Mayor Lee Asks SF's Archbishop To Refrain From Speaking At National March For Traditional Marriage
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)— San Francisco's Roman Catholic Archbishop is one of the headline speakers at a national march for traditional marriage next week in Washington, but local politicians are asking him not to go.
Mayor Ed Lee, Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom and others have sent a letter to Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone asking him not to participate in next Thursday's annual March for Marriage, led by the National Organization for Marriage and the Family Research Council.
"We think that this particular march has a lot of acid to it, if you will," said Lee. The mayor characterized the march as having some extreme views and accusations that would cause a wider rift between San Francisco and the Roman Catholic Church.
Lee added that the organizers are among the most vitriolic anti-gay groups in the country. Meanwhile, the groups have already denounced the letter from the politicians, calling them "hypocritical liberals" and "radical activists."
The Archdiocese has not returned calls to KCBS for comment.
At last year's march, Cordileone said the event is all about love, not prejudice.
"Please understand that we don't hate you, that we are not motivated by bigotry. It is not our intention to offend anyone, but if we have, I apologize. Only a man can be a father and only a woman can be a mother. I find it hard to believe that I have to stand here and say that."
Mayor Lee plans to speak with the Archbishop, to try to talk him out of attending.