One easily understands why LGTB Roman Catholics worry.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.
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But many gay and lesbian Catholics worry that they will be marginalized after [Salvatore] Cordileone's arrival. Oasis California, the Episcopal Church's gay ministry, convened a meeting recently at a Castro District bar to discuss how spiritual people should respond to the "architect of Prop. 8" coming to town.
But 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.What consequences? Hurricanes? No, I suppose not. Earthquakes perhaps since he's in San Francisco. Did the archbishop-designate take lessons from Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell (May God rest his soul!)?
"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."
And though he strives to deliver Catholicism's absolutes in as nuanced a fashion as possible, Cordileone said, people need to understand that "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."Nuance will not cut it for the archbishop-to-be. Cordileone's message comes across loud and clear. His message echos that of Pope Benedict:
Cordileone was appointed to head the high-profile Diocese of San Francisco by Benedict — who, as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, drafted a key 1986 letter that outlined Catholic doctrine about homosexuality.If LGTB Roman Catholics in the archdiocese see Cordileone's appointment as a slap in the face, who can blame them? And don't let the smile on Cordileone's face in the photo fool you. Unless LGTB Catholics play by the church's rules, they are not welcome at the table of the Lord...so the RC Church says. You know what? It's the Lord's table, not the table of the pope or any Roman Catholic prelate or clergy, and no human of whatever position or denomination has the right to withhold the sacrament of the Lord's body and blood from another human being. Of course, that's just my opinion.
"Although the particular inclination of the homosexual person is not a sin," Ratzinger wrote, "it is a more or less strong tendency ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil; and thus the inclination itself must be seen as an objective disorder."
That teaching, Cordileone said, still holds.
Photo from Wikipedia.
UPDATE: My Facebook friends reminded me that just last month Archbishop-elect Cordileone was arrested for DUI in San Diego after he failed a sobriety test. He has issued an apology.
I think the Cardinal is misusing the gift of the Eucharist. But what do I know?
ReplyDeleteMay Jesus -- who gave bread to all without asking who they were or why the came, who gave himself for us while we were yet sinners -- bring repentance to the hearts of the men who would seek to withhold and constrain his gracious generosity, through their own stinginess of heart and mind. Kyrie eleison!
Amen, Tobias! Lovely prayer.
DeleteCordileone is not yet a cardinal, but if he continues on the same path, he's on the fast track for a cardinalate. Cardinal Cordileone has a ring to it.
Godfather IV?
DeleteI did once call him Bishop Corleone...not quite by mistake.
DeleteIncredible, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI knew I was forgetting something...the DUI last month.
DeleteI'm still trying to understand why the first local TV news reports of the arrest say that the Archbishop had (in addition to his mother) a young male foreign exchange student in the car...but there's been no mention of it since.
DeleteJust so there was a chaperone present...
DeleteThis man and his views on the Eucharist are just another reminder of why I left the RCs thirty years ago!
ReplyDeleteAs Tobias says, Cordileone misuses the gift of the Eucharist.
DeleteFor all we know the exchange student could have been staying with the mother or with another relative and to imply that something more is going on with no evidence is to engage in malicious gossip. And has there been much mention of the arrest at all since?
ReplyDeleteI wonder how he will deal with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a local charity group, some of whom are Catholic but who have clashed with the diocese in the past.
Erp, you're right about the implications about the exchange student.
ReplyDeleteThe latest reference to the incident that I could find is from Aug. 29 at Huff Post and has more background info on what effects the arrest is likely to have on the archbishop-elect vis-a-vis the church.
There was this bit that made me smile.
"He was a driver that was obviously impaired but he was quite cordial and polite throughout," Officer Mark McCullough, who was at the scene, told The Associated Press. "He was not a belligerent drunk at all ... There were no problems with him throughout the night."
Imagine. Just a little drinky winky or twenty...what´s it to you? Nobody got hurt, the police probably were Protestants and/or atheists. Probably the Cardinal spot is gonna be sooner than later...afterall, secrets are signs of success and tests of loyalty between the Vaticano brotherhood...no harm done, no undone zippers, no hush money necessary (just forget about it you troublemakers).
ReplyDeleteLeonardo, I'd say the bishop is getting off to a very bad start, and if I were a Roman Catholic in his archdiocese, I'd be angry at the in-your-face, we'll-keep-you-in-your-place appointment. The DUI is the icing on the cake of arrogance which is being handed to the members of the diocese.
DeleteOn the other hand, there are those in the diocese who will be thrilled with an archbishop who will return the diocese to the "traditional" teaching of the church, which will (sad to say) undo many of the traditions of Vatican II.
I've met him, years ago. He's smart, very smart, and very charming as well. But does not let you forget he holds the power.
ReplyDeleteJCF, he will be in court on his DUI on the 9th October. We'll see if the Young Exchange Student gets mentioned then.
There's no charm like that of an Italian man, and I mean that sincerely. It must be wearisome to constantly reinforce one's position of power. One wonders if insecurity or doubt lies behind the felt necessity.
Delete"If we misuse the gift of alcohol, we're going to suffer the consequences"
ReplyDeleteOh, really?
We'll see about that.
Oh Paul (A.), excellent. We'll see what will come of court proceedings. He's suffered from embarrassment already...at least I hope he has the grace to be embarrassed. I would be.
Delete