Philadelphia, Pa., Sep 8, 2012 / 07:03 am
Celebrating the first anniversary of his role as head of the Philadelphia archdiocese, Archbishop Charles J. Archbishop Chaput is calling for "deep changes" in how the local Church thinks, behaves, and is organized.
"We can no longer allow ourselves the complacency of the past. 'The way things have always been' needs to become 'the way things need to be' if we have any hope of preaching Jesus Christ to the world around us," Archbishop Chaput writes, signaling the ongoing reformation of his archdiocese.
"The task of renewal will require deep changes in the thinking, behaviors, structures, procedures and organizational life of the archdiocese," he says in a Sept. 8 letter to the faithful of the archdiocese.
After opening with thanks to his people for their kindness to him and their faithfulness to Christ, Archbishop Chaput responds to the confusion and anger of many, which he acknowledges as warranted.