'They're Serious and They're Not Going to Back Down': Archbishop Cordileone, Defender of Marriage, Heads to San Francisco

By Deacon Keith Fournier
9/25/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

I believe that the Archbishop was chosen precisely because he is up to this kind of challenge.

A weekend article in the Los Angeles Times expressed the surprise of some in the main stream media over Pope Benedict's superb choice to Shepherd the faithful of San Francisco. ArchBishop Salvatore Cordileone will be installed on October 4, 2012, the Feast of the patron of the City, Francis of Assisi. This Bishop is ready, as was Francis, to assume the work of rebuilding the Church for the sake of the world into which she is sent to continue the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA (Catholic Online) - A weekend article in the Los Angeles Times expressed the surprise of some in the main stream media over Pope Benedict's superb choice to Shepherd the faithful of San Francisco. ArchBishop Salvatore Cordileone will be installed on October 4, 2012, the Feast of the patron of the City, Francis of Assisi. This Bishop is ready, as was Francis, to assume the work of rebuilding the Church. He understands, as did that great Saint, that the Church carries forward in time the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the world.

The article, entitled, "In San Francisco, Prop. 8 backer to head Catholic Church" began with these words: "The announcement by Pope Benedict XVI has been dubbed the "Bombshell by the Bay." Next week, a key player in the passage of Proposition 8 - a man who has decried the "contraceptive mentality" of modern life - will become the leader of the Catholic Church here in the city that thrust same-sex marriage onto the national stage, the birthplace of the Summer of Love."

A quote was chosen by the writer, apparently to underscore the shocked tenor of her piece. It was taken from Father Thomas J. Reese, a senior fellow at Georgetown University's Woodstock Theological Center: "Even in a city like San Francisco, they're willing to appoint someone who has a high state and national profile on this issue. They're serious and they're not going to back down." Of course, the "they" Father Reese refers to is the Holy See. My response is to say, "thank God for this "they" - "they" are a gift sent from heaven just in the nick of time for our Nation.

The seriousness and surprise that the selection of Archbishop Cordileone engenders in the main stream media, is further evidenced in the comments from the Bishop which the writer, Maria L. La Ganga sprinkles throughout this piece. For example, she noted that Bishop Cordileone stated: "The church is not going to change its teaching. The solution isn't to say, 'Well, I'm just going to disagree and continue being a Catholic.' That's not how we arrive at holiness." Of course, the Archbishop is simply stating the teaching of the Catholic Church.

My response to the quote from Fr Reese which I chose for the title of this piece, is of course "they're serious" - because the Catholic Church proclaims the truth about marriage and defends this truth not simply as a religious proposition but as confirmed by the Natural Law, obvious to common sense and necessary for the true common good of any society.

The main stream media's surprise at the words of this Bishop extends to his willingness to address the misuse of the gift of sexuality. For example, the writer noted, "In a recent interview at the headquarters of the Oakland diocese, where he has served as bishop for three years, Cordileone was more direct: Gays and lesbians who are in sexual relationships of any kind, he said, should not receive the sacrament of Holy Communion, the central ritual of Catholic life. "If we misuse the gift of sexuality, we're going to suffer the consequences," he said, "and I firmly believe we are suffering the consequences."

Finally, the writer seemed surprised at comments made by the Bishop at a news conference in July, "when discussing the "cultural challenges" his new diocese would present - which he said revolved around "issues of family life and, essentially, come down to our understanding of the human person, the purpose of our human sexuality, what God calls us to do and how he calls us to live and how he calls us to love."

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone is a breath of fresh air. His answers are refreshingly clear.

What is happening in our Nation and the entire West constitutes a clash of worldviews, personal and corporate, which involve competing definitions of human freedom, human flourishing and human progress. The positions being espoused - and lifestyles being affirmed - as "progressive" by those currently using the term as a political label are anything but. They turn the clock back on true human progress.

There is a propaganda effort to portray those who adhere to the Jewish and Christian vision of the dignity of the human person, the primacy of true marriage and family and the necessary moral foundation of a truly free and just civil society as "backward." Faithful Catholics are often portrayed as proposing a return to some perceived "dark age". In fact, it is the Catholic Church which leads us out of dark ages like the one we are currently in. In fact, she offers the whole world the path to true progress and human flourishing.

From the beginning of his service to the Church, Pope Benedict XVI has been about this task of ...

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1 - 10 of 13 Comments

Fr. Tim
7 months ago
I wish I could serve under the good Archbishop.
Sounds like he could use one or two extra hands to help his mission.
cminca
7 months ago
I tried to post a more particular statement about the denial of communion to ONLY the LGBT community. Let me assure you that Mr. Fernandez's remark is spot on.
DLL
7 months ago
Marriage in this world is based on Tradition. To break a Tradition is a problem,the problem! It is like changing the rules of Baseball so that there is no Home Plate anymore,or a foul ball becomes a fair one. Run the bases backward who cares. The rules are not important? How about Basketball,Football,Hockey,so that there are no goal posts anymore,so the sports have no goal. What becomes the point of it all when a team concept,or a sense of family concept, is completely changed? There becomes no point in playing the game any more,as the sense of family or a team concept for a winning way,is completely destroyed. The goal in a Family is to have a man and a woman get along,love each other,till death parts them,have and bring up a baby that was fathered and mothered by that couple. The children are the fruit of any marriage. SCORE! A family established in love,as the traditional winning way for any set of parents,between themselves and their children and vice versa. The end game of a "Gay Marriage" is a complete change in the way the game is played so that there might as well be no game at all. A game with no rules is chaos. What is the point of playing a chaotic game? It is like playing in a symphony with no score,so everyone can play their own instrument any way that they want to. The rules of the game are unique to that game and for that reason the rules are simply the rules. The rules must be protected and then the game is fun. The rules change and the game is no fun,not worth the training or the effort. Tradition protects the effort. Then the game of "Traditional Marriage"is still fun! Tradition is not so bad after all! I vote to protect "Traditional Marriage"! Why not!
Emma
7 months ago
@cmnica.....you have us confused with the secular community. There is not one authentic member of our church who expects Caesar to do Christ's Work! That is why we rejoice in welcoming true men of God coming to the forefront to lead us. Whether men in the political arena choose to pass laws or not, bothers me little. My Master taught long ago that his world was not this world. Whatever laws "Caesar " imposes will not change what Christ's Church stands for. That is something those who live lives separated from God cannot understand. We will not turn against our church. We will not go against our God. Much as 1st century Christians were frowned upon by governments of their time and continued to live their faith, so shall we. No matter what laws are passed, they won't change our beliefs. We stand united in Christ. What god do you serve? Because, admit it or not, every man serves "some " god. Who or what is yours? Are you sure, absolutely sure, that your god is the one you should be bowing before? Think very hard about that.
vance
7 months ago
This is a serious blessing from God. No better place than San Fran Sicko.
Daniel
7 months ago
cminca, I have recently pointed out, and you highlight what I am about to "say", there is nothing civil about homosexuality and same-sex marriage. Those promoting same-sex marriage, and homosexuality, are anything but civil. But they claim that the issue is a civil-rights issue. Really?
JeanCatherine
7 months ago
cminca

Will be praying for you because you need it.
abey
7 months ago
How can they, the Liberals, the media & their Propagandists talk about "ages" when they have not been able to raise their feet, "a foot over the soil".
Robert Burford
7 months ago
The "they" word reinforces my understanding that we are are still directed by the Holy Spirit with Popes and Bishops who are inspired by the word of God and are not afraid to speak out as in Eziekiel 33: 7-9. It was announced at church the new year of Faith beginning October 11th called by Pope Benedict to renew our faith and the purpose as I see it is to renew our commitment to Catholic values and basically tell it like it is. Archbishop Cordileone will do this.This renewal is so important in an election year. Both choices for president are unacceptable. Do I choose the economy or principals of faith? Renewal will help.
cminca
7 months ago
It will certainly be fun to watch when the Supreme Court strikes down both Prop 8 and DOMA.

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