DENVER ARCHBISHOP SEEN AS "MODEL OF COURAGE"

04-09-2008

CHICAGO, SEPT. 3, 2008 (Zenit.org).- The advocacy group Fidelis is calling for a public thank you to be made to Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput for his unwavering defense of Catholic teaching on the dignity of all human life.

The Catholic organization likened the archbishop to former Archbishop Joseph Rummel, who led the Archdiocese of New Orleans from 1935 to 1964 during a period of deep division over civil rights in the country.

Fidelis President Brian Burch commented: "Like Archbishop Rummel, who stood up against the prevailing culture of his time to defend the intrinsic dignity of every human person, Archbishop Chaput has been a true prophetic witness in reminding public officials of their responsibility to defend all human life.
"Denver's archbishop has been a model of courage for which every citizen in America should be grateful."
In his newly-released book "Render Unto Caesar," Chaput writes of the example of Archbishop Rummel, who led the movement to desegregate schools in the South.
The archbishop famously wrote: "There will be no further discrimination or segregation in the pews, at the Communion rail, at the confessional and in parish meetings, just as their will be no segregation in the Kingdom of heaven."
Archbishop Rummel endured threats, protests and boycotts -- even from Catholics -- forcing him to shut down a parish and excommunicate three prominent Catholics for defying the teaching of their Church. The New York Times hailed Archbishop Rummel's "unwavering courage."
Speaking out
Fidelis noted that this election year Archbishop Chaput has respectfully spoken out on various occasions in defense of life and the teachings of the Church.
He pointed out that vice presidential candidate Senator Joe Biden is a longtime support of abortion. In making his selection, the Democratic nominee Barack Obama called Biden a "committed Catholic."
Archbishop Chaput participated in a prayerful vigil outside a local Planned Parenthood clinic last week on the opening night of the Democratic convention, appearing alongside Alveda King, the niece of the late Martin Luther King, Jr.
The archbishop reminded pro-life advocates of their obligation to help pregnant women in need, while affirming that abortion is never an answer to the problems faced by women and society.
The prelate, along with Auxiliary Bishop James Conley of Denver, also issued a sharp response to comments made recently by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, a pro-abortion Catholic, in which she suggested that the Catholic Church has never taught definitively when life begins.
"The strong and courageous example of Archbishop Chaput didn't receive the glowing praise from the New York Times that the newspaper gave to Archbishop Rummel in the 1960s," commented Burch. "Nonetheless, Americans of every religious tradition ought to offer their prayers and thanks to the archbishop for his faithful witness to his Church, and his defense of one of America's foundational principles -- respect for the inalienable right to life."
http://www.zenit.org/article-23541?l=english