Hardball with Chris Matthews, Transcript 09/24/15

(POPE FRANCIS`S ADDRESS) CHRIS MATTHEWS, HOST: And we want to take this opportunity to talk about what the Holy Father was addressing there. Monsignor John Enzler joins us right now. And, Monsignor, you handle -- you run Catholic Charities in Washington. When he talks about the work of the church and the work of the nuns, which has been overlooked a bit the last few days, tell us about that work, because it`s great. MONSIGNOR JOHN ENZLER, PRESIDENT, CATHOLIC CHARITIES: Right. Wasn`t it beautiful to see how the sisters were applauded so loudly? MATTHEWS: Back row. ENZLER: Yes, they were sitting in the back of the church, but they were really applauded for what they do. And it was spontaneous.    The priests -- he challenged the priests. It was a sermon to the priests, saying, you know, leisure, we need some time for that, but don`t be caught up in that, looking at material things, and don`t be caught up in the things that I think knock us off-track. He did say the real ministry is taking care of the orphan, and taking care of the immigrant, and take care of the poor and take care of those in need, the homeless. And that is what we do at Catholic Charities every single day. So, when you hear him say that, it preaches to me about what we are trying to accomplish. (CROSSTALK) MATTHEWS: Well, you don`t need it, because I know the work you do, Father. Talk about what you do with addicts and stuff, because that was mentioned today. And I know the work of Catholic Charities, people who become alcoholics, they`re drug-addicted, and how you -- I went down there one day years ago and saw how you put them back on their feet, these people. ENZLER: With a special program. It`s a program at one of our floors over at 801 East, which is at Saint Elizabeth`s campus. There are about 50 men right there right now who are in recovery. They can`t stay if they start drinking or doing drugs again. But they really want to make a difference. And we`re making progress. One by one, two by two, three by three, we make progress with them individually. And the key is to get them off the drugs and get them a job. And that`s what happens to many, many, many men and women every single year. It`s really - - it`s meet them where they are and then... MATTHEWS: Meet them where they are. MICHAEL STEELE, MSNBC POLITICAL ANALYST: And that`s one of the things that is not very much appreciated by a lot of folks, particularly those in public service. The role that a Catholic Charities plays in a city, in a county, in a state is enormously important, because, if the day ever came, God forbid, where Father hung it up and said, you know, we are not doing this anymore, guess what would happen? A lot of good people who need services would fall off the grid. So, Catholic Charities plays this important role of solidifying the community and bringing us all into awareness that we still have the least among us, and here is how we can help them. And that speaks exactly to what the pope was saying here and said for the last few days here in Washington.    MATTHEWS: I just know you feed a lot of people. ENZLER: Actually, we fed last year 4.2 million people. MATTHEWS: In D.C.? STEELE: That`s D.C., but that`s not nationally. (CROSSTALK) ENZLER: D.C. and surrounding area. That would be our homeless shelters. That would be our programs in a couple different wards. That would be our food banks. MATTHEWS: And you don`t discriminate. (CROSSTALK) ENZLER: Oh, never a question about what their faith is. Only question is, one, how can we help you? That`s the question. MATTHEWS: George Weigel, help us here about how it all fits together, the pro-life view of the church and the way it treats people throughout their lives who have needs. GEORGE WEIGEL, NBC NEWS VATICAN ANALYST: Oh, it is exactly the point that the Holy Father made in Congress today, Chris, as you remember. And if I`m right, if my memory is right, it got the biggest applause line.    The church teaches the dignity of human life at every stage of existence and every condition of existence. But I think the pope was also stressing tonight that all of us need to reexamine the freneticness of 21st century life. What he said to the priests about the need to take some rest in the Lord, that really applies to all of us. I think this is an insight he has into our cultural situation that we should pay some attention to, 21st century life is getting pretty fragmented, pretty isolated and he is calling us to a deeper sense of solidarity, a deeper sense of calm in our lives, and that`s a good thing it seems to me. MATTHEWS: I think we will remember those religious women in the last row there expressing themselves. They wanted some attention, some recognition, and the pope gave them that. Let`s get back to the vespers. (VESPERS SERVICE) CARDINAL TIMOTHY DOLAN, ARCHBISHOP OF NEW YORK: Welcome. Once you entered those famous doors on fifth avenue, you became an official New Yorker. (APPLAUSE) But you already had a home in our hearts and souls. This great cathedral is in the middle of midtown Manhattan. Geographically and spiritually, we are here in the heart of New York City. New Yorkers and people from all over the world come to St. Patrick`s cathedral to pray, to cry, to rejoice, to sense God`s love and grace and mercy and the mass and the sacraments, and this evening our bishops, our priests and deacons and seminarians, religious sisters and brothers, our wonderful lay leaders, our civic officials, our friends and neighbors have come to pray with you and for you. (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)    (APPLAUSE) Now, for the past three years we have all worked very hard to repair and renew and restore our beloved St. Patrick`s Cathedral. Thanks to the workers whom you saw outside and to the extraordinary generosity and leadership of so many people here. We have seen this repair and restoration as an invitation from Jesus to the spiritual renewal of ourselves and his church as you have asked. Your presence this happy evening renews all of us and provides a special blessing to all our work for this cathedral we so love. And now we ask you Holy Father at the end of this vespers to bless our repaired cathedral. Thank you for stopping by. Come back soon. (APPLAUSE) POPE FRANCIS: Lord, bless this church which we have been privileged to build with your hand. May all who are here in faith to listen to your word and celebrate your sacraments, experience the presence of Christ who promised to be with those gathered in his name, for he lives and reigns forever and ever. CROWD: Amen. (VESPERS SERVICE) MATTHEWS: We`re back with Monsignor John Enzler, who heads Catholic Charities in Washington, D.C., and also Michael Steele, former chair of the RNC, and our associate here. So, tell us how this pageantry, this once-in-a-lifetime event fits into the daily work of the Catholic Church. To you first, Monsignor. ENZLER: The church is pretty gat ritual. It`s even better at doing service. We do it once a week or twice a week at big churches. But the real work of the church is as the pope said, go out in the streets and make the difference. Your work I think takes place in shelters, on the streets, in homes for people who need a place to live. It takes place in front of people who are most in need.    The ritual`s great, and I love the ritual but that`s not the church. That`s just a celebration. MATTHEWS: It seems like we`re trying to get back in the Catholic Church to a bit of a reformation in the sense of -- start with the archbishop from Boston, getting rid of the big fancy stuff. MICHAEL STEELE, FORMER RNC CHAIR: Yes. I think it really is a call to its simplicity. The simplicity of living of the gospel. MATTHEWS: The Fiat. STEELE: Right. The Fiat. What a perfect contrast, these big bulky SUVs and then the fiat. And it is a contrast that this pope is setting up for the world to see and experience because it`s a reminder of who we are ultimately in the eyes of God. We are simple. We are measured by what we do for each other, and that calling is a special gift that the church reminds us of through ritual. But also through what Father Enzler and Catholic Charities does every day, reaching out to people, helping, healing, providing hope. MATTHEWS: It`s interesting. It`s a different cultural. Even within this country, the difference between this city, which thinks it`s a big shot. New York it really acts like it. (LAUGHTER) MATTHEWS: Monsignor, this is big New York talking here. You saw Senator Schumer there, De Blasio, the mayor, the governor, Governor Cuomo, all right out there in front of that church being very political. ENZLER: It`s a little different. It`s not the same here in Washington. We`re much more interested in -- we saw the ritual of course but really how could we be a church, a community of believers? Our parishes are important to us, real important. We don`t have quite the same pageantry. MATTHEWS: In New York it`s got this sort of -- you see mostly Catholics today but the events I`ve been to up there, a lot of Jewish guys, big business guys, a lot of political guys. And Michael, it seems to be part of the New York tradition to have a big Catholic event at St. Patrick`s that everybody`s part of.    STEELE: Yes, that everybody`s a part of. And it is that drawing center where people come and they experience the teachings, the faith, the ritual of the church. And what I love about, particularly this pope, is he imparts a little of that to us. He gives it back to us in a way that says all these things are fun but at the end of the day it`s what you`re going to do to help others. MATTHEWS: I should say that when you visit New York, I`ve been saying this about our town, monsignor, and our town, Michael, but when you go to New York whatever your religion is, if you`re a lapsed Catholic especially, you ought to go to St. Patrick`s. STEELE: No question. MATTHEWS: Give yourself 15, 20 minutes or a half hour and just save one part of the day of getting away from the commerce and the money and the racing around, I`m going to go to this beautiful place. ENZLER: Magnificent. MATTHEWS: Feel the spirituality of this big wonderful building. ENZLER: Absolutely. MATTHEWS: I salute the nuns who stood up in the back row. They were there. Finally, we heard from them. I`m sure -- I think he heard them. I think the pope heard them. Anyway, Michael Steele, sir. Thank you. Monsignor John Enzler, you do so much great work for this city. Great work all the time.    And, George Weigel (ph), who has been our intellectual leader and spiritual leader all these days and will continue over the next two days to do that. Anyway, we continue now with "ALL IN WITH CHRIS HAYES". THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. END Copyright 2015 CQ-Roll Call, Inc. All materials herein are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of CQ-Roll Call. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content.>