Transcript from Michael Paulson's chat about Cardinal O'Malley
Michael Paulson, the Globe's religion reporter, took questions about Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley's eventful first five years as archbishop of Boston.
Michael_Paulson: Hi this is Michael Paulson, the Globe's religion reporter, and I'll be available for the next hour if you have any questions or comments about Cardinal O'Malley's first five years in Boston, about the Globe's new religion blog, or anything else religion-related.
TAF__Guest: Hi Michael
Michael_Paulson: Hello! Welcome. Do you have a question or comment today?
TAF__Guest: I'm curious to know if Cardinal O'Malley has any plans to expand any existing interfaith programs. With increasing budget cuts to services for lower-income folks, it would seem it would be prudent for the faith-based programs to combine forces in order to survive.
Michael_Paulson: That's an interesting question, but I'm not sure exactly what you're referring to. The archdiocese has interfaith programs that focus on relations between Catholics and Jews, Catholics and Muslims, and so on. And then there are social service programs, mostly through Catholic Charities, that serve people regardless of faith.
Michael_Paulson: But, generally speaking, the archdiocese is in a contraction, rather than expansion, mode, because of financial woes.
TAF__Guest: Silly me for typing too fast! What I mean is, given the financial constraints of the archdiocese combined with the ones experienced by other faith-based social service programs in the Boston area - would there be any chance of Carindal O'Malley reaching out to these groups to join forces?
Michael_Paulson: I've heard no talk about that. As I understand it, the archdiocese's financial problems don't bear directly on the financial situation of the social service operation, Catholic Charities, because Catholic Charities is separately incorporated and raises its own funds.
Michael_Paulson: But Catholic Charities is heavily state-funded, so it has been affected by the state's budget situation.
Michael_Paulson: There are, as your question implies, other faith-based social service operations, like Lutheran Social Services and Jewish Vocational Services, and whether there's been any talk of collaboration, I don't know (is that what you're asking?) but I'll try to find out during this chat.
Ken__Guest: Michael - can you describe the relationship between Cardinal O'Malley and the politicians particularly in the house and senate who defy church teaching by enabling abortion and homosexual activity (so called "gay marriage")
Michael_Paulson: Well, Cardinal O'Malley find himself as the archbishop in a state where the overwhelming majority of elected officials, including both US senators and the city's mayor, and a huge fraction of voters, are Catholics who do not vote in accord with the church's teachings on abortion or same-sex marriage.
Michael_Paulson: So the cardinal is in a bit of a tough situation. He's made it clear that he opposes same-sex marriage and abortion, and that he considers Catholic support for Democrats to be "bordering on scandal,'' and he refused to go to a Catholic Charities dinner at which Mayor Menino was being honored.
Michael_Paulson: But, he's also trying to work with those officials in areas where they do agree -- on the local level, that means mostly on youth violence prevention issues, and on the federal level, immigration.
Michael_Paulson: And he's also shown no appetite for the confrontational style adopted by some other bishops. He has said he doesn't believe in the politicization of the Eucharist, so he isn't denying Communion to anyone, and he also paid a visit to Sen. Kennedy in the hospital after he fell ill.
TAF__Guest: I didn't realize Catholic Charities took state funding (although given the scope of their work, that makes perfect sense! And yes, you've hit the nail on the head - I'm asking directly if there are any thoughs of collaboration.
Michael_Paulson: Catholic Charities is a major recipient of government funds, and it also gets money from the United Way.
Michael_Paulson: I'm taking a quick look at their 2006 financials as we chat, and it looks to me like $19 million of the $27 million in revenues they reported that year came from government contracts.
Michael_Paulson: And, to link your question with Ken's, Catholic Charities receipt of government funds, combined with the Catholic church's opposition to same-sex marriage, is what led Catholic Charities to get out of the adoption business a few years ago -- Cardinal O'Malley was unwilling to allow the agency to continue to comply with the state's requirement that same-sex couples be considered eligible as adoptive parents.
Bob__Guest: Is the Pope as cool as he looks?
Michael_Paulson: TAF, I don't know if you're still out there, but I just e-mailed Tiziana Dearing, the new head of Catholic Charities (who, happily, wears a blackberry) about your question, and here's her answer: "Charities is working with other faith-based social service organizations, building relationships and trying to find ways to help each other serve the poor better. Example: increased, deliberate cooperation and collaboration with Combined Jewish Philanthropies, Jewish Vocational Services and Jewish Children and Family Services."
Michael_Paulson: Hey Bob -- the pope's coolness, is, of course, in the eyes of the beholder, but I'm sorry to report that the Vatican has denied widespread reports that his red shoes were made by Prada.
Sarah__Guest: How long do you think Cardinal O'Malley will stay in Boston?
Judas__Guest: Will O'Malley stay in Boston indefinitely, or does he long for a lower-profile assignment that suits his quiet, contemplative nature?
Michael_Paulson: Hey guys. I asked the cardinal that, and he said that he expects, if he lives to 75, to be in Boston until then. That's the age at which bishops have to offer to retire.
Michael_Paulson: I think it's unlikely he would be transferred to another American diocese, although he's sometimes mentioned in the rumor mill about New York.
Michael_Paulson: More often speculated about is the idea that he would be transferred to Rome to head some agency.
Michael_Paulson: But it does seem most likely that the Vatican will leave him here, to avoid further turmoil in the archdiocese.
Jeff__Guest: First off - keep religion out of politics :-)
Michael_Paulson: Have you ever seen God-o-Meter? It's a blog at http://blog.beliefnet.com/godometer/
Michael_Paulson: It tracks McCain and Obama and tells you how close they're veering to secularist vs. theocrat, based on what they say and do each day.
Jeff__Guest: Secondely - doesn't he have his hands full with all this sex in the church scandals
Michael_Paulson: That's been the major issue of his first five years here, definitely, assuming you're referring the clergy sex abuse scandal.
Jeff__Guest: I will - sounds funny
Jeff__Guest: yes - kinda bumms me out to be honest
Thomas_Wilkin__Guest: From a reporters point of view, do you find that the Church - in Boston and beyond - is now more or less open to the public and the press?
Michael_Paulson: Excellent question. I've been on this beat for eight years, and there have been a lot of different archdiocesan spokespeople and communications strategies during that time. Right now, we're in a period with an archbishop who is less comfortable with the news media than his predecessor. But Cardinal O'Malley's staff, although not unanimously, and not without some qualms, seems mostly to be more supportive of engaging with the news media than their predecessors.
Michael_Paulson: The most significant development in this arena, of course, is the archdiocese's decision several years ago to release audited financial reports annually for about 40 organizations controlled by the cardinal, including the central administration.
Jeff__Guest: It kinds urks me that we check in with the church first - why?
Michael_Paulson: I'm not sure what you're asking here.
Jeff__Guest: Well... I'm kinda turned off being a gay man
Michael_Paulson: A lot of gay Catholics have become alienated. The current vicar general has been doing some quiet outreach, and there are fairly active gay worshiping groups at a handful of Catholic places, like the Paulist Center and the Arch Street Shrine, but this is obviously an issue confronting the church.
Jeff__Guest: meaning the state gov officials, our federal officials and beyound - seems like we have to have the 'okay' from the church when making law or changes of it - trying to be general I guess
Michael_Paulson: actually it seems to me, and to many observers, that the church has lost some of its influence on public policy in recent years. for example, their opposition to same-sex marriage was unsuccessful in swaying Beacon Hill.
Thomas_Wilkin__Guest: Thanks much for responding to the question
dr__Guest: How is he proceeding with the next wave of cases concerning sexual abuse
Michael_Paulson: A bunch of cases are in arbitration, but there are still others pending in the courts, and the archdiocese has a law firm that handles these cases.
Michael_Paulson: OK folks, I've got to get back to work, but thanks for chatting, and please visit my new religion blog at http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles_of_faith/
