Honorary Committee for archbishop filled with Church enemies

As Archbishop George Niederauer prepares to lay down the burdens of his episcopacy, he is receiving many thanks. On Saturday, April 28, Catholic Charities Catholic Youth Organization of San Francisco honored the archbishop at its 2012 Loaves and Fishes dinner.

As soon Archbishop Niederauer arrived in San Francisco in 2006, he had to deal with the same-sex adoptions fiasco, caused by the youth organization’s placing of children in same-sex households. That mess didn’t get cleaned up until 2009 – but it was not the only headache the group caused the archbishop during his years in San Francisco. 

At its 2008 Loaves and Fishes dinner, the Catholic Charities youth group honored George Marcus. In 2004, Marcus had given $50,000 to Proposition 71, which authorized public funding for embryonic stem-cell research. In 2005-06 Marcus gave $125,000 to oppose initiatives that provided for parental notification when minors seek an abortion. California’s bishops opposed Proposition 71 and favored the parental notification initiatives.

In 2007 and 2008, a transvestite and homosexual activist named “Donna Sachet” made news by appearing as the entertainer at Catholic Charities events.

The honorary committee for this year’s Loaves and Fishes dinner included Brian Cahill, immediate past executive director of Catholic Charities Catholic Youth Organization. On April 27, just one day before the dinner honoring the archbishop, the San Francisco Chronicle published a column by Cahill titled, “U.S. Nuns Deserved Support.” In the column. Cahill condemned the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for their recent crackdown on the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, an organization whose departures from Catholicism have been thoroughly documented. Cahill wrote that “the word bully comes to mind” and said of the bishops, “It is becoming increasingly obvious to many Catholics that these ‘men only’ club members are not in control, are not relevant and have lost their moral authority.”

The April 27 column was not the first time Cahill’s dissident opinions have appeared in the Chronicle. In a Feb. 21 Chronicle column, Cahill attacked the bishops for their opposition to the recent HHS mandate.

Other members of the honorary committee included Sen. Diane Feinstein, who has never in her senatorial career received anything less than a 100 percent approval rating from Planned Parenthood. Only four times, since 1995 has Feinstein received a less than 100 percent rating from the Human Rights Campaign, the most powerful homosexual lobbying organization in the country. Of those four times her lowest approval rating was 75 percent. Feinstein also voted to table the Blunt Amendment, which would have provided conscience protections under Obamacare. In 2010, Feinstein called the ruling of Judge Vaughn Walker, which declared Proposition 8 unconstitutional and invalidated the votes of a majority of Californians, “very good news.” Archbishop Niederauer was one of the major players in the passage of Prop 8 – even earning a “pink brick” negative award from the organizers of San Francisco’s gay pride parade in 2009.

On the same dinner committee was San Francisco Supervisor Malia Cohen, who introduced an ordinance restricting freedom of speech at San Francisco’s crisis pregnancy centers, First Resort and the Alpha Pregnancy Center. That ordinance, passed 10-1, is currently being challenged in court. The webpage of the Office of Public Policy and the Office of Social Concerns of the Archdiocese of San Francisco currently carries the banner, “Support our Crisis Pregnancy Centers against San Francisco’s Attempted Free Speech Attacks.”

San Francisco supervisors David Campos, David Chiu, Carmen Chu, Sean Elsbernd, Mark Farrell and Jane Kim were on the honorary committee. Elsbernd cast the only vote against Cohen’s ordinance. All of them have expressed their support for “abortion rights” and same-sex “marriage” – two moral issues Pope Benedict has declared “non-negotiable” for Catholics.

The rest of the members of the honorary committee included San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, who kicked off the city’s 2011 Transgender March, the city’s police and fire chiefs, and Fr. Stephen Privett, SJ, president of the heterodox University of San Francisco.

 

READER COMMENTS

Posted Tuesday, May 01, 2012 12:21 AM By Dan
I love the Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis. Therein he counsels against receiving honor from those who would flatter, or seek favor by flattery, and in general calls for devout souls to do just the opposite, to fly from fame and notoriety. He should have declined the invitation, and used the occasion to give reasons why.

Posted Tuesday, May 01, 2012 12:47 AM By Kenneth M. Fisher
From what I have seen and witnessed from Niederauer’s reign, If I were his spiritual advisor, I would tell him to find an obscure, strict, orthodox Monastery and go there for the rest of his life to ask God to forgive him for his sins of both commission and omission! God bless, yours in Their Hearts, Kenneth M. Fisher

Posted Tuesday, May 01, 2012 5:44 AM By Canisius
Coming from this “diocese” is anyone really that surprised

Posted Tuesday, May 01, 2012 6:30 AM By St. Christopher
Yes — the good bishop is just like Jesus, dining with Romans, Sanhedrin and Pharisees. What a complete and utter failure as bishop, and in a place and at a time when the Church needed someone to simply stand up in the public square and quietly say, “enough”. Instead, Bishop Niederauer was busy giving communion to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and the like, and being completely tone deaf to the moral scandal in his own Church (and true needs of the community in his charge). Until the Church stops such men as this from being bishop and appoints men who are faithful to the Magisterium, including the Pope, this type of behavior will continue. Of course, the Bishop should decline this dinner and say why, publicly. Too tough for many bishops to do this, as they were raised to be soft and feminine, when what was needed is a shepherd, one who does not run when the wolf arrives to find a meal among the sheep.

Posted Tuesday, May 01, 2012 6:56 AM By Marie Searles
Let’s make it clear that those radical anti-Catholic/anti-life individuals honoring the archbishop are enemies of the Catholic Church, but apparently not enemies of the archbishop.

Posted Tuesday, May 01, 2012 7:21 AM By MacDonald
Archbishop Niederauer must be REALLY looking forward to retirement. His many years as Bishop of Salt Lake City were a breeze compared to this place, where everything is a hot button issue. His heart problems flared up again recently, forcing him to miss the “ad limina” visit with the Holy Father, the last one he would have enjoyed before retirement. Every nut case is attacking him for what he said, didn’t say, did, failed to do, or simply for the Church he represents as Vicar of Christ in his Archdiocese (as the Catechism calls it). Some vandals have even spray-painted swastikas on Most Holy Redeemer Church in the Castro, attacking his (and the Holy Father’s) German heritage to compare them to Nazis, saying: “Niederauer and Ratzinger – where is the love?” I hope Archbishop Niederauer gets to enjoy a peaceful retirement soon, far from the nuttiness that this archdiocese pushes upon the faithful: including our bishops and priests, nuns, sisters, brothers, and laity!!!

Posted Tuesday, May 01, 2012 7:46 AM By Elizabeth
As I pray for the AB everyday…… This is the reason we need an ORTHODOX new Archbishop and one that doesn’t have ANY TIES to San Francisco and will CLEAN HOUSE. Please EVERYONE pray for the archdiocese of San Francisco!!!

Posted Tuesday, May 01, 2012 8:30 AM By Fr. Richard Perozich
Cardinal Oulette will have to vet some younger priests with strong character and the ability to “set their faces like flint” in order to recapture the faith for San Francisco.

Posted Tuesday, May 01, 2012 8:31 AM By Dan
Talk about mixed messages, the Jesuits are awarding honorary degrees at USF to Lynn Woolsey and Goodwin Liu. Honoring these two pro-abort and pro-hmoxexual marriage stalwarts, the Jesuits are once again thumbing their nose at the faith. What kind of protest shall we hear from Archbishop Niederauer, now that he has been honored by the same crowd at Loaves and Fishes?

Posted Tuesday, May 01, 2012 9:07 AM By Peggy
Elizabeth, do you want to bet that the next AB will be McElroy?

Posted Tuesday, May 01, 2012 9:17 AM By ldc
I agree with all, I know as a cradle practicing Roman Catholic that we cannot ‘fight’ or ‘judge’…but the Bishop should have denied the invitation like one of the previous commentator suggested and take the opportunity to give the REASON why not…PREACH THE FAITH that he and we well know, as for the other ‘nut-case’, no I don’t think they are nuts the devil knows what he is doing, like Obama, DIVISION…if that was not the case they can leave the Catholic Church and go to the many others that are there…BUT OH NO THEY HAVE TO COME TO THE TRUTH, TO THE STRONGEST, I say pray for this is not over nor the end, this is the beginning of a rough year, we can try and make a difference come November 2012. God Bless our Country, and may our Blessed Mother be at our side always, PRAY…!!! Thursday is National Day of Prayer, pray from whenever you are let us just unite in prayer wherever you are driving, walking, cooking….etc. lift our hearts to Him.

Posted Tuesday, May 01, 2012 9:34 AM By max
Kenneth M. Fisher : your comments abouty the need to be “orhtodfox” are a big laugh, given sthe fact you attned a parish that is not in communion with the Roman CAtholic Church, and your pastoar is not even considered a real priest by the Roman CAtholic Church. I’vae read all about the INDEPENDENT aprarish you attend, and you are the one who should be asking GOD to forgive you for you sins in choosing a parihxsh that is not trulya Catholic!

Posted Tuesday, May 01, 2012 9:47 AM By Ron
Google “the refusal Niederauer” and watch the YouTube made by the SJMS.

Posted Tuesday, May 01, 2012 10:04 AM By Maryanne Leonard
MacDonald, thank you for a great post. I have met Archbishop Niederauer and attended his lectures at seminary and have to say he is a good man and a scholar. I have never met the man who is up to the task of changing the Archdiocese of San Francisco with its Most Holy Redeemer Church and others. I have often wondered if being appointed to this archdiocese, where the most dastardly crime possible was perpetrated against me in the 1960’s, yes, on church property, is a mark of remarkable confidence in a single human being or a cursed yoke that could kill a good man before he had a chance to retire. I admire Archbishop Niederauer as a good and kind human being, but I wouldn’t wish that archdiocese on anyone. So many of its glorious landmark institutions, including churches and hospitals, have been defiled beyond redemption by mere mortals. It will take the Holy Spirit of God to save this tragically corrupted, completely ungovernable archdiocese, a shameful scourge on the American Catholic Church. Its shame cannot be explained away by merely looking to its historical roots in a wildly sinful San Francisco of the 1800’s or its huge population of scandelous sinners actively working to destroy the leadership and spiritual architecture of the archdiocese. This archdiocese has been infected by evil so broadly that we cry to the Lord to save it from itself, as we have failed so honorably and so miserably.

Posted Tuesday, May 01, 2012 10:41 AM By Doc Mugwump
We cannot judge the heart of this bishop; but also we can heed the words of Christ, “By their fruits you shall know them.” Am relieved, … yes relieved he is retiring. Pope Benedict XVI will be in charge of appointing a new Archbishop. Pray that this new man is a Good Shepherd and not a wolf in sheeo’s clothing.

Posted Tuesday, May 01, 2012 10:48 AM By Abeca Christian
Fancy this, we expect His excellency to clean house when the majority of the Catholics there are heretical, who knows how many threats he received that caused him to lead with fear or he just doesn’t really understand the real issues facing that area and rather would ignore it. If only the people would unite in a peaceful protest every time they had a scandal coming from that area. We may see better improvements. I think everyone is afraid or there isn’t enough with the convictions to stand up for what they believe in. There are still faithful living there but probably just a few and that few is what is saving San Fransisco from the wrath it deserves!

Posted Tuesday, May 01, 2012 11:01 AM By pjdjmj
When the Bishop was appointed I looked up his record, It was not good. As with many Bishops, I want to know who was recommending them. We need to get rid of the person(s) foisting them off on us. The SF Diocese should have put a stop to the CYO’s pro-Sodomite stance before it started. Why was Cahill allowed to run anything Cathlic especially one concerning on children? Our Church has had big problems for many years with many in power pushing their own religion. Years ago there was one Bishop in Lincoln, Nebraska who was actually a holy Priest – a real Catholic. Of course, he was ignored and ridiculed by the rest. This all brings to mind the old saying, “The Irish are Catholic in spite of the Church”. It applies to America also. Read Fr. Malachy Martin’s books. VatII obviously was a big error.

Posted Tuesday, May 01, 2012 12:20 PM By Pauline
If anyone has recommendations on the type of Bishop needed in their Diocese, they should write to the US Papal Nuncio and state the reasons why. Thank goodness that the Pope accepted the mandatory age retirement of both Niederauer and Mahoney, rather than asking them to continue. No one need pay attention to them any longer. Many Souls may have been lost under their leadership which caused Scandal, and lack of upholding the teachings of the Church which are stated in the CCC.

Posted Tuesday, May 01, 2012 1:04 PM By Samuel
What a messs! I would not agree to become a Bishop for a trillion dollars — not that anyone has offered me the chance. I of5ten read ABUSE TRACKER and am constantly amazined by how many people (priests, lay people, minisst3ers, nuns, ravbbis, imams, etc.) are abusing people, stealing money and doing God knoww s what else. As a Bishop you are supposed to keep a clean house,a but it would send me to an early grave even trying this job for ONE DAY. Every loony in the church does their own thing and thinks they are serving God beter by being inclusive, or whatever.

Posted Tuesday, May 01, 2012 2:45 PM By whhaiber
Max: Leave Kenneth M. Fisher alone and get spell check. My guess that Kenneth M. Fisher will stand before God on Judgement Day in better shape that Bishop Niederauer!

Posted Tuesday, May 01, 2012 4:16 PM By Dr. K
We must pray for a Holy and Courageous Archbishop to replace Niederauer, someone on the order of Bishop Vasa of Santa Rosa. Unfortunately, many Bishops have been corrupted by money and have compromised principles to obtain easy Govt. money. In fact this Banquet of “Fishes & Loaves” is a fundraiser itself. Need I say more? PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!

Posted Tuesday, May 01, 2012 4:19 PM By Jimmy Mac
How could you have missed Scoobey Doo? I was sitting behind him in the 3rd row, center. He was wearing the satanic wig with a small tasteful trident in his claws.

Posted Tuesday, May 01, 2012 5:27 PM By Dana
Samuel, with God all things are possible! Bishops are not supposed to make big decisions on their own, but with much prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Our beloved Pope Benedict is such an example of one who lives his daily life in prayer. Don’t you think that’s what the saints teach us? But do we listen? (smile) If God calls you to something great, He won’t leave you without the tools to do it.

Posted Tuesday, May 01, 2012 5:43 PM By Dana
Pauline, not one of us, no not ONE when we face final judgment will be able to blame a bishop, a priest or anyone else for our sins. We have only ourselves to thank for them and only we will face the consequences. It is good when we have a strong shepherd, I agree, but when we don’t we still have to use self-discipline, prayer, love and forgiveness in our daily lives. Frankly, I’m shocked at the mean-spirited, judgmental, unloving attitudes towards the priests and bishops by the many of the people who contribute to these posts. We’re even called to love our enemies, let alone those who try to guide and love us. I pray for my bishop everyday and I feel much closer to him and can better understand what sadness and frustration he must feel sometimes. The world is getting so hateful to the Church and it’s getting worse everyday. We must really strive to love one another as Jesus calls us to do. And keep praying for God’s will to be done in San Francisco.

Posted Tuesday, May 01, 2012 5:51 PM By JLS
Pope Benedict XVI gives the one word qualification for bishop: Become holy. Why did he recently request they become holy? Wouldn’t that be a given? Why is such a condition of being holy ever in need of a reminder by a pope to all bishops? The hierarchy needs to begin drawing candidates from some totally nuther pool … because the one they’ve got them from for decades is a poisoned well.

Posted Tuesday, May 01, 2012 5:55 PM By JLS
Vatican II may have been the best God was able to do with the particular bishops running it. At least its documents do not clearly state something opposed to doctrine … maybe the vagueness of the V2 documents reflects God’s intervention in what otherwise could have been way worse. Can you see what I’m driving at? Maybe God made the best that could have been wrought of an abysmal situation.

Posted Tuesday, May 01, 2012 5:59 PM By JLS
Maryanne, another that is “good and kind” is a lump on a log, not to mention a whited wall. Have you ever noticed how pleasant and peaceful is a whited wall, especially one filled with dead men’s bones? Dead souls do not rock boats, nor do they right the ones that are rocking either.

Posted Tuesday, May 01, 2012 6:23 PM By JLS
Good report, Jimmy Mac, but tell us what you were on at the time. Were they serving witches brew?

Posted Tuesday, May 01, 2012 9:22 PM By Cody in Tucson
Kenneth – Since Patrick Zieman has passed on there is probably an empty room at the monastery in St David Az. I’m not sure the place is “strict, orthodox” as you require, but we all know that it is in a diocese that is lead by a bishop that proclaimed to you that he is “orthodox”. Don’t we all need a good laugh once in a while on this website?

Posted Wednesday, May 02, 2012 1:12 AM By pjdjmj
JLS – VATII was/is an unholy mess. I’m not going to blame God. Scared. You can if you want. Dana – Perhaps your diocese is an exception and your Bishop is actually holy. Years ago we had a holy, intelligent and kind Cardinal. Loud, unholy, worldly Bishops, Priests and Nuns drove him to his death. He used to quietly take days off in our Parish – at that time we had a Parish Priest who had the same qualities. God and Mary bless their souls.

Posted Wednesday, May 02, 2012 6:03 AM By Sandra
As I pray for the AB everyday…… This is the reason we need an ORTHODOX new Archbishop and one that doesn’t have ANY TIES to San Francisco and will CLEAN HOUSE. Please EVERYONE pray for the archdiocese of San Francisco!!! (Amen Elizabeth)

Posted Wednesday, May 02, 2012 6:12 AM By St. Christopher
“JLS”: That is a brilliant thought — Perhaps Vatican II and its implementation were limited in their adverse effect by the Holy Ghost. After all, Christ had to suffer humiliation and death, something not understandable to human beings, so perhaps out of the ashes, so to speak, something more glorious and certain will be created.

Posted Wednesday, May 02, 2012 6:47 AM By Dana
That was a good post Maryanne, and I agree. He was not only a force for good but also was a tremendous influence on getting Prop 8 passed…no small thing! I read his bio today, and he has a Phd in English literature besides all his work in Theology etc. I think he was grossly under appreciated and you’re all going to miss him when he’s gone.

Posted Wednesday, May 02, 2012 7:33 AM By max
@ whhaiber…sorry i’m not the best typiest, but what i wrote about Kenneth M. Fisher attending a btreak-away parish is accurate and NOT a good sign of orrthodoxy. how can a person claim to uphold the ROMAN CATHOLIC FAITH and chooose a parish that ia not Roamnan Cathlic??? i’ve read up about the adifferent groups that call themselvbses “INDEPENDENT CATHOLICS” AND they all have obne thing in common: they ignore the Magistierum, they set themselves up as knowing better than the pope (whether they are from the right or the left), and they mislead the faithful by CLAIIMING to be Catholic in terms of wedddigs, Sunday Masses, and aso on and so forth. I think the Holy Father in Rome shoul dtry to get a “patent” for the word CATHO0LIC s every Tom, dick and Harry can’t co-opt this word!!!

Posted Wednesday, May 02, 2012 11:08 AM By Pauline
Dana, you are right that we can only blame ourselves if we do not read a CATHOLIC BIBLE and the “CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, Second Edition” from the Magisterium. CCC: ” 1791 This ignorance can often be imputed to personal responsibility. This is the case when a man takes little trouble to find out what is true and good, or when conscience is by degrees almost blinded through the habit of committing sin. In such cases, the person is culpable for the evil he commits.” Also according to the CCC – the Bishops main job is to teach. They must impart that reading of Bible and CCC is required reading or the ignorance in the USA is our own fault. Also, we and the Bishops can be held accountable for the sins of others under certain circumstances – please see CCC ” 1868 Sin is a personal act. Moreover, we have a responsibility for the sins committed by others when we cooperate in them: – by participating directly and voluntarily in them; – by ordering, advising, praising, or approving them; – by not disclosing or not hindering them when we have an obligation to do so; – by protecting evil-doers.” Bishops have a bigger obligation that the rest of us.

Posted Wednesday, May 02, 2012 3:31 PM By Kenneth M. Fisher
A Bishop’s Robes are RED for one reason, they are supposed to be willing to shed their blood for Christ and His Church! Archbishop Khai told me that many times. By the way, he knew where I was attending Mass even when he presented me to Pope John Paul II as his Personal American Secretary! To answer another question, it was most probably Cdl. Mahony who was instrumental in putting Neiderauer into Sad Francisco. God bless, yours in Their Hearts, Kenneth M. Fisher

Posted Wednesday, May 02, 2012 3:38 PM By Kenneth M. Fisher
9:22 PM By Cody in Tucson, I could recommend a wonderful Maronite Retreat House in South Dakota! You can even see Mount Rushmore from there! God bless, yours in Their Hearts, Kenneth M. Fisher

Posted Wednesday, May 02, 2012 3:43 PM By Kenneth M. Fisher
1:12 AM By pjdjmj, It sounds like you are writing about our beloved late Cardinal Mcyntire! God bless, yours in Their Hearts, Kenneth M. Fisher

Posted Wednesday, May 02, 2012 3:49 PM By whhaiber
Max: I am sort of a student of the Catholic Traditionalist Movement. I am aware of the whole spectrum of adherants of the Tridentine Latin Mass from parishes in full communion with Rome (e.g. St. Anne’s in San Diego of the Fraternity of St. Peter where I attend Mass) through to Sedevacantism and to Conclavism (groups that have elected there own (Anti)Popes and where I would draw the line and not attend). I personally believe our present Holy Father is a valid Pope (as was his predecessors John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul I and II), however the litugical abuses of the Mass, “gay” parishes, woman “priests”, and the other horrors that Vatican II has wrought, I don’t blame Mr. Fisher for attending an “independent” Catholic parish. I would attend such a parish if my Diocese did not permit the TLM. I don’t know which parish it is but my belief it is more faithful to the Magisterium and definitely more orthodox than Most Holy Redeemer Church if SF!!! You go Ken!!

Posted Wednesday, May 02, 2012 3:56 PM By max
KENNETH M. FISHER, who is this Archbishop Khai you are always talking aboutt? it semes like his name appears every other day when you are posting.kk I’VE met the Holy Father in person, too, but at least dj I attend a REAL Cahtolic parish, not some breakway place that calls itself “independent” Makes youi wonder…INDEPENDENT FROM WHOM? the Holy See? the Pope? the Magistierum?

Posted Wednesday, May 02, 2012 4:04 PM By JLS
So, max, you take it upon yourself to declare the relationship of Kenneth’s parish to God? I thought that was a papal function.

Posted Wednesday, May 02, 2012 4:06 PM By JLS
pjdjmj, like some other bloggers, you do not seem to have the skill to read a post for what it says, and instead you substitute your best or wildest guess. Try reading both of my posts on this point, and slowly, use a dictionary if necessary, use a grammar if necessary, ask someone else to explain to you what it says. But how do you justify twisting it?