On June 11 – two days before the feast of St. Anthony of Padua – San Francisco’s St. Anthony Foundation shocked San Francisco Catholics with the announcement that they will be marching in the city’s 2013 gay pride parade. The announcement reads: “Walk with St. Anthony’s in the SF Pride Parade! On Sunday, June 30th, St. Anthony Foundation will be marching for the first time in our history in the San Francisco Pride Parade. We’re looking forward to celebrating the theme of ‘Embrace, Encourage, Empower!’ The parade starts at Market & Beale and ends at Market & 8th Street in downtown San Francisco.”
The St. Anthony Foundation, originally known as St. Anthony’s Dining Room, was founded in San Francisco in 1950 by Father Alfred Boeddeker, OFM, pastor of St. Boniface’s Church. Its purpose was to serve free meals to the poor “in an ordinary restaurant-like setting.” St. Boniface is located at 133 Golden Gate Avenue, in the city’s Tenderloin district. The current St. Anthony Foundation is immediately adjacent to the church, at 150 Golden Gate Avenue.
Although originally Catholic, the foundation is no longer institutionally connected to the archdiocese of San Francisco. It has, however, received many donations from faithful Catholic organizations and individuals. Parishes have taken up special collections to help St. Anthony’s. To this day many obituaries in the Bay Area include a request that “donations be made to St. Anthony’s Dining Room.” It has been a regular stop by archdiocesan students earning service hours. Approximately half of the dining room’s 9,000 annual volunteers have been Bay Area high school students, many of whom are from Catholic schools.
There is still a significant Franciscan presence on St. Anthony’s board of directors: five of the 17 board members are Franciscans: Father Garrett Galvan, OFM; Brother Jeff McNab, OFM; Brother James Swan, OFM; Brother Robert Valentine, OFM; and Sister Sheral Marshall, OSF. The board’s chairwoman, Suzanne B. Swift, is a former vice-president of Catholic Charities of San Francisco.
According to her biographical listing on the St. Anthony’s Board page, Sister Marshal serves on the advisory board for Catholic San Francisco through the archdiocesan Office of Public Policy. In their May 28 issue Catholic San Francisco, the newspaper of the archdiocese of San Francisco, published a column by Sulpician Father Gerald Coleman which celebrated the decision of basketball player Jason Collins to “come out” about his homosexuality. The column was republished in the June 12 issue of CalCatholic.
Ok everyone send this article to: Most Rev. Salvatore J. Cordileone
One Peter Yorke Way
San Francisco 94109
Ph: (415) 614-5500 Fax (415) 614-5601
His office can provide an email address.
Per the Motu Proprio “ON THE SERVICE OF CHARITY” –
“Article 9. – § 3. It is the duty of the diocesan Bishop and the respective parish priests to see that in this area the faithful are not led into error or misunderstanding; hence they are to prevent publicity being given through parish or diocesan structures to initiatives which, while presenting themselves as charitable, propose choices or methods at odds with the Church’s teaching. “
Wow this is truly disappointing and a disgrace. Coming out to this parade is activism for the gay pride cause. God have mercy. It’s a shame. I see that more and more people sell their souls to the devil and it’s tricks.
Poor Fr. Boedekker, who I had the great grace to know and work with at one time, must be aghast as he watches this travesty from a better realm.
I wonder if Archbishop Salvatore Joseph Cordileone will do about it.
I am sure that he, and his staff, knew about it before anything was published – So, we can only assume that he will do nothing –
Did you read the story carefully? Did you see this part:
“Although originally Catholic, the foundation is no longer institutionally connected to the archdiocese of San Francisco.”
So what do you expect the archbishop to do? He has no authority over the St. Anthony Foundation. About all he can do officially is express his outrage — that’s about it. He has no power to stop this travesty. So lay off this faithful archbishop! Some of you are asking the impossible and using it to bash a good bishop.
You are right Wm. Hamilton. However, the Bishop can exercise his authority over the five Franciscans, the one Sister, and their Superiors. Also, the Bishop could greatly influence donations flowing into the foundation by withholding his support; although that is highly unlikely.
Hami, you failed to read the fine print in the article. This non-Catholic feeding trough is run by Catholic clergy, and a woman on its board is also connected to the diocesan paper. Catholic parishes collect money for this gay feed the poor operation. Wonder why the organization cut its legal ties to the archdiocese … to carry on its gay agenda while keeping out of reach of the archbishop … extremely shrewd and deceptive.
Then why does he not express his outrage ? – I would expect the AB to do something rather than just ignore the situation –
@Wm. Hamilton
Last I checked, the board is packed with Catholic Clergy and religious.
The Bishop can do something about it. Or remove the Catholic Clergy from the board, for the sake of their souls.
The SF gay brigaydes and Amb Kerry are throwing the gauntlet directly in the face of the Pope and faithful bishops. God will answer them in due time.
Well, If ever the Archbishop of San Francisco needed an opportunity to teach what Catholics can or cannot do in the name of the Holy Mother Church, through actions, this is it.
Its time for the Lion of Saint Didacus to show his colors.
Gay parade problem? how about Irish IRA assassins and bomb throwing terrorists in St Patrick’s parade in SF and NYC?? sometimes as Grand marshals..
Well, friscoeddie, you’ve certainly managed to juxtapose two extremes, one being intrinsically evil and the other being a judgment call.
So terror bombing and assassinations are not intrinsically evil????????
you comments are a danger and getting mor dangerous my age is 74 but i am not afraid to speak out againt the extreme comments
I just received a mailing from them. They are trying to raise $22,000,000 for a new dining room and service center. It will also be set up to serve as an emergency shelter / feeding station for all in the event of a major quake, WMD attack etc. This new facility will be a blessing to the least of God’s people. If they want to invite gays to contribute to this campaign by being in the parade, I have no objection as long as they don’t have go-go boys dancing on a float throwing condoms.
Greg you dance with the devil once…it is never OK.
Ever seen a Deer at a Lions Dance?
I hate to tell you Greg Smith, but far worse goes on at these parades than just throwing condoms. Has it ever occurred to you that they might get more money if they do not attend this parade? They will lose far more than they will gain — their eternal souls. One does not tempt God and get away with it.
Anne ~ I don’t think God will condem the St. Anthony’s leaders for associating with sinners in the process of doing corporal works of mercy. After all, His Son did pretty much the same thing.
Dear Greg Smith:
You are deceiving yourself and others with a misplaced compassion. Jesus associated with sinners in order to bring them to repentance and conversion — so that they may STOP SINNING, or, as Our Lord put it, the physician came in order to heal those who are sick, NOT to leave them in their sickness. The same can be said regarding our Lord’s forgiveness of the adulterous woman when others dragged her out in order to stone her. Our Lord Jesus Christ did not deny that she sinned, and, in fact, in the end He told her to go and sin no more. His point was that her fellow sinners did not recognize their own sins and were thus condemning themselves even while they condemned her, whereas He, the sinless One, chose to be merciful and thus forgave her. The problem now is that many people, even though they are sinners, refuse to recognize that there is sin. Jesus Christ came in order to atone for our sins and to raise us up, not to leave us “as we are”. All Catholic Christians, and others, need to take the blinders off. Jesus Christ did not simply “party” with sinners. By participating in that parade, “St. Anthony’s leaders” are shouting out their approval, and reveling in it. They will also have to render an account for that after death. Let us hope and pray that may wake up and repent.
Anne and Catholicus: My understanding from studying with the Paulists, is that we start evangelizing by meeting people “where they are.” I suppose that means both physical location and psychologicly and spiritually. That means , it seems to me, that we can’t sit back in our churches and wait for them to come to us, nor that we can focus on one type sin that they might have committed which we haven’t.. In the case of the parade, the sheer numbers mean that the majority of people there are hetrosexuals.
Oh, Anne – I’ve been to one. The most raunchy things were a few go-go boys with thongs leaving little to the imagination and the topless ladies on motorcycles. St Anthony’s puts some of the best of Catholicisim forward to every audience, sinners though they (and we) may be.
Greg Smith, You talk as if Catholicism is some kind of political party or social club, that the Catholic brand will be enhanced by St. Anthony’s marching. Is not the purpose of any parade to support the theme of the parade? By marching, St Anthony’s are giving the impression that homosexuality is acceptable and Catholics should celebrate such behavior. Would you be OK with St. Anthony’s marching in a nazi parade, an abortion-rights parade or any parade which stands in opposition to Catholic Teachings? (The lavender commentors can take a breath; I’m not equating gay with nazi). This parade is a side show and St. Anthony’s participation creates confusion, harms the Faithful and brings scandal upon the Church.
Greg, there are no corporal works of mercy going down at this event. What a deceptive crock of dino dump you’re trying to sell!!
Skai – It isn’t that simple. The Works of Mercy may not occur there, however their presence at the event may garner support witch makes more and better Works of Mercy possible. This is a major SF event and remember most people watching from the street or on TV aren’t homosexual.
Why are they doing this? Is it to gain greater donations even as they will lose some?
caroline, it’s what gays do; they attack God.
Oooooh beauuutiful…get a load of this charmer, with white face-paint…looks like a ghoul from the day of the dead celebration in mexico…”gays” love to parrot all forms of sinister archetypes…devils, banshees, ghouls, witch’s…often their flesh is desecrated with hideous tattoos, that are a visual reminder just how twisted and disordered this revolting subculture is…demonic faces, horns, numeric symbols of evil pentagrams etc., frequently adorn the shameless frame of these evildoers…
“…get a load of this charmer.”
FYI – this is one of the ‘twysted systerz – of perpetual indulgence’ – A male drag queen group that acts out a grotesque mockery of the Catholic Church – often with the assistance of alleged ‘catholics’ (small ‘c’) – and who are idolized by the media:
SEE: Niederauer’s Apology Covers for Sodomy at MHR Parish – by Gary Morella
The following is the full text of the apology of Archbishop George Niederauer for giving Communion on October 7 to two homosexual men dressed as nuns – members of the “Sisters of Indulgence” – at Most Holy Redeemer Parish. This apology, which was posted online October 12, will be published October 19 in the Catholic San Francisco.
https://www.traditioninaction.org/HotTopics/a02z_004_Apology_Morella.html
& Life and Death in a ‘Gay’ Parish – by Randy Engel
Most Holy Redeemer Church lays just a few blocks from the center of San Francisco’s notorious homosexual Castro District with its strip of gay bars and porn houses. The area just across and up the street from the church where the church convent used to be is a favorite cruising ground for area “gays.” Today the parish is Catholic in name only. But this was not always the case…
– The sisters of perpetual indulgence
In late October 2006, all of the moral putrefaction that had been festering for years at Most Holy Redeemer came to a head with the discovery that the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, an organization of homosexual drag queens nationally known for their anti-Catholic and blasphemous parodies, had signed a lease with Fr. Meriwether for the rental of the large parish hall located under the main sanctuary of the church for charity bingo…
https://www.traditioninaction.org/HotTopics/a02xAlert_MFR_Engel.html
& –
It’s demonic pure and simple…it mock’s the Church and encourages sodomy…comes from the devil senor…pure and simple…
Michael – The Tradition in Action site is based on the belief that the last 4 popes were not popes but antipopes. Much of it is hostile to Pope Francis.
Greg, some of these things were reported on other sites, too, although probably not in the exact same way. I think William Donahue of the Catholic League brought out some of these happenings also, so it was not just The Tradition In Action site that mentioned them. Most or all of these things really did happen at that time. I think Cal Catholic reported some of them too. Also, I had a friend who was stuck in traffic in SF when coming from the North at about that time who was appalled at what she saw — acts by topless lesbians of masochism right out in the open. Things done by homosexual men were even worse and unmentionable. I think it has since been confined to Castro Street. I even read when the parades first started in SF an article by a San Francisco policeman in the Examiner, or one of the SF newspapers, that he felt he should be arresting many of those involved in the parade and other areas instead of guarding the them. More than likely that police officer lost his job for even writing that, or eventually quit or went elsewhere. It has been very decadent in the past. There is no doubt about that. Some of the people from Holy Redeemer were attending those parades. I am not sure everything posted happened at Holy Redeemer, but it was getting pretty bad. You can probably find past article on line. Look up some of it on the Catholic League.
And, Greg, Catherine’s post at 11;30 am is right. Our Lord went to dinner — dinner not decadent parties — sometimes in order to convert people not to confirm them in their sins. And remember the Lord was God incarnate, he could not sin, but we can and have to be careful where we go at times, or we can end up approving or doing the very same sins.
Greg, I was NOT saying that the same horribly decadent behavior that took place in the parades also took place at the church, I want to make that clear. Some vulgar things took place when they rented the hall, but it was not as bad as in the parade from what I read.
Just do a search on CalCatholic, especially the old archived site, and you will see that there is plenty on this site about MHR, too — all the way back to when the Archdiocese of San Francisco kicked out the drag queen nuns from the parish hall.
Greg – I put the links up because they had ‘beautiful’ color pictures of the drag queens trashing the Mass.
I don’t mind if the moderator wants to take them down, I can probably find other pictures – although these were the easiest links.
I Support Pope Francis – and have Long Admired ‘Benedict the Wise’
Michael – Are you referring to the two guys in Comidia ‘del Arte costumes who went to AB Niederhour’s mass at MHR back in 2005?
Very sad, I firmly believe, that the Saint Anthony Foundation would take part in the Gay Pride Parade.
There is so much vulgarity and exhibitionism, from what I’ve read, that it seems incredible any Catholic organization would want to associate itself with this mess.
If you want to help homeless people, great — but don’t sell drugs on the street corner.
If you want to help folks with AIDS, great — but don’t prance around in a gay parade.
If you want to pray for victims of gang violence on the streets of San Francisco, great — but don’t wear gang colors or glorify violence.
These depraved savages, indulge in the most shocking, bestial perversion’s imaginable…sodomy, blood, fisting…”salad tossing”…you name it!…these savages are down for anything…
Adamantine, that’s one helluva insult to savages.
ROTFLOL!…you got that right!
Wm. Hamilton is correct that St Anthony’s Foundation is now basically a secular institution. Little by little, the Franciscans went in the direction of making St. Anthony’s what it is today, and I contend it was always intended so that some day it could be used by other forces. We have seen it with “Catholic” hospitals and universities and schools…and we never seem to wise up.
These ‘Franciscans’ If this was their intetion are wolfs of the worst kind.
Bravo St. Anthony’s! In the name of the Catholic church that teaches tolerance, love and acceptance I am surprised that many of the comments here are anything but tolerant, loving or accepting.
I wish some of the detractors would use their energy to solving the real sins that are around us today- the lack of proper food, clothing, shelter, health care, affordable housing, access to recovery programs etc.- that St. Anthony’s has committed itself to addressing.
If anyone is familiar with the prayer of St. Francis I would highlight one sentence: “Where there is hatred, let me sow love.”
Very well said indeed Eddie. Excellent thoughts, expressed with true love in your heart.
Eddie here are some quotes that you can reflect on:
Love is not tolerance
By BISHOP FULTON J. SHEEN
Christian love bears evil, but it does not tolerate it
It does penance for the sins of others, but it is not broadminded about sin.
The cry for tolerance never induces it to quench its hatred of the evil philosophies that have entered into contest with the Truth.
It forgives the sinner, and it hates the sin; it is unmerciful to the error in his mind.
The sinner it will always take back into the bosom of the Mystical Body;
but his lie will never be taken into the treasury of His Wisdom.
Real love involves real hatred:
whoever has lost the power of moral indignation and the urge to drive the buyers and sellers from the temples
has also lost a living, fervent love of Truth.
Charity, then, is not a mild philosophy of “live and let live”;
it is not a species of sloppy sentiment.
Charity is the infusion of the Spirit of God,
which makes us love the beautiful and hate the morally ugly.
“Christianity, unlike any other religion in the world, begins with catastrophe and defeat. Sunshine religions and psychological inspirations collapse in calamity and wither in adversity. But the Life of the Founder of Christianity, having begun with the Cross, ends with the empty tomb and victory.”
― Fulton J. Sheen, Life of Christ
Karen, then you need to pony up everything you’ve got, give it all to Fast Eddie, don sack cloth and ashes and wander around pretending to be The Poverello.
The doctrine of ” tolerance, love and acceptance” is a corruption of the Gospel. Without God, these gay corruption fiends do nothing but evil, and call it good.
“Fast Eddie, the Money Honey”: Is this what I’m reading here?
Eddie dear, I was not aware that it is a sin not to provide the world with proper clothing, housing, medical care, etc. Since I personally cannot do all this, nor can you, are you saying that our society is responsible for all this, and that failure to gift each and every one of us so generously is a sin on the part of our society? I was not aware that a society could commit a sin. Does it have a soul? A body? Oh, you were just being guilty of spouting liberal concepts while not thinking, I see.
I thought it was a sin to love your neighbor, physically speaking, when that neighbor is not your lawfully wedded spouse. Are you saying that sin is good, and our Catholic (in Name Only?) organizations should espouse it? Looks like we know where you’ll be marching, and not just on Gay Pride day. I’m guessing you will be in lockstep with your fellow afflicted and indulgent same sex lusters as they march in Satan’s great band of unredeemed sinners. How sad! May you see the light long before you have to explain all this to Our Lord.
Confusion reigns supreme in California. People, you cannot embrace the HERESY as a show of some sign of genuine affection for the heretic. You embrace the degeneration, you’re no different from the degenerate. Isn’t that the diabolical plan anyway?