Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
April 11, 2001
Jim Nicholson nominated U.S. ambassador to the Vatican
As a real estate developer, Jim Nicholson built many homes in Colorado, but the ones he remembers most are those he created for the homeless, people with AIDS and women and children needing shelter from domestic abuse.
Nicholson, a parishioner and Eucharistic Minister at All Souls Parish in Englewood, has been nominated U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, the White House announced April 6. The appointment remains to be confirmed by the Senate.
"I was very pleased to learn of Jim Nicholson's nomination as the U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See," said Archbishop Charles Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. "I know him as a man of honesty and integrity, who has devoted his considerable skills to the renewal of civic life in the United States. He takes his responsibilities, both as a citizen and as a believer, seriously. This makes him an ideal person to represent the people of the United States to the Vatican, and to do so in a way that understands and respects the Holy See."
As chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC), Nicholson played a key role in the election of President George W. Bush. It was a role he never expected growing up as a Catholic Democrat in Iowa.
After serving in Vietnam, going to law school and starting his first business, Nicholson joined the Republican Party and took off on the path that led to being named chairman of the RNC.
"It's been my view for a long time that government is not the answer to all our social problems, and the traditional way that less fortunate people in America have been assisted is by those of us who have been more fortunate, either directly or through organizations," he told the Catholic News Service.
Nicholson backed up his beliefs by serving for three years as chairman of the Volunteers of America, which runs 31 programs and is Colorado's largest nonprofit social service agency. It was there that he led a grassroots effort to expand programs for the homeless, people with AIDS and victims of domestic violence.
During the time Nicholson served at VOA, he and his daughter Katie delivered Meals on Wheels and saw for themselves "what a big part of their lives" the program — which serves more than 2,000 hot meals a day — can be for the homebound, he said.
He also took an active role in the Listen Foundation, which helps hearing impaired children, and led the capital construction committee at All Souls.
Nicholson will replace Corinne "Lindy" Boggs, the U.S. ambassador to the Vatican since late 1997, who stepped down in February. Boggs, appointed by former President Bill Clinton, celebrates her 85th birthday March 16.
"Jim is quiet and unassuming, but is very disciplined and knows how to get
things done," said Msgr. Tom Fryar, pastor of All Souls Parish. "Despite his many responsibilities, he still manages to attend daily Mass. I think that says a lot about him."
Nicholson is proud of the Republican Party's strong opposition to partial-birth abortions and its support for vouchers to help the parents of low-income children to attend parochial schools.
One of the biggest changes Nicholson saw during his tenure was the growing openness in the Hispanic and African American communities to the Republican Party.
"Both in the Hispanic and African American communities, there is a deep tradition and understanding of the importance of the family as the basic unit in society," Nicholson said.
"There is also an emphasis on hard work and the importance of faith," he continued. "These are Republican values, and more and more people in these communities are beginning to realize it."
Education was also a key issue in the election, Nicholson said.
"Public schools are failing many of our young people," he said. "We do not believe that Americans are willing to turn their backs on another generation of young people caught in a system that all too often fails to do its job, especially in low income neighborhoods."
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