Vatican supports Denver Archbishop in his opposition to anti-Catholic legislation

Catholic.org ^ | 1/30/2008 | Catholic News Agency

[Alex Murphy]

Denver (CNA) - At a press conference today on the Pope’s Lenten Message, Cardinal Paul Josef Cordes offered his support for Archbishop Charles Chaput’s recent stand against a potential Colorado law.

The bill would eradicate Catholic Charities’ ability to ensure its employees follow Catholic beliefs when working on state funded projects.

Last week, Chaput objected to a proposed measure before the Colorado legislature which would bar charitable agencies that receive state funding from discrimination on the basis of religion in personnel policies.

Chaput argued that such a measure would compromise the Catholic identity of church-run charities, and that he would rather see those charities stop delivering services rather than comply.

“This is not idle talk,” Chaput added. “I am very serious.”

According to the National Catholic Reporter, this morning in Rome, Cardinal Cordes expressed support for Chaput’s position. In response to a reporter’s question, Cordes stated: “This bishop is doing the right thing.”

The president of the papal charity Cor Unum continued, saying, “Theologically, charitable activity and the good deeds of the faithful are always connected to the proclamation of the Word.

Jesus performed his works because he was moved by mercy, but also to proclaim the gospel. Service is always tied to testimony to the Word of God, and no one must break this connection.”

“This points to a great contemporary problem. Thanks to the generosity of many donors, the charitable agencies of the church are able to do their work. But this carries a risk that the spirit of a Catholic agency can become secularized, doing only what the donor has in view.”

The cardinal also brought Pope Benedict XVI’s encyclical “Deus Caritas Est” to Chaput’s defense.

“The pope’s encyclical was not just put together out of thin air. It was a response to a development in society.

[Patriotic1]

I hope he prevails in his opposition.

[livius]

Churches have got to stop accepting state funds. It’s unfortunate, because this means that a lot of needy people won’t get service, but the state doesn’t care.

If the Church goes and sets up parallel services, people will support them; however, the world of social services is so incredibly hemmed in with state laws that even an organization that doesn’t take state money is going to find it hard to operate without having the state trying to impose its will. It can do this through licensing, for example.

The State is really on the attack, and I’m glad Chaput is standing up to them. Cardinal O’Connor was a great one for that, too, and they always backed down. It’s the success the state has had with the weak, politically correct bishops who have dominated the USCCB for years that has emboldened it.

[A.A. Cunningham]

If only Chaput would demonstrate the same bravado in preaching the teaching of the Church on illegal aliens.