What is Charles J Chaput, the Archbishop of Philadelphia doing right. Well, I don't know, but under his leadership in the American city of Denver and now Philadelphia, there has been an increase in Seminarians. The Good Work continues thanks to this son of the American Soil.
But more than being an Archbishop, he is a Franciscan, and more than him being an American, he is Native. According to Wikipedia, he is a Potawatmi Indian, at least that is his tribe. His name in that language is "The wind that rustles the leaves in the tree". He is also called "Good Eagle"
This man has been famous for his orthodox stand on issues, and it has led to people loving him for standing up and not being "wishy-washy". People are fed up with too many compromises. They want strong leaders that would motivate them to act.
Probably that is why Donald Trump is doing so well in the polls. It would be interesting to see how that pans out when it comes to the actual US elections.
Well Bill Donahue of the Catholic League thinks that Chaput is rocking his Archbishop roll to the fullest. Here is what he has to say:
August 20, 2015
But more than being an Archbishop, he is a Franciscan, and more than him being an American, he is Native. According to Wikipedia, he is a Potawatmi Indian, at least that is his tribe. His name in that language is "The wind that rustles the leaves in the tree". He is also called "Good Eagle"This man has been famous for his orthodox stand on issues, and it has led to people loving him for standing up and not being "wishy-washy". People are fed up with too many compromises. They want strong leaders that would motivate them to act.
Probably that is why Donald Trump is doing so well in the polls. It would be interesting to see how that pans out when it comes to the actual US elections.
Well Bill Donahue of the Catholic League thinks that Chaput is rocking his Archbishop roll to the fullest. Here is what he has to say:
August 20, 2015
Bill Donohue comments on a news story in today's Philadelphia Inquirer on the surge in seminarians in the Philadelphia Archdiocese:
Finally, the Philadelphia Inquirer writes a positive piece on the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Unfortunately, reporter David O'Reilly does not give Archbishop Charles Chaput his due in accounting for the spike in ordinations under his tenure. It is not "the Francis effect" that explains the surge in seminarians; it is "the Chaput effect."
How do I know this? Because if it were "the Francis effect," there would be an increase in men studying for the priesthood throughout much of the nation. This hasn't happened. To be sure, there has been an increase, but it is not widespread: a small number of dioceses disproportionately account for the uptick.
If "the Chaput effect" explains the increase, then there should be evidence from the Archdiocese of Denver, Chaput's previous assignment, that seminarians increased under his tenure. There is. In 1997, Chaput took over the Denver archdiocese, and by 2006 it ranked third among all the dioceses in ordination. Under his leadership, the Denver archdiocese was typically in the top ten in the nation in attracting men to the priesthood. That he has brought his special gifts to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia is evident in the latest data.
O'Reilly errs—there is no reason to believe it was intentional—when he says there are 28,215 priests in the U.S. The correct figure is over 38,000
Finally, the Philadelphia Inquirer writes a positive piece on the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Unfortunately, reporter David O'Reilly does not give Archbishop Charles Chaput his due in accounting for the spike in ordinations under his tenure. It is not "the Francis effect" that explains the surge in seminarians; it is "the Chaput effect."
How do I know this? Because if it were "the Francis effect," there would be an increase in men studying for the priesthood throughout much of the nation. This hasn't happened. To be sure, there has been an increase, but it is not widespread: a small number of dioceses disproportionately account for the uptick.
If "the Chaput effect" explains the increase, then there should be evidence from the Archdiocese of Denver, Chaput's previous assignment, that seminarians increased under his tenure. There is. In 1997, Chaput took over the Denver archdiocese, and by 2006 it ranked third among all the dioceses in ordination. Under his leadership, the Denver archdiocese was typically in the top ten in the nation in attracting men to the priesthood. That he has brought his special gifts to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia is evident in the latest data.
O'Reilly errs—there is no reason to believe it was intentional—when he says there are 28,215 priests in the U.S. The correct figure is over 38,000
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