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By Jack Nichols
San Francisco—A half-page ad from the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights appeared in yesterday's San Francisco Chronicle attacking the city's Board of Supervisors and threatening a
boycott of San Francisco unless the Board rescinds its decision to allow The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence the right—in the famed Castro area-- to celebrate their 20th Anniversary on Easter Sunday.
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a well-known volunteer organization—which includes men in nuns habits-- gathers funds for the needy and the sick and were granted permission for their Easter Sunday celebration March 1.
Supervisor Mark Leno replied: "The truth is, the group is a volunteer organization, which has the mission of doing good deeds truly, though obviously with some humor, in the spirit of those in the religious order… I can feel comfortable about my vote, because they do good work and offer no disrespect.'" Leno later added that he thought the archdiocese's attempt to have the street closure permit revoked to be ``an intolerant act.'' During last Monday's (March 29) meeting of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the Board heatedly reviewed its March 1 decision at the request of Mayor Willie Brown and the Archdiocese. With the exception of two members, however, the Board determined that its original permit granting street space for the Sisters had been justifiable. Board of Supervisors President Tom Ammiano said: "Asking for change in the date of the celebration sidesteps the real issue here, that of the separation of church and state. The board's vote is not an endorsement of the sisters. It's an endorsement of the process that allows the sisters or any group to apply for a permit and be granted due process. The fact that the actions of one group are not popular with another group is no reason to deny anyone their rights." There were pointed exchanges between those two Supervisors who rescinded their March 1 decisions and those who maintained that their original votes had been proper. One critical Supervisor questioned Ammiano's leadership:``You, Mr. President, are not president of just one segment of this community. You had an opportunity to bring people together on this issue. Where was your leadership?'' Ammiano replied that he was a Catholic, a gay man and an officeholder pledged to uphold the U.S. Constitution. He indicated he felt torn. ``I offer an olive branch to you, Supervisor Becerril. . . . I say to you, walk a mile in my pumps.''
Many people think that San Francisco is the city of tolerance. But it is a lie – an outrageous lie. On March 1, the San Francisco Supervisors voted unanimously to permit a viciously anti-Catholic group, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, to stage a public celebration on Easter Sunday. This is their twisted notion of separation of church and state: the government can't sponsor religion, but it can facilitate attacks on it. The First Amendment has always been predicated on time, place and manner. As such, the Supervisors were under no obligation to permit the "Sisters" to vent their hate speech against Catholics on Easter Sunday (they even overturned a decision by the Department of Parking and Traffic). Would they have allowed an anti-gay group the right to mock homosexuals on the anniversary of Matthew Shepard's death? Our objection to the "Sisters" does not center on men dressing as nuns: it centers on their obscene assaults on the Eucharist, the very nucleus of Catholicism. That is why we are outraged. Apologists for the "Sisters" answer that the group gives to charities. So do fascists. Does this mean that if the Klan decides to "Adopt a Highway," we should ignore their conduct? As a result of this government decision, the Catholic League is calling on all Catholic organizations in the nation to boycott San Francisco. We are urging them to take their convention money to some other city, one that truly practices the virtue of tolerance for everyone. If this event is rescheduled to occur after Easter, there will be no boycott." The ad was signed by William A. Donohue President of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, an organization headquartered in New York: www.catholicleague.org The Sisters' celebration, in spite of the ad, will take place as planned: Easter Sunday at 5 p.m. in the Castro at 18th Street. Does the Philadelphia Archdiocese Practice Church/ State Separation? Almost simultaneously, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese in Philadelphia has announced plans to distribute a voters' guide for mayoral and City Council races. At the heart of Philadelphia Catholic concerns is domestic partner legislation that was passed in 1998 and granted benefits to the domestic partners of gay city employees. In a rare appearance, Cardinal Anthony J. Bevilacqua testified against the benefits bill in the City Council. The proposed voter's guide indicates the responses of candidates who support a repeal of the measure. It also covers such issues as condom distribution in schools, free choice abortions, free needle exchanges and school vouchers which would provide taxpayer support to private parochial schools. "In recent years," said Guy Ciarrocchi, spokesman for the archdiocese, "the City Council and the mayor -- and even the school board, to some extent -- have decided to become involved in issues of morality . . .. The only responsible course of action for the Catholic church is to participate in a debate started by others." |
