The following comes from an Oct. 4 posting on Aleteia.org.
The names of California’s cities reflect the heritage of the Spanish missionaries: places named in honor of Our Lady of the Angels, the Blessed Sacrament, and, of course, St. Francis of Assisi. Today, the names of those locales tend to remind people more of the City of Man than the Kingdom of God; we associate Los Angeles with Hollywood and its sleaze, Sacramento with liberal politics, and San Francisco with the attempt to redefine marriage.
The failure of Proposition 8, a voter-approved constitutional amendment to defend marriage against any redefinition, and the passage of a law allowing non-physicians to perform abortions are just two of the most recent developments that cement California’s image in the rest of the nation’s consciousness as the Left Coast.
But some active Catholics are encouraged by the changing leadership of local churches up and down the West Coast, not just in California. High on the list of a new generation of orthodox bishops is Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, who marks his first anniversary as archbishop of San Francisco this Friday, Oct. 4.
“If you look at the appointments over the past few years, from Seattle down to San Diego, the whole landscape has changed,” said Jesuit Father Joseph Fessio, founder of Ignatius Press, which is based in San Francisco. He cited Archbishops José Gomez of Los Angeles, Peter Sartain of Seattle, Alexander Sample of Portland, and Bishops Robert Vasa of Santa Rosa, Michael Barber of Oakland, and Kevin Vann of Orange. “In my old age, I’m saying ‘Nunc Dimittis.’ We have a generation of good strong bishops on the West Coast. … I think it will help Archbishop Cordileone have the support of his fellow bishops to do the things he wants to do.”
Several people Aleteia spoke with, including Father Fessio, characterized Archbishop Cordileone as a person who stands by Catholic principles but presents them in gentle ways. One would hope that that helps him in San Francisco, which is often called the “gay capital of America.” He is considered the “Godfather of Prop. 8,” and chairs the United States bishops’ conference’s subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage.
“He stresses not what the Church is against but what the Church is for,” said Father Fessio, a former doctoral student of Pope Benedict XVI. “He says the consequences of being for strong family life and strong marriages and children having a right to a mother and a father means we are opposed to those things that obstruct that. I think he’s become more appreciated by his priests, who see him as a good and reasonable person, but of course he’s going to be in a surrounding society that’s hostile to the Church’s teaching.”
Father Juan Velez, a priest of the Personal Prelature of Opus Dei and author of Passion for Truth: The Life of John Henry Newman, said he was struck by Archbishop Cordileone’s personal piety. “He’s a man of prayer,” Father Velez said. “When they were trying to pass Prop. 8, he was fasting for that. … He knows that problems in society and the Church are long-term things; that you need a supernatural approach and you need prayer.”
….Archbishop Cordileone’s tenure got off to a rough start, in part because of a DUI incident in late August 2012, a month after his appointment to San Francisco had been announced and while he was still serving as bishop of Oakland. Following dinner with friends and family in San Diego, he was stopped at a DUI checkpoint near San Diego State University and was found to be over the California legal blood-alcohol level.
“I apologize for my error in judgment and feel shame for the disgrace I have brought upon the Church and myself,” he said in a statement the following day. “I will repay my debt to society and I ask forgiveness from my family and my friends and co-workers at the diocese of Oakland and the archdiocese of San Francisco. I pray that God, in His inscrutable wisdom, will bring some good out of this.”
He referred to the incident during his homily at his installation Mass, using it as an example of his own need for constant personal renewal. God’s command to St. Francis to “rebuild my Church” goes far beyond the physical – right down to the pursuit of holiness on the part of each Christian, he said.
The DUI incident wasn’t the only thing that made for a difficult beginning. According to a study of the 2010 U.S. Census at UCLA, San Francisco ranked number one on a list of large American cities having the most same-sex couples per 1,000 households. Archbishop Cordileone’s reputation as one of the leading Catholic voices for marriage preceded him; he was the driving force behind Prop. 8, going back to 2007, before an earlier pro-marriage act, California Prop. 22, was struck down.
“When he first came, he received threats on his person from various critics who were not pleased,” said Deacon Christoph Sandoval, who serves Archbishop Cordileone’s Sunday Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral. “He understood that when he took the job, this would require that he stand and deliver the Gospel irrespective of whatever comes to him.”
Victoria Evans, the archdiocese’s pro-life coordinator, said that when Archbishop Cordileone was named to the archdiocese, there was picketing outside the cathedral and the archdiocesan headquarters. “They saw this as a slap in the face to San Francisco because of the large gay population,” she said. “It’s really mission territory; the gay lobby is pretty strong.”
….Cleve Jones, a prominent gay activist in San Francisco, said in an email, “Generally, I would say [Archbishop Cordileone] is viewed with contempt by most LGBT San Franciscans.”
Father Brian Costello is the pastor of Most Holy Redeemer Parish in the heavily gay Castro District. The parish website makes a point that gays and lesbians are as welcome there as anyone. Father Costello reported that Archbishop Cordileone visited the church for the first time on Sept. 18, not overtly to reach out to the gay community but to help serve dinner at a regular Wednesday night supper for the poor and homeless.
“The archbishop served a table full of people and everyone was delighted that he took time out of his busy schedule to be with them,” Father Costello said. “He promised he would be back.”
On Sept. 6, Aleteia interviewed the rector and president of St. Patrick’s Seminary and University, which is run by the Society of Saint-Sulpice for San Francisco and 14 other dioceses.
“It’s a wonderful thing to have an archbishop who is so collaborative and supportive,” Sulpician Father James McKearney said of Archbishop Cordileone. Ten days later, the archbishop announced a “change in leadership” there, with San José Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Daly becoming interim rector and president, effective Oct. 1.
“Bishop Daly is expected to hold the position for up to a year while the Society of Saint-Sulpice, the traditional administrators of the seminary, work with the seminary board of trustees to search for a permanent president and rector,” reported Catholic San Francisco, the newspaper of the archdiocese, quoting unnamed officials….
It was unclear why Father McKearney left, and efforts to reach him and his provincial were unsuccessful. The Sept. 16 press release said only that Father McKearney would “continue to serve in ministry” with his community….
Also announced Sept. 16 was the appointment of Jesuit Father John Piderit, former president of Loyola University in Chicago, as St. Patrick’s vice president for administration. “Father Piderit is a major voice for restoring Catholic identity in Catholic education as president of the Catholic Education Institute,” the press release stated, noting that he will continue in another position he’s held at the seminary since late 2012, vicar for finance.
Father Fessio noted that the seminary had already been improving under the previous two archbishops, Cardinal William Levada and Archbishop George Niederauer. “It’s got a very fine faculty,” he said. “I think it’s basically strong. Many of the professors there who are faithful to the Church are feeling well supported now that Cordileone is archbishop.”
….Bishop Daly, the interim rector, also is focused on vocations. “You can’t build a vocation culture unless you have a culture of prayer,” then-Father Daly said in a 2011 interview with Catholic San Francisco. But he cautioned against engaging in a “numbers game… because one crazy, weird seminary candidate will chase away five normal guys….”
If prayer and personal holiness are important for priests, in Archbishop Cordileone’s view, it’s also important for the laity, and a major source for their spiritual formation is the Mass. With that in mind, the archbishop wants better liturgies, and a liturgical institute based at the seminary will help form laity and clergy “in the ars celebrandi and proper understanding of Church music,” said Father Fessio.
“There will be workshops on reciting liturgies and chanting,” said Father Raymund Reyes, pastor of St. Anne of the Sunset Church in San Francisco. “I just sense that the liturgy is important for him, creating a culture of prayer and worship. Maybe he believes that through that effort of creating a culture of prayer, they change the structure of everything else in their lives of the faithful in the archdiocese.”
Benedictine Father Samuel Weber, a visiting faculty member teaching sacramental theology at St. Patrick’s Seminary, is assisting in setting up the institute. St. Patrick’s Morey called him “one of the world’s experts in Gregorian chant.”
“For me personally, this is coming at the right time,” said Father Reyes. The new Roman Missal translation had been met with resistance by a Catholic population that had become accustomed to the old one, he said. A focus on liturgical renewal in San Francisco is “kind of a continuation” of that.
To read the entire posting, click here.
God bless Archbishop Cordeleone and all his good works. He has a difficult job in hostile territory. We need to pray for him daily. I hope that he will be named a cardinal, so that he would be in line to vote for a pope.
Sarah,
I hope the truth becomes known: the ambition of Archbishop and Fr. Fessio for a red cap for either or both of them.
And you know this how? You listen to their prayers?
Peace be with you.
Nice attempt at deflection, Marielle, but it doesn’t cover up the fact that you have made an unsubstantiated assertion.
Peace be with you, too. Guess I hit a sore spot.
Cordileone’s appointment was a seriously poor choice if the objective was to make any attempt to actually appeal to the population of SF, but of course, it wasn’t. Appointing someone so militantly in opposition to the attitudes of his flock has to be the most blatantly political act I’ve witnessed the Vatican take in my lifetime. The heavy subtext of his appointment was that the Vatican (or more specifically, Pope Benedict) cares very little about SF, and sees it as a threat, and thus appointed someone who would make others who feel threatened by SF feel more comfortable.
It struck me as so strange that the Vatican would do that. It’s like sending a General out to the front lines, only the Church really seems lost on the idea that its greatest threat isn’t Liberalism, but secularism, most Catholics in his dominion fall into the ‘fallen away’ category, and the city is dotted with shuttered parishes that presence will do nothing but exacerbate.
One can only hope Pope Francis is a better strategic thinker than Pope Benedict.
Disagree with your assessment hugh. Read the article again. As someone who personally knows Cordileone I maintain you are off base. Also, did you ever consider maybe Our Lord Himself wants Salvador Cordileone in SF as the bishop? Something worth reflecting on.
Surprising to see such a realistic viewpoint here. Thank you.
Just to be sure: sent this reply of a “realistic viewpoint here” to Hugh who sees the political machinations of this appointment and the related support of Fr. Fessio and such others. Thank you, Hugh, for braving these waters.
The approach you suggest, Hugh, has already failed. So why feign the shock?
Or should heterosexuals be appalled that the Vatican doesn’t open free-love parishes to reach out to those ‘faithful’ who embrace a more open attitude toward fornication, wife swapping, and general licentiousness?
I mean, one can still attend Church regularly and be completely Fallen Away as to actually being Catholic. Or does that notion shock you too?
Appointments are not made to appeal to populations. They are made to take care of souls.
So Hugh,
You would have the Catholic Church change its approach to being NON Catholic, by pleasing those who are opposed to Our Lord’s and its teachings!
There are many, far too many, such churches that you can join to your poor souls content. Leave the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church alone!
May God have mercy on your liberal soul,
May God have mercy on an amoral America!
Viva Cristo Rey!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Thanks, Kenneth. And may God have mercy on your conservative soul as well!
There is one Holy, Apostolic Catholic Church, and that’s a good thing. It’s better remaining that way, rather than casting off to Protestant denominations anyone with a dissenting view of official Church policy on relatively insignificant social issues (a majority of the laity in some cases, especially among younger/urban populations).
I wouldn’t expect the appointment of an Archbishop to include anyone at odds with official Church view on anything, but to appoint someone *precisely* because he is a vocal antagonist of the place where he’s supposedly a leader.
Hugh, the reply re: the sore spot was not intended for you but for those grappling with a thorn of truth about the Abp/Fr. Fessio. Thank you for your authentically Catholic posts: you are on target and an exemplary witness.
I’m a bad Catholic. I went back and re-read the CCC on the Vatican website (thanks Pete for the link), and can say with a clear conscience that I believe the official doctrine on a few things to be misguided and wrong; frankly, “objectively disordered” where it comes to gender and sexual orientation. This either makes me a heretic or as many believe here, not a Catholic (in spite of my upbringing and the best intentions of a very devout family). When it comes time to stand in judgment, I have no qualms about defending my belief that women should have access to any position in life that men do (even in the Church); that trasgendered and gay people are just as natural and good in equal proportion to heterosexuals, and that masturbation is meaningless and not even worth considering. And if I’m cast into hell for that, at least a lot of people I know will be there…
This blog fascinates me, because it’s comprised mostly of people so conservative that they feel the Church (which is objectively incredibly conservative) is lost to the devil (or liberalism, which is apparently considered the same thing)… I tend to think the Church should be large enough to accommodate diverse viewpoints and sects… but anyway…
Do I hear an echo in hear or is ‘marielle’ a Greek chorus to hugh’s histrionics? S’OKAY? s’okay! Just a heads up, propagandists of the tired and utterly repellent hard left…this is a Catholic website and it might surprise you! that it has nothing to do with conservatism but everything to do with orthodoxy, which if you ever took the time to read Chesterton or Ronald Knox, or…the Bible! (remember that black book you thought was something you only read if you have nothing better to do?) you might learn your skewed views have nothing to do with Catholicism but everything to do with sin, degradation and really creepy behaviors that in other milieus (thanks spellcheck) your pretentious sneering attitude (wow, are we impressed) and unCatholic bigotry would be found scandalous and unacceptable. You sound just like Herod in movie “The Passion”
Jesus doesn’t resond to Herod in any way when Pontius Pilate sent Him to the palace. It was no proceeding at all. All Herod wanted was a game, he wanted a jester for his court, he wanted a clown. When Jesus wouldn’t cooperate, we see that they mocked him as a king. You mock Jesus and what is holy, and God will not be mocked.
Snobbery and ridicule have no place where humility and faithfulness are valued.
Thanks, Dana. I’ll try to avoid the snide tone you’re taking here. But will say that I don’t see a lot of humility in people offering personal, subjective condemnations and believing they are speaking on God’s behalf.
You’re right. I am conflating (adj.) conservatism and orthodoxy, and traditionalism for that matter. They’re synonymous. And if orthodoxy lends itself to endorsing, condemning, or lobbying on behalf of partisan politicians, the cap C Conservatism is as well. Given how dirty — and similarly compromised — both our major parties are, it’s unfortunate to see the Church or its officials publicly interjecting into the process, or officially rewarded for doing so. It denigrates the Church to the level of Pat Robertson.
Who’s mocking Jesus? I was merely challenging the motives of the Vatican, and the magesterium of some ill-conceived elements of the CCC. I suppose you’re right that I’m un-Catholic in that, because Canon Law is such that there is only room for obedience. In that I’m guilty of nothing more than those who openly dismiss Vatican II.
I suppose you’re right, though. True Catholicism is orthodox, because the Vatican has structured itself in such a way that challenges to its authority are regarded as gravely as breaking the worst of the commandments. Luckily, I get to be both indoctrinated from birth and critical by nature. It’s an Irish birthright. And hell is nothing to worry about when you know you’re going there from the age of your first sexual thought.
The DUI….let it go…..it’s over. He is a good holy man…..geeze, its being brought up so often that it’s wrong! He apologized and has continued to show us his holiness. King David made mistakes and he was considered God’s own heart.
Acts 13:22 Douay-Rheims Bible
“And when he had removed him, he raised them up David to be king: to whom giving testimony, he said: I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man according to my own heart, who shall do all my wills.”
In Los Angeles Archbishop Gomez has the same Latin Masses that our archenemy Roger Cardinal Mahoney had two years ago. Very little change in the landscape for 4,000,000 baptized Catholics. Sad really, the Mass of immemorial Faith has been derogated in practice for so many. Una Voce had massive petitions for personal parishes but nothing happened so far from Archbishop Gomez. In a way, it is hard to blame him for avoiding crossing our first Peronista Pope.
“The failure of Prop 8” ???
Wait a minute, we in the great state of California passed that sucker (and Prop 22 as well before it) to defend marriage and families here.
It was the EAST Coast liberals (the Supreme Court) like John Roberts who “invalidated” the law of the people state of California when he ruled that Californians do not have the right to defend their own laws, but East Coasters have the right to cancel them.
That’s a pretty funny interpretation seejay. Roberts and others ruled that they couldn’t take the case on a technicality, which meant that it was the judgement of a California Republican appointee of a Republican president that remained standing. The EAST coast judges stepped aside and stayed out of the fray. Besides which, California voters don’t get to override the US Constitution which is, after all, the supreme civil law of the land.
Two Comments: (1) “Hugh” — your views do not reflect Catholicism. The SF souls that you talk about are lost to their sexual sins. This is not a political process where local opinions matter (or, at least, they should not be). In fact, the sense of the political is entirely too strong with the Vatican, which has stalled the canonization of Piux XII for too long based on its political considerations with certain Jewish spokesmen. Archbishop Cordileone is not a difficult leader, in fact, his changes have been markedly slow, although considered. But, at basis, the “flock” of homosexual parishioners must be told, and told again, that no one on Earth may give them a moral green-light regarding homosexual sex. Such acts are serious sins, likely mortal ones. The Vatican has taken entirely too long to find its courage and appoint someone as bishop that at least has some courage to say and do the correct thing. (2) the changes in bishops on the West Coast is entirely uncertain to change much regarding the liturgy, and re-introduction of Tradtional, orthodox Catholicism to the Western States. Archbishop Gomez, for example, has done very little differently than did Cardinal Mahony, at least regarding changing the knowledge base of most Catholics as to what the Church really stands for. At least Francis uses the words “Satan” and “the Devil” when he talks about the evils of the world. But what about the vast majority of West Coast Catholics who do not believe in the Real Presence, or who believe that divorce and remarriage outside the Church is fine, as are women priests, homosexula marriage (and illicit sex of all kinds), and all manner of behavior that one’s conscience permits. This is the real trick of evil, because it leads to damnation. This is the one and only purpose for having a Catholic Church — to lead to salvation. The Church does not exist to make hmosexuals, and all sinners, feel happy with themselves.
The Archbishop would be ill advised to step into the San Francisco mess at full speed ahead. It will, as someone has suggested, take decades to change the perceived expectations of many of the flock. He is moving slowly, which I think is prudent, even if I disagree with some of his changes. Once a priest has been officially named a pastor of a church, the Bishop cannot just walk in and replace him for no good reason. He has “ownership” according to canon law. So, the appointment of new pastors closer alligned with the Bishop will take years. He has however made some major changes in the seminary with the appointment of new managers and a new rector. He seems to want a different seminary than the current one; teach Latin as well as Greek and Hebrew, new teachers of how to say the mass, etc. First you train the priest and then put them in key positions. It takes time. Also, the new Pope is moving slowly to change the church from a rules bound institution to one that is focused of each person’s relationship with God. He is also asking the Synod of Bishops that meets later this month to take up the issue of divorced Catholics being able to take communion, etc. He is also decentralizing the governing bodies of the Vatican, using email to get opinions from all over the world from Bishops and Cardinals. There is even rumor of a lay person being appointed a Cardinal to head up the office of the Laity. Odd isn’t it that a celebate Cardinal is telling lay people how to raise their families, etc. Be ready for change. There is a strong wind blowing!
Any Priests who violates:
1) GIRM (General Instruction of the Roman Missal) for the Ordinary Form of the Mass,
2) violates the Code of Canon Law,
3) and/or violates the Doctrine of the Faith which is clearly stated in the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition”
should be reprimanded immediately by the Diocese Bishop, and if the evil behavior continues he must be removed as a Priest from the Diocese.
It is our obligation to report violations to the appropriate Diocese Bishop.
GIRM (General Instruction of the Roman Missal):
https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20030317_ordinamento-messale_en.html
CODE of CANON LAW:
https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_INDEX.HTM
CATECHISM of the CATHOLIC CHURCH, Second Edition:
https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_INDEX.HTM
and
“What Catholic REALLY Believe SOURCE” –
https://whatcatholicsreallybelieve.com/
I think the title of this article is misleading but in line with how much marketing is done to advertise the “holiness” of the Archbishop and Fr. Fessio.
And the “sore spot” with some is that they hate holiness. It makes them look bad. It is like the slovenly and lazy worker or student who calls the neat and hard worker or student a kiss up to the boss or a teacher’s pet. Most often they are wrong, and really need to be looking at themselves.
Some girls gave St. Therese of Lisieux a bad time for just those reasons.
Anne T, guess another sore spot found and what a leap: “hate holiness”.
Nancy Pelosi still hasn’t had her comeuppance, has she?
The Church on the West Coast is a big ship that is going to take a decade or more to turn, and that’s just among the clergy as the new guys start to become pastors. The catechetical and Catholic education rot have not even begun to be addressed by the new breed of bishops. That’s a 30 year process since the average parochial school teacher or DRE in a parish can easily have that length of tenure.
FrMichael, I can see the lack of catechesis in the people who post here from California. I don’t know of any diocese that has not addressed this problem. But co-operation from the laity is spotty. Just this year, we were asked to study the Catechism. I don’t know how many people did it. There are 7 weeks in the year of Faith remaining. I am way behind but if I don’t finish by the Solemnity of Christ the King I will continue until I do. We are also supposed to be studying the Vatican II documents and the history of the Church. I know that in my circle of acquaintances I am the only one even trying to comply. Most don’t even know they are really supposed to be doing it. Some are attending a course by Fr. Barron on Catholicism. One of the hardest problems to surmount is the individual’s belief that they already know everything about the Faith.
k, you are correct that our Popes have told us to study the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition”.
How many Bishops in CA have publically and actively promoted the reading and study of the CCC ?
How many of their Diocese Priests have been instructed by the Bishop to publically and actively promote the reading and study of the CCC ?
How many Diocese employees have been told by the Bishop to read and study the CCC ?
How many Catholic High Schools, Colleges, and Universities use the CCC as one of their required texts for students?
How many seminaries and convents use the CCC as one of their required texts for study?
Baltimore St. Joseph’s Catechism solves all problems. My Children would not be caught dead in a place that does not teach it
k, dioceses have made some halting steps, but given that the Church is 99% laity, the lack of co-operation as you put it is a huge problem! But there is institutional resistance the bishops can but don’t stop. I would point at the parochial schools. He can hire or fire anybody within them, and yet the one who tried (Bishop Vasa) received withering fire from Press, parents, and clergy. The high schools are a harder nut to crack given that many are run by religious orders and even ones owned by dioceses have “professional Catholic” educrats well-ensconced, defended by their wealthy alumni. Look at the gay “married” principal in the Southland who was let go: a major firestorm. I’m surprised the firing wasn’t rescinded.
You may be surprised, but the firing wasn’t rescinded, so take heart.
Bishop Michael Barber had high-profile pro-abortion Governor Jerry Brown receive Holy Communion at his Installation Mass. In fact, he publically acknowledged Brown from the Altar during his homily.
How many California Bishops are enforcing Canon 915, and
Canon 1399 (” In addition to the cases established here or in other laws, the external violation of a divine or canonical law can be punished by a just penalty only when the special gravity of the violation demands punishment and there is an urgent need to prevent or repair scandals.” ? ? ?
Most California Bishops do not take the MORTAL Sins of SCANDAL and SACRILEGE seriously.
Therefore their own Souls as well as the Souls of many others may be lost for eternity.
Marielle:
I know neither the archbishop nor Fr. Fessio. I’m not defending them as much as I’m defending a point of Catholic spiritual practice: do not the assume the worst of anyone without good reason to do so. You have presented NO evidence that either cleric is ambitious for higher ecclesiastical rank. Barring such evidence, you are guilty of calumny.
Correction: Marielle responded to “Fr” Michael with “Nice attempt at deflection” regarding his “…you are guilty of calumny”. The sore spot remains and seems to be getting bigger. See Anne T.
“Cordileone, San Jose Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Daly and San Francisco Vicar for Administration James Tarantino met with McKearney on Sept. 16 and left him no option but to resign, according to McKearney, who had been president-rector since 2009 and at the seminary since 1999.”
I very much admire Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, but I think he is being led by some people who are not maybe the best. Msgr Tarantino is for example promoting his protégés such as Bishop Daly and Mr Laughlin at the expense of some good people who have been working very hard for a long time: just look at what the Knights of St Francis are going through at the National Shrine of St Francis of Assisi!!!! Angela Alioto, who built the Porcziuncula there, is now being pushed OUT by Msgr Tarentino and his buddies, as are the Knights of St Francis who have done all the hard work to the make that chapel even exist!!!!
Angela is a good person and dedicated Catholic, but she is very angry at this moment about the treatment she and the Knights are receiving from Msgr Tarentino who now lives right next door to the shrine.