Human sexuality, modern medical controversy and the dignity of life: common class discussion concepts? Maybe, but this time they were addressed, explored and discussed from a Catholic point of view. Denver Archbishop Charles J. Chaput conducted a question and answer session Tuesday on campus.
While introducing Archbishop Jonathon Lancton, DU graduate student, stated that such an “opportunity” to hear this “good man” and well-known community leader would in fact enrich students’ lives. Making the claim that the “quest for knowledge and truth makes up the day to day life of the college student,” Lancton assured that students would be inspired, moved and challenged by the words of this “accomplished author” and by the teachings of the Catholic Church.
Archbishop Chaput was quick to address students with the comforting fact that “he too was once a college student.” Opening the floor to students’ questions, the Archbishop was immediately asked about of Catholic teaching regarding the death penalty.
Archbishop Chaput responded by saying that the “unjust or unnecessary taking of a human life is intrinsically wrong.”
“For example,” he continued, “you wouldn’t kill your brother or sister to simply punish them.” He said the Catholic Church would approve of capital punishment only in instances where the well being of society might be in danger.
Commenting on questions regarding the just war theory, Archbishop Chaput recognized our nation’s duty to protect its citizens from terrorist threats. To address the issue of the Church’s past, in particular the Crusades and the Inquisition, the Archbishop urged students to “study the facts of history the real facts.”
He encouraged and invited students to “explore the truth” throughout their academic experiences and claimed that students “must be trained to think critically” about their surroundings. The Archbishop noted that students often get caught in personal agendas of others and as a result are only given “half the argument, not the whole.”
As a final issue of discussion, questions were poses about Catholic teachings regarding contraception, sexuality and the controversy of modern medical science. When asked why Catholic teaching did not permit contraception in a society where STDs and teen pregnancy are an epidemic, the Archbishop did not deny that sexually transmitted diseases were a problem. He identified sex with contraception as a problem because it fails to recognize God in the sexual act.
Noting that a problem couldn’t be solved with another problem, Archbishop Chaput said, “If I had children and found they were using drugs, I wouldn’t supply them with needles to assure they were not using dirty ones.”
After his concluding remarks, Archbishop Chaput urged students to “live by principle.” Many of the 80 students gave a standing ovation to thank him.
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