The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Chicago is supporting a local church whose pastor is opposing the planned route of a gay pride parade that will pass in front of its doors. The pastor believes that he will have to cancel church services that day, and the Archbishop actually agreed. The Archbishop, Cardinal Francis George, 74, told a Chicago news station that church services will have to be canceled because:
“You don’t want the gay liberation movement to morph into something like the Klu Klux Klan, demonstrating in the streets against Catholicism.”
Now, let’s take a look at this first.
“Gay liberation movement”? Really?
That’s from about the 1960s or 1970s. How can a religious leader possibly shepherd his flock when he is living half a century ago?
And second, if Cardinal George is so concerned about saving souls, why not hold services outside that day, and let “the gays” see what church is all about. Because, of course, just like in The Omen, when we go near a church we break out into uncontrollable rage and our heads almost spin around. (Oh, wait, wrong movie reference.)
“George made the comment Sunday on Fox Chicago when asked about Our Lady of Mount Carmel’s complaints that the parade passing by its Belmont Avenue location would force the church to cancel its morning mass. The church recently launched a petition urging the city to force parade organizers to adjust their plans,” according to a report in The Huffington Post:
“I go with the pastor,” George told Fox [TV]. “He’s telling us that he won’t be able to have services on Sunday if that’s the case. You don’t want the gay liberation movement to morph into something like the Klu Klux Klan, demonstrating in the streets against Catholicism.”
When the Fox host pointed out that George’s comparison was “a little strong,” the cardinal stood by his statement.
“It is, but you take a look at the rhetoric,” he continued. “The rhetoric of the Klu Klux Klan, the rhetoric of some of the gay liberation people. Who is the enemy? Who is the enemy? The Catholic Church.”
Second, let’s look at that: “Who is the enemy? Who is the enemy? The Catholic Church.”
It never ceases to amaze me how religious zealots and the GOP use wildly incendiary language, then cannot possibly imagine why they are the focus of protest and anger.
Really? Are they that obtuse?
If you say someone is like the KKK, is there any wonder why they aren’t your friend?
And now, let’s take a quick look at Cardinal George. The Archbishop has been praising(surprise!) the Mormon Church (LDS) on its efforts to battle same-sex marriage. Of course.
And in 2010, George stated:
“Any attempt to reduce that fuller sense of religious freedom, which has been part of our history in this country for more than two centuries, to a private reality of worship and individual conscience so long as you don’t make anyone else unhappy, is not in our tradition. It was the tradition of the Soviet Union.”
Nice.
http://www.myfoxchicago.com/video/videoplayer.swf?dppversion=11212