The July 17 issue of Catholic San Francisco contained a laudatory 1,100 word article on San Francisco’s notorious Most Holy Redeemer parish, as well as its pastor and parochial vicar. The parish, which now describes itself online as “an LGBT affirming parish”— meaning it thinks homosexuality is OK — has a long history of celebrating events and hosting persons utterly in contradiction to the Catholic Church’s teaching on sexuality, marriage, and the family.
Recent events include parishioners in 2013 forcing the former pastor Father Brian Costello to remove a portrait of the Pope Benedict XVI from the altar, because of His Holiness faithfulness to Church teaching on the family; the 2012 attempt to once again host a drag show (one of many such events, and killed by publicity from CalCatholic); the 2015 hosting of Equality California, the group devoted to pushing same-sex “marriage” in the state of California; and Father Matthew Link’s endorsement, in the August 24, 2014 parish bulletin, of the idea that a child can have two ‘dads’: “Next Sunday our little brother, (name redacted) will make his First Holy Communion. In this wonderfully good moment for all of us, we gather around the table with (name redacted) and his Dads, Kevin and Brian…”
None of these events, nor documented facts like the presence of same-sex “married” persons serving in liturgical ministries in violation of Church rules, made it into the story.
The article profiled the current pastor, Father Matthew Link, and the associate pastor, Father Jack McClure (last year their positions were reversed), both members of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood Kansas City Province. The province is notorious for the presence of open homosexuals and public stands against the Catholic Church. In August of 2014, CalCatholic wrote about bay area Precious Blood priests Joe Nassal and David Matz: “Nassal presided at a November, 2011 DignitySF Mass, while Matz, in addition to celebrating Masses and leading an Advent Vespers Service at Most Holy Redeemer, came out in support of same-sex marriage at a Marin County event in 2008.”
The article quotes Father McClure as saying “We didn’t come here (Most Holy Redeemer) to change anybody” an assertion at odds with the obligations of a pastor, as set forth in Canon 519, which reads, in part “The pastor (parochus) is the proper pastor (pastor) of the parish entrusted to him, exercising the pastoral care of the community committed to him under the authority of the diocesan bishop in whose ministry of Christ he has been called to share, so that for that same community he carries out the functions of teaching, sanctifying, and governing.” Contra McClure’s statement, unless one has a parish filled with saints, the duties of a pastor require changing people—at least if the pastor has any concern about getting them into heaven.
While the article is one of many Catholic San Francisco has run about Most Holy Redeemer, it is the first that acknowledges, even celebrates, the parish’s homosexual orientation. Yet, strangely for such a laudatory article, it omits the significant role that the church’s parishioners have played in the Archdiocese, and beyond. Perhaps that is because, from the Catholic perspective, that role has been wholly negative.
In the current crisis now facing San Francisco Archdiocesan High Schools, the underlying issue is whether homosexuality will be celebrated as a good thing or not, as is evidenced by a perusal of the #teachacceptance Facebook page. Three parishioners from Most Holy Redeemer, a parish where the celebration of homosexuality has been the central value for 30 years, have chaired departments of religion/theology at archdiocesan High Schools: Ted de Saulnier at Riordan, John Ottersberg at Notre Dame de Namur, and Ray O’ Connor at Convent/Stuart Hall. A fourth, Jim Everritt, is the Principal of Sacred Heart of Atherton. Ottersberg, O’ Connor, and Everitt have all served as lectors at Most Holy Redeemer. De Saulnier led one of the parish’s charitable ministries. Since there are only about 90 parishes and 14 high schools in the archdiocese, Most Holy Redeemer is obviously overrepresented.
The gay-friendly church’s influence on youth extends into public schools: longtime parishioner Kevin Gogin, an ex-Jesuit priest, was tasked by the San Francisco Public School District in 2000 to develop “the first comprehensive program addressing LGBT issues within a school setting.” Gogin is now in charge of the District’s entire “Wellness Program.”
The article continues: “Signs heralding ‘God’s inclusive love proclaimed here’ have been a beacon to LGBT Catholics and visitors who represent more than half of the parish community….Fathers Link and McClure said the parish’s media reputation as the nation’s largest ‘gay parish’ is both short-sighted and changing. ‘We don’t see ourselves in just that way,’ said Father Link. Members of the parish community don’t identify or organize themselves based on their sexual orientation and the parish does not have even a ministry defined or directed specifically to the gay or LGBT community.”
But the author does not pursue the implications of the statement “the parish does not have even a ministry defined or directed specifically to the gay or LGBT community.” It’s certainly an odd lack for a Catholic church in the most homosexual neighborhood of the most homosexual city in the country, and begs the question: why not?
Had the author pursued that question, she would have discovered that at one time Most Holy Redeemer did indeed have an “LGBT Outreach Committee.” It was in the early 1980’s. Homosexual Jesuit priest Father Donal Godfrey wrote about it in on page 29 of his book Gays and Grays: The Story of Most Holy Redeemer Church: “The Gay and Lesbian outreach Committee—so unique, so bracing, so critically what the parish needed when it needed it—eventually withered away, a victim of its own success, when the entire parish had taken on the work it was formed to begin.” (Emphasis added). In other words, the entire parish became gay. According to Godfrey, by the late 1980’s, “about 60% of the people are gay or lesbian.” By the year 2000, according to the New York Times the parish was “80-90% gay.” Instead of a being a Catholic Church in the gay community, Most Holy Redeemer became, and still is, a gay spiritual institution where people received Catholic Sacraments.
The article in Catholic San Francisco is really good. Click the link.
My family and I have read about what the parishioners of Most Holy Redeemer are up to, including, (a) providing hot meals to the homeless each Wednesday night, where Archbishop Cordileone has volunteered to serve food; (b) subsidizing the nearby Catholic school in the Mission District to the tune of about $30,000 a year; (c) turning the parking lot into an affordable housing center for the elderly (the Monsignor Lyne Community).
The parishioners of Most Holy Redeemer Church must truly be horrible human beings to undertake such demonic activities!
Even Satan uses sugar to catch sinners now and then.
Even the Hell’s Angels hold toy runs and the like. Don’t gloat too much.
who’s gloating?
if someone is doing good, that’s a good thing.
it doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be progressing on the path to holiness, doing an examination of conscience, going to to confession and changing their lives.
however, if the people of this parish (mhr) are truly doing the things described, GOD BLESS THEM for that.
Most Holy Redeemer Parish must be closed. It has gone so far that changing the pastor and other clerics will not remove the rot and blasphemy that has gone on for far too long. The parishioners who want to lead a Catholic life can attend other parishes. Has Archbishop Cordeleone made any public statements regarding the promotion regarding MHR? Would Pope Francis approve the closing of MHR? Remember Sodom and Gomorrah!
Everybody I have ever known has said what a great parish this is.
I think it is because they do not have so many families there so the people are freer to contribute to works of mercy. I don’t see anything on the website or article that says they do not accept the church’s teaching, although there are many people at every parish who don’t.
I don’t see why these two priests should be criticized for things that happened before they even arrived there. And I don’t think the story in Catholic San Francisco should be criticized for omitting them. Everybody knows MHR’s reputation although it is dated.
Certainly homosexuals have more disposable income due to the fact that in their sterile “lifestyles” they have more disposable cash. Unlike us poor chumps who have elected to practice normal relationships and follow the Churchs’ guidance on reproduction. But at the end of the day, what do homosexuals end up with. No posterity, little dogs or perhaps a cat to mourn them or maybe an expensive funeral with no one to mourn them, no offspring to carry on their name. Sad and sterile, joyless and dead-end. Not “Gay” but very sad and futile.
Sins crying to Heaven for vengeance:
Willful murder. – The sin of Sodom. – Opression of the poor. – Defrauding laborers of their wages.
Perhaps Frs. Link and Mclure should consider starting to change sinful behavior. The idea is to get souls into Heaven.
Oh and speaking of oppressing the poor…Has the Archbishop ever apologized for pouring water on the poor, even in the dead of winter, on an hourly basis?
Much like the current occupant of the See of Peter, YFC seems to believe that being poor automatically makes you pious and a saint…Most of the poor I knew were some of the worst examples of human beings ever…
“the current occupant of the see of peter…”
oh, my, you are obviously against the pope.
and, since he’s the VICAR OF CHRIST, this means you’re against…oh, my.
One should be for the Faith first and foremost, susan. That is why noting that Pope Francis is only the current occupant – not the end-all occupant – is an important distinction to remember. It is, after all, the truth.
Canisius, no, helping the poor makes you pious and a saint.
Well, not at all so necessarily: 1 Cor. 13:3.
Steve Phoenix, excellent point.
1 Corithians 13:3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
This.
I’m shocked by how much disparagement of the poor (and those who care for them) there is among conservative Catholics. Mother Theresa, St. Francis, and yes the current occupant of the See of Peter would be aghast. Not to mention the one who reminds us that “blessed are the poor”.
This remark is nothing but hogwash. Catholicism is supposed to change people. She is the channel of sanctifying grace, which makes us holy and pleasing to God. Part of being a Catholic means that we must change, we must purge ourselves of that which is sinful, and grow daily in the spiritual life. With idiots like these two, is it a wonder the Church is rapidly shrinking. This is another proof that the diabolical disorientation is deeply embedded within the Church.
Regarding Homosexual Acts –
SACRED SCRIPTURE: Gen 19:1-29; Rom 1:24-27; 1 Cor 6:9-10; 1 Tim 1:10; Jude 1:7.
DOCTRINE of the FAITH: CCC: 2357, 2358, 2359, & 2396.
Homosexual Acts are Mortal Sins. Un-repented before death will send Souls to Hell.
One may NOT receive Holy Communion while in the state of Mortal Sin.
SACRED SCRIPTURE – 1 Cor 11:27-30; Mt 7:6.
DOCTRINE of the FAITH – CCC 1415; 1451; 1355.
Send a link to or copy of this article to Abp Salvatore J. Cordileone.
One Peter Yorke Way. San Francisco, California 94109
Telephone (415) 614-5500. Facsimile (415) 614-5555
info@sfarchdiocese.org
We each have a “DUTY” to inform the SFO Archbishop.
Doctrine of the Faith: CCC: 907.
Dear Pilar…Archbishop Cordilone is the Publisher of Catholic San Francisco. I expect i he is aware of every major article.
We had a really bad thing in our diocesan paper once and so many people complained that it was apologized for. It was said at that time that the bishop, even though he was publisher, did not see the paper until after it was printed.
who do you think publishes the CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO NEWSPAPER, anyway?
the mormons?
it’s the archbishop’s paper!
SFO – COURAGE & EnCOURAGE –
https://www.sfarchdiocese.org/home/ministries/courage
If you know of a Catholic with same sex attraction (SSA), contact his Diocese office for local information on Courage and/or EnCourage.
NEVER “Celebrate” the temptation to sin.
NEVER ignore, tolerate, or appear to condone Mortal Sins of any kind.
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. “
CCC: ” 2287 Anyone who uses the power at his disposal in such a way that it leads others to do wrong becomes guilty of scandal
and responsible for the evil that he has directly or indirectly encouraged.
“Temptations to sin are sure to come; but woe to him by whom they come!” ”
Lk 17:1-3 ” And he (JESUS) said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come; but woe to him by whom they come!
It would be better for him if a millstone were hung round his neck and he were cast into the sea, than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.
Take heed to yourselves; if your brother sins, rebuke him,
and if he repents, forgive him; ” “
Well, this is really old news. The Catholic Church simply does not care — and has not cared for a long time — about homosexuals in the Church (except when someone sues over child abuse, but that is under the “oh-oh, they caught me” category, not that anything wrong was actually done).
The Vatican should appoint a truly Traditional (or even a “conservative” N.O. priest) as pastor to MHR. Otherwise, the Church is now homosexual in nature and belief, which is to say that it embraces and affirms the sexual pornographic lifestyle which is the true homosexual community.
More proof? Take a look at the beyond-sad story of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. See the sad story at a story on Connecticut Catholic Corner.
(Continued). “Here is the website: https://connecticutcatholiccorner.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/archdiocese-of-new-orleans-has-gay.html.
You see, Catholic Reader, the Catholic Church is likely more homosexual populated and approving than it has ever been. Of course, legal remedies aside, the Church has done almost nothing — nothing — to publicly challenge the onslaught of homosexual political demands, and challenges that have been launched over the past half-century. Church leaders like C. Dolan and the Vatican have not even addressed the Supreme Court’s recent sodomite-loving decision.
Wait until October and you will see. Time to find the Catacombs, as soon the Orthodox Catholic will be as much an outlier within the Church as…
(Second Continuation) “he is within Planned Parenthood”. At a recent N.O. Mass at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Herndon, VA, a Franciscan priest told parishioners that he wanted all tor receive communion the same — standing and on the hand — referring to “kneelers” and those that genuflect, as a despised “holier-than-thou” group.
Time to speak up and fight.
This makes me sick to my stomach!!! Simply APPAULLING.
This parish needs to be closed, period. LONG OVERDUE.
And I pray that the AB once he gets the schools back on the right track, will do just that, close it!!!
You should read the linked article from the Archbishop’s own newspaper! They have already won him over!
When we pray the act of contrition, we say ‘to amend my life’; another version has us pray ‘to sin no more, and to avoid the near occasions of sin’. Both these presume a person WILL CHANGE. Yes, that parish should close, and the priests that are causing the scandal, should be suspended.
Nobody’s portrait belongs on the altar–not even the Pope’s.
This pastor has it wrong. Instead of affirming homosexuality or the gay lifestyle, he needs to be affirming the homosexual in his affliction: not to affirm the affliction, but to affirm the person in his affliction. This is pastorally rich and radically countercultural. Homosexuals, especially gay homosexuals, often have profuse anger against society and the Church. They need to be affirmed and heard while given a clear understanding of the dynamics of the disorder in love. This may involve the venting of considerable sadness, anger, and hurt. Many will reject it and walk away. But it’s only through being affirmed and knowing the truth in love that they will find true peace [and the love of God]. Most homosexuals already know that…
(Drat! The last part of my previous message got cut. Here’s the end. . .)
Most homosexuals already know that the gay lifestyle is empty and disturbed. This work is simply too important to be left to a bunch of amateurs.
Unlike the anonymous author(s) of this article, Christina Gray from Catholic SF visited our parish on multiple occasions. She spoke with the two priests, she attended the Wednesday Night Homeless Dinner and spoke with parishioners, both gay and straight including Kate and Akaash who are about to have a sacramental marriage. MHR has been recognized for its liturgy, music and ministerial programs. National Catholic Reporter did an in-depth study of our parish and wrote a very favorable 5 part article earlier this year. They concluded we were a very well run parish. The battle over civil same-sex marriage is over. It’s legal in every state. Quite frankly, no one at MHR cares what Cal-Catholic thinks.
National Catholic Reporter did an in-depth study of our parish and wrote a very favorable 5 part article earlier this year. They concluded we were a very well run parish… NCR is leftist rag that loves sodomy; of course they would love MHR.
“National Catholic REPORTER” is a heretical media source.
It was CONDEMNED by their Diocese Bishop in 1968, and reiterated by their Diocese Bishop in 2013. The condemnation has never been lifted.
This is a link to the original condemnation:
https://greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=00Cofv
It does not matter if homosexual (sodomy) marriage is legal in the USA.
Those who participate in Sodomy – a mortal sin – and do not repent will spend eternity in Hell.
(Homosexual acts, Adultery, Fornication, purposely viewing Porn are all Mortal Sins.)
Seems no-one at MHR cares what the Catholic Church thinks either!
Excuse the delay “MHRJimS”, but your post was a real knee-slapper. The Catholic Reporter is Satan’s own paper, with very little Catholic in it.
And, No, it does not matter that MHR does something charitable here and there: what do the poets call this: snow on manure, spritzing perfume on dung, something like that.
The unrepentant embrace of a homosexual lifestyle is what characterizes your church, and that is unacceptable to any True Catholic. Merely because you have a couple of apostate priests that bless your sins, does not mean that the sins are forgiven.
MHRJimS, your statement that the battle for civil same sex marriage is over is simplistic and lacks political understanding. Your statement that no one at MHR cares what anyone at CalCatholic thinks shows the inherent schismatic (non-Catholic) nature of the thinking at your parish.
“no one at MHR cares what anyone at CalCatholic thinks”
They should. Care.
No here or over there is saying that MHR parishioners are not nice, or not caring, or not ministering people. That is not the issue. God and the Natural Law are. – and our duty as People of God to give witness to the truth of both.
How about a meet and greet downtown at the Black Cat Bar? A good chat over some beer may clear the air.
” Quite frankly, no one at MHR cares what Cal-Catholic thinks.”
Quite frankly MHRJimS, no one at MHR seems to care what God and the Catholic Church think about sexual morality. All the worse for MHR.
My Parents were Married (Man xy & Woman xx) at Most Holy Redeemer, and Mom still cherishes the pictures. But if it has come to this – then Closing this now Source of Spread for Death, Disease, Anti-Catholic Hate & Misandry is appropriate.
The snakes haven’t been driven out, but taken over – and we should at least sell the place after Cleansing, and Start Fresh with Authentic Catholics.
SEE
Proposed Law Would Strip Words ‘Husband’ and ‘Wife’ from Federal Code
(CNSNews.com) – Last week, Rep. Lois Capps (D-Calif.) introduced a bill that would remove the words “husband” and “wife” from the language used in federal law
– a move that had drawn ire from faith leaders and family advocacy groups that see this legislation as expected…
Proposed Law Would Strip Words ‘Husband’ and ‘Wife’ from Federal Code
LINK
https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/penny-starr/proposed-law-would-strip-words-husband-and-wife-federal-code
Rep. Lois Capps (D-Calif.) introduced a bill that would remove the words “husband” and “wife” from the language used in federal law …
“The real need is for Congress to pass a law to prevent the federal government from discriminating against individuals and entities, those who believe marriage is between one man and woman one,” Christensen (FRC) said.
“While court-created same-sex marriage is the new legal definition, charities shouldn’t lose government contracts while helping the poor, or non-profits lose their tax-exempt status, which will…
Say what????
Relative newcomers to San Francisco from Long Beach, she and her fiance Akaash Gupta, a lawyer, began attending Most Holy Redeemer’s popular Sunday evening service about a year ago. Father Link is preparing the couple for Catholic marriage next March. – See more at: https://www.catholic-sf.org/ns.php?newsid=22&id=63692#sthash.j6EKtIR9.dpuf
Well, there ARE straight people who choose MHR as their parish, even as there as gay people who do also, as the article points out:
“This is the kind of faith community I want to be a part of,” said Deaton…she and her fiance Akaash Gupta, a lawyer, began attending Most Holy Redeemer’s popular Sunday evening service about a year ago. Father Link is preparing the couple for Catholic marriage next March.
“I’m Catholic, and Akaash is not, but he has always been supportive of my faith and comes to church with me,” she said. She said she felt instantly welcomed by the parish community. “But more importantly to me, Akaash feels welcome and accepted, even though he isn’t Catholic.”
Fathers Link and McClure said the parish’s media reputation…
Anarchy is alive and well in the modern Catholic Church.
For MHR to be so visible (so arrogantly gay happy), so defiant of the Church’s teaching, signifies that the onslaught of the Gnostic (Reality Denying) Left upon the Church has reached critical mass. Meaning . . . [you tell me]
Pointless to ask the Archbishop of San Francisco to remove its faculties, shut and padlock its door. Sell the building to the Episcopalians. These folks truly believe they are the future of the Church, our children’s future. This past year I have faced the facts: he Church (except for Africa and parts of Asia and the bloody Middle East) is – in terms of the world – is lost. Certainly for this generation and maybe the next.
The only thing left to do is to raise grandchildren who will take with the sword of…
[second posting]
. . . grandchildren who will take up the sword of truth (and maybe a pitchfork or two) and reclaim the Church for Christ. Beyond that, one can only take cover
But (and this is a big one) there is another phenomenon building out there reaching critical mass – Islam. When Islam passes tate marker (which is that of power, influence not sheer numbers of Muslims) what will become of homosexuality in the Castro, let alone at MHR? Do not doubt me on this.
Happy to talk this over, over beer, downtown at the Black Cat Bar, Montgomery Street. Anytime.
I do hope that this website is held up as a paragon of New Evangelization.
The converts will stream through the doors, day and night, 24/7.
Yes, indeedy.
(MHRJimS … you knew what kind of reception your comment would receive, didn’t you?)
Its a V2 Church, not catholic, but protestant! What would you expect? The implosion only continues and will grow worse. If you really want to find the true Roman Catholic Church, pray to God that He will show you where to find a parish and then cherish it for the rest of your life. You will be happy having the true presence of Christ, body, soul, and divinity, and all the complete and 7 Holy Sacraments in the Latin Rite.
“Recent events include parishioners in 2013 forcing the former pastor Father Brian Costello to remove a portrait of the Pope Benedict XVI from the altar.” Papal pictures on altars? This is idolatry. “The duties of a pastor require changing people—at least if the pastor has any concern about getting them into heaven.” Changing people? lololol. Getting people into heaven? Jesus, you’re supposed to be our Savior, but priests are now doing this job. You’re kaput, Lord. This is unbridled human arrogance.
[…] As CalCatholicpreviously reported, “three parishioners from Most Holy Redeemer, a parish where the celebration of homosexuality has been the central value for 30 years, have chaired departments of religion/theology at archdiocesan High Schools: Ted de Saulnier at Riordan, John Ottersberg at Notre Dame de Namur, and Ray O’ Connor at Convent/Stuart Hall. A fourth, Jim Everitt, is the Principal of Sacred Heart of Atherton. Ottersberg, O’ Connor, and Everitt have all served as lectors at Most Holy Redeemer. De Saulnier led one of the parish’s charitable ministries.” Now, thanks to Mr. Sciambra’s reporting, we can add Mr. Ruiz to the mix. […]