Cardinal Blase Cupich is credited with playing an instrumental role when state lawmakers approved the first ever scholarship tax credit program for private school students.
At the same time, he's leading the Chicago Archdiocese as it undertakes major changes in its own parishes and schools.
The cardinal addressed that and more with NBC 5 Thursday.
Cupich was not in Springfield in person but he certainly was active behind the scenes as lawmakers approved scholarship tax credits -- the first of its kind in Illinois for private school families.
The president’s misguided decision to withdraw from the Paris climate accord does not diminish our responsibility to care for the planet.
— Cardinal Cupich (@CardinalBCupich) June 2, 2017
Environmental stewardship is a global issue and requires a spirit of cooperation, not the national individualism sadly displayed yesterday.
— Cardinal Cupich (@CardinalBCupich) June 2, 2017
Climate change is real. Failing to protect the earth is not just a failure of leadership. It is a moral failure.
— Cardinal Cupich (@CardinalBCupich) June 2, 2017
It is a moral failure because it is an issue of life or death, especially for the poor, the first to suffer the effects of climate change.
— Cardinal Cupich (@CardinalBCupich) June 2, 2017
Let us resolve together to continue the fight to protect our common home.
— Cardinal Cupich (@CardinalBCupich) June 2, 2017
Cupich also reacted to the Trump administration's plans to end the DACA program. Published reports Thursday say former White House adviser Steve Bannon say Catholic bishops support DACA because they need illegal aliens to fill the churches.
Cupich notes statistics show 36 percent of millennials claim no affiliation with organized religion and of those who are catholic only 17 percent attend mass every week.
Cupich is reminding his priests to focus on staying relevant to young adults.
