In a recent column published by Catholic Culture, Peter Wolfgang argues that the credibility of the American Catholic hierarchy is facing a profound crisis, one marked by a tendency to fear public scorn over the defense of foundational church teachings. Wolfgang, the president of the Family Institute of Connecticut Action, contends that while some bishops seem eager to apologize for their interactions with political figures, they remain notably silent or even contradictory when faced with internal issues that challenge the faith.
The Optics of Apology
The critique centers on a recent, widely circulated image of a group of bishops praying with President Trump in the Oval Office. Wolfgang notes that he was among the Catholics who felt uncomfortable with the display, yet he argues that the subsequent apologies offered by some of the bishops in attendance were misplaced. He asserts that these leaders were essentially apologizing for being associated with a president who enacted policies—such as the overturning of Roe v. Wade and the defense of biological reality against gender ideology—that align with Catholic interests.
My favorite line from this doc:"Jesus also demonstrates a remarkable familiarity with the use of numbers and frequently draws on the construction of buildings or on the weather; he knows the coinage of his day and is deeply conversant with the various religious groups then… https://t.co/MMqGbOI0B2
Wolfgang suggests that this performative contrition is a symptom of a broader issue: a desire to appease the secular left. He contrasts this with the lack of similar apologies when church leaders engage in actions that alienate faithful pro-life and pro-family Catholics. According to Wolfgang, the current episcopal strategy appears to prioritize the approval of hostile public opinion while taking the support of the faithful for granted.
Contradictions in Chicago
The column points to the Archdiocese of Chicago as a primary example of this perceived duplicity. Cardinal Blase Cupich recently announced plans to honor billionaire Michael Sacks with the Nostra Aetate Award. Wolfgang highlights that Sacks has donated over $1 million to abortion-related organizations within the last six years. When Catholics raised concerns regarding the award, Cupich characterized the criticism as antisemitic.
Well, another Cardinal has come out with a, shall we say, puzzling take on evangelization.A few years ago, Cardinal Américo Aguiar, at the time auxiliary bishop of Lisbon, said that he and the other organizers of World Youth Day in his hometown had no interest in converting…
Wolfgang, who identifies as a Jewish Catholic, rejects this characterization, arguing that the objection is fundamentally about the promotion of abortion, not the background of the honoree. He notes that the archdiocese faced similar pushback a year prior when it attempted to honor pro-abortion politician Dick Durbin. To Wolfgang, these incidents demonstrate an inconsistent approach to both the sanctity of life and the fight against genuine prejudice.
Bishops Advocate for Non-Citizens in Census Counts
Wolfgang’s concerns extend beyond local diocesan politics into the national advocacy arena. On October 22, the general counsel for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) submitted a formal public comment to the Department of Commerce. The filing argued that non-citizens, including those in the country illegally, should be included in the U.S. census—a position currently contested by the Trump administration.
Wolfgang argues that in taking this stance, the USCCB has inadvertently aligned itself with the logic of antebellum Southern slaveholders, who sought to count enslaved populations in the census to increase their own political representation while simultaneously denying those individuals agency. This, he suggests, shows the bishops prioritizing political maneuvering over a clear, principled defense of their mission.
The Solitary Stand of Bishop Barron
Despite these controversies, Wolfgang offers Bishop Robert Barron as a singular counter-example. When Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco recently suggested that the Church should focus on fraternity rather than conversion, Bishop Barron publicly challenged the claim. Wolfgang commends Barron for his willingness to speak out, noting that he is one of the few members of the hierarchy actively engaging with these theological and cultural shifts.
Wolfgang posits that the current state of the Church requires more than just culture warriors; it requires leaders who are not embarrassed by the faith they are tasked to uphold. He suggests that the responsibility for this shift lies with leadership in Rome, which has the capacity to strengthen the bishops and provide the support necessary for them to proclaim unpopular truths without fear. Without such backing, he argues, voices like Bishop Barron’s will continue to echo in an isolated and increasingly disconnected environment.
