Philadelphia, Pa., Aug 23, 2013 / 08:02 am
An essay claiming that Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia was put in a "right-wing funk" by Pope Francis' popularity "completely misunderstood" the archbishop, his defenders say.
Two Catholic writers have strongly criticized an Aug. 17 National Catholic Reporter opinion essay by University of St. Thomas School of Law Professor Charles J. Reid, Jr.
Reid used Archbishop Chaput's July 23 interview with National Catholic Reporter correspondent John L. Allen, Jr. to argue that the archbishop is worried by "the sudden interest in the new Pope from unfamiliar quarters," like non-practicing Catholics, non-Catholics and non-Christians.
The opinion essay accompanied a cartoon depicting an archbishop with little resemblance to Archbishop Chaput. The cartoon archbishop was shown under a raincloud and appeared to be depressed by a chart of Pope Francis' growing popularity.