Posted on 04/25/2005 9:38:19 PM PDT by 26lemoncharlie
What if you gave a party and no one came?
In a way, that's what happened in San Francisco in a snub of breathtaking proportions.
There's no better example of the intrinsic hate of the Catholic Church by the left than what happened – or rather, didn't happen – in San Francisco after the death of John Paul II.
First, there still has not been a single, public word of condolence to Catholics or the Church by the city.
Then, the archdiocese planned a mass honoring the pontiff and had a wide invitation list despite a short planning time – the pope died Friday, the Mass was Tuesday. Invitations were phoned and e-mailed to elected officials, local dignitaries, representatives of business and culture and the people. They were invited to acknowledge the pope's memory – not to support the Church or its teachings.
It's called honoring the dead. Forty-three countries sent dignitaries to the pope's funeral in Rome.
In San Francisco, more than 3,500 people attended the mass at St. Mary's Cathedral. According to George Wesolek, director of the Office of Public Policy and Social Concerns for the Archdiocese of San Francisco, there was a broad representation among attendees. Roman Catholics, of course, but also representatives from the Orthodox Church, Jews, Protestants, Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus and others. At least 20 consuls general were there, representing their nations.
But there was a gaping hole in the attendee list. Missing were representatives of San Francisco's elected government. In fact, not a single elected, member of city and county government was there, nor did any send a representative.
The pure arrogance is astonishing, to say nothing of the breach of protocol.
The clear hostility to the Church might have gone unnoticed publicly had it not been for the investigative "Matier and Ross" column in the San Francisco Chronicle. The item was published, then the story disappeared. A couple of letters to the editor, an op-ed and it was gone. Wesolek noticed the insult and sent a tough e-mail to all the city officials who ignored the invitation. In it, he was clear that the subtext of the snub appeared to be "an aggressively hostile unwritten policy by city officials to turn a biased and even bigoted eye toward the Catholic Church and Catholic citizens." He said he hoped not.
I asked if he'd had any response. His answer: "None."
Wesolek said only two sent regrets for the invitation, Supervisor Aaron Peskin was one. The other was the mayor. They both had something else to do.
The excuses were classic!
Mayor Gavin Newsom, who says he's Catholic, said he was "frustrated," but another event took precedence.
Yes, but he neglected to send a representative. Apparently he missed that class in protocol training.
He's the man who broke state law and gave approval to homosexual marriages in his city. He also aspires to higher office.
It should be noted that even after Wesolek's e-mail, headline news in the Chronicle column and the issue fully dissected on my KSFO radio program, the mayor still hasn't responded nor apologized for his affront.
Supervisor Michaela Alioto-Pier said she had to attend her 2-year-old daughter's birthday party.
She's a granddaughter of former San Francisco mayor Joseph Alioto and niece of Angela Alioto, attorney and former president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
She claims to be Catholic. She also has higher political aspirations.
Another supervisor, Sean Elsbernd, is quoted as saying he had "no record of an invitation." He noted he "had previous plans." He's Catholic and represents a Catholic district.
No doubt the tourist commission and the Chamber of Commerce are happy the story died. After all, San Francisco rakes in multi-millions a year from business and tourism. Good public relations is imperative when the goal is to lure visitors under the image of openness and affability.
It is, after all, the city of St. Francis – he was Catholic, was he not? It's a city with an historic and dedicated Irish, Italian and Polish population. It's a city with a large number of Hispanic residents. It's a city of Catholics and Christians of many nationalities. The city is home to the Archdiocese of San Francisco, representing nearly half a million Roman Catholics from three counties.
San Francisco prides itself on its international status. We're told it's a cosmopolitan, welcoming, diverse and understanding city. The people, we're told, are open and tolerant of all.
That's what we're told.
One would think it wouldn't be seemly for the elected representatives, from the mayor on down, to snub Pope John Paul II.
One would think those people, above all, would understand protocol; would understand symbolism and respect; would understand that what they do reflects on them and on a major, international city.
One would think they had manners.
One would think.
But one would be wrong because all that good will and tolerance apparently doesn't apply to Roman Catholics.
One thing about San Francisco politics you need to understand is the enormous clout of homosexuals. They're up-front in their demands and as the city loses its population of married families because of economics, among other things, "gay" political power increases. That politicians fall on their knees before them is no surprise even though they lack the courage to admit it.
It is reflected in the mantra of media that the Church is out of step with culture and the only issues are birth control, priestly celibacy, women priests, condom use, sex education and "gay marriage."
It's not just San Francisco – it happens across the country. Keep an eye on "gay rights" and what that means. Be aware of the source of political money and the political trade-offs. If you're a traditionalist, if you're strong in your religious beliefs, you're deemed a loser.
This was clear in the comment by homosexual supervisor Tom Ammiano in his response to snubbing the invitation. He said he received it too late to respond, but that "I would probably be more apt to attend when they have the first gay marriage at St. Mary's."
Get the message?
In a city of queers you would expect something different?
Let me see, first it would be drought, followed by forest fires, followed by hail, earthquake and then tsunami and SF is swept away into the ocean.
I was wondering if any Catholics out there had any thoughts about a city named for St. Francis being the sodomy capital of the Western Hemisphere.
Rump Rangers Remain Rude
It is a beautiful city. That is before the fog roles in, the homeless dope fiends wake up, and if the sodomites keep it in their pants.
It use to be a beautiful city. It is now a city set in a beautiful location, one beter viewed from afar.
Ignore the hysterics of the 49 square miles of SF proper and enjoy some of the other aspects of this area that those of us, who can suffer through the local politics, find pleasurable.
GOOD GRIEF!!!
I didn't think there were 35 Christians in San Fransicko, let alone 35 hundred.
Many Homosexuals claim to be Catholic or Christian.
Pathetic fags.
There's nothing Christian about these people, let alone Catholic.
newsflash: "sodom is apostate. remnant gathers to pray."
Sitting on the fence must be tough on your @**!
Wanker placemarker.
Let them keep it up. Of all Catholics lurking or posting here, I sincerely ask how any of you who still vote for DemonRats can square doing so with your religion and the basic tenets of Christian morality when the evil heart of the DemonRat party, as represented by the San Francisco politicians, wants to destroy your church and obliterate everything it stands for. Indeed, as we see from what's going on in Canada, these same individuals even want to use "hate speech" laws to keep you from preaching and practicing the teachings of the gospels.
Or better still, the 101st Airborne.
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