Jun 8, 2009 Article by Joseph Fosco | 37 comments

Do Chicago Catholics Have The Right To Know If Cardinal Francis George And Father Daniel Flens Are More Than ‘Just Friends’?

Author’s Note
Dear Bishop Lyne,
Forgive me for denying your request to remove this article from KTF’s publication. I have been deeply conscience stricken about doing the right thing and feel I must permanently publish this article.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Joseph Fosco

Almost every time you see Francis Cardinal George you also seeFather Daniel Flens. The two live together and I have noticed a number of people feel that these two men are strangely “glued at the hip.” I know that Father Flens is the Cardinal’s secretary, but some are wondering if there is more going on. If so, do people in the Catholic community in Chicago have the right to know? I think so.

Francis Cardinal George

I was appointed to the Stewardship Committee at Holy Name Cathedral in 2007 by then Director of Stewardship Joseph Konen (retired President of Amaritrade). I am presently retired from the committee. Since my appointment to the committee I donated generously to the Cathedral as well as to other entities and/or affiliates of the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago. Through my work with the church I have been approached by a number of acquaintances who have asked me, “Do you suppose the Archbishop of Chicago is a practicing homosexual?” and “Could Father Flens be a practicing homosexual?” Truthfully, my answer is “I do not know for sure.” I suppose I could ask. Cardinal George and Father Flens, are you practicing homosexuals?

Father Daniel Flens

Many of the people who have asked me about Father Flens have also commented on his personality. I understand the comments to mean a certain quality in Father Flens personality might be similar to the personalities of a number of known homosexuals.

Personally, I do not care about people’s sexual preferences. However, when you are talking about the Archbishop of Chicago and his live-in male secretary, I suppose we Catholics deserve to know if something is wrong.

If the Archbishop is a practicing homosexual, could this be why he has been overly sympathetic to alleged predator priests? I am not suggesting that practicing homosexuals are predators, but the predators that have abused children in the Catholic Church here in Chicago have overwhelmingly been practicing homosexuals. Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke had some interesting things to say on a related subject in a book authored by Kerry Kennedy (daughter of the late Robert Kennedy), titledBeing Catholic Now.

I will end by saying that no matter what our Archbishop’s sexual preference might be, it must be confirmed that he is not a practicing homosexual. I love Cardinal George very much and I have a great deal of respect for him. My mention of loving Cardinal George could seem disingenuous after writing this article, so let me be very clear that the love that I have for the Archbishop of Chicago is as real as it gets! This article was tough to write. However, I feel that someone had to address these issues. And I know that Cardinal George and Father Flens will understand.