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Most Reverend George H. Niederauer October 29, 2007
Archbishop of San Francisco
One Peter Yorke Way
San Francisco, CA 94109-6602
Your Excellency:
During your first visit to Most Holy Redeemer parish on Sunday October 7th, 2007, you gave Our Lord in Holy Communion to members of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence (SPI) a homosexual activist group widely known for its attacks upon and mockery of the Catholic Faith. Your subsequent October 11th apology notes that you did not recognize these “strangely dressed persons” as members of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and that these individuals should not have received Holy Communion, nor should the minister of the Church administer the Sacrament to them.
First: For the sake of their souls and the souls of those Catholics worldwide who have been scandalized, your office requires you to state this formally, according to the teachings of the Church.
You must immediately and publicly state that, per canon 915:
- Membership in the so-called “Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence” is incompatible with the Catholic Faith (and any other group of similar nature must also be named)
- Under no circumstances are members of this group to be admitted to Holy Communion
- Those who obstinately remain in this group, incur automatic excommunication from the Catholic Church
- Members who decide to leave the group must repent publicly. A public act of scandal requires a public act of repentance. (see attached document) The Discipline Regarding the Denial of Holy Communion to Those Obstinately Persevering in Manifest Grave Sin)
http://www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/holycom/denial.htm
These sanctions should be implemented now so that those under this discipline will have the opportunity to repent publicly by the First Sunday of Advent, December 2, 2007.
Second: In 1986, the Magisterium issued the instruction, the Letter to Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons.* The then Cardinal Ratzinger wrote, “All support should be withdrawn from any organizations which seek to undermine the teaching of the Church, which are ambiguous about it, or which neglect it entirely. Such support, or even the semblance of such support, can be gravely misinterpreted. Special attention should be given to the practice of scheduling religious services and to the use of Church buildings by these groups, including the facilities of Catholic schools and colleges. To some, such permission to use Church property may seem only just and charitable; but in reality it is contradictory to the purpose for which these institutions were founded, it is misleading and often scandalous.”
Fr. Stephen Meriwether, as pastor of Most Holy Redeemer parish, has continually allowed groups that “seek to undermine the teaching of the Church…or neglect it entirely,” to use its facilities. Golden Gate Guards, Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and the Desperate Divas Grand Drag Pageant are just a few of the groups who have rented the parish hall for their blatantly sinful displays.
Because of the public scandal this has generated, you must:
- Replace the current pastor with a priest who is faithful to Church teachings, especially on this pivotal issue.
- Give specific instructions to all ministers of the Eucharist that giving Holy Communion to men dressed in drag is not an option and can only bring further scandal.
- In addition, we, the Faithful have the right to demand that you do your Episcopal duty and publicly reiterate the position of the Church that homosexual advocacy groups cannot meet in or use any facility of the Archdiocese.
Third: It is essential that you publicly urge those ensnared in the homosexual lifestyle to seek repentance and healing through the Sacrament of Penance. Your canonical responsibility for the salvation of souls is not optional, and is a greater imperative than a misguided “tolerance” which fails to admonish the sinner.
Finally: Considering the outrageous events that have been documented by photo or video within the walls of Most Holy Redeemer parish, and especially for the probability of sacrileges that have NOT been documented, we suggest a thorough blessing of the entire building and re-consecration of Most Holy Redeemer Church.
If you are unwilling or unable to take these necessary steps, then in humility you have the responsibility to offer your resignation to Pope Benedict XVI.
We are praying that you will take the appropriate steps and do your duty as a successor of the apostles to repair the damage done by this scandal.
Sincerely in Christ,
Anthony Gonzales, President
St. Joseph’s Men Society
15732 Los Gatos Blvd. #303
Los Gatos, CA. 95032
* Letter to Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19861001_homosexual-persons_en.html