Episcopalian Bishop “Welcomes” Catholic Bishop

In anticipation of Salvatore Cordileone’s installation as Roman Catholic Archbishop of San Francisco on October 4 (the feast day of St. Francis), Marc Andrus, the Episcopalian Bishop of California, issued what could roughly be called a welcome letter . While he and Bishop Cordileone share views on reducing extreme global poverty and treatment of immigrants, the two remain sharply divided on the issue of marriage.

It is a bold move by the Vatican to send Cordileone, an avid pro-life, pro-traditional marriage activist, to the state’s most pro-gay city.

In response, Bishop Andrus insists to the Episcopalian faithful, “as I say in most of my blessings at the conclusion of the Eucharist, that ‘we make no peace with oppression.’ The recognition of the dignity and rights, within civil society and the Church of lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgendered people, and of women are as core to our proclamation of the Gospel as our solidarity with the poor, with victims of violence and political oppression, and with the Earth.”

He encourages those Catholics who are unhappy with the Church’s stance on marriage to find a home in the Episcopalian church. “Some Catholics may find themselves less at home with Salvatore Cordileone’s installation and they may come to The Episcopal Church. We should welcome them as our sisters and brothers. Even as we welcome those who may join us and look for ways to work with our Roman Catholic siblings in the faith, we will not be silenced in our proclamation of God’s inclusion.”

Welcome to San Francisco Bishop Cordileone!