On Monday evening, 1 March 2010, Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver gave a speech at Houston Baptist University called “The Vocation of Christians in American Public Life”.
The lecture was presented in coordination with the Pope John Paul II Forum for the Church in the Modern World at the University of St. Thomas.
He criticized President John F. Kennedy’s historic campaign speech on his faith impacting his possible presidency as “sincere, compelling, articulate – and wrong.” 
I think this was a very important address. As such, I decided to make a PODCAzT by reading the text of the Archbishop’s speech (yes, it is available also on Youtube) with by comments before and after. I received the link to the Youtube page while I was making this, but decided to post anyway. And my rendering of the talk section is a bit short that the original. Check the page of the Archdiocese of Denver.
http://www.wdtprs.com/podcazt/10_03_02.mp3
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Thank you for doing this Fr. I appreciate it very much. God Bless Archbishop Chaput
Ack! I knew I should have gone to that talk! Thanks for posting this!
I had to wait 50 years for a Catholic prelate to finally say what some of us Catholics knew way back then. My parents were so mad when I told them I would not be voting for J.F. Kennedy, but, but, he is a Catholic was thier remark, my respond was, there are Catholics, and then there are catholics, sure takes some, a long time to learn.
From this last election looks like some will never learn and that even some of the American catholic hierarchy remains just as …may a I say, ‘stupid’. God bless Archbishop Chaput, a true Shepard, may his tribe increase.
Here is the YouTube link:
Excellent address! I am reminded with the reference to JFK of Jackie’s comment to a reporter when asked about the depth of anti-Catholic feeling toward her husband, “Bobby maybe, but Jack, well how could they be worried? He’s such a bad Catholic.”
*He criticized President John F. Kennedy’s historic campaign speech on his faith impacting his possible presidency as “sincere, compelling, articulate – and wrong.”*
I agree with Archbishop Chaput, but one must remember that there was no way, absolutely no way, a Catholic 40 and more years ago could have been elected absent this speech (think “‘Whore of Babylon’ sitting in Rome, informing the US Pres., informing the people..blah, blah, blah, I hate to even repeat it.)
Now, you CAN’T get elected Pres. unless you pronounce your beliefs! Wasn’t always so, even before JFK (think of Lincoln; he wasn’t even necessarily Christian–though views differ widely on that point, but in any case he didn’t put religion alongside him on the platform.)
But… for Wales?
Great Podcazt! Bravo Archbishop Chaput!
We see the same problem with politicians in Canada. “Personally I believe… but, …”
A very powerful, forthright speech. As others have commented, he said what needed to be said.
Anybody have any word on the reaction from the Houston Baptists to the speech?
Thank you, Father!