杏MAP导航

By Lisa Zengarini

Amidst growing street violence in the city, Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago has called on Catholics and 鈥渁ll people of good will鈥� to resist the temptation to retreat to what they consider 鈥渁 safe space鈥�, but rather to engage in dialogue and listening.

Over 2000 people  shot in Chicago in 2021

The Chicago Police Department reported a record of 100 shootings during the Independence Day weekend holiday, with 14 dead, including 2 children, and 83 injured.  The shootings have raised more questions about security in the city. 2,019 people have been shot in Chicago as of July 4 2021, an increase of almost 13% over last year and a 58% increase in shootings compared with 2019.

A 鈥渟piritual crisis鈥� 

Following the latest incidents, Cardinal Cupich has issued a  reflecting on the issue and suggesting a possible way to invert this dangerous trend which threatens everybody. 鈥淯nderstandably, we want this horrifying situation resolved without delay鈥�, he writes, recalling that Government leaders and community activists have offered many ideas, including 鈥渕ore effective policing, reforming the criminal justice system, stemming the flood of illegal guns, dismantling gangs, investment in historically disadvantaged neighborhoods, strengthening education and shoring up family life鈥�. On his part, Cardinal Cupich points to the underlying 鈥渟piritual crisis鈥� that this violent and unstable situation has provoked.

We are inextricably connected with each other

鈥淲hen violence prompts grief, fear, and a loss of hope, as it always does, people feel alienated from one another. On one level, the fractures appear to be along the lines of race, ethnicity, economic class, and political affiliation. But it runs much deeper than that鈥�, he notes. 鈥淲e seem unable or unwilling to comprehend that we are inextricably connected with each other鈥�. 鈥淵et we truly are all brothers and sisters to each other鈥�, the prelate points out citing 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥�  and Martin Luther King鈥檚 words in 1964. 鈥淚f we lose that sense of interconnectedness, we also lose our sense of compassion, empathy and responsibility for each other鈥�.

Asking questions, listening, praying and staying connected 

As a way forward, Cardinal Cupich therefore suggests five steps. The first step is to 鈥渁sk questions鈥�, but being 鈥減repared to authentically listen, even when what we are hearing proves painful鈥�. The second step proposed is dialogue, that is seeking 鈥渉onest exchanges with people of different backgrounds鈥�, which helps mutual understanding and empathy. Cardinal Cupich also suggests praying, to ask for enlightenment and discerning God鈥檚 will.

鈥淚f you want peace, work for justice鈥�

Finally, he recommends 鈥渟taying connected鈥�: 鈥淭he great temptation during a time of crisis is to retreat to what we consider a safe space鈥�, he says. 鈥淚n fact, what we most need is to go out of our comfort zones and accompany one another, even when that calls for effort and even some risk鈥�.

The letter concludes with the words of Psalm 91: God, my refuge,  and of 杏MAP导航 Paul VI: 鈥淚f you want peace, work for justice.鈥�