his health failed, he was a frequent visitor to suburban parishes, whether it be celebrating with St. Mary of the Annunciation in Mundelein, visiting Alexian Brothers operations in Elk Grove Village and Hoffman Estates or simply dedicating a social hall in Wheeling. Said the Rev. Jerome Jacob, of Mundelein: "He made sure he knew all of the parishes in the archdiocese. He knew his priests."
Over the course of 17 years Cardinal George left an imprint on the Archdiocese of Chicago that carries signs of both the discreet intellectual and the devoted patriarch and all a time of controversy and change. At some distant time, it will no doubt coalesce into some singular historic consensus. But for us here now in the suburbs, it is best to acknowledge with gratitude the example of a man who gave us so many personal examples of strength and dignity to remember.