Here’s some background on the banner-burning incident, from The Sun-Times: Deb Mell (33rd), who led a small demonstration across the street from the church on Wednesday, calling on Pope Francis and Cupich “to send this hateful bigot packing.” The flag-burning drew the ire of LGBTQ-equality activists, including Ald.
![chicago priest burn gay flag chicago priest burn gay flag](https://gray-knoe-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/M5Uody9j07agnyk2lWTtMgxMdB0=/800x200/smart/filters:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/YCHALZ3AU5J5TBV7FH55HIBVKA.jpg)
2 church bulletin that he planned to burn the flag, after he found it in storage where it apparently sat for more than a decade.Ĭupich, who has shared Pope Francis’ more welcoming attitude toward gays in the church, told Kalchik not to burn the flag, but the priest said he did it anyway “in a quiet way” during a closed ceremony with seven parishioners, featuring a prayer of exorcism over the torched banner. The 56-year-old priest first announced in a Sept. “There have been death threats against him and even his elderly parents, and lots of threats of vandalism to the Church,” the primary source said. It was revealed just this week that a rainbow pride flag that had hung in the church sanctuary, was burned outside the church 10 days ago. Kalchik’s disagreements with the Cardinal included him recently calling for Catholics to boycott masses Cupich presided over. Kalchik told NBC 5 that on Friday, two priests sent by Cupich, met Kalchik and requested he leave and undergo psychiatric counseling after the burning of the rainbow pride flag last week. The wedding mass was instead performed by Bishop Bartosic. Kalchik - who had been Resurrection’s pastor for 11 years - left with his brother, who had been visiting, a primary source said. Newly installed Auxiliary Bishop Mart Bartosic was sent to Resurrection Parish by Cardinal Blasé Cupich to tell Kalchik he had to leave or the police would be called to arrest him for trespassing.
![chicago priest burn gay flag chicago priest burn gay flag](https://cdn.theatlantic.com/thumbor/7vEiicsf27TnjFI6PJZakMo5SnY=/1920x1280/media/img/2016/12/05/WEL_Coates_Obama1/original.jpg)
Kalchik, according to multiple sources, was removed moments before he was to preside at a wedding Saturday afternoon, according to the source close to Fr. Earlier in the week, he said an intruder tried to break into the church. On Friday, Kalchik said he has had to have police escort him from the church to his home, out of fear he may be attacked. The church, in its bulletin this week, said Kalchik has received many threats.
![chicago priest burn gay flag chicago priest burn gay flag](https://static01.nyt.com/images/2019/02/19/us/19gaypriests/gaypriests-promo-tone-superJumbo-v2.jpg)
“Love the sinner, hate the sin - that’s as harsh as I get.” “I’m about as much of a ‘gay basher’ as Mother Teresa of Calcutta,” the 56-year-old said in an interview with the Tribune on Friday. The priest, who has said he was a victim of sexual abuse by a Chicago-area priest as a seminarian, has insisted that he does not hate the gay community. His answering machine was full, a recorded message said. “This has been in the works for some time and is not directly due to the flag burning.”Ĭalls to Kalchik at the church on Saturday were not returned. “He is taking some time away from the parish,” Maselli said in an email Saturday.
![chicago priest burn gay flag chicago priest burn gay flag](https://i0.wp.com/instinctmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/images_blog_posts_Devin-Randall_2018_09_15_samuel-martins-631378-unsplash-2.jpg)
I have a responsibility to be supportive of our priests when they have difficulties, but I also have a duty to ensure that those who serve our faithful are fully able to minister to them in the way the Church expects.”Īnne Maselli, a spokeswoman for the archdiocese, said the move was not connected to Kalchik’s decision to destroy the banner, a move criticized by some in the community who called it an anti-gay hate crime. Kalchik’s welfare and that of the people of Resurrection Parish. “I do not take this step lightly,” Cupich continued. Monsignor James Kaczorowski, pastor of Queen of Angels parish, was appointed administrator of Resurrection Parish, effective Friday evening, according to the notice. Kalchik must take time away from the parish to receive pastoral support so his needs can be assessed.” “For some weeks now, I have become increasingly concerned about a number of issues at Resurrection Parish,” read a letter, signed by Cupich, to parishioners and staff at the church.