FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Wayne Besen, Executive Director
Phone: 917-691-5118
Email: wbesen@truthwinsout.org
George’s Only Road to Redemption is Resigning, Says TWO
Burlington, Vt. – Truth Wins Out called on Chicago Archbishop Cardinal Francis George to leave his post today after he foolishly compared the LGBT community to the Ku Klux Klan. George’s over-the-top remarks were so extreme that they shredded his credibility and permanently damaged his ability to serve as a respected voice of reason.
“Cardinal George’s outrageous comparison of the LGBT community to the Ku Klux Klan was so degrading and hurtful that apologizing will not be sufficient,” said Wayne Besen, Truth Wins Out’s Executive Director. “George’s only road to redemption is handing in his resignation. If he has a shred of dignity and a shard of class he will immediately step down.”
George’s offensive remarks came during a dispute over the scheduled starting time of the annual gay pride parade in June. The event was originally set to begin at 10am, but a priest bitterly complained that the starting time would interfere with morning services.
In an interview with Fox News in Chicago, Cardinal George said: “Well, I go with the pastor. I mean, he’s telling us that they won’t be able to have Church services on Sunday, if that’s the case. You know, you don’t want the Gay Liberation Movement to morph into something like the Ku Klux Klan, demonstrating in the streets against Catholicism. So, I think if that’s what’s happening, and I don’t know that it is, but I would respect the local pastor’s, you know, position on that. Then I think that’s a matter of concern for all of us.”
The parade’s starting time has been changed to noon.
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Not apologizing for this old buffoon, but a little background on this: The parade’s step-off has for years been 1 p.m. The City of Chicago wanted it moved to 10 a.m. to (hopefully) cut down on public drinking (many bars don’t open until 11:00 or noon on Sundays).
The City also changed the route of the parade to accommodate the huge increase in attendance (20 years ago, it was drawing 100,000 spectators. It now draws 800,000). It never used to pass in front of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, but the new route changes that.
So the bottom line is that the City of Chicago proposed the changes, the parade organizers and the city were working with the affected parish to resolve the conflict. The cardinal jumped in with his two cents worth (overpriced if you ask me) at the urging of the local Fox affiliate TV station that was interviewing him.
Francis George has never been a widely popular archbishop in Chicago, despite his being born and raised here. It’s a little unusual for an American Cardinal to be assigned to the archdiocese of his origin. His predecesor, Cardinal Bernardin, was so hugely popular and beloved that he’s been a nearly impossible act to follow.
Now, if we can cut down on all the corporate entries in the parade and get it back to its roots……..
TWO Guys-Although I agree with your sentiment and your arguments, I think we must be careful what we wish for. This dreadful comment aside, Cardinal George has not been actively pursuing an anti-gay agenda such as his venerable brother in the Hierarchy, Archbishop Nienstedt has. If he were to step down, I really do not want to see him replaced by some hardliner like either the bishop from Rockford or the bishop of Springfield.
Sadly, I agree with PJB863, I doubt we will ever get as beloved or as successful a Cardinal here in Chicago as Bernadin was. That man truly welcomed LGBT Catholics and knew how to reach out to people of other faiths. The men vying for George’s position don’t look so good.
Also, saying he should step down is kind of late in the game. This year he already submitted his papers for retirement. Due to Cannon Law, Cardinal George must retire within the next three years. He’s on his way out regardless. At least he was a parish priest and knew how to bend the laws of the Church to accomodate modern-day parishioners. I just really hope that he’s not replaced by some cannon scholar who wants to do the reverse.
Nick, his comments seem like he’s pursuing an anti-gay agenda.
We’re in agreement there Nick. Benedict XVI is entering the final year or two of his Papacy, so the next Archbishop of Chicago (and ultimately Cardinal) will likely be appointed by his successor. In the past, Chicago’s archbishops have been bishops in other larger cities with large Catholic populations first. George was bishop of Yakima, WA and prior to that Portland, OR. Bernardin came from Cincinnati, and before him, Cody came from St. Louis, so I wouldn’t worry too much about the bishops in Rockford or Springfield taking up residence at 1555 N. State St.
Note to TWO guys – all decisions relating to bishopric appointments and resignations are made in Rome by the Pope, not by the USCCB – that’s where the petition needs to go. Good luck with that.
Nick,
An early resignation would show the hierarchy that their flight from decency and accountability will no longer be tolerated.
However, speaking as an ex-Catholic, here’s what I said to a skeptic on Facebook:
“Short of demanding resignation, there are many other steps that Chicago-area Catholics could take. [I had previously suggested protests, obstruction, non-cooperation, and withholding of support to the Chicago Archdiocese.] And if Catholics don’t take any steps, then that simply reinforces my personal belief that the Roman Catholic church is no longer worth attending, because too many Catholics just don’t give a damn.”
[...] night, Wayne issued a press release calling for Chicago Archbishop Cardinal Francis George to step down after comparing the gay rights [...]
Canon law dictates that the bishop must submit his resignation by age 70; but this does not mean he will automatically retire. The pope can choose to reject it for various reasons, including not wanting to be bothered with changing the status quo in a certain diocese. In effect, if it ain’t “broke” (for the time being, anyway)….. Pope John Paul II was well-known for not granting resignations/letters of retirement immediately. He believed the bishops work ethic/dedication should reflect his own (I’ll bet they’re glad he didn’t live to be 100, in reference to THAT idea!! lol).
“It’s what he had said, particularly around the civil unions bill, that it was his faith that was prompting him to do this. And he’s done that on several occasions,” George said. “It’s also disquieting that he would say, “There’s a law and therefore everybody obeys it.” What if the law’s immoral? I mean, every government has always said that: “You must obey the law!” And people of faith have often said, “Well, we will, up to a point.” That’s why there are martyrs. If the law is, you know — Everything done in Germany in the 1930s was done legally. But the laws were immoral.”
Apparently George doesn’t stop at the KKK. He compares the passage of civil union legislation to Germany in the 1930s. He is a horrible, evil man, and if he isn’t excommunicated, then the Catholic church is nothing more than a hate group.