Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone has criticised a measure that will be on the San Francisco ballot come national elections in November that could result in new abortion-related signage having to go outside pregnancy centres.
The ballot measure called “ Proposition O” would require the signs to be placed outside of pregnancy resource centres that do not offer abortions, or do not refer for abortions.
“Why would anyone want to stigmatise a primary health care facility and a pregnancy resource centre that gives pregnant women support for having their babies?” the archbishop has said, urging Catholics to reject the proposition.
Cordileone, in a recent video message, highlighted the double standards of the proposal.
“Why doesn’t Proposition O require the city to install signage outside facilities that do abortions to direct women to places where they will be supported in giving birth?” Cordileone asked.
“Why doesn’t it require such facilities to post the same signage announcing that they do not provide the full range of reproductive rights because they only provide abortion and contraception and do not offer life affirming alternatives? Do the authors truly believe in choice?”
Proposition 0, or the San Francisco Reproductive Freedom Act, essentially reiterates many of the related laws that already exist in California to bring them to a local level, while adding the stipulation about the signage as well as regarding a website that will be maintained by the Department of Public Health (DPH).
The website would list pregnancy service centres in the city that provide or offer referrals for abortions or emergency contraception, as well as “limited service pregnancy centres”, which are those that do not. The latter would also be required to have the signs installed outside of the facility.
The measure’s text states: “DPH may install signage outside of limited services pregnancy [centres] in the City to inform the public that those facilities do not provide or offer referrals for abortions or emergency contraception, and to provide information about where those services may be available. DPH may prioritise installing such signage in geographic areas of the City where there is a greater need for abortion or emergency contraception services.”
According to the legal text, DPH would provide so-called limited service pregnancy centers at least 30 days’ written notice before installing the signage. The facility or owner of the premises can file a petition with the Director of Public Health to prevent the signage, however the director’s decision will be final.
“[This] ensures that everyone in our city has the autonomy to make decisions about their reproductive health,” says San Francisco Mayor London Breed. “Passing Prop O is not just about preserving rights; it’s about protecting lives.”
She added: “Comprehensive reproductive care leads to healthier families and communities. Prop O ensures that women and all people who can become pregnant are not forced into dangerous or untenable situations.”
That’s not how the archbishop sees it. Cordileone argues in his 3 October video message that if it becomes law, “Proposition O” would endanger the employees, volunteers, patients and clients of life-affirming state-licensed health clinics, “because by singling out facilities that refuse to perform abortions, it potentially opens them up to abusive behaviour by opponents.”
He adds: “This flies in the face of the measure’s language that states ‘People in San Francisco should always be able to access reproductive health care services free from coercion, threat, violence, or fear’,” while also noting that having babies is something that falls under reproductive health care.
“Both [types of] organisations targeted by ‘Proposition O’ help women, children and the entire family without regard to ability to pay; both are licensed medical facilities,” Cordileone said.
“If we want to create a civil society we must affirm across the board support for human life. That means alternatives to abortion and euthanasia, repealing the death penalty, and working to end all racial and ethnic discrimination.”
The archbishop concludes: “I urge you to vote no on ‘Proposition O’.”
The first pastoral letter issued by the archbishop is takes its title “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you” from Jeremiah 1:5. A summary of the letter notes:
“A young Jeremiah heard the Lord speak these words to him over 2500 years ago. In these times in which we are living, the scourge of abortion ignores the reality that humans are made in the image of God, known and beloved by God. This pastoral letter addresses all Catholics, but especially Catholics in public life, calling for deep reflection on the evil of abortion and on the meaning of receiving Holy Communion, the Bread of Life.”
From the Catholic Herald
Because Democrats are evil. The 45% of so-called “Catholics” who will vote Democrat are also evil. That includes nearly all the old, dying orders of religious sisters and Boomer priests. The damage they have done to the Church is incalculable. Thank you Vatican II not.
I’ve counted the years, and rejoiced as the bad Boomer clerics attain the mandatory retirement age of 75. Next year, 2025, Abp. John Wester (an SF native) born Nov. 5, 1950 will retire. Boomer (also an SF native) Cdl. Robert McElroy, born Feb. 5, 1954, is set for mandatory retirement four years later, in 2029. In 2024, this year, Cdl. Blase Cupich of Chicago, a year older than Wester, born March 19, 1949, is set to retire. He turned age 75 on March 19, and submitted his resignation letter to the pope. Cdl. Joseph Tobin, of the Archdiocese of Newark, NJ, born May 3, 1952, is set to retire in 2027. Cdl. Wilton Gregory, of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., born Dec. 7, 1947, turned age 75 two years ago, in 2022. No sign yet, though, of his impending retirement. Cdl. Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of NY will turn age 75 next year, 2025. He was born on Feb. 6, 1950. Wish Cdl. Christophe Pierre, born Jan. 30, 1946, age 78, would soon be set to retire! He is Apostolic Nuncio to the U.S. Sometimes a pope may delay a prelate’s date of retirement, not yet accepting a prelate’s letter of resignation, asking him to stay on for a certain time period. But ultimately, a bad prelate is not going to be around forever. Cardinals can vote for a new pope until they reach age 80, and that is a fixed age, I think.
Being lax in Church discipline, with poor leadership after Vatican II, is the reason for a great many serious Church problems– including bad Boomer clerics. Unfortunately, it seems that the Catholic Church, before and after Vatican II, has battled clerical sex abuse and cover-up problems– a very serious, criminal problem, that has been going on for a very long time. Scary.
Proposition O has zero credibility.
The Church has an abysmal track record when it comes to supporting or opposing legislation. I’d bet my life savings that this measure will pass.
“Passing Prop O is not just about preserving rights; it’s about protecting lives.” The evil left always assumes the high moral ground with absurdities such as this.
For a good California voters guide for Catholics, I would highly recommend visiting the Facebook page of Fr. Stephanos Pedrano OSB
Signs for Aborion Clinics; “All services are to get you to abort your unborn child”, “We will do everything to not let you see how your unborn child looks at this time”, “we do not care if you are a a victim of sex trafficking”, “sometimes women leave the clinic in a streatcher”, “when you have bleeding and pain after taking the abortion pill do not call us”.
I always think he looks like Mini Me when I see him.
An older Mini Me now.
What do YOU look like???
You read my mind. I so wanted to post several days ago what you did but “hit my hands” and refrained. I was wondering what this person who always posts the same thing about the good archbishop looks like, and it is probably far worse than Mini Me, and a Mini Me Archbishop Cordileone isn’t.
Mini Mind,
Thank you for that deep, thoughtful, relevant comment.
Children are dying and girls and women are being violated and you write about cartoon characters.
You take superficiality to new heights or maybe new shallowness.
Oh, stop the pearl clutching. The measure is going to pass. I hope you don’t think Mini Me’s criticism and opposition will defeat it. Might as well have a good laugh while we watch the effort fail. Otherwise, life is just depressing with how much Christians are losing all the time in California. If you think this will win, you’re going to have high blood pressure caused by your own anger.
I don’t have high blood pressure and won’t. after the election.
Making remarks about someone’s looks is juvenile, inappropriate and disrespectful.
What is your view of this proposition?
The proposition is probably unconstitutional but I predict it will pass with approximately 65% voting “yes”.
The bishop should be realistic and admit that the proposition is very likely to pass. I’d respect him more if he admitted that about where he lives.
Actually, the ability to notice resemblances requires a highly active, perceptive mind that remembers details and makes connections between things that most people don’t realize until it’s pointed out to them.
Don’t vote for corrupt, Culture of Death Mayor London Breed, either. Almost all political candidates in SF are Democrats. Sickening.
I call Kamala Harris “Dingbat,” and Tim Walz, “Meathead.” Dumber-than-dumb, Democrat liberals, backed all the way by evil Planned Parenthood’s so-called “women’s lib,” promiscuity, birth control and baby-killing empire. That is their main political focus, for their Presidential campaign, for America. Stupid, sickening, evil, corrupt– and totally ridiculous.
If Kamala wins, I will never vote again. If America is so stupid to elect that dingbat as president, then America is past its expiration date.
People need to lighten up.