Tuesday, March 19, AD 2024 2:53am

Archbishop Cordileone Responds

Archbishop of San Francisco Salvatore Cordileone has responded to calls by Nancy Pelosi and other California Democrat politicians that he not join the June 19th March for Marriage, and he is not backing down:

 

 

Dear Fellow Citizens,

 

Your letter sharing with me your thoughts on the upcoming “March for Marriage” in Washington, D.C., was forwarded to me while I was attending meetings out of town, and I have reflected on what you have to say.  I appreciate your affirmation of my Church’s teaching—not unique to our religion, but a truth accessible to anyone of good will—on the intrinsic human dignity of all people, irrespective of their stage and condition in life.  That principle requires us to respect and protect each and every member of the human family, from the precious child in the womb to the frail elderly person nearing death.  It also requires me, as a bishop, to proclaim the truth—the whole truth—about the human person and God’s will for our flourishing.  I must do that in season and out of season, even when truths that it is my duty to uphold and teach are unpopular, including especially the truth about marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife.  That is what will be doing on June 19th

 

With regard to your request that I not attend the March, and the reasons you give for this request, allow me to explain the following points. 

 

The March for Marriage is not “anti-LGBT” (as some have described it); it is not anti-anyone or  anti-anything.  Rather, it is a pro-marriage March.  The latter does not imply the former.  Rather, it affirms the great good of bringing the two halves of humanity together so that a man and a woman may bond with each other and with any children who come from their union.  This is precisely the vision promoted by Pope Francis, who recently said, “We must reaffirm the right of children to grow up in a family with a father and mother.” Rest assured that if the point of this event were to single out a group of individuals and target them for hatred, I most certainly would not be there. 

While I cannot go into all of the details here of your allegations against the sponsors of this event and scheduled speakers, I do know that at least some of what you say is based on misinterpretation or is simply factually incorrect.  For example, it is not true that the National Organization for Marriage connects homosexuality with pedophilia and incest.  What is true is that three years ago a conference was sponsored in Baltimore by the group B4U-ACT for the purpose of finding ways to encourage tolerance for pedophilia.  A statement on NOM’s blogpost objecting to this conference affirmed that this is something that would outrage people in the gay community as well.  Unfortunately, many conclusions are being drawn about those involved in the March for Marriage based on false impressions. 

It gives me assurance that we share a common disdain for harsh and hateful rhetoric.  It must be pointed out, though, that there is plenty of offensive rhetoric which flows in the opposite direction.  In fact, for those who support the conjugal understanding of marriage, the attacks have not stopped at rhetoric.  Simply for taking a stand for marriage as it has been understood in every human society for millennia, people have lost their jobs, lost their livelihoods, and have suffered other types of retribution, including physical violence.  It is true that historically in our society violence has been perpetrated against persons who experience attraction to members of the same sex, and this is to be deplored and eradicated.  Sadly, though, we are now beginning to see examples, although thankfully not widespread, of even physical violence against those who hold to the conjugal view of marriage (such as, most notably, the attempted gunning down of those who work in the offices of the Family Research Council).  While it is true that free speech can be used to offend others, it is not so much people exercising their right to free speech that drives us further apart than people punished precisely for doing so that does. 

Please do not make judgments based on stereotypes, media images and comments taken out of context.  Rather, get to know us first as fellow human beings.  I myself am willing to meet personally with any of you not only to dialogue, but simply so that we can get to know each other.  It is the personal encounter that changes the vision of the other and softens the heart.  In the end, love is the answer, and this can happen even between people with such deep disagreements.  That may sound fanciful and far-fetched, but it is true, it is possible.  I know it is possible, I know this from personal experience.  When we come together seeking to understand the other with good will, miracles can happen. 

When all is said and done, then, there is only one thing that I would ask of you more than anything else: before you judge us, get to know us. 

 

Sincerely,

Most Reverend Salvatore Cordileone

Archbishop of San Francisco

It is good to see an archbishop with spine.

 

 
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Paul W Primavera
Tuesday, June 17, AD 2014 6:03am

But he and his brother bishops still need to publicly excommunicate that heretic Pelosi, treating her in the same way that St Paul treated the sex pervert at the Church in Corinth in 1st Corinthians 5 and the same way St John treated that false prophetess Jezebel at the Church in Thyatira in Revelation 2. It is time to publicly put these heretics and apostates in their proper place. It is one thing for a person to privately fail and sin, and repent and try again to do what is right. It is another to persist in publicly manifest sin as Pelosi, Biden, Kerry and all the rest of the Katholyck Demoncraps do.

T. Shaw
T. Shaw
Tuesday, June 17, AD 2014 6:15am

Pelosi and the gay gestapo deserve a one word response: “Nuts!”

Mary De Voe
Tuesday, June 17, AD 2014 7:36am

Paul: “But he and his brother bishops still need to publicly excommunicate that heretic Pelosi,”
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I agree. Excommunication will have an impact on people considering their position of marriage and the Right to Life. If we do not stop the imposters, good people will suffer. The rape of minor children who do not have informed consent to give or incest with one’s child ought to be punished most severely. The child’s informed sexual consent and all civil rights are held in trust for them by God, their parents and finally by the state. Yes, God’s law is violated every time a child is violated. Atheism is unconstitutional (or prohibit the free exercise thereof) and the repugnant fruit of atheism is lawlessness and savagery.
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Marriage, the marital act, makes a husband of a man and a wife of a woman, as a child makes a mother of a woman and a father of a man. Marriage and family have already been defined.Redefining marriage and family is co-opting the law of God, plagiarizing God’s law, stealing from and cheating the people.
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The bishops in unison need to move on this as there is little time left. The barbarians are at the gate.

Barbara Gordon
Barbara Gordon
Tuesday, June 17, AD 2014 7:48am

My sentinments exactly.

Pat
Pat
Tuesday, June 17, AD 2014 8:15am

I wish the Fellow Citizens to exercise their attention spans as regards this letter.

Philip
Philip
Tuesday, June 17, AD 2014 10:31am

Thanks Bishop Cordileone!

Beautiful letter. Seasons come and go, but the Truth remains the same. God bless courageous religious!

Steve Phoenix
Steve Phoenix
Tuesday, June 17, AD 2014 10:50am

Nancy must need more campaign finance $$$ for this fall’s election contests.

Anzlyne
Anzlyne
Tuesday, June 17, AD 2014 5:51pm

What a beautiful letter from the archbishop! Wouldn’t it be great if she would continue the exchange, instead of just firing off a volley and then walking away with her ears and heart closed. As he said, love is the answer. And the courtesy to dialogue. I hope she responds with the same respect he has shown.

Peggy Clores
Peggy Clores
Tuesday, June 17, AD 2014 6:26pm

Hi praise for the Archbishop’s courage and clarity as well as his reaching out a hand. I have done so many times myself on all things related to these concerns. Tolerance and love goes both ways and when it is authentically present, I very much concur: miracles CAN and DO happen.

Howard
Howard
Tuesday, June 17, AD 2014 6:41pm

“And so I ask you: V. Do you renounce Satan? R. I do. V. And all his works? R. I do. V. And all his empty show? R. I do.” Why, then, does the archbishop feel it is necessary to say that the “March for Marriage is not … anti-anyone or anti-anything”?

Stilbelieve
Stilbelieve
Wednesday, June 18, AD 2014 1:24am

How refreshing and inspiring to meet a TRUE Shepherd for a change. There might be one counter offer the good Archbishop my make to Ms. Pelosi and the other elected officials that I would consider, and that is – To ask her and the others to renounce their support of abortion publicly and pledge to support all pro-life legislation in the future including nominees to the U.S. Courts who would support a Constitutional Right to Life.

Tim
Tim
Wednesday, June 18, AD 2014 4:55am

Imagine what you could accomplish if you and your kind worked to promote peace, an end to poverty, and an end to malnutrition and starvation instead of using your time and energy to promote hate and discrimination. WWJD?

Jeanne
Jeanne
Wednesday, June 18, AD 2014 11:05am

He gives me hope in the True Church.

Steve Phoenix
Steve Phoenix
Wednesday, June 18, AD 2014 11:29am

“Imagine what you could accomplish if you and your kind..” No prejudicial slant in that introduction to a comment?.. hmm. I wonder who “me and my kind” are to this person…

Paul W Primavera
Wednesday, June 18, AD 2014 11:49am

“You and your kind” – typical liberal prejudice. No tolerance. No respect. No kindness. No niceness. No diversity of thought. No freedom of expression. Just godless putrid liberalism.

T. Shaw
T. Shaw
Wednesday, June 18, AD 2014 2:26pm

From the Bible, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.”

I do not see the gay gestapo (if one disagrees one is evil, hateful and must be destroyed), Tim and his kind aren’t making any progress in the areas of “promote peace; end poverty; or end malnutrition and starvation.”

St. Augustine summed it up. “The only evils these people recognize are having to endure hunger, disease, and murder (war). It is as though man’s greatest good were to have everything good, except himself.”

Paraphrasing A. Lincoln: Calling two men a “married couple” is equally as invalid as calling a dog’s tail a leg. That dog still has only four legs.

Botolph
Wednesday, June 18, AD 2014 3:06pm

What Would Jesus Do? {WWJD]

We already know:

“..Have you not read that He Who created them from the beginning made them male and female and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and cling to his wife and the two shall become one flesh” Matthew 19.4-5

Kyle Miller
Kyle Miller
Wednesday, June 18, AD 2014 3:28pm

“worked to promote peace”

Working to protect traditional marriage is an effort to promote peace. A redefinition of marriage is a war against tradition, gender and the child.

” an end to malnutrition and starvation”

The Church’s mission first and foremost is the salvation of souls. It was not established to be Meals on Wheels.

WK Aiken
WK Aiken
Friday, June 20, AD 2014 2:29pm

Hey, Tim.

Here’s a tiny slice of what “our kind” does to promote peace, an end to poverty, and an end to malnutrition and starvation:
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http://catholiccharitiesusa.org/
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http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1400345.htm
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http://www.crs.org/
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http://www.stjude.org
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http://www.gabrielproject.com/
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Not to mention the food pantries located in almost every parish, as well as free clinics, unemployment services, mental health services and an address for almost every human need, all done at little or no cost. Google “Catholic free clinics” or “Catholic food pantries” for listings in your area.
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I don’t know where you got your information, but whoever told you that “our kind” doesn’t do these things, but rather ‘promotes hate and discrimination,’ obviously believes that you are a complete and utter moron. The truth is so incredibly evident with just the slightest bit of research, that they, whoever they are, must take you for an unquestioning, illiterate boob with no capacity for critical thought whatsoever. I would sincerely doubt their honest concern for your well-being if I were you.

Tom M.
Tom M.
Friday, June 20, AD 2014 4:39pm

Hey Paul Primavera, where is Rudy Giuliani and Senator Susan Collins on your list to be excommunicated? If there is any doubt why we are getting our butts kicked on this issue, look no further then the hypocrisy of a political party that is loud on homosexuality but virtually silent on pornography and “strip clubs”.

Paul W Primavera
Friday, June 20, AD 2014 5:08pm

I agree completely, Tom M. And I would add George Pataki to that list as well.

Tom M.
Tom M.
Friday, June 20, AD 2014 9:04pm

Good for you Paul on your consistency. I do wonder though what you think would happen if the Church started mass excommunicating the Biden, Pelosi, Pataki and Giuliani’s of the world? My guess is that we would become about as relevant as the Orthodox Church. Maybe that’s a good thing but I’m glad I’m not making those decisions.

Paul W Primavera
Friday, June 20, AD 2014 9:29pm

Tom M, the Church isn’t about relevance. It is about worshiping and serving God. Sts Paul, John, James and Peter didn’t give a hoot about this liberal penchant for relevance. St Ignatius of Antioch preferred to be eaten by the wild beasts in the Coliseum before being relevant. I say to hades with relevance, liberalism and RINO-ism. Vive Christe Rex!

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