Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1152341
10 AUGUST 10-23, 2019 | DENVER CATHOLIC G un control laws alone will not stop mass shootings eˆectively, Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia, said in a column written in response to the recent shootings in Gilroy, Calif., El Paso, and Dayton, Ohio. Archbishop Chaput believes that there needs to be societal shift to trans- form the present "culture of violence." Writing in his Aug. 5 column, Chaput said that while he fully supports the use of background checks and restrictions on who is able to purchase firearms, "only a fool can believe that 'gun con- trol' will solve the problem of mass violence." "The people using the guns in these loathsome incidents are moral agents with twisted hearts. And the twisting is done by the culture of sexual anar- chy, personal excess, political hatreds, intellectual dishonesty, and perverted freedoms that we've systematically cre- ated over the past half-century." Archbishop Chaput drew from his experience as Archbishop of Denver consoling the community after the shooting at Columbine High School. At the time, he buried some of the victims, and met with their families. During his testimony to the U.S. Senate shortly after the Columbine shooting, Arch- bishop Chaput spoke of "a cul- ture that mar- kets violence i n d o z e n s of different ways" that has become "part of our social fabric." "When we build our advertising cam- paigns on consumer selfishness and greed, and when money becomes the universal measure of value, how can we be sur- prised when our sense of community erodes," he asked at the time. "When we glorify and multiply guns, why are we shocked when kids use them?" Archbishop Chaput also addressed the use of the death penalty and the legality of abortion as "certain kinds of killings we enshrine as rights and protect by law," which creates a societal "contradiction." This contradiction has reduced the view of human life, he said. In 1999, Archbishop Chaput suggested that America embrace a "relentless com- m i t m e n t t o r e s p e c t t h e sa n c t i t y o f each human l i f e , f r o m womb to nat- ural death," and that he did not think the shooting at Columbine High School would be the last mass shooting. "In examining how and why our culture markets violence, I ask you not to stop with the symptoms," he said. "Look deeper." Archbishop Chaput repeated this call in his column Monday, saying, World & Nation Craig Saeman Chief Development Officer 720-799-9222 CSaeman@ccdenver.org Tim Urban Philanthropic Advisor 720-799-9258 TUrban@ccdenver.org John Neal Philanthropic Advisor 720-799-9251 JNeal@ccdenver.org Angela Deeney Philanthropic Advisor 720-799-9296 ADeeney@ccdenver.org MANY MINISTRIES, ONE PURPOSE TO SERVE ALL PEOPLE 88¢ of every dollar went directly to programs to serve those in need* 102,956 women, men and children assisted across northern Colorado 202,730 nights in emergency and transitional shelter, and 992,070 nights in affordable housing 612,158 meals provided PARTNERING WITH YOU TO SERVE THOSE IN NEED Statistics from FY 2017-2018 *Based on consolidated CCCS financials and Archdiocesan Housing, Inc. Thank you for serving those in need in northern Colorado since 1927. ccdenver.org Archbishop Chaput recalls Columbine in response to recent mass shootings BY CHRISTINE ROUSSELLE/CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY PHOTO BY DANIEL IBANEZ | CNA