Cardinal Cupich Visits North Shore Synogogue

GLENCOE, IL — The archbishop of Chicago spoke about interfaith dialogue and took questions from the audience during a visit to a Glencoe synagogue this week. Cardinal Blase Cupich spoke to an audience of several hundred people Monday evening at North Shore Congregation Israel. According to the temple, it was the first time he has spoken at a North Shore synagogue since becoming cardinal in 2016.

Cupich said he has seen great improvement in relationships between Chicago's Catholic and Jewish communities. Both groups, he said, face challenges in passing down their faith traditions to younger generations as they grow up in an increasingly secular society.

The archbishop also called for a better nationwide discussion about the impact of slavery on black communities and the country as a whole.

In particular, he lamented the high levels of violence in parts of Chicago, which he said was exacerbated by segregation, along with a lack of jobs and educational opportunities.

Cupich compared the need for a national dialogue about the legacy of slavery in the U.S. to the way Germany needed to take responsibility for the Holocaust for the sake of future generation.

“Until we discuss this as a nation we can’t stop the impact slavery has on our current generation and future generations," Cupich said, according to Pioneer Press.

The cardinal also spoke about the value of family, mentoring and education to help people lead lives that are more productive and less violent, according to Daily North Shore.

Cupich encouraged people of all faiths and communities to help the Catholic church address related problems.

In a question and answer session with the audience following his address, he told a questioner that religious differences — even the most significant ones — should not keep people from working together on things they agree about.

"We are deeply grateful to Cardinal Cupich for taking time out of his incredibly busy schedule to share his reflections on building interreligious connections in the 21st Century," said North Shore Congregation Israel Senior Rabbi Wendi Geffen.

» Read more from Pioneer Press and Daily North Shore