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

[wagglebee]

This is totally unacceptable, Nierderauer needs to be removed IMMEDIATELY!

[wagglebee]

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[wagglebee]

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[Kolokotronis]

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?

[rawcatslyentist]

There aint gonna be nothing but a smoking crater left this time. Either that or G*D owes S&G an apology!

[Clock King]

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.

[wagglebee]

I honestly don't understand why the Church doesn't start excommunicating these people.

A whole lot of us have been wondering the same thing for a long time.

[Dante3]

Weird.

[madprof98]

This is the same archbishop who said he didn’t know Nancy Pelosi was in favor of abortion.

[NYer]

This story is running rampant all over the blogosphere today. Someone emailed me the story early this morning. It left me cold and empty. On the one hand, one can justify the Archbishop's appearance at such an event by likening it to our Lord's acceptance of the invitation to dine with the tax collector and his friends. The BIG difference, however, is that our Lord grabbed the moment and used it as a teaching opportunity. Tha did not happen in this case.

3 years ago, during Lent, I turned off the nightly news. The gap was filled with prayers, Scripture readings and reflection on God's mysteries. Even now, in this forum, scandalous stories such as this draw us like moths to the flame. I have chosen to avoid these 'rare' (and that is what they are) events while focusing on the more positive ones.

Thank you for the ping and your comments.

[vox_freedom]

Weird.

Excuse me, but this is worse than "weird."
It is repulsive, blasphemous, and a scandal to use three more appropriate terms.

[vox_freedom]

Weird.

Excuse me, but this is worse than "weird."
It is repulsive, blasphemous, and a scandal to use three more appropriate terms.

[murphE]

Crisis in the Church? What crisis in the Church?

[DocRock]

Sodom and Gomorrah

[HoosierHawk]

Even now, in this forum, scandalous stories such as this draw us like moths to the flame. I have chosen to avoid these 'rare' (and that is what they are) events while focusing on the more positive ones.

Nyer,

Yes, these incidents are rare. But when they are brought to light, non-believers are also drawn like moths. The non-believer sees the hypocrisy of the Church as immorality within the Church. Boston comes to mind.

I'm not a Catholic, and I wouldn't dare write to you as one. But we are admonished to expel the evil-doers from our Church. They erode its foundation by destroying the testimony of those who claim to have dedicated their lives to Christ.

While I commend your position on focusing on the positive, (and I think most Christians do), there may be some on your ping list who wish to take a more active role. Maybe not.

With respect,

HH

[murphE]

[murphE]

A whole lot of us have been wondering the same thing for a long time.

[Frank Sheed]

The Latins, it seems, are playing catch up with the Episcopagans!

Do I detect triumphalism? Maybe just use the term "Papist" or "Romanist" instead of the ever so subtle, Latinist, my Orthodox Brother.

"Let him who is without sin cast the first stone..."

In Christ Jesus,
Frank

[Kolokotronis]

“Do I detect triumphalism? Maybe just use the term “Papist” or “Romanist” instead of the ever so subtle, Latinist, my Orthodox Brother.”

FS, no triumphalism. I don’t really know what else to call you guys. I suppose I could have said “The Roman Catholics”. “Latins” is quicker.

But here’s the problem, FS. The Roman Church wants reunion with Orthodoxy while tolerating this sort of behavior. Your bishops argue about giving communion to abortion supporting politicians but hand it out to active gays and straight people living together without the benefit of clergy and then refuse it to people who get divorced and remarried. We’re not perfect, but our priests, I’ll suggest, have a more refined sense of their obligations to both the Holy Eucharist and potential communicants than yours do. I don’t know why this has happened since it wasn’t true when I was a kid, but it certainly is now. Every Sunday our priests make an announcement about who can approach for communion. If someone known to be living a life style contrary to the teachings of The Church, they are refused communion, publicly. That’s the way it should be.

Now you tell me FS, why should any faithful Orthodox Christian want anything to do with reunion with an organization which tolerates this behavior from one of its hierarchs?

[Wheee The People]

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."

Mustache? She had a mustache?

[padre35]

Sad really, the entire congregation is debased, and the Priest notices nothing, the Eucharist is handled unworthily while the RCC is mocked at the same time?

I once read that there are some in Catholicism’s hierarchy that see the Church in the future being smaller, but much more faithful.

I understand the “primitives” much better now, i never thought that i would see this in Catholic Church.

[Alex Murphy]

This is totally unacceptable, Nierderauer needs to be removed IMMEDIATELY!

Who's in charge that would do the removing?

[narses]

Ping.

[DieHard the Hunter]

God is not mocked. These folk only *think* they are getting away with doing so.

I am not Catholic, and I am unsure about where Catholicism sits with God, but it must be painful for devout Catholics to see something that is so deep in meaning to them be spoofed by buffoons such as these — with the connivance of an “Archbishop” who seems to think it is OK.

It is deeply regrettable that this is happening, and I feel deep sorrow that it could happen to any Christian congregation: it seems that the Catholic Church has been singled out, probably because of its prominence.

But God is not mocked. Not by “Nuns” and not by compliant-and-evidently-blind “Archbishops”.

[Coleus]

Maurice Healy, director of communications
Marta Rebagliati-Ribbeck, communications manager
info@sfarchdiocese.org
Most Rev. George H. Niederauer, D.D., PH.D
Most Rev. Ignatius C. Wang

Very Rev. C. Michael Padazinski, JCD
Rev. Msgr. Harry Schlitt

 

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco
One Peter Yorke Way
San Francisco, CA 94109
415 614 5500

[fatima]

They look ridiculous but respectful.Why where they there?They attened Mass and went to Communion.Change of mind?mockery ?Only they know.

[B Knotts]

A lot of times, there is some, at least plausible, explanation for the outrageous stuff that goes on seemingly under the noses of bishops.

On this one, though...I’m sorry, but there is absolutely no excuse for this. Under no circumstances should men dressed as nuns (or, more accurately, as a caricature thereof) be admitted to Holy Communion.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Levada isn’t going to help anyone. He is partly responsible for Nierderauer’s installment in SF.

[Robert A. Cook, PE]

This is the same archbishop who said he didn’t know Nancy Pelosi was in favor of abortion.

You’ve got to be kidding. Abortion is the Rite of Passage, the Sacrament most holy of the modern/socialist/democrat/internationalist liberal party.

Even Clinton never dared approach ANY step that would slow down, or fail to promote, abortion.

[Robert A. Cook, PE]

So, tell me.

Yes, they took the Hosts. The “bishop in name only” claims they took the Hosts reverently.

Then what did they do with them?

[DieHard the Hunter]

> They look ridiculous but respectful.Why where they there?They attened Mass and went to Communion.Change of mind?mockery ?Only they know.

You are right, it is not up to us to pre-empt God by doing His judgment for Him. And so we cannot know what was truly in their hearts.

One can only surmise by their actions, and by their subsequent actions. It is OK for us to “judge righteous judgment” because we are told to — if for no other reason than that we know which examples to follow and which ones not.

I suspect if they had a change of heart, they would not have shown up to Mass dressed like that. And if, subsequently, they continued in their ways, then it is difficult to believe their sincerity.

Righteous judgment would say that a true believer probably would be safer not to follow their example.

Repentance means more than just saying you’re sorry: it means being truly sorry and amending your ways. Bringing anything other than a humble and contrite and repentant heart to something as important as Communion is a mockery of Christ’s Sacrifice, and thus unworthy.

God is not mocked, and those who partake unworthily eat and drink Dam’nation to themselves — we are told that.

[AliVeritas]

If you can’t figure it out... it would do no good to explain.

God bless you.

Pray, Pray, Pray.

[fatima]

No clue.When you go to church they don’t tell you how you can dress now.Does the priest take a survey before you receive Communion.So off they go-dressed as Nuns with Communion in hand-Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ .As a priest would you refuse or take into consideration a change of heart before walking in the church.Are they making fun of us or have they come back?

[lastchance]

And he needs his eyesight checked pronto. But the “sisters” should take care. What begins as an act of insult can result in real grace. May they hear the voice of God and answer Him in sorrow and repentence for receiving unworthily. If they did not mean to act in a manner insulting to the Sacrament may they realize the scandal they have caused and spend some time with the Blessed Sacrament in repentence.

[fatima]

Why are they there.Why are they prayerful.If in the future their actions prove to be negative I say yes deny but who am I but just a lay person.I know of an abortion supporter who I think Sister’s had died in a so called back alley abortion.He hated us and the Catholic church.He had pictures of a dead woman with a hanger and we would stand next to him and plead for life.Well one day after an invite from Father Pavone he walked into chruch.Father was up on the Altar and said Welcome.Some people in the pews began to talk against Father.This man knelt ed down.I don’t know the rest of the story but .

[DieHard the Hunter]

> Why are they there.Why are they prayerful.If in the future their actions prove to be negative I say yes deny but who am I but just a lay person.I know of an abortion supporter who I think Sister’s had died in a so called back alley abortion.He hated us and the Catholic church.He had pictures of a dead woman with a hanger and we would stand next to him and plead for life.Well one day after an invite from Father Pavone he walked into chruch.Father was up on the Altar and said Welcome.Some people in the pews began to talk against Father.This man knelt ed down.I don’t know the rest of the story but .

We cannot know their hearts, you are right, and the story doesn’t tell us. We are told thet Christ came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentence.

We can hope that this was the case.

[fatima]

AliVeritas,I am giving church norms in this situation,that’s all.I am a lay person.

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

Lord, make Your presence known to all who seek You. Sanctify your churches and make the Host and Cup holy and undefiled. Give Your priests courage to speak the truth and rebuke those who seek to blaspheme Your house and Your saints. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

[fatima]

DieHard the Hunter,:)

[ArrogantBustard]

heresiarch

Now, there's a word you don't see every day.

The Latins, it seems, are playing catch up with the Episcopagans!

Talk to Archbishop Burke ...

[ArrogantBustard]

I honestly don't understand why the Church doesn't start excommunicating these people.

The Church is hierarchical, but the "chain of command" isn't identical to what we're familiar with in military or corporate worlds. The Pope does indeed appoint bishops, but the bishops then hold their office in their own right ... they aren't subordinate to the Pope in the way that CPL Jones is subordinate to SGT Smith. The person responsible for excommunicating grossly scandalous public sinners in San Fransicko is the Bishop of San Fransisco.

That would be George Niederaur.

You see the problem?

First off, he needs to be appointed to some other post. Like, maybe, a cell in an isolated contemplative monastery. The monks could make sure he doesn't cause any trouble. Then, appoint a bishop with guts.

[Kolokotronis]

“heresiarch

Now, there’s a word you don’t see every day.”

You’ve just got to love the English language!

“Talk to Archbishop Burke ...”

Would that he were calling the shots, at least around here!

[ArrogantBustard]

I appreciate that you are trying to avoid judging the state of their souls. And you are right to do so.

Whatever their interior intentions may be, by approaching Holy Communion in garb that is a mockery of a Nun's habit, they are giving scandal. And by giving them Holy Communion, the priest or bishop is also giving scandal. Additionally, they are acting as a near occasion of sin. Maybe they have repented ... but their actions (by dressing the way they do) suggest otherwise, indeed suggest that homosexuality and transvestitism are perfectly OK. Other folks, also afflicted with those sins, would see them and be led NOT to repent.

[Tax-chick]

If this is true, the Archbishop must be far gone in dementia. However, I think we need to be cautious about accepting home videos as evidence of anything.

[steadfastconservative]

Thank you for your sweeping generalizations! They may not be true but they give you a convenient excuse to object to any reunification of the Churches, which you apparently oppose. How many Catholic bishops do you know for a fact permit Communion to be given to active homosexuals or to cohabitating couples? What this archbishop did was clearly wrong but it is not typical of the Catholic bishops in the U.S. to do things like this. Before you condemn the Church for officially tolerating this kind of abuse, let’s see whether or not the Holy See disciplines this archbishop.

It is clear to me that you hate the Catholic Church and are only too happy to bash it when the opportunity arises.

[longtermmemmory]

I wish this pope would get with the technology and have his office issue some “this is just plain wrong” statements.

It is obvious the US bishops actually don’t care about homosexuals infesting the ranks.

[longtermmemmory]

ok show it.

Which bishops have actually refused publicly?

[Kolokotronis]

“They may not be true but they give you a convenient excuse to object to any reunification of the Churches, which you apparently oppose.”

I think you’ll find that I am among the last people here on FR to object to a reunion of the Roman Church and the Orthodox Churches and further am among the biggest cheerleaders for +BXVI. I am, however, very, very concerned about the lunacy and, frankly, heresy, which seems to permeate much of the Roman Church, at least in the First World. I know that +BXVI isn’t part of this; I don’t know if a majority of First World bishops are for or against what this article speaks to. It is pretty plain that the majority of Roman bishops here in the States are not overly concerned about protecting the Eucharist otherwise they would be flocking to Archbishop Burke’s position. Orthodox Christians take the Eucharist very seriously. We Greeks are viewed by the West as strict, the Russians, however, make us look like agnostics. Another thing you should understand, sfc, Orthodox Christians have a positive religious duty to condemn heresy when they see it, whether it be from a hierarch, a priest, a monastic or a layperson. We honestly believe, and have no problem pointing out, that the floor of hell is paved with the skulls of bishops. If there ever is a reunion, we’ll keep right on doing that!

“It is clear to me that you hate the Catholic Church and are only too happy to bash it when the opportunity arises.”

I’ll bash both the Roman and the Orthodox Churches when the need arises. It has nothing to do with hatred. It has to do with religious obligation and love for The Church, Orthodox and Roman.

[magisterium]

Your heart is in the right place, and God will bless you for it. But your observations are good only if this is the first time this group has descended on a Catholic Church and received the Eucharist while keeping to their moral agenda. Unfortunately, it is not the first time. They have done things like this in multiple parishes for years now. This event marked only the first time they carried-on at a Mass with the archbishop giving them Communion.

You yourself said that they should not be given Communion if they continue in their behavior. I say that their behavior is already quite ongoing, and their motto, "Go and sin some more," betrays their true current mindset. That mindset is not one of a person in a state of grace, and the Eucharist should be denied them. Their whole attire and attitude is a stentorian proclamation of their opposition to authentic Catholic moral teaching.

That any given individual in this group could have a change of heart between entering the Church and going to Communion, as you noted, is not denied. But such a person still needs to be restored to grace by the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and there is no comepelling reason for that person to receive without taking that necessary action. On the contrary, such a person should know that their present attire and initial motivation for attending church would cause a scandal if he were to receive, and his nwfound respect for things catholic should motivate him to abstain, in this instance, until he has cleansed himself sacramentally.

The bishop should have exhorted these men to repentance, and laid out their obligation to receive absolution before daring to receive. He should have made this opportunity available. He should have asked anyone repenting of their complicity in this mockery to voluntarily abstain from receiving in their present attire, in order to avoid the manifest scandal of people receiving while appearing to be in a clear state of mortal sin. Then he should have welcomed back "tomorrow" anyone willing to take him up on his offer to provide absolution and moral guidance, asking them to "dress appropriately" and, interiorly, "put on the new nature, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:24)

[AliVeritas]

Did the man answer Fr. Pavone’s invitation dressed as a hanger, as his dead sister with a hanger or as an aborted fetus? I’m pretty sure he didn’t. God bless him in his humility.

Everyone has a story, but it’s not working anymore; All the mistakes have been seen, their consequences known. Time to roll it back, wheat/chaff, parents (notice the plural, married), what is a husband, wife, son, daughter in your holy family? We all must be taught in truth.

Between you and I, only God knows the heart and state of the soul; Just from my view... I see no purpose of amendment... we’d have to have one serious talk. Sure they’re crying out for help, while scandalizing others.

P.S. You CAN go to Mass and not receive as well you know.
The unholy mockery re: clothing is still scandal though.

I thank the Lord for preventing his lowly animal subject (me), from walking in on one of these. God knows I have issues... and trust me, bail would be involved. Sure i’d still pray for them before, during and after... That’s just past my breaking point.

Personal responsibility, read the scriptures. BTW, that glorious book also has many verses on morality and modesty.