Chicago City Wire

Cardinal Blase Cupich says what happened at the U.S. Capitol was shocking, but he did not have as much to say about the riots that occurred over the summer by Black Lives Matter (BLM) supporters. 

“What has been unfolding at the Capitol today should shock the conscience of any patriotic American and any faithful Catholic,” Cupich said in a statement. “The eyes of the world look on in horror as we suffer this national disgrace. For many months we have witnessed the deliberate erosion of the norms of our system of government. Peaceful protest is a sacred right. It has been an essential component of much social progress over the course of human history.” 

Cupich said violence is the opposite of that. 

“We pray for peace at this bracing moment in U.S. history, a history that has been marked by one of democracy’s greatest virtues—the peaceful and orderly transition of power,” Cupich said in the statement. “May our elected officials heed the counsel of their better angels to stand up for the Constitution they swore to defend, to speak the truth, and to recognize threats to democracy, no matter their source.”

This is a stark contrast to what Cupich said over the summer when BLM supporters were looting and rioting after the death of George Floyd.

Back then, Cupich said that the acts of a few shouldn’t take away focus from the peaceful protesters.

"No one should allow themselves to dismiss the aims of peaceful protesters because some among them exploited the anger by engaging in criminal acts,” he said over the summer.  

Earlier this week, Superintendent of Catholic Schools Jim Rigg encouraged students and parents to read Cupich’s letter.

“We acknowledge that the year has begun with violence in our nation’s capital and your children may have been upset by reports of these events,” Rigg wrote. “I encourage you to read the statement of Cardinal Cupich carefully. As a community of faith, we seek our Lord in prayer for the peace, health and unity of our nation. Given that such occurrences can affect each of us differently, offered here is a resource to help you support your child after a trauma.”

Over the summer, rioting and looting that occurred after a BLM rally did $60 million in property damage in Chicago alone.