Introductory remarks by Fr. Thomas Rosica, C.S.B.

On Monday evening, February 23, 2009, Fr. Thomas Rosica, C.S.B., C.E.O. of Canada’s Salt and Light Catholic Television Network, introduced Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop of Denver, to a standing-room only audience in St. Basil’s Collegiate Church on the campus of the University of Toronto. Archbishop Chaput's lecture was titled "Rendering unto Caesar: the Catholic political vocation." Click here to read the full address.

Your Grace, Archbishop Collins,
Sr. Anne Anderson, President of this venerable Basilian, Catholic, university,

Dear Friends,

On behalf of the University of St. Michael’s College, the Salt and Light Catholic Television Network, the Toronto Legatus Chapter, and the Archdiocese of Toronto, it is my great pleasure to introduce this evening’s speaker.  Archbishop Charles J. Chaput was born September 26, 1944, in Concordia, Kansas.  A Native American from the Prairie Band Potawatomi tribe, he entered the Capuchin Franciscans in 1965.

After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from St. Fidelis College Seminary in Pennsylvania, in 1967, Charles Chaput pursued studies in Psychology at Catholic University in Washington D.C., in 1969. He also holds a Master of Arts in Religious Education from Capuchin College in Washington and a Master of Arts in Theology from the University of San Francisco.  He was ordained to the priesthood on August 29, 1970.  The young Friar Charles held several leadership roles in his Capuchin province until he was named bishop of Rapid City, South Dakota in 1988 by Pope John Paul II.  Nine years later, the same Pope appointed him Archbishop of Denver, Colorado.

Catholics throughout the United States of America and indeed throughout the world have come to recognize him as an outstanding, courageous leader and champion of the dignity of human life.  He is widely known for his strong, public teachings on abortion, the death penalty, immigration and against the equivocation of the truth.  He is a former two-term member of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, a tenure which included missions to China and Turkey.  Archbishop Chaput doesn't hide from the truth and proclaims it for all to hear… even to those who didn’t invite him to lead the prayers at the Democratic National Convention held in his very own city last year!

Many consider the Archdiocese of Denver to be an authentic, vibrant centre of Catholic life and culture in North America.  Archbishop Chaput built on the strong foundation of World Youth Day 1993 in his own diocese and has shown the world and the Church how to reap the World Youth Day harvest in his local Church.  In this regard, we have much to learn from him in Canada, and especially here in Toronto.

In his most recent book Render Unto Caesar: Serving the Nation by Living our Catholic Beliefs in Political Life, the Archbishop urges Catholics to live our faith without compromise and to use our faith as the foundation for renewing our North American society in the twenty-first century.  Though written for an American audience, his message extends to all people of good will- including Canadians.  He urges Catholics to deepen our commitment to Catholic teaching on abortion, the death penalty, immigration, poverty and others maters of social justice – and to carry our faith-rooted convictions in the voting booth.  Grounding our citizenship in our religious beliefs is not just a right, but a moral duty and a gift to democratic life.

Earlier this month in a major address delivered in Ireland, Archbishop Chaput ended his comments stating that it was important for pro-lifers to "be strategic."  He said:  "History shows that guerrilla wars, if well planned and methodically carried out, can defeat great armies.  And we should never forget that the greatest 'guerrilla' leader of them all wasn't Mao (Zedong) or Che (Guevara), but a young shepherd named David, who became a king."

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome a courageous, young, dynamic and articulate Franciscan– not a king, but a good shepherd; the Archbishop of Denver, Most Reverend Charles Chaput.

Rev. Thomas Rosica, C.S.B., C.E.O.
Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation
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