The Vatican has slammed the San Francisco Bay Area with the most homophobic, misogynistic, anti-contraception prelate in the country. What now?

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Considered the most virulently homophobic and stridently traditional prelate in the country, Bishop Salvatore Cordileone (Bishop of Oakland) was nonetheless elevated to the rank of Archbishop of San Francisco on Friday, July 27, 2012.

In 2008, Cordileone and a select cadre of Catholic leaders   decided   that their best chance to end marriage equality was to pass an amendment to the state constitution. Cordileone found the first major donor and built a lasting fundraising network for the group. He brought in an organization to lead the petition. He activated a network of California's Catholic churches, and helped craft the Prop 8 messaging campaign, even using focus groups.

In an era of "What was the Vatican thinking?" Benedict VI has delivered the most alienating slap to an archdiocese ever: Salvatore Cordileone, considered the "Father of Prop 8" will preside over the country's most densely gay-populated area: a move which many see as a statement of outright hostility:

Ben Sherman, Think Progress LGBT:

It is a further step in the Vatican's dedication to use Catholic doctrine to   keep LGBT Americans suppressed   and with fewer rights. In June, the Church   publicly condemned   Sister Margaret Farley, who wrote a book approving of marriage equality and advocating for comprehensive sex education. Cordileone can be relied on to side with the Vatican in such rebukes of reason and equality, and for that, the Church rewards him.

To date, there is only this statement from Cordileone about the antagonizing appointment:

It's going to be a big challenge of course but this is what the Lord has called me to do. I hope I can respond honestly and generously and effectively. He calls every generation to serve him in some particular way in terms of what's going on in the world. That's what it is for me.

The "challenge" will, for the most part, be administering the most liberal archdiocese in the country. "Generously" will depend upon the extent to which he realizes it.  

The Scope Of It All

According to the Archdiocese website, Salvatore Cordileone will minister to:

"... more than a half million Catholics of San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin counties, with 416 priests, 90 deacons and 675 women religious. There are 91 parishes with 11 Missions, 60 elementary schools, 18 pre-schools and 14 high schools in the three counties of the Archdiocese of San Francisco."

There are also over 150,000 gay residents, some of whom are Catholic.  

A Dark Age for San Francisco?

As a "proponent of the Tridentine Mass"* Cordileone has evinced his disdain for the advances brought about by Vatican II, a view which is shared by the Pope. As a theologian and active jurist (assistant at the   Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura), he is the Christian Right's Catholic dream: he has called same-sex marriage a "plot of the evil one" and besides opposing abortion and homosexuality, he opposes contraceptives in any form.**

It has not yet been broached as to how he will approach the San Francisco Bay Area's "socially active" nuns (675 of them) nor how extensively he will attempt to roll back any progressive measures taken by Bay Area churches. Supporters of his have called upon him to "de-consecreate" San Francisco's Most Holy Redeemer Church for openly accepting gays and ministering to AIDS victims. As a hierarchical force, he could determine what priests should promote in their pulpits - and what they should vehemently harangue against.

The possibilities of his roll back are endless, although some people think he will stop at determining the skirt lengths of female Catholics, promoting morality plays in San Francisco's Union Square and erecting a monument to Torquemada, the Grand Inquisitor of the Spanish Inquisition.  

Then again, given his penchant for a strict, unyielding hell-fire morality ...


*Back to celebration of the Mass in Latin, not English or an indigenous language.

** wikipedia: "...he proposed to the gathered bishops that the use of contraception should be included in a list of thoughts or actions constituting grave matter."

Authors Website: http://sacredcowsmakethebesthamburgers.blogspot.com

Authors Bio:
Rev. Dan Vojir is has been writing/blogging on religion and politics for the better part of ten years. A former radio talk show host (Strictly Books ?" Talk America Radio Network) and book publisher, Dan has connected with some of the most interesting people of our time: Steve Allen, William F. Buckley, Alan Ginsburg, Armisted Maupin, Anne Rice, Grace Slick, Bishop John Shelby Spong, Patricia Nell Warren, and Betty White.

He is also an ordained minister in the ULC and has studied extensively on the subject of the Bible and homosexuality. Additional articles can be read on his blog, The Devil and Dan Vojir.

Future goals and activities: a new ministry focusing on reaching personal spiritual levels without the outside influence of proselytism or evangelism called The Church of the Inner Preacher. This ministry will be included in a new website The Devil and Dan Vojir.

Vojir's main goal: to root out hypocrisy in religion and politics. "If only one person is saved from being killed or bashed by inane bigotry, then I'll have accomplished what I was put on earth to do: To Live and Help Live."
http://sacredcowsmakethebesthamburgers.blogspot.com