Cardinal George reignites gay-KKK controversy with latest statement
Wed. December 28, 2011 12:08 PM by GoPride.com News Staff
cardinal francis george on fox chicago sunday
photo credit // myfoxchicago.com
Gay rights groups calls for Cardinal Francis George to step down
Chicago, IL -
Cardinal Francis George, the head of the Catholic Conference of Illinois and the Archbishop of Chicago, released a statement reiterating his controversial comparison of the gay rights movement to the Ku Klux Klan.
The official statement was released Tuesday, Dec. 27 on the Archdiocese of Chicago website.
"The Chicago Gay Pride Parade has been organized and attended for many years without interfering with the worship of God in a Catholic church," George wrote. "When the 2012 Parade organizers announced a time and route change this year, it was apparent that the Parade would interfere with divine worship in a Catholic parish on the new route. When the pastor's request for reconsideration of the plans was ignored, the organizers invited an obvious comparison to other groups who have historically attempted to stifle the religious freedom of the Catholic Church. One such organization is the Ku Klux Klan which, well into the 1940's, paraded through American cities not only to interfere with Catholic worship but also to demonstrate that Catholics stand outside of the American consensus. It is not a precedent anyone should want to emulate.
"It is terribly wrong and sinful that gays and lesbians have been harassed and subjected to psychological and even physical harm. These tragedies can be addressed, however, without disturbing the organized and orderly public worship of God in a country that claims to be free. I am grateful that all parties concerned resolved this problem by moving the Parade's start time so as not to conflict with the celebration of Mass that Sunday."
In the statement George defends, without apology, his initial comments made last week during a pre-taped interview with Fox Chicago News.
"You don't want the gay liberation movement to morph into something like the Ku Klux Klan, demonstrating against Catholicism," George told Fox Chicago Sunday, which aired Christmas Day on WFLD-TV.
The Cardinal's comments were made in reference to a new route and start time for the Chicago gay pride parade, which could potentially conflict with Sunday Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Lakeview.
Coincidentally, the 10 a.m. parade start time was changed last week in an effort to accommodate the church.
George's latest statement has again sparked controversy with gay rights groups, which have repeatedly called on him to apologize.
"The Cardinal is obviously avoiding The Calls for his resignation and apology," stated Anthony Martinez, executive director of The Civil Rights Agenda. "His statement not only lays the blame for his comments squarely on the parade organizers by saying they ‘invited' his comments, but he does not take responsibility for his brazen and hurtful words. Additionally, he only further asserts his claims by stating that the KKK is not an organization that should be emulated."
"We renew our call for Cardinal George to issue an apology for his hurtful comments and respectfully ask him to resign," said Martinez.
Rainbow Sash Movement, a Catholic LGBT group, Wednesday joined in the call for Cardinal George to step down.
An online petition calling for George to resign, which was launched last Friday by national LGBT advocacy group Truth Wins Out, has garnered over 4,000 signatures.
Calls by ChicagoPride.com to the Archdiocese of Chicago have not been returned.
The official statement was released Tuesday, Dec. 27 on the Archdiocese of Chicago website.
"The Chicago Gay Pride Parade has been organized and attended for many years without interfering with the worship of God in a Catholic church," George wrote. "When the 2012 Parade organizers announced a time and route change this year, it was apparent that the Parade would interfere with divine worship in a Catholic parish on the new route. When the pastor's request for reconsideration of the plans was ignored, the organizers invited an obvious comparison to other groups who have historically attempted to stifle the religious freedom of the Catholic Church. One such organization is the Ku Klux Klan which, well into the 1940's, paraded through American cities not only to interfere with Catholic worship but also to demonstrate that Catholics stand outside of the American consensus. It is not a precedent anyone should want to emulate.
"It is terribly wrong and sinful that gays and lesbians have been harassed and subjected to psychological and even physical harm. These tragedies can be addressed, however, without disturbing the organized and orderly public worship of God in a country that claims to be free. I am grateful that all parties concerned resolved this problem by moving the Parade's start time so as not to conflict with the celebration of Mass that Sunday."
In the statement George defends, without apology, his initial comments made last week during a pre-taped interview with Fox Chicago News.
"You don't want the gay liberation movement to morph into something like the Ku Klux Klan, demonstrating against Catholicism," George told Fox Chicago Sunday, which aired Christmas Day on WFLD-TV.
The Cardinal's comments were made in reference to a new route and start time for the Chicago gay pride parade, which could potentially conflict with Sunday Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Lakeview.
Coincidentally, the 10 a.m. parade start time was changed last week in an effort to accommodate the church.
George's latest statement has again sparked controversy with gay rights groups, which have repeatedly called on him to apologize.
"The Cardinal is obviously avoiding The Calls for his resignation and apology," stated Anthony Martinez, executive director of The Civil Rights Agenda. "His statement not only lays the blame for his comments squarely on the parade organizers by saying they ‘invited' his comments, but he does not take responsibility for his brazen and hurtful words. Additionally, he only further asserts his claims by stating that the KKK is not an organization that should be emulated."
"We renew our call for Cardinal George to issue an apology for his hurtful comments and respectfully ask him to resign," said Martinez.
Rainbow Sash Movement, a Catholic LGBT group, Wednesday joined in the call for Cardinal George to step down.
An online petition calling for George to resign, which was launched last Friday by national LGBT advocacy group Truth Wins Out, has garnered over 4,000 signatures.
Calls by ChicagoPride.com to the Archdiocese of Chicago have not been returned.