CHICAGO (WLS) — Over his 40 years at ABC7, Alan Krashesky has lined the Roman Catholic church extensively.

Now, in an unique interview, and as Krashesky prepares to retire this week, he talked with Cardinal Blase Cupich on key problems with in the present day and what the longer term holds.

In these 4 many years, Krashesky has lined three Chicago Cardinal-Archbishops, in addition to three popes in Rome.

Cardinal Cupich was the primary alternative of Pope Francis when selecting the highest management for American Catholics.

One factor the cardinal made clear was that he’s not going wherever and needs to remain in Chicago.

“I really like Chicago and I need to keep right here,” the 74-year-old cardinal mentioned.

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The cardinal already spends appreciable time in Rome, serving in positions that embrace selecting future bishops and the construction of worship.

We have seen him, at instances, really working on the Pope’s proper hand.

“I’ve made it clear to folks over there this can be a good match for me,” Cardinal Cupich mentioned with out saying he is already turned down a everlasting job there. “Chicago is my house and I’ll retire right here.”

It has been eight years because the former Bishop of Spokane, Washington, was tapped by Pope Francis to come back to Chicago.

Krashesky mentioned one among his private favourite interviews occurred again in 2014, simply earlier than the cardinal got here to Chicago. He mentioned he joined Cardinal Cupich as he drove throughout jap Washington State to attend a soccer recreation between Catholic highschool rival.

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The priest, who’s initially from Omaha, nonetheless enjoys interplay with younger folks.

“I like doing that type of factor. I believe that, once I received to basketball video games at a few of our faculties, we sit on one aspect after which on the opposite,” Cardinal Cupich mentioned.

There is a little bit of diplomacy in that, however his deal with relationships has helped him in constructing interfaith relationships, together with main Muslim-Catholic talks on the nationwide degree.

“I do have an excellent relationship with the Muslim group, and in addition the Jewish group,” Cardinal Cupich mentioned. “I believe, particularly with the rise of anti-Semitism.”

July of 2019 is one key second of solidarity that stand out, when Holocaust survivor Fritzie Fritzshall invited the cardinal and Krashesky to accompany her as she returned to Auschwitz, the previous Nazi focus camp the place Fritzie was imprisoned as a teen. It was additionally the place a variety of her relations died or had been killed.

Holocaust survivor Fritzie Fritzshall returns to Auschwitz with Cardinal Blase Cupich

“She mentioned to me, ‘You understand, I do know you imagine in God. I wrestle with that,’” Cardinal Cupich recalled. “She mentioned, ‘As a result of God was sitting on the shelf on the sideline when all the things was taking place.’”

Cardinal Cupich has actually confronted challenges, together with when a state legal professional common reviewed the dealing with of sexual abuse circumstances involving monks, whilst some critically demand much more transparency.

However the cardinal believes the present course of utilized by the Archdiocese now is an effective one.

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“However I inform folks, I would like it carried out proper. So it’s not a matter of how lengthy it takes, however how effectively it is carried out,” Cardinal Cupich mentioned.

With the U.S. Supreme Courtroom choice on abortion, and states now splitting between abortion rights and abortion bans, Cardinal Cupich mentioned he acknowledges the troublesome selections ladies are pressured to face.

“What the church is saying – that we’re saying- is ‘Remember in regards to the child,’” Cardinal Cupich mentioned. “Let’s be sure that we have now a wrap-around program of help after start, because the little one grows up. I imagine that is a place to begin possibly, by which we are able to have some settlement.”

The cardinal believes one of many biggest challenges we face is reducing by way of the division and polarization in our society. He mentioned breakthroughs happen when folks really sit down and discuss to one another, and that is not solely amongst politicians and teams with completely different viewpoints, however amongst non secular leaders and other people of various faiths.