Everywhere we turn this morning in Chicago, we are confronted by images of Laquan McDonald, a young black man, being gunned down on one of our city streets by Jason Van Dyke, a white Chicago Police officer. The video of Laquan’s death, released by the mayor’s office just hours after the officer was charged with…
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ: In the midst of this epidemic of gun violence, when mass shootings have become commonplace and gun violence on the streets of Chicago claims thousands of victims each year, it is sometimes hard to find hope. But on Friday, Archbishop Blase Cupich delivered a sizeable measure of it when…
The Rt. Rev. Jeffrey D. Lee, bishop of Chicago, released this statement on the occasion of the Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of marriage equality: “Like many of my fellow Episcopalians, I rejoice in the U. S. Supreme Court’s ruling that has made marriage equality the law of our land, as it has been for…
Dear Friends, Friday is a day of rejoicing for students in Chicago’s public schools. It is their last day of school before summer vacation. But the warm, inviting weather of late spring and early summer also bring fresh waves of violence to streets in Chicago and elsewhere across our diocese. Evidence is already beginning to…
Dear Friends, As we approach the date of June 1 when marriage equality will become legal throughout the State of Illinois, and in light of Cook County’s recent decision to allow same sex marriage to be entered legally in advance of that date, I write to offer some clarification on the role of clergy in…
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ: Earlier today, the Illinois General Assembly voted to approve marriage equality and Governor Quinn will soon sign the bill into law. As you know, I have long supported this move, and I am proud of the many Episcopalians across our diocese whose hard work and fervent prayers have made…
