Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia defended the civic involvement of faithful Christians in a powerful July 9 address to the Alliance Defending Freedom summit.
“We can never accept a separation of our religious faith and moral convictions from our public ministries or our political engagement,” Archbishop Chaput insisted.
The archbishop urged Christians to demand authentic freedom of religion, “and not the half-starved copy of the real thing called ‘freedom of worship.’” He spoke out against “the kind of moral sloth that masquerades as tolerance,” and argued that “tolerance” is often invoked “as an alibi for inaction in the face of evil.”
During his talk Archbishop Chaput observed that he will soon celebrate his 75th birthday and, in accordance with canon law, submit his resignation. Evidently convinced that his resignation will be promptly accepted, he said “this talk will probably be the last one I gave as Archbishop of Philadelphia.”
Full story at Catholic Culture.
God bless this wise, holy, courageous and pastoral bishop! It’s sad that he thinks his mandatory resignation will be so quickly accepted and that this speech was one of his last as archbishop of Philadelphia. May God continue to use Archbishop Chaput in his “retirement.” I recommend his book, “Strangers in a Strange Land: Living the Catholic Faith in a Post-Christian World.”
Let’s be clear. The so-called Alliance Defending Freedom doesn’t. It wants to restrict freedom to those who think the way they do.
Are you serious? ADF is the number one defender of religious freedom and human rights. I think you need to stop listening and being indoctrinated by the leftist media, the democrat party and let’s not forget the homofascists!
If you know anything about the Alliance Defending Freedom, you’d know they’ve done nothing to restrict the freedom of those who hold different thoughts or values. Rather, they believe, for example, that a Christian artist should not be forced to produce a piece of art for a same-sex marriage, in violation of their conscience. Nor should a Jewish baker be forced to make a Nazi party cake. Can you cite even one example of the Alliance Defending Freedom trying to restrict the actions, let alone thoughts, of others? The are, as in their name, a law alliance defending rights, not one suppressing them.
Deacon Anderson, I like your Nazi Party cake example. It is better than some of the ones I have used in the past.
Yes, of course I can. ADF was the principle legal organization fighting the freedom to marry.
YFC, how far would you extend the “right” to marry… multiple people, family members, children…how would that square with your Catholicism.
Classic psychological projection by the totalitarian left. So boring and predictable.
Replaced by Archbishop James Martin?
“Moral sloth that masquerades as tolerance” Well said! Pray and protest!!
Yes. The Catholic Bishops, including the good archbishop, have been prime examples of moral sloth as they have protected child sex abusers and covered up financial scandals.
FHK,
Can you name one child sex abuser that has been protected by Archbishop Chaput?
That’s a serious question because you’re making a serious allegation.
Deacon: Archbishop Chaput is well known for his efforts to block priest sex abuse victims from suing the Church. Additionally, when he was Bishop of the Denver Diocese he grossly mishandled an abuse case involving Fr. Kent Drotar. This is not “FAKE NEWS.”
The perverted former priest Drotar was suspended from the seminary when the allegation arose and dismissed from the clerical state shortly later. You said “child abuse.” Though a terrible sin, the victim was an adult, which may explain why law enforcement, including the local DA’s office, were not involved, There’s no evidence the archbishop “covered up” for him. I’m all for getting rid of bad clergy; bishops, priests and deacons. But, there needs to be evidence, not the allegation of one person. 1 Timothy 5:19 The focus should be on dealing with bad clergy now (and there still are some). (It’s difficult to deal with incidents that occurred 15 or more years ago.) Pursue justice.
I will research his role in the Kent Drotar case. In my secular profession, I conduct criminal investigations, so your saying “well known” and “prime example” in your serious allegations need some factual basis. Any other clergy abusers for whom he “covered up?”
(And, I made no accusation of “fake news.” I’m simply looking for the truth.)
Deacon Anderson: good luck with your investigation. Much of the information regarding these matters is held in secret. Archbishop Chaput is a darling of the extreme right wing conservative Catholics. Every effort to protect his reputation will be under taken. Meanwhile, these same right wingers stomp all over more moderate Catholics. Case in point: Fr. James Martin, S.J.