Suspected anti-Prop. 8 vandals strike San Francisco church

San Francisco, Calif., Jan 6, 2009 / 03:49 am

Opponents of Proposition 8 are suspected to have vandalized Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in San Francisco over the weekend, spray-painting on the church black swastikas and the words “Ratzinger” and “Niederauer,” the respective last names of the Pope and the Archbishop of San Francisco.

Most Holy Redeemer parish, located in the predominantly homosexual Castro District of San Francisco, has been billed as a “gay-friendly” church. It has previously participated in the San Francisco Gay Pride Parade and reportedly leased parish space to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a group of homosexuals who mockingly dress as nuns.

Responding to the vandalism, Most Holy Redeemer pastor Fr. Steve Meriweather told KCBS that his parishioners also oppose Proposition 8, a successful California ballot measure that overturned a 2008 state Supreme Court decision which imposed same-sex “marriage” on the state.

“I think it's unfortunate that they selected our community to attack," said Father Meriweather, "because it's the wrong one."

Bill Donohue, President of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, in a Monday press release asked Catholics nationwide to respond to the hostilities following the passage of Proposition 8 by contacting San Francisco’s Mayor Gavin Newsom.

“In the wake of Proposition 8, innocent persons have been assaulted, churches have been vandalized, a white substance resembling anthrax was sent to the Knights of Columbus and to Mormon temples, supporters of traditional marriage have been branded Nazis, African Americans have been called the ‘N-word,’ houses and cars have been trashed, etc.”

“Unfortunately, most of those in the gay community have been silent about these acts,” he claimed.

Donohue said some blame for the vandalism should be attributed to San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, arguing that they “have shown nothing but contempt for the First Amendment rights of Catholics.”

He also referred to blasphemous and obscene activities at the homosexual Folsom Street Fair, saying San Francisco’s political leaders ignored them but were “quite vocal” about condemning the Catholic Church in a 2006 resolution.

“For those who love to write about ‘root causes,’ let them ponder the guilt of these public officials. Moreover, leaders in the gay community show no leadership when it comes to denouncing incivility committed in the name of gay rights. This has got to end.”