San Francisco Archbishop Responds After Caught on Video Giving Communion to Gay Men Dressed as Nuns

LifeSiteNews ^ | 10/10/07 | John-Henry Westen

[wagglebee]

SAN FRANCISCO, October 10, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Last Sunday, October 7, San Francisco Archbishop George Niederauer said Mass at a Catholic church in the heart of the 'gay district' of Castro.  Most Holy Redeemer parish has a lamentable reputation of having caved in to demands of homosexual activists.  One group of homosexual activists which until recently operated regularly out of the parish was called "Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence", men who wear makeup and dress as Catholic nuns.  Archbishop Niederauer was filmed giving two members of this group Holy Communion Sunday.

The "Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence", whose motto is "go and sin some more" and describes itself as a "leading-edge order of queer nuns," planned to hold regular bingo games at Most Holy Redeemer parish until Catholic activists reported the plans to the press.  A local homosexual newspaper, the San Francisco Bay Times, reported that the events at the parish included sexually explicit activities.  Prizes included porn DVDs and "sex toys" the paper said.

Since then the parish has refused the "Sisters" use of its facilities.  However, according to local Catholic activists some of the "Sisters" continue to attend services at the church.

Anthony Gonzales, president of St. Joseph's Men Society, a group which has taken action to curb outrageous anti-Catholic activities within local Catholic churches, spoke with LifeSiteNews.com about the incident Sunday.  Gonzales said that while his group decided to film the event and "let the evidence speak for itself."

 "This was such a blasphemous action within a Catholic Church by an Archbishop representing Roman Catholicism it would make Judas blush," Gonzales told LifeSiteNews.com.  "To hand over our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to known practicing and promoting sodomites, in the middle of a 'gay-friendly Mass' is beyond the pale.

Gonzales said his group is calling on the Vatican to take action.  "The Vatican has to react to this and has to remove him from office," he said.

Gonzales' group has not yet been able to post their video online. However, a separate video of the event has been placed online by the Catholic blogsite Quamdiu Domine and is available here: http://www.qdomine.com/Morality_pages/MHR.htm

LifeSiteNews.com contacted the office of Archbishop Niederauer for a response to the accusations.  A statement by Archbishop Niederauer sent to LifeSiteNews.com by Archdiocesan communications director Maurice Healy says that the Archbishop did not notice any "mock religious garb." 

"At Most Holy Redeemer Church Oct. 7, I noticed no protest, no demonstration, no disruption of the Sunday Eucharist," said Archbishop Nierderauer.  "The congregation was devout and the liturgy was celebrated with reverence. Toward the end of the Communion line two strangely dressed persons came to receive Communion. I did not see any mock religious garb. As I recall, one of them wore a large flowered hat or garland."

The "Sisters" were heavily involved in the recent Folsom Street Fair which in addition to full nudity and public sex acts by homosexuals involved included a mockery of the Last Supper with Christ and his apostles represented by leather-clad homosexuals.  Bishop Niederauer stressed that he had denounced the poster.  "In the past when the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence or other groups have ridiculed the Church I have denounced their actions," said the Archbishop. "Only a week ago, Catholic San Francisco carried my remarks condemning the derisive use of the Last Supper on a poster printed by some other local group."

Americans for Truth, an Illinois based national pro-family group has joined in the call to have Vatican authorities made aware of the scandal.  Peter LeBarbara founder of the group encouraged "Catholics and other concerned pro-family Americans" to voice their concerns and provided the following contact information for Vatican authorities:

His Excellency The Most Reverend Pietro Sambi
The Apostolic Nuncio to the United States
The Apostolic Nunciature
3339 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008-3687
phone: 202-333-7121
fax:     202-337-4036

Cardinal William J. Levada
Prefect
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
[Secretary: Most Rev. Archbishop Angelo Amato, S.D.B.]
Piazza del S. Uffizio 11
00l93 Rome, Italy
Europe
phone: 011.39.06.69.88.33.57
phone: 011.39.06.69.88.34.13
fax:      011.39.06.69.88.34.09
email:  cdf@cfaith.va

[nanetteclaret]

Oral Roberts University Scandal:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1905495/posts

“On Tuesday, three former ORU professors will announce they are suing the university for what they claim to be misuses and abuses of assets by President Richard Roberts. The lawsuit will also allege the university violated its tax status by being involved in a political race, and will address reports of sexual harassment.” From Cross Action News 2 Oct. 2007

[magisterium]

"Did I sum it up nicely?"

No. Not really. Very much an oversimplification bordering on unintended parody. But some of us out here, Protestant and Catholic, already know that, as all of this has been hashed and rehashed here on FR many times. Anyway, at least you're honest, even if misinformed.

[wmfights]

The Protestant Revolution,...

I thought that was probably it, but didn't want to assume.

I think the word "Revolution" is problematic. Revolution implies you are fighting something you are a part of. Most of the Reformers just left and did not consider themselves a part of the RCC due to doctrinal differences.

[Aquinasfan]

The archbishop is either a sympathizer of comatose. In either case he should be assigned to other duties.

This is horrible.

[HarleyD]

You said, “If it truly represented the grace of God...” That statement right there is a blasphemy!

No, I do not believe the Eucharist represents the grace of God. The grace of God cannot be manufacture in a wafer plant. God gives His grace long before we take communion or do anything for Him. He along substains us with His continuing grace.

However, if Catholics wish to believe the Eucharist imparts grace I would encourage them to search the scriptures to find out if these things are so. If you seek you will find according to God's will.

BTW-I am impress that you've sent an email to both Nuncio and the Holy Father. And that is saying a lot. I don't impress easily.

[xzins]

That which is impossible with man is possible with God.

[Zionist Conspirator]

More of the stinking rot of heresy! The Latins, it seems, are playing catch up with the Episcopagans! Has this heresiarch no concept of what the Eucharist is and what the consequences are for those who receive unworthily?

These things were unknown when the churches accepted the total inerrancy of the Bible. But foolish Episcopalians, Catholics, and Eastern Orthodox actually believe you can declare whole sections of the Bible mythology and have the entire moral edifice stand unaffected.

This is going to happen to your church eventually for the very same reason it has happened to the others, and all the condemnations of "nineteenth century positivism" and claims that "we never believed that silly stuff in the first place" will not save you.

But never mind. No one wants to sound like a "redneck." Go ahead. Learn the hard way.

The ancient liturgical churches are collapsing. The "modern" churches with the "anti-apostolic" notion of total Biblical inerrancy have escaped.

[xzins]

Thanks, nannette.

[wideawake]

The "modern" churches with the "anti-apostolic" notion of total Biblical inerrancy have escaped.

ZC, is Ted Haggard Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox? I can't recall which.

[Zionist Conspirator]

I'm not Catholic, but I honestly don't understand why the Church doesn't start excommunicating these people. They obviously don't believe in anything in the Bible, and they mock the values of Church at every chance they get. "Go and sin some more"? Such a person does not believe in Christ, it's obvious. Maybe Jesus wants us to try to keep reaching out to these lost souls. One day they may be saved, but I'd really have to pray for super-strength to deal with these people.

Haven't you heard??? Religion isn't a sincere conviction anymore; it's an ethno-cultural birthright to which one is entitled regardless of one's beliefs or behavior and from which one can never be expelled. And these ethno-cultural "faith traditions" should continue to "evolve" to accompany the times. [/sarc]

The "brain-dead Bibliolators" (as one Catholic FReeper once called them) are the only chr*stians in the world with any integrity.

[marshmallow]

God willing.

Sad to see such animosity.

I mean, if the Catholic Church vanished, what would you guys do with yourselves.............??

:-)

[xzins]

If you’ve ever wondered how smaller sub Communions got their start in the RCC

Those who recognize such things are close to recognizing how the protestants came about and how close we are to one another.

Peace, brother.

[xzins]

debate calvinism :>)

[nanetteclaret]

I’ll let you know if they answer. Most of the time all I get back is an Outlook notice that they actually opened the e-mail and read it. This is not the first time I have e-mailed the Apostolic Nuncio and the Holy Father.

The grace of God is not manufactured in a wafer plant. (But then, you knew that!) It comes to the “wafer” when the priest pronounces the words “This is my Body ...” It then becomes Jesus: Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. We then partake of God’s Grace when we partake of Jesus. “Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raiase him up at the last day. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.” John 6:54, 56

You said: “However, if Catholics wish to believe the Eucharist imparts grace I would encourage them to search the scriptures to find out if these things are so. If you seek you will find according to God’s will.” I will overlook that condescending statement, implying that Catholics never “search the Scriptures.” May I point out that if one reads John Chapter 6 **carefully and prayerfully** one realizes that Jesus is refering to Himself in the Holy Eucharist.

God’s Grace can come in many ways. The source and the summit is the Holy Eucharist, and we all know that when it comes to God’s Grace, “If some is good, more is better.”

[padre35]

“The ancient liturgical churches are collapsing. The “modern” churches with the “anti-apostolic” notion of total Biblical inerrancy have escaped.”

I disagree, in ANY large organization there will always be some who remain faithful to the Ideal, the question is How many” will act that way?

And will those who act that way constitute the Majority or the Minority in the Hierarchy, look at the Episcopalians, the control of the US Communion has been subverted by radicals, the ones who remain Faithful represent a minority, but they are more then happy to leave behind the apostate structure and remain faithful even if it is in smaller rented buildings and not the more established and historical church buildings.

For myself, I’m hoping (even praying) that the Traditional Catholics win the day, I would rather be called “Heretical Bible Thumping Protestant” by a Catholic (brother) that I can respect and even admire at times, then watch the Entirety of Roman Catholicism slide into a puddle of Relativistic Goo.

[padre35]

Peace.

[padre35]

Peace Brother.

[nanetteclaret]

Please show me where the Catholic Church has said whole sections (and which ones) of the Bible are mythology.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

This is just sick and I am absolutely appalled.

[ArrogantBustard]

Heresies and schisms and sinful clerics come and go ...

The Church endures.

Never fear. The Gates of Hell haven’t a chance.