Matt C. Abbott
California priest defends Cardinal George
By Matt C. Abbott
Homosexual activists and their sympathizers are having an absolute hissy-fit over remarks made by Cardinal Francis George in a recently-televised interview — namely, that "you don't want the gay liberation movement to morph into something like the Ku Klux Klan, demonstrating in the streets against Catholicism."
In a follow-up statement on the archdiocese's website, dated Dec. 27, the cardinal says:
Father Richard Perozich, a priest of the Diocese of San Diego who has worked with the Courage Apostolate, defends the cardinal in the following statement (slightly edited) provided to me in an email:
Pertinent links:
The Courage Apostolate
"A 'queer' America?"
Illinois Family Institute defends Cardinal George
Update as of Jan. 6:
"Cardinal George apologizes for recent remarks"
© Matt C. Abbott
January 4, 2012
Homosexual activists and their sympathizers are having an absolute hissy-fit over remarks made by Cardinal Francis George in a recently-televised interview — namely, that "you don't want the gay liberation movement to morph into something like the Ku Klux Klan, demonstrating in the streets against Catholicism."
In a follow-up statement on the archdiocese's website, dated Dec. 27, the cardinal says:
-
'The Chicago Gay Pride Parade has been organized and attended for many years without interfering with the worship of God in a Catholic church. When the 2012 Parade organizers announced a time and route change this year, it was apparent that the Parade would interfere with divine worship in a Catholic parish on the new route. When the pastor's request for reconsideration of the plans was ignored, the organizers invited an obvious comparison to other groups who have historically attempted to stifle the religious freedom of the Catholic Church. One such organization is the Ku Klux Klan which, well into the 1940's, paraded through American cities not only to interfere with Catholic worship but also to demonstrate that Catholics stand outside of the American consensus. It is not a precedent anyone should want to emulate.
'It is terribly wrong and sinful that gays and lesbians have been harassed and subjected to psychological and even physical harm. These tragedies can be addressed, however, without disturbing the organized and orderly public worship of God in a country that claims to be free. I am grateful that all parties concerned resolved this problem by moving the Parade's start time so as not to conflict with the celebration of Mass that Sunday.'
Father Richard Perozich, a priest of the Diocese of San Diego who has worked with the Courage Apostolate, defends the cardinal in the following statement (slightly edited) provided to me in an email:
-
'Cardinal George is a fine man with an astute mind. In 1999 he addressed a group of local Catholics with same-sex attraction united under the Archdiocesan Gay and Lesbian Outreach (AGLO). The cardinal characterized Dignity as a group that rejects the Church's teaching [on homosexuality] and characterized Courage as a group that promotes chastity and discourages declaration of the self as homosexual.
'The cardinal then lauded AGLO as the middle way, catering to those who want to identify as 'gay' but live chastely. He wondered if this is not a better way to self-identify as homosexual. It appears the cardinal was unaware of the progression of same-sex attraction to the practicing and promoting of homosexuality, of the political movement, and of the underlying goal of those in AGLO who wished to proclaim homosexuality as good and to change society's thinking on the matter.
'The cardinal is now fully aware of the threat the practicing and promoting homosexuals are to the Church, to society, and to all who oppose them. He is aware of the political power granted by civil authorities. He is right to make the identification of a fascist type with the practicing-and-promoting-homosexuality movement against the Church such as was the KKK in the 1920s. I pray his awareness is now at maturity regarding this issue and that his people hear him and respond to him.'
Pertinent links:
The Courage Apostolate
"A 'queer' America?"
Illinois Family Institute defends Cardinal George
Update as of Jan. 6:
"Cardinal George apologizes for recent remarks"
© Matt C. Abbott
The views expressed by RenewAmerica columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of RenewAmerica or its affiliates.
(See RenewAmerica's publishing standards.)
