Cardinal Blase Cupich—always attentive to finding inspiration outside of the Catholic Tradition—has decided to share on X some “words of wisdom from the Torah.” The quote, by the way, comes from Exodus, that is, from Sacred Scripture, not from a later rabbinic treatise or a compilation of Jewish customs. But in the Cupichian universe, everything sounds better if it’s dressed with an interfaith touch, even if it means rebaptizing the Old Testament to make it more inclusive.
Wise words from the Torah that resonate today: “Do not oppress the foreigner. You know the heart of the foreigner. You were foreigners in Egypt”.
Nothing to object to in the biblical text—except for the cardinal’s confusion—, but it’s worth remembering that the same God who commanded not to oppress the foreigner also forbade killing the innocent. And that in the same book of the Torah (or, sorry, of Exodus) the sacrifice of children is strongly condemned. Perhaps that part doesn’t resonate as much in the office of the cardinal, friend of Senator Dick Durbin, obstinate defender of abortion up to the ninth month.