The signers, who include alumni of San Francisco Catholic schools, parents, educators, Church volunteers and former Board Members of Catholic Charities CYO, disagree and are upset with Cordileone’s stance on traditional Catholic ideals.
They note that “morality clauses” included by Cordileone in contracts and handbooks for teachers and staff members at four San Francisco Catholic schools have caused major division in the community.
“The absolute mean-spiritedness of his required language for the Archdiocesan high school faculty handbook sets a pastoral tone that is closer to persecution than evangelization,” the letter published in the San Francisco Chronicle read. “Students, families and teachers have been deeply wounded by this language, yet the Archbishop refuses to withdraw his demands.”
While she is not among the signees, Eileen Woods, a teacher at San Francisco’s St. Cecila’s, said she was happy to see the letter sent to the Vatican.
“I was thrilled to hear they took out an ad,” she told KTVU Fox 2. “I’m appalled at what the church has done. I don’t understand. The Pope is moving in a progressive direction and archdiocese is regressive.”
One of the organizers of the letter-writing campaign said the group was forced by Cordileone’s action to send the letter.
“We know this is an extraordinary step and it is not one we take lightly,” said Michael Kelly, President, Walkup Melodia Kelly & Schoenberger and Catholic school alumnus. “We are forced to make this direct appeal to the Holy Father for many reasons, but most of all because of the direct harm now being done to the children in our parish schools.”
There was no immediate response Thursday by local church officials or the Vatican
Article Appeared @http://www.ktvu.com/story/28820920/angry-catholics-ask-pope-to-replace-san-francisco-archbishop