It's not easy swimming against the tide. I am sorry to admit that "pro-life activist" is not always my first response to the cocktail party question.
And standing by your belief in man-woman marriage sometimes feels like holding up a "punch me" sign.
But San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone has shown again and again that he is made of the strongest stuff.
Here's the tick-tock on his latest battle to protect Catholic teaching in Catholic schools:
February 3: The Archdiocese of San Francisco announces proposed changes in teacher contracts telling applicants that if they'd like a job teaching children at one of their schools, they will be expected to uphold and not publicly contradict Catholic moral teaching. In the view of the Archdiocese, this simply codifies the long-established expectation for school employees.
February 17: A group of legislators, all Democrats, writes a letter to Cordileone urging him to stand down, arguing that his plan would discriminate against the teachers and violate their civil rights to "choose who to love and marry, how to plan a family, and what causes or beliefs to support."
February 19: The archbishop replies. Here is the meat of his letter:
As the Archdiocesan announcement said: "Catholic schools exist to affirm and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ." Amen. Let them take their best shot at that goal, and complaining legislators stand aside.
Reprinted with permission from Family Research Council.
And standing by your belief in man-woman marriage sometimes feels like holding up a "punch me" sign.
But San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone has shown again and again that he is made of the strongest stuff.
Here's the tick-tock on his latest battle to protect Catholic teaching in Catholic schools:
February 3: The Archdiocese of San Francisco announces proposed changes in teacher contracts telling applicants that if they'd like a job teaching children at one of their schools, they will be expected to uphold and not publicly contradict Catholic moral teaching. In the view of the Archdiocese, this simply codifies the long-established expectation for school employees.
February 17: A group of legislators, all Democrats, writes a letter to Cordileone urging him to stand down, arguing that his plan would discriminate against the teachers and violate their civil rights to "choose who to love and marry, how to plan a family, and what causes or beliefs to support."
February 19: The archbishop replies. Here is the meat of his letter:
First of all, I always believe that it is important, before making a judgment on a situation or anyone's action, that one first obtain as complete and accurate information as possible. To this end, a number of documents and videos giving accurate and more complete information about this contentious issue are available on the website of our Archdiocese. I would encourage you to avail yourselves of these resources, as they will help to clear up a lot of misinformation being circulated about it (such as, for example, the falsehood that the morality clauses apply to the teachers' private life).This is how you do it. Bravo Archbishop Cordileone!
The next thing I would like to mention is actually a question: would you hire a campaign manager who advocates policies contrary to those that you stand for, and who shows disrespect toward you and the Democratic Party in general? On the other hand, if you knew a brilliant campaign manager who, although a Republican, was willing to work for you and not speak or act in public contrary to you or your party -- would you hire such a person? If your answer to the first question is "no," and to the second question is "yes," then we are actually in agreement on the principal point in debate here.
Now let's say that this campaign manager you hired, despite promises to the contrary, starts speaking critically of your party and favorably of your running opponent, and so you decide to fire the person. Would you have done this because you hate all Republicans outright, or because this individual, who happens to be a Republican, violated the trust given to you and acted contrary to your mission? If the latter, then we are again in agreement on this principle.
My point is: I respect your right to employ or not employ whomever you wish to advance your mission. I simply ask the same respect from you.
As the Archdiocesan announcement said: "Catholic schools exist to affirm and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ." Amen. Let them take their best shot at that goal, and complaining legislators stand aside.
Reprinted with permission from Family Research Council.
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