Cardinal George

GLAAD's Religion, Faith & Values program works to elevate LGBT-affirming voices of faith in mainstream, regional, and community media.

There’s been extensive media coverage of Cardinal George in Chicago (and in Green Bay). The following is a roundup of other actions and statements from the Roman Catholic hierarchy that continues to alienate and demonize both LGBT people and fair-minded Catholics.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Cardinal George said, “I am truly sorry for the hurt my remarks have caused, particularly because we all have friends or family members who are gay and lesbian. This has evidently wounded a good number of people. I have family members myself who are gay and lesbian, so it's part of our lives. So I'm sorry for the hurt."

In the days and weeks following Cardinal Francis George of Chicago’s comparison of the LGBT community to the Ku Klux Klan, Catholics have continued to organize and speak out. Many Catholics have found the Cardinal’s comments and the ensuing backlash to be an opportunity to educate the Roman Catholic hierarchy on the reality of LGBT Catholics. Dignity Chicago is one of several Dignity chapters celebrating their 40th anniversary this year. Comments like those of Cardinal George’s are one of the reasons why the prophetic call of Dignity is as important now as it was 40 years ago.

In the days following Chicago Cardinal Francis George’s comparison that the LGBT movement could “morph into something like the Ku Klux Klan, demonstrating in the streets against Catholicism,” LGBT-affirming Catholics have spoken out against such harmful words and for the unity of their church with the LGBT community.