On Saturday, June 16, San Francisco’s Most Holy Redeemer Parish again hosted the Switch Hitters Ball, an annual fundraiser for the San Francisco Gay Softball League. 

The parish has hosted the event each year since 2007. Video of this year’s ‘ball’ has already been posted on YouTube.

The ‘switch hitter’ in the annual event’s title does not refer to a batter who is able to hit from both sides of the plate; it refers instead to the transvestite nature of the ‘entertainment’ that takes place at the ball.” In other words, a Catholic parish is providing a venue for a drag show.

A by-no-means exhaustive list of past events held at Most Holy Redeemer includes the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Revival Bingo (cancelled by the archdiocese under outside pressure); annual fundraisers by two sado-masochistic organizations — the InterClub Fund and the Golden Gate Guards (cancelled by the archdiocese under outside pressure); the 2007 Desperate Dive Drag Show, followed a week later by Archbishop George Niederauer’s Mass at the church during which he was ambushed by two Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence in the communion line and for which the archbishop later publicly apologized; annual parish participation at the Gay Pride parade (cancelled by the archdiocese under outside pressure); the scheduled May 2010 performance by students of Sacred Heart High School of Atherton of the pro-homosexual propaganda play Be Still and Know (cancelled by the archdiocese under outside pressure, but performed instead at the Jesuit-run University of San Francisco), the 2011 planning session for Catholic participation in the Gay Pride parade; and the 2011 scheduled hosting of homosexual activist speakers for their Advent Vespers series (cancelled by the archdiocese under outside pressure).

So, while this year’s Switch Hitters Ball may be scandalous to the Catholic faithful, it is by no means unusual for Most Holy Redeemer — and the archdiocese appears to ignore scandal at the parish except when public pressure mounts.

Most Holy Redeemer will soon be getting a new pastor, Father Brian Costello of Star of the Sea Church, who is scheduled to take over on July 1. He replaces Father Steve Meriwether, who has been pastor since 2004.

Whether the change in pastors will result in a different direction for the renegade parish remains to be seen.

In the meantime, the June 17 parish bulletin reported: “Father Steve Meriwether will be returning to San Francisco shortly and will be celebrating Mass Pride Weekend on June 23 and 24. This will be his farewell to our parish before he moves on to his next assignment.”

 

READER COMMENTS

Posted Tuesday, June 26, 2012 3:16 AM By JR
Disgusting !!!

Posted Tuesday, June 26, 2012 4:37 AM By OSCAR
When is the SFO Archbishop George H. Niederauer going to do something about this scandal? Why does he permit this to take place in his Diocese? It is his responsibility. On the Vatican web site read: “LETTER to the BISHOPS on the PASTORAL CARE of HOMOSEXUAL PERSONS” in entirety. ” We encourage the Bishops, then, to provide pastoral care in full accord with the teaching of the Church for homosexual persons of their dioceses. No authentic pastoral programme will include organizations in which homosexual persons associate with each other without clearly stating that homosexual activity is immoral. A truly pastoral approach will appreciate the need for homosexual persons to avoid the near occasions of sin.” AND ” All support should be withdrawn from any organizations which seek to undermine the teaching of the Church, which are ambiguous about it, or which neglect it entirely. Such support, or even the semblance of such support, can be gravely misinterpreted. Special attention should be given to the practice of scheduling religious services and to the use of Church buildings by these groups, including the facilities of Catholic schools and colleges. To some, such permission to use Church property may seem only just and charitable; but in reality it is contradictory to the purpose for which these institutions were founded, it is misleading and often scandalous.” Someone needs to report this to the Vatican.

Posted Tuesday, June 26, 2012 4:57 AM By PAUL
Renegade Parish ? ? ? It belongs to the Archbishop of SFO. Where is George H. Niederauer ? Report this activity and others to the Vatican.

Posted Tuesday, June 26, 2012 5:27 AM By Juergensen
“Da qualche fessura sia entrato il fumo di Satana nel tempio di Dio” (Omelia Di Paolo VI, 29 giugno 1972) (bit[dot]ly/eZlnIR)

Posted Tuesday, June 26, 2012 5:30 AM By Canisius
And Modernist claim the SSPX is not Catholic, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha……

Posted Tuesday, June 26, 2012 5:42 AM By JMJ
The very first act: Rededicate and Bless the Parish. The second step: use Canon 915 on all of those that are MOCKING GOD!! The third step: PRAY! PRAY! AND PRAY SOMEMORE!!! +JMJ+

Posted Tuesday, June 26, 2012 5:54 AM By St. Christopher
One can only hope that Fr. Costello will bring change, and the possibility of salvation, to MHR Church. However, the very fact of his appointment, and that he has lasted this long in a truly awful diocese, likely means that he is a Company-man, and, as such, will pretty much keep things the way that they were. That Church should be turned over to the FSSP, or, if things work out, the SSPX. These priests are men, masculine and demanding, and unafraid to mix it up with articulate evil. But, the local ordinary, being what he is, will likely never invite a true Catholic presence into the clergy for San Francisco. At some point, the Vatican will need to intervene. Better to shut down MHR than to have this scandal played out on a daily basis. God will not be mocked, and this has travesty of Catholicism has gone on too long.

Posted Tuesday, June 26, 2012 6:43 AM By lisag
May God have mercy on all those who partake in these activities and allow them to happen. What else can one say against something so overtly sinful and sacrilegious. It is a place where a holy war will occur when someone finally comes in to overturn the tables and make it a holy church again.

Posted Tuesday, June 26, 2012 7:59 AM By Maryanne Leonard
The “Catholics” who have acted with the intent of desecrating the Catholic Church will have no defense when they meet their Maker. Those clergy who have failed to stop it will be equally tasked to defend “what they have failed to do” before The Lord. Let us pray that the scandals cease and the lost souls involved come to see the Light and follow Him. Let us pray for our Church. I will never again set foot in the City of San Francisco until this scandalous toleration of evil in the Church becomes part of the shameful but past history of our times.

Posted Tuesday, June 26, 2012 8:10 AM By Catherine
Does the Vatican read CCD? Here is more shameful news about a Switch Hitters Ball being held at a Catholic Church. The faithful in California certainly know the shepherds who uphold Church teaching. California is in great need of holy leadership. Should we send up some names of holy men who walk the walk of the early apostles? Is the bullpen of courageous bishops running thin? Is their a strong leader or even a courageous and holy relief pitcher who can be sent in to this area of San Francisco?

Posted Tuesday, June 26, 2012 8:30 AM By Patrick
The so-called parish should have been closed down a long time ago. It is a disgrace to the Church and to decent people.

Posted Tuesday, June 26, 2012 8:50 AM By MD
I think its time for everyone on CCD to email and/or Archbishop Niederauer for this parish to be kept under control once and for all. The phone number for the Archbishop’s office is 415-614-5500 The Vicar for Parish Life’s number 415- 614-5616 (Fr. William Justice). A drag show on Church grounds and sponsored by a Catholic Church is a travesty and the promotion of a disordered sinful behavior. It is time for the Archbishop to man up and take a stand for Christ on this one. God Love You.

Posted Tuesday, June 26, 2012 8:55 AM By Laurette Elsberry
Interesting how Fr. Meriwether was not moved until after “Pride Weekend”. Was that a bennie from the Archbishop? I wonder if Fr. Jim Schexnayder was there to send Fr. Meriwether off. I still remember reading about Fr. Schexnayder’s appearance at a “Pride” Mass wearing his T-shirt that sported a pink triangle!

Posted Tuesday, June 26, 2012 9:09 AM By Peggy
Bishop Niederauer, look across the Bay to Bp. Cordileone who will most likely strip “Catholic” from the “Catholic Association of Gay and Lesbian Ministry” because of their refusal to sign an oath adhering to Church teaching on homosexuality. What are you doing about all the filth going on at Holy Redeemer? Act like a bishop and do your job.

Posted Tuesday, June 26, 2012 9:28 AM By FrMichael
We ought to start praying for Fr. Costello. Even if he isn’t a “company man,” should he start to make reforms the collection will go down and the bureaucrats at the archdiocesan chancery will come down like bricks upon him for not paying the bills. That’s life in AmChurch.

Posted Tuesday, June 26, 2012 10:54 AM By max
uh, guys? has no one noticed the disguting picture at the top of this page? what the guys on their knees are doing? uh, ick! and to think of this happening in a catholic church…i’m gonna go get some fresh air before i barf…

Posted Tuesday, June 26, 2012 11:03 AM By Catherine
Matt Drudge is reporting, “San Francisco police have arrested retired gay rights advocate Larry Brinkin in connection with felony possession of child pornography. Brinkin, 66, worked for the San Francisco Human Rights Commission before his retirement. Police say that Brinkin had pornographic images of, some that appear to show children as young as 1 and 2 or 3 being sodomized. During his 22 year tenure at the Human Rights Commission Brinkin was best known for championing equal rights for gays and lesbians. He helped craft San Francisco’s groundbreaking Equal Benefits Ordinance. Upon Brinkin’s retirement they even declared February 1, 2010 Larry Brinkin Week in San Francisco saying his dedication to advance the civil rights of all people has never stopped.”

Posted Tuesday, June 26, 2012 11:11 AM By JLS
Get rid of all bureaucrats. In a trust system there is no need for them. Say, wait a minute, isn’t the Church based on trust? Wow. A trust system based on bureaucracy. Wow. But bureaucracy in its very nature is a legal entity, not based on trust but on law. And so what do we have but legal entities running trust entities … this is what happens when the bishops put the cart before the horse, meaning when they work for a government paycheck instead of paying the govt the tax. Well, the gay lavendar church mob is a backwards social group and again is what happens when the cart is put before the horse. It would be nice to witness an actual Church functioning on trust instead of on bassackwards deranged ideas. Great Church functioning has been known in history and maybe we’ll see it again some day.

Posted Tuesday, June 26, 2012 11:18 AM By Anthony
I encourage all of you to PRAY for Father Brian Costello!! Keep him in your rosary and during mass! Write him letters if you have time. I believe this is going to be a very difficult assignment for Fr. Brian Costello and he needs all the encouragement and prayers from us faithful Catholics! Remember, he is going to a parish that has in ways strayed away from many teachings of the Catholic faith, and you can just imagine how hard it might be for him and the verbal abuse he might get for speaking the TRUTH! We must not give up and just “see what happens from here”, but outreach to Fr. Brian and encourage him to stay faithful to our Church. So please keep Fr. Brian Costello in your prayers and let him know it!

Posted Tuesday, June 26, 2012 11:24 AM By max
“The ‘switch hitter’ in the annual event’s title does not refer to a batter who is able to hit from both sides of the plate; it refers instead to the transvestite nature of the ‘entertainment’ that takes place at the ball. In other words, a Catholic parish is providing a venue for a drag show.” uh, guys, hate to have to tell you, but SWITCH HITTER means, in this context, a BISEXUAL—that’s why they chose this name for the play on words. (and before anyone asks how i happen to know this fact, i think it was explained to me by one of the dogs JLS owns…or at least feeds…)

Posted Tuesday, June 26, 2012 11:28 AM By max
i heartily agree with FrMichael that we need to pray for father biran costello, who takess over as new pastor on july first. this is ONE TOUGH ASSIGNMENT, and i just hope it doesn’t ruin his vocation. at hiss last parish he turned the empty convent into a shelter for homeless women and children, which is typical of khis kindness and faith. but at MHR, there is no way to win……………

Posted Tuesday, June 26, 2012 12:38 PM By St Marc
Lots of pious outrage but not one miliwatt of compassion for the LGBT parish. The tone of these comments betrays their utter hypocrisy. No wonder young people are leaving the church by the millions.