Due to parish worries, S.F. church delays Archbishop Cordileone’s visit after he reveals he’s unvaccinated
A Catholic church in San Francisco pushed back a visit from Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone scheduled for a Dec. 19 Mass after he recently revealed that he’s unvaccinated.
Pastor and Jesuit father George Williams informed the parish of St. Agnes Catholic Church in the Haight of the decision in a church bulletin last weekend. He wrote that he had called the archbishop and asked him to reschedule his visit for a later time “because many people in the parish had expressed concern about this.” Williams did not specify a later date for a visit.
“I feel it is important that everyone feel safe, and we all do our part to prevent the spread of COVID19, especially now with the new Omicron Variant. These are stressful times enough and I felt his pastoral visit to us would be overshadowed by concerns about the pandemic,” Williams wrote in the bulletin. “I urge anyone in our parish who has not yet been vaccinated to do so. Pope Francis said, “Getting vaccinated is a simple yet profound way to care for one another, especially the most vulnerable.”
Williams didn’t immediately return a request for comment.
The recent turn of events is just the latest pandemic dust-up to hit the diocese. Last year, Cordileone protested public health orders that restricted indoor church gatherings and considered taking legal action to open churches. At least one parish closed for a time during the pandemic because of an outbreak. A North Beach church hosted a wedding in early July that appeared to violate health orders, after which at least 10 attendees tested positive for the coronavirus, including the newlywed couple.
“Health care decisions are a very personal matter,” the Archdiocese of San Francisco said. Archbishop Cordileone has every confidence in Father Williams’ ability to know his people well, and respond to their sensitivities with compassion.”
Cordileone told The Chronicle last week that he hasn’t been vaccinated “yet,” “but I’m not an anti-vaxxer.” He said that his “immune system is strong” and that his personal physician told him “it’s probably not necessary for me to be vaccinated.”
UC Berkeley infectious disease expert John Swartzberg said that he was “shocked and very disappointed” to hear the archibshop is unvaccinated, but he was relieved to hear that St. Agnes had postponed the Mass.
“I think that (the church) did the loving thing that any religious organization should do and that is to protect their parishioners,” said Swartzberg, adding that he does not let anyone who is unvaccinated into his home. “Why would you invite somebody (unvaccinated) — just because he’s the archbishop — to come into your church?”
Medical experts recommend the vaccine for everyone who’s eligible for the shots, saying it not only protects the individual from severe illness and hospitalization, but also helps the medically vulnerable, including the immunocompromised, for whom vaccines tend to be less effective, and very young children who are not yet approved for inoculation. For a 65-year-old like Cordileone, the risk of severe COVID and death is elevated.
Cordileone previously said the vaccines were “morally acceptable” and encouraged vaccination.
"millions of Catholics at their death will have to answer to the Eternal Judge why they did nothing to stop this monster." You foremost among them, @Angelo Santelli --because you running your mouth isn't stopping anyone.
Speaking of California, Francis-Bergoglio's Latest Target Is Newchurch's Contemplative Dominican Nuns' Monastery of the Angels, in Hollywood, California He Has Already Shut down Carmelite And Franciscan Contemplative Communities Bergoglio, Whose Newvatican Is Sinking into Bankruptcy Is Said to Have His Eye on Appropriating to Himself The Nuns' Almost Three-million USD Property Purchased One Hundred …More
Speaking of California,
Francis-Bergoglio's Latest Target Is Newchurch's Contemplative Dominican Nuns' Monastery of the Angels, in Hollywood, California He Has Already Shut down Carmelite And Franciscan Contemplative Communities Bergoglio, Whose Newvatican Is Sinking into Bankruptcy Is Said to Have His Eye on Appropriating to Himself The Nuns' Almost Three-million USD Property Purchased One Hundred Years Ago
I simply cannot understand why no one has even attempted to shorten this morbidly obese demon's life. For failing to stop his detstruction of the Church Christ founded millions upon millions of Catholics at their death will have to answer to the Eternal Judge why they did nothing to stop this monster.
"Cordileone previously said the vaccines were “morally acceptable” and encouraged vaccination." -but he isn't vaccinated himself. Fancy that! If the Archbishop has some wit, he'll offer a new Mass date to Pastor Williams: a week after the Third Trumpet is blown and star Wormwood falls. No sooner. Snubbing is a two-way street.More
"Cordileone previously said the vaccines were “morally acceptable” and encouraged vaccination." -but he isn't vaccinated himself. Fancy that!
If the Archbishop has some wit, he'll offer a new Mass date to Pastor Williams: a week after the Third Trumpet is blown and star Wormwood falls. No sooner. Snubbing is a two-way street.
