Chicago, Ill., Aug 29, 2018 / 04:24 pm (CNA).- The Archbishop of Chicago said Wednesday a recent television interview was edited in a way that inaccurately portrayed him.
“An NBC Chicago TV report that aired Monday night was edited in such a way that gave the false impression that Pope Francis and I consider the protection of children to be less important than other issues, such as the environment or immigration. Nothing could be further from the truth,” Cardinal Blase Cupich wrote in an Aug. 29 press release.
The cardinal was interviewed by Chicago NBC 5 reporter Mary Ann Ahern, about an Aug. 25 testimony published by a former Vatican ambassador to the U.S., Archbishop Carlo Vigano. That testimony alleged that Archbishop Theodore McCarrick was instrumental in Cupich’s appointment as Archbishop of Chicago in 2014.
“The edited report created the false impression that my comment that the pope should not ‘go down the rabbit hole’ of the allegations in the Viganò letter was about sexual abuse. As the unedited footage shows, it was not,” he added.
The entirety of the paragraph in which Cupich referenced a “rabbit hole” is as follows: “But for the Holy Father, I think to get into each and every one of those aspects, in some way is inappropriate and secondly, the pope has a bigger agenda. He’s gotta get on with other things of talking about the environment and protecting migrants and carrying on the work of the Church. We’re not going to go down a rabbit hole on this.”
After airing a story containing portions of its interview with Cupich, NBC 5 published five videos which contain more footage of Ahern’s conversation with Cardinal Cupich. For clarity, CNA has transcribed those videos.
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Attendees visit vendors at the Diocese of Arlington’s 2025 “From Inclusion to Belonging Conference.” / Credit: Porto Charities
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Mar 17, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).
Families whose children have disabilities and Catholics with disabilities were welcomed by the Diocese of Arlington March 15 to the fourth annual “From Inclusion to Belonging Conference” which focused on plans for the future as those with disabilities prepare for adult life out of high school.
“The Lord, for us, is one who will always be there to strengthen us, to heal us, and to help us,” Bishop Michael Burbidge said in his opening remarks at the conference, held at Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria, Virginia.
With more than 200 people in attendance, the diocesan conference featured an array of talks, in English and Spanish, about resources for children with intellectual, emotional, and physical disabilities. These included tips for life skills, faith formation, education, and employment, which were presented to parents, teachers, priests, and others.
The conference also provided talks for teenagers with disabilities, designed to help guide them on how to advocate for themselves. Those participants were brought to vendors who offered resources to connect them with opportunities.
“We are called to live the Gospel of life,” Burbidge told CNA after giving his remarks. “In fact, it is a mandate to protect, to revere, to celebrate, to cherish, and to welcome all human life. …There are no exceptions.”
Nearly 20 diocesan schools educate students with disabilities, including all four high schools. A few of the schools also have specialized programs for children who have disabilities.
Diane Elliott, an assistant superintendent for Arlington Diocese Catholic Schools, told CNA that it is important for Catholic schools to have the mindset that “we’re going to serve all God’s children.”
She said it’s “not only about the kids with disabilities,” but it’s also important for other children to learn “how to accept individual differences” and avoid stigmatizing people.
Elliott added, “the majority of what we do, it doesn’t cost any money for inclusion,” and spoke about the sensory Masses offered by the diocese. Those Masses are designed for people with sensory processing issues, and usually include dimmed lights, no organ music, and homilies that are very concise. Some people who benefit from those Masses include people with autism, downs syndrome, and Alzheimer’s disease.
For efforts that do require financial resources, Burbidge told CNA that the inclusion of those with disabilities should still always be a priority, and that when resources are limited, priorities “must be reflected in how you use those resources.”
Guadalupe Williamson, whose 14-year-old son Patrick has an intellectual disability caused by a malformation in the brain, told CNA she sends him to Saint Anthony of Padua School in Falls Church because she wanted all of her children to attend the same Catholic school.
Williamson said the inclusion efforts ensure Patrick has a “learning environment that also matches our values as a family — our Catholic values.” She said he is also an altar server, and “just absolutely loves everything that the Church has to offer.”
Roxanne Miller, a mother of 10 who lives in Huntley, sends her 18-year-old daughter Megan to St. Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly. She said her daughter, who has down syndrome, is “part of the fabric of the school” and referred to the inclusion efforts as “second to none.”
Miller told CNA she attended the conference while she is helping her daughter plan for her future with employment opportunities and possibly advocacy. She said Megan is in the high school’s post-graduate transitional program for those with intellectual disabilities, which is helping them connect her with future opportunities.
Faith formation for those with special needs
The Diocese of Arlington also operates a Special Religious Development (SPRED) Program, which helps those with disabilities develop a faith community and have “access to prepare for and receive the sacraments,” Burbidge told CNA.
“That’s been a great work in our diocese,” the bishop said.
Charleen Katra, who serves on the board of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability, gives talk on ensuring those with disabilities have access to the sacraments at the Diocese of Arlington’s “From Inclusion to Belonging Conference.”. Credit: Tyler Arnold/Catholic News Agency
Nancy Emanuel, the coordinator for Special Needs Ministries in the diocese, told CNA that the program provides special religious development designed for those “who don’t fit into the typical religious education programs.”
Emmanuel said about 150 adults and children participate in the program, which divides those who are enrolled by age. The program is inclusive of those with physical and mental disabilities, which includes people with autism and down syndrome.
For some Catholics with disabilities, Emmanuel said that accessing the sacraments can at times be “overwhelming” for them. She said the program uses a lot of visual and tactile learning. For a person’s First Communion or for Confirmation, she said the instructors will practice those rituals with those children or adults to “make it so that it’s a friendly experience.”
Charleen Katra, who serves on the board of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability, gave a talk on the importance of ensuring Catholics with disabilities have access to the sacraments and the ways in which dioceses can accommodate their needs.
She said that dioceses must “meet the real needs” of each person. She noted that catechesis for a person affected by serious intellectual disabilities can sometimes be as simple as ensuring the person knows that the Eucharist is the literal Body and Blood of Christ before communion and ensuring the person knows he or she is receiving the Holy Spirit prior to confirmation.
“If there’s anybody missing in the Body of Christ, we know it’s not complete,” Katra said.
Springfield, Ill., Mar 16, 2021 / 10:45 am (CNA).- Some Illinois lawmakers want to repeal a law requiring abortion providers to notify parents of a minor who seeks an abortion, but their effort might not have the sympathy of voters.
Hong Kong media tycoon and Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai. / Napa Institute.
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, May 14, 2022 / 09:00 am (CNA).
The Catholic University of America on Saturday awarded an honorary degree to imprisoned Hong Kong human rights… […]
It’s worth the time to read the transcript of the entire CNA interview. Per Cupich, Bergoglio’s response…”exactly the kind of response that was needed.” He then goes on to trust the media who will apparently clarify the veracity of the Vigano letter using their “expertise” for the Catholic laity. He then goes on to deconstruct that letter by comparing it to “websites” and the “parallels” in language that attack the Pope…(no sense that some of that repetition is related to multiple offenses, crimes, the scope of this scandal).
I have come to the dismal conclusion that outside of assaults on children, they may not consider the rest of the reports, revelations really that bad. It’s just “stuff that happens” and I mean what starts in the seminaries.
The Cardinal’s denials and clarifications do nothing to diminish the arrogance and condescension of his appalling remarks. On the contrary, they confirm that he was quoted correctly, and that Team Francis is as great a danger to the Faith as they appear to be.
Cupich, who uses the ‘race card’ is saying that someone is being unfair? Oh my, it doesn’t get any funnier than that! To quote bugs bunny, “what a MoreRoon”.
He says that the Pope’s interview was exactly what she should have said. He said it is obvious that the Pope trusts the media to come up with the correct conclusions concerning Vigano’s letter, then he claims that the media unfairly edited his interview. Does anyone else see irony in this?
Pray for this sick cardinal, man. He needs it.
It’s worth the time to read the transcript of the entire CNA interview. Per Cupich, Bergoglio’s response…”exactly the kind of response that was needed.” He then goes on to trust the media who will apparently clarify the veracity of the Vigano letter using their “expertise” for the Catholic laity. He then goes on to deconstruct that letter by comparing it to “websites” and the “parallels” in language that attack the Pope…(no sense that some of that repetition is related to multiple offenses, crimes, the scope of this scandal).
I have come to the dismal conclusion that outside of assaults on children, they may not consider the rest of the reports, revelations really that bad. It’s just “stuff that happens” and I mean what starts in the seminaries.
When does the free lunch end for these people?
The Cardinal’s denials and clarifications do nothing to diminish the arrogance and condescension of his appalling remarks. On the contrary, they confirm that he was quoted correctly, and that Team Francis is as great a danger to the Faith as they appear to be.
Cupich, who uses the ‘race card’ is saying that someone is being unfair? Oh my, it doesn’t get any funnier than that! To quote bugs bunny, “what a MoreRoon”.
The “unedited” version is every bit as bad. I bet Pope Francis said ” Son, you’d better clean this mess up somehow!”
He says that the Pope’s interview was exactly what she should have said. He said it is obvious that the Pope trusts the media to come up with the correct conclusions concerning Vigano’s letter, then he claims that the media unfairly edited his interview. Does anyone else see irony in this?
NBC distorts an interview with the Cardinal to make him – ergo the Church – look bad.
I’m SHOCKED, I tell you – I’m SHOCKED.
I long for the days when I could be SHOCKED