News: Abp. Chaput Inspires Students

Denver Archbishop Charles J. Chaput Challenges CCU Students

The campus chapel service at Colorado Christian University on Thursday, March 13, was anything but routine. Students, faculty, and visitors crowded into the CCU Event Center to hear Archbishop Charles J. Chaput challenge them to step up and make a difference early in their lives. The archbishop's visit was part of a University commitment to bring scholarly dialogue to chapels and other venues on campus. The archbishop was greeted warmly by all attending, and throughout his talk he held everyone's quiet attention. His presence on campus marked the first time the archbishop had visited CCU, but his grace and warmth made him appear to be a regular part of the academic community.

Often referred to as the "plain-spoke archbishop," Chaput presented no different an image while speaking at the crowded CCU chapel. His discourse outlined the many challenges within society and the fact that we are all responsible for stepping forward and making a difference. When asked how to confront some of the more frequent issues of immorality and non-Christian worldviews, he encouraged students not to hesitate and to speak with commitment; but poignantly he added, "First be sure that you speak to others with love in your heart for them." After chapel concluded, students asked the archbishop many questions on how to he felt they could best be used in today's times of so many challenging issues to Christianity.

CCU President and former U. S. Senator Bill Armstrong has been aggressively bringing some of the best scholars and Christian authorities onto campus to speak to students and elevate campus commitment to open dialogue. When asked about the invitation to Archbishop Chaput to visit CCU, Armstrong stated, "Archbishop Chaput embodies exactly what we want our students to hear and learn. He believes deeply in the sanctity of life, the word in the Holy Bible, and the teachings of Jesus Christ. The mere speaking about Christian worldviews is not enough -- we must live our lives to those principles and help transform the world in which we live."

Archbishop Chaput was born in Concordia, Kansas. On March 18, 1997, he was appointed Archbishop of Denver, Colorado. Archbishop Chaput is of French-Canadian and Native American descent. He has had a long and distinguished career, never failing to stand for living a life aligned with the principles of Jesus Christ.