PROSPECT HEIGHTS – Some years ago, Archbishop Joseph Naumann – inspired in part by the cultural attitude that two children is enough – began offering to baptize the third or more child of any family in his archdiocese.
“There aren’t a ton of couples that take me up on it, but I hope it communicates to all of the couples to be open to life,” Archbishop Naumann of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas told The Tablet. “This is the greatest vocation, the great miracle, to be a parent and to be the first teacher of the faith.”
The gesture is but one example of Archbishop Naumann’s advocacy for a culture of life at both a local and national level in 50 years as a priest and bishop. For decades, he has been an outspoken leader of the pro-life cause.
Now, he will continue his advocacy and ministry in a new role as archbishop emeritus.
Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Archbishop Naumann, 75, on April 8, and named Bishop Shawn McKnight of Jefferson City, Missouri, as his successor. Archbishop-Designate McKnight will be installed on May 27.
Archbishop Naumann has led the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas since early 2005. He was ordained a priest in 1975, and ordained an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Louis by Pope St. John Paul II in 1997, before coming to Kansas City eight years later.
Notably, Archbishop Naumann has served seven terms on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Pro-Life Activities. In 2018, he became the first non-cardinal elected by his fellow bishops to lead the committee for a term that ended in 2021.
“I was surprised, and somewhat, I regretted it,” he said of his election to lead the committee. “It was a privilege to serve as the chair, but it was the only committee that always had a cardinal chair in it, and I think that showed the high priority that the conference put on the pro-life issue.”
Under Archbishop Naumann’s leadership, the committee created the Walking with Moms in Need initiative, which is a national parish-based initiative to increase support for pregnant mothers in need. The effort, which still exists today, was a response to the need for the Church to “ramp up efforts in terms of pastoral care [for pregnant women] and mobilize our parishes.”
Reflecting on the state of the pro-life cause today, particularly as it relates to abortion, Archbishop Naumann said he sees reason for both concern and hope. He called it the “tragedy of today” that many young people have an “attitude that we don’t solve problems, we just eliminate lives.”
On the other hand, he noted that the Generation Z appears more religious than the generations immediately preceding it, and in turn more supportive of the pro-life cause.
For Catholics in states like New York, where a pro-abortion mindset consistently prevails, Archbishop Naumann advised Catholics to “pray a lot,” be vigilant in advocacy, and try to change the political environment.
He also said New York is the kind of place that’s “right for conversion.”
“The most fundamental relationship is that of a mother and child and it pits their welfare against each other, so I think our pregnancy resource centers are all of our efforts to surround people with love and to help them see that there is a better choice and we need to promote adoption,” Archbishop Naumann said.
“This is where the Church should really shine, and we should build up all of these ministries, and I think that’s the way we change culture – live in a way that’s attractive and they see in us people that are willing to sacrifice for people they don’t even know for their good and for their welfare,” he said.
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On his tenure in Kansas City, Archbishop Naumann noted that it’s not often a bishop gets to stay in place for 20 years. There’s a lot he said he’s proud of — leading parishes to prioritize missionary discipleship, advocate the importance of marriage and family life, forming Catholic school teachers, and empowering the laity through a spiritual mentorship program, among them.
Put together, Archbishop Naumann said he hopes that he “created a culture where people have encountered Jesus Christ in a way that’s transformed their hearts.”
“I feel so fortunate to have been able to serve 20 years here. … It’s become more apparent to me that I’ve had the privilege of really influencing a generation here,” he reflected. “There’s a lot of young adults who have never known another local bishop than me, which hopefully I’ve been a good example.”
Something unusual happened towards the end of Archbishop Naumann’s tenure. On March 28, a Satanic group tried to conduct a “black mass” at the Kansas Statehouse, as Catholics peacefully protested and prayed outside. Ultimately, the leader of the organizing group was arrested for causing a disturbance, and the dust has since settled.
Looking back at the oddity, Archbishop Naumann said it was actually a positive.
“I think God turned it to good. In the end I think it really awakened people to the importance of their faith,” he said. “I think he provoked people to go deeper and stronger in their faith, so as sad as it was I think we see the Paschal Mystery everywhere and God was bringing good out of this.”
Like those Catholics who peacefully protested and prayed that day, Archbishop Naumann’s message to all Catholics is to continue professing the faith.
My message is just grow deeper in your friendship with Jesus Christ,” he said. “Love is bright in the Church, even with our blemishes and warts sometimes, and just never cease being grateful for the gift of our faith and the opportunity of this God that wants a friendship with us, and never just keep it to ourselves, be witnesses by the joy of your life, your compassion for others, be witnesses of the truth and beauty of our Catholic faith in the world.”