Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
The Archbishop Will March
Here in Northern California in recent days, one prominent liberal after another, including the mayor of San Francisco, Ed Lee, and the lieutenant governor of California, Gavin Newsom, have lectured the Catholic archbishop of San Francisco, Most Rev. Salvatore Cordileone, insisting that he cancel his plans to participate in the “March for Marriage” in Washington, DC later this month. Nancy Pelosi, to offer a sample of the criticism of the archbishop, denounced the “March for Marriage” as “venom masquerading as virtue.”
Now Archbishop Cordileone has replied.
Excerpts:
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 I 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….”
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….
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…. 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….
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
To see a bishop so willing to fight for the truth and yet so determined to demonstrate simple human decency and goodwill—this is a magnificent and humbling thing.
You go, Bish!
An archbishop who lives up to his name “heart of the lion” in the face of attempts at political intimidation. Excellent. We need many more like him.
This is the message that needs to communicated to Liberals and I am happy to see the Archbishop state it plainly.
I met him once, before he was an Archbishop. Great man.
The last photo I saw of Nancy Pelosi was when she was washing feet at an Episcopalian Holy Week service. Now she is back advising Archbishop Cordileone. I guess the trade fell through. The Church should have offered the Episcopal Bishop more money. Next time a second collection at Mass might help seal the deal on a trade.
Pelosi would be well-acquainted with venom, wouldn’t she?
A little disingenuous maybe. There would be no need to have a “march for marriage” unless the LGBT agenda or other threats to marriage were such pressing concerns. The LGBT agenda is clearly the most visible, as he makes clear by noting the threatening way it deals with those it disagrees with.
There’s also the alarming divorce and out-of-wedlock birth rates. The pro-marriage movement may have been organized to respond to the specific push to redefine marriage, but it should now set its goals more broadly to proclaim the benefits of marriage to a culture in danger of forgetting them.
Beautifully stated.
Well said. Thoughtful and strong, yet loving and welcoming. This is what a church (any church) leader should be like.
I agree. I think maybe 80% of the ground was lost in the no-fault divorce wave of the 60s and 70s.
For those not familiar with Bishop Fulton Sheehan back in the 60’s..
“There are not one hundred people in the United States who hate The Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they wrongly perceive the Catholic Church to be.”
― Fulton J. Sheen
“If you don’t behave as you believe, you will end by believing as you behave.”
― Fulton J. Sheen
Indeed. And something to be emulated.
I will try to follow the AB’s lead as I confront the clergy at my parish on issues of the economy, a la Kevin Williamson. This distributionist nonsense has got to stop. It’s an untruth being perpetuated at the pulpit (at least at my parish) and it’s hurting the poor!!
Really? That surprises me a bit. I live in a very liberal area, and I cannot recall hearing a homily on economics, ever. I can complain about some liberal theology at times, but they pretty much stay away from politics altogether.
Just this last Sunday — Feast of the Holy Trinity! And I kid you not, “Many of you may feel the world is going to Hell in a hand basket. It’s the result of our “cultural heritage.” Conservatives and traditionalists have institutionalized systems leading to Global Warming and a stock market which excludes the poor.” — paraphrasing the Deacon’s sermon.
No mention of a million abortions a year, or Christians being slaughtered in the Middle East. I just love it when liberals blame conservative traditionalists for the condition of the culture. Ugh.
Archbishop Cardileone makes me proud to be a pro-Catholic non-Catholic. He reaffirms that a church must stand for something. Good for him.
My hero C. S. Lewis (another pro-Catholic non-Catholic) harbored a special disdain (which I share) for those members of the clergy who feel impelled to conform doctrine to the whims of modernism:
Thought you all would get a kick out of this:
Eye of the Tiber: Pelosi Excommunicates Cordileone
Phenomenal quotes!
I deeply appreciate a leader who can articulate this issue this well.
This is a fine example of verbal judo, using the opposition’s own words to negate their message. Well-played, Your Grace.