Denver Archbishop: "Very Bad Period of Catechesis" in Church "Bearing Bad Fruit in Our Time"

LifeSite News -- Your Life, Family, and Culture Outpost ^ | March 2, 2009 | By Steve Jalsevac

[topher]

Monday March 2, 2009

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Denver Archbishop: "Very Bad Period of Catechesis" in Church "Bearing Bad Fruit in Our Time"

EXCLUSIVE: LifeSiteNews interview with Archbishop Charles Chaput

By Steve Jalsevac

TORONTO, Canada, March 2, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - During a LifeSiteNews interview last week, Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput stressed that "not nearly enough" US Catholic bishops have been speaking out strongly on the current state of the culture. He also noted that the poor instruction of Catholics over the past 40 years has to a large degree been responsible for many of today's serious problems within US Catholicism, especially the lack of "understanding of the horror of abortion."

Chaput, a prominent US bishop and recent author of "Render Unto Caesar: Serving the Nation by Living our Catholic Beliefs in Political Life.", was interviewed following his breakfast lecture to Toronto businessmen on February 24. The archbishop, who is usually upbeat and gentle mannered, nevertheless, and true to his frankness in Render Unto Caesar, did not beat around the bush on the abortion issue and the responsibilities of Catholics and Catholic leaders in the culture wars.

Asked what could be done to get Catholic pro-abortion politicians to comprehend their faith obligations on the abortion issue, Chaput did not give a reassuring response. He stated, "Apparently, very little can be done because so little seems to have been accomplished."

He conjectured a likely reason for the current situation has been negligence on the part of the Church leadership in the U.S. "I don't know if it's because we've let it go on for such a long time and haven't challenged it before now, but this attitude of being comfortable with being pro-choice and Catholic at the same time seems to be deeply set in the lives of these folks."

Chaput expanded, "It seems like there has been a very bad period of catechesis of people in the Church, not only catechesis of the laity but also catechesis of the clergy and it's bearing bad fruit in our time."

"We need to reinvigorate the Church's understanding of the horror of abortion," Chaput continued. "It seems that we have become deadened to the horror of abortion."

To the archbishop, clergy have a crucial role related to pro-abortion Catholic politicians. He stated, "I think it's very important for clergy to advise political leaders of the great scandal that they might be part of because this can lead not only to the death of the unborn but it can also lead to the spiritual death of the political leaders who vote that way."

The fact that some prominent pro-choice Catholics are even lectors or have other visible roles in parishes, Chaput calls "another sign of accommodation with the reality of abortion." He went on that, "We don't understand this horror so we can put up with people who are pro-choice or pro-abortion and not challenge their Catholic identity."

Once again, as he has recently said many times, Archbishop Chaput told LifeSiteNews that "anyone who is pro-choice or pro-abortion shouldn't receive communion as they are not in communion with the Church's teaching."
 
The Denver archbishop has been warning Catholics and all Americans about the dangers of the path our culture is upon, but his warnings are often not heeded. Asked about this, he replied that just as in the time of Noah and the Flood, "I think it is true about our time, that we are not taking the situation concerning the Church and the world seriously now."

Although he did not "know what we can do about it," Chaput encouraged faithful Catholics "to be persistent in our preaching and in our continuing to give the warning and that God bring fruit from that if He chooses. We shouldn't give up."

It was mentioned that many bishops spoke out strongly during the last election. However, he was clearly not impressed himself and said, there were "not nearly enough".

Chaput has himself been very outspoken and continued that reputation during the lecture, related to his book, Render Unto Caesar, the previous night.

See the complete interview:

A Conversation with Denver Archbishop Chaput
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09030211.html

See previous LifeSiteNews report:
Denver Archbishop To Toronto Audience: "We Can't Build a Just Society With the Blood of Unborn Children"
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/feb/09022509.html

URL: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09030212.html

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[topher]

The Good Shepherd of the Archdiocese of Denver makes it an important point that the teaching of the priests as well as the laity has failed in the past 40 years...

[topher]

ping

[wombtotomb]

The laity has been saying this for years. While I love the bishop, and commend his statement, I hope the church itself does NOT delay in having the bishops turn over their teaching materials and have new ones, provided by the vatican, used in their stead.

We have to get this younger generation back on track. It is going to take a generation or two to bear fruit again. They cannot delay this action.......

[Recon Dad]

Although he did not “know what we can do about it,”

Maybe take a more visible stand might help.

[wombtotomb]

It has to be in conjunction with reforming the religious education of the youth. As of now, parents have been formed improperly. I know, I was one of them. I left the church because my priest, who was well formed, was “too strict” and had a bunch of man made rules that I didn’t want to follow. It was all too easy to find another church that would accept my ideas and still let me be catholic. Once that happened, I didn’t believe the catholic church was the true church, and I left. I came back, by the Grace of God, after studying the early church for 8 years.

We, as a nation, have the most improperly catechized members. It then looks to “moderate catholics” and those outside the church, that we have a few right wing nuts in the church, while the rest are moderate, and even left leaning. These moderates are eroding the church from within. IMHO, we need to start with catechizing the youth properly, asap. Moderates will flip out, and probably leave the church instead of allowing their children to become “indoctrinated” by the catholic church. I say, good riddance. You will then, in the next 10 years, start to see fruit be borne in our young people and the church will then beging to grow again. It is far past time for a good pruning, but one or two priests or bishops will not effect that change, they will be marginalized by the other “moderates” in the church. We NEED a spring cleaning before a springtime in the church will occur. I can only pray that our Pope is watching, and will continue to act on it.

Just look to this last election as evidence of this. I cannot tell you the number of Obama bumper stickers I see in the church parking lot every Sunday. This infuriates me. My father always told me if you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything. Can the proof be more clear than this?

[A.A. Cunningham]

"Apparently, very little can be done because so little seems to have been accomplished."

You can start by enforcing Canon 915 your Excellency.

Can. 915 Those upon whom the penalty of excommunication or interdict has been imposed or declared, and others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin, are not to be admitted to holy communion.

[steadfastconservative]

The Archbishop can’t impose any sort of penalty on anyone living outside of his archdiocese. The problem isn’t that Archbishop Chaput isn’t speaking out or doing enough on this issue but that too many other bishops and priests aren’t doing enough. Too many bishops and priests have tacitly condoned dissent on a host of issues from abortion to divorce because they didn’t want to be unpopular. Too many priests and bishops have sat back and allowed defective, modernist religious education programs to be used in their parishes and dioceses because that is what the bureaucrats underneath them wanted to use. Too many bishops and priests have let others, especially liberal nuns and pastoral “ministers,” exercise the teaching authority that properly belongs to the clergy because they believe in “empowering” the laity. Yes, we certainly can blame many priests and bishops for the widespread ignorance and dissent among the laity but I don’t think it is at all fair for you to lay this at Archbishop Chaput’s feet. We should support orthodox bishops instead of complaining about them.

[A.A. Cunningham]

but I don’t think it is at all fair for you to lay this at Archbishop Chaput’s feet.

You're exaggerating what I wrote.

We should support orthodox bishops instead of complaining about them.

Do you live in the Archdiocese of Denver?

[cthemfly25]

It is good to hear the Bishop speak and while he expresses some frustration he does not speak in terms of despair. Let us roll up our sleeves, pray and work each in our own small way to evangelize and stand steadfast against the relativist culture.

[topher]

There should be reviews of some of the principles of Catechesis each year.

For example, for adults, something to review both the Ten Commandments and the Seven Deadly Sins in parishes.

Then after having a review of this, as well something focusing on the Virtues and our call as Christians to live a Virtuous Life, training to review this in aspects of the 21st Century -- Abortion, Pornography, Foul Language, children growing up believe that being "Being Bad is how to be Good" (i.e., being a "bad a$$" is a good thing in our society today...)

[topher]

One of the problems the Archbishop is saying is a problem is the training of our priests. Some of these priests have become bishops. So the problem needs to be corrected at all levels of the church.

In 1968-1969, I attended the seminary. That minor seminary allowed "Rock Music" -- something I was not exposed to at home. So we have to pray for our priests and church leaders (bishops). We may need to write them, and try to get programs in place...

[ArrogantBustard]

Even if there are no pro-abortion "catholic" politicians within the Archdiocese of Denver (and therefore within Abp. Chaput's jurisdiction) it would still be salutary for him to preemptively "915" such politicians as might see fit to visit Denver. Name names. Make them famous. And instruct his priests, deacons and extraordinary ministers that "915" is to be enforced.

[wombtotomb]

I agree wholehartedly. But, the problem will not be fixed until the very young are raised and catechised correctly. I, more than most, am keenly aware of this. My middle son is going into seminary next year. I have raised a future priest, from his youngest years, and until the church reclaims the youth of our church in proper catechetical teaching, it will be virtually impossible to create anything more than faux priests. They are absolutely devoted to Christ, yet improperly catechised. In so being, they cannot hand on the faith properly and the problem is perpetuated. They do not even realize the error in their education. They believed the priests and others who taught them. Why shouldn’t they? This problem will be fixed only after a generation of catholic children are properly catechised, grow up, and then repeat the process. Thank God for the faithful remnant who are now stepping up to the plate and speaking out about this. It has gone so far, it is so sad. However, it was not created overnight, and it will likewise, not be fixed overnight. Did you finish seminary? Are you now a priest? If so, God Bless you!

[topher]

This problem is not much different that what the Twelve Apostles faced when they went to teach the Gentiles and converted them.

Your son will have to convert those in the seminary around him, including his teachers, to good ways if they do not have them.

For example, Saint Padre Pio did not know about certain sins until he was ordained a priest. He was shielded that by his upbringing and the type of seminary he went to early in his life.

As for me, I left after that year in the seminary.

I have been shielded by some sins, even though I chose a different path.

God bless.

[topher]

I wrote:

"For example, Saint Padre Pio did not know about certain sins until he was ordained a priest. He was shielded that by his upbringing and the type of seminary he went to early in his life."

He found out in confession about these sins for the first time...

[wombtotomb]

Agreed. I have not allowed my son to be shielded for this very reason. He attends public schools and discusses what goes on daily. We often discuss the argument that the social ills we face come back to being improperly catechised and in so being, the acceptance of artificial contraception.

He used to think I was crazy for making that argument to him for everything he saw and learned in school. As he has grown, he can now see that link clearly, and has the insight into the arguments the other side makes. He also has the capacity to rip those arguments to shreds, but the compassion not to hurt them personally, just to help others see things differently.

While he is still wet behind the ears, he is wise beyond his years. He has the basic tenants of the faith instilled deep inside him, and knows the truth from a lie. His psychology teacher contacted me more than once and let me know how he stood up to an entire class of people and kindly and swiftly ended debate about when life begins, political ideals of both parties, free markets, and many other topics. He said it was refreshing to see a free thinker in class that caused others to think (this teacher is a closet conservative psych teacher LOL) so he was always rooting for him but often played devils advocate to help him drive home a point and hone his own skills.

We all must take the path God intends for our lives. It is good you did so, as long as you are living the life God intended for you, you cannot go wrong! God Bless you always..

[Salvation]

The headline is so true. That is the reason our pastor does classes for adults during Lent and Advent.

He calls it Faith Formation 101.

We have from 40 to 120 in attendance (differnet speakers make the difference.)

[NYer]

We all wondered who would pick up the standard after Archbishop Burke was summoned to the Vatican. Here is the new standard bearer! May his outspokeness embolden other bishops to join their voices to his.

[tioga]

seems like a good number of liberal bishops are keeping silent......not wanting to attract the Pope’s eagle eyes on their own dioceses.....

[RobbyS]

Archbishop Chaput uses strong language in a quiet voice. My impression is that it took him awhile to wake to what was going on, but that he will become ever more forthright. The pope could send a strong single by giving him a red hat where he sits , or maybe by moving him to Chicago, or, please God, LA.