I bring to your attention something from The Catholic League about the recent DUI incurred by Archbishop Cordilone, newly appointed to San Francisco. Liberals are dancing around their bonfires as if Cordilone’s head is already on a stick.
I’ve been watching the story and thinking about it. The CL piece touches on some of the things I have noticed.
TRYING TO SILENCE BISHOP CORDILEONE
Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on the DUI arrest of Oakland Bishop Salvatore Cordileone, the archbishop-elect of San Francisco:
Bishop Cordileone was stopped at a DUI checkpoint in San Diego last weekend; he was arrested after it was determined that his blood-alcohol level was above the legal limit. He has since apologized.
This won’t be the end of this story, but not because of what happened. What counts is who it happened to. It just so happens that Cordileone holds orthodox Catholic positions on sexuality, the kind of views hated by both secularists and left-wing Catholics. Consider Michael Sean Winters of the dissident weekly, the National Catholic Reporter. [aka Fishwrap.]
Winters, like a lot of embittered Catholic “progressives,” is obsessed with homosexuality. That is why he was unable to write one paragraph in his screed against Cordileone without mentioning this subject. The context? Winters wants the bishop to “think with greater compassion about the complicated lives we all lead today.” He also wants the bishop to show an “approriate [sic] humility and humanness.” All of this is code for “shut up and leave the culture to us.” [More simply, it’s code for “shut up”.]
Gay blog sites have also picked up on this theme. Why? San Francisco is a city where men [read: gays] are free to walk around naked in the street in front of women and children. They can even walk into McDonalds totally nude and park themselves next to Ronald McDonald, provided, the law says, they place a towel on their seat (hygiene matters). Next month homosexuals will whip each other in the street and have sex in public at the Folsom Street Fair. This is the city that Cordileone will soon inherit.
Winters, and his ilk, want nothing more than to intimidate Bishop Cordileone. They know he is bright, courageous and faithful to the teachings of the Catholic Church. That is why they would like to silence him, especially on sexual issues. We stand with Bishop Cordileone and urge him not to break stride. We are confident he will not.
Now that this PR tornado has stuck, various approaches to the clean up of the wreckage are possible. I am sure that Archbp. Cordileone will, over time, find the right words and actions to deal with the new circumstances. I am also pretty sure that his plan will include always having a driver. Why, by the way, do bishops drive themselves around? I know that drivers are expensive, and I know that some people would accuse bishops of looking like elitists (the “poor” don’t have drivers, after all). Neither am I suggesting that having a driver would give any bishop an excuse to over indulge. This is about closing as many chinks in the armor as possible. Given the world as it is, bishops are going to have to reduce their exposure to attacks.
There are going to be more and more attacks. It will get to the point that if … when… a bishop runs over some old lady’s cat, the Church’s enemies will start a conga line.
In Rome, the Holy See has a pool of drivers for the prefects and secretaries of dicasteries precisely to diminish the risk of what can and does happen in life. It is decidedly not an elitist thing. If I am not mistaken, some US dioceses – and again I am working from memory which could be faulty – some dioceses which are “corporation sole” need to have a driver for the bishop precisely so that, should some accident take place, the assets of the diocese cannot be attacked.
Overly cautious? Paranoid? Uh huh. Paranoids have enemies too. And tell me more about how I am overly cautious. As the saying goes, a stitch in time, saves nine. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. As the saying goes, for want of a nail…
For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the message was lost.
For want of a message the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.
Simply put, attacks on the Church through her human shepherds are going to increase. They are increasing. We would do well to consider ways to limit our exposure.
But nobody asked me.
In the meantime, we know that the people who are going to howl the loudest and the longest hated him to begin with and are unlikely to come around no matter what Cordileone does.
The people CL describes are rather like ancient Donatists: there is no real forgiveness possible and they will beat you with a human mistake or fault until you are dead dead dead.
You might say a prayer for Archbp. Cordileone.
The combox is moderated.
From an outside point of view, there does be some unmasking of some critics. For some, driving at (reportedly) a bit over 0.8 o/oo seems to be the ultimate crime… O Lord, pour down some brains and common sense!
And also… loosed from the connection with car-driving, the amount of alcohol apparently comsumed by His Excellence has nothing to do with overindulging.
Fr. Zuhlsdorf, you have stated the case well, for bishops to be driven to whatever place they go, and each bishop should have a driver. With the Cordileone arrest, we have another reason, in addition to the classical reason of personal liability in the case of an automobile accident.
Chicago’s archdiocese is a “corporation sole” which means that the bishop owns the property of the diocese. Cardinal Bernardin was always driven around by Fr. Ken Velo. I’m sure Cardinal George also has a driver. This is not paranoia, it is simply classical good sense. Bishops should discard their driver’s licenses when they are installed as head of a diocese. If they want to, they should re-apply for a license when they retire.
Remember also the accidental death of a pedestrian in Phoenix in spring 2003. It might never have happened if a bishop had the good sense to let someone else drive him.
No sooner did you say something about killing a cat than I saw this tweet [from] ?@cnalive Animal rights activists disrupt Mass, accuse priest of ‘murdering’ cat http://ow.ly/dkh80
I do pray for bishops, especially mine, and Abp. Cordileone.
The Archbishop of my old diocese has a very sensible approach. He took the commuter train (45 mins or so) to visit the seminary which is very convenient to the railway but when faced with 150 miles between an EF High Mass in choir with confirmation and an episcopal consecration in the afternoon, he had his driver on hand. A sensible expense, I think.
I know some dioceses have instituted/re-instituted drivers for bishops after the horrific case of Bp. O’Brien in Phoenix in 2003—simply too much liability for dioceses instituted as “Corporations Sole” (which is what I think you mean here). It’s a matter of smart business, practical risk management, and good stewardship.
Our Oakland, CA parish started a spiritual bouquet for Archbp. Cordileone two Sundays ago (before the incident in San Diego), and I committed to offering my daily rosary for his intentions. Since the news from San Diego broke, I’ve offered my prayers in particular that our Lord will strengthen him in his time of trial. I hope others will do so as well.
Considering that the police talked about how polite His Excellency was when he was arrested, and that two- three glasses of wine can easily put one “over the limit”, even if they are not impaired, I would hope that most people will understand he was not roaring drunk, belligerent, or indignant at being cited.
I have offered my rosaries for His Excellency. He has such a battle to wage and of course they are prowling like hungry lions, looking to devour him.
A side note- I am more disgusted with the fact that people can behave in the manner described by Mr. Donahue in a public place, legally. I knew it was liberal in SF, but I had no idea it was that open. Egads!
Father Z., I cannot agree with you more. What needs to come to all Catholics is the attitude of the Church Militant in the middle of battle. All of us from the dear Pope on down to the person in the pew need to be constantly vigilant. We are in the midst of a war.
Keep in mind, please, that I very much admire Abp. Cordileone and was near tears when I saw the news of his arrest. I was also pleased to see that an officer interviewed about the arrest said that Abp. Cordileone was polite, humble, cooperative, and didn’t play the “Do you know who I am?”-game. He merely told the officer (perhaps in response to a question) that he was a priest. The officer had to go online to find out that he was also a bishop and the incoming archbishop of San Francisco.
That said. In addition to having a driver, perhaps the best way for Abp. Cordileone to approach SF now is as a penitent among penitents. In addition to paying off whatever debt society demands, perhaps he could volunteer to pick up trash with the road crews, ladle soup at the soup kitchens, etc. San Francisco is in dire need of a penitent saint to lead it into repentance. Perhaps an embrace of such a vocation by the Archbishop could be a means by which God can write straight with crooked lines.
I am fairly certain Cardinal DiNardo has a driver. I heard a story (probably apocryphal) that he said “When you become a Cardinal, they take your license and give you a driver.” Probably for the reasons you state.
The standards for drunk driving in CA are very low, and probably most people on their way home from a long dinner with mother and friends would fail them – but most are fortunate enough not to run into a traffic stop. I don’t think that this was purposely arranged for Abp Cordileone (although such traps have happened in CA) and he appears to have done what anybody would do, which is heave a weary sigh and realize that he was in for it – and cooperate with the police. Since there were other people in the car, obviously somebody else was able to drive him home.
I doubt that his drinking is a problem, but this incident could be helpful because it makes him realize how closely he’s being watched and how the crowd out there is going to use everything they can against him, no matter how trivial. So perhaps it will remind him of his the fact that he’s a target and they are watching every step he takes.
That said, he can’t be paralyzed by this because it’s (a) no big deal and (b) completely unrelated to the rest of the things he’s doing.
I can tell you as a prosecutor that a DUI is certainly not a crime of moral turpitude. Lots of very respectable people and good citizens get tripped up being modestly over a fairly arbitrary blood-alcohol limit, which, thanks to activists, has become lower and lower and lower over the years, and no longer necessarily reflective of actually “intoxicated” driving.
It’s entirely plausible that a few glasses of wine could have put the good bishop technically over the legal limit, rendering him presumptively “under the influence” of alcohol, while in any moral sense he may not have been intoxicated or rendered unfit safely to drive a car.
Nonetheless, our clergy now have to be like Caesar’s wife, above question. I would advise the bishop to stick to his very nice humble apology, and I would hope he does not allow this bump in the road to render him gun-shy about the important and real challenges facing the Church in Sodom by the Sea.
I shall indeed pray for Abp. Cordileone. I pray for all our bishops, but a special prayer for this one.
“Corporation soul”? Interesting play on words, Father.
From what I’ve heard, yes, in most US archdioceses the archbishop is strongly discouraged from ever driving himself.
Part liability, part safeguarding such a person with important jobs (Cardinal-electors, anyone?), part so many bishops and archbishops are older men. Frankly, with all they have to do, I wouldn’t be surprised if most of them were too busy or too tired to drive.
I don’t know how it goes in “regular” dioceses.
I will pray for Archbishop Cordileone.
I know for a fact that people in Oakland are fervently praying for him. (not that they didn’t do it before, just that intentions for him are being made especially at this time).
Good observations about needing a driver. You will always get complainers at any additional help a bishop will get – except of course for the maids, cooks, and drivers who have a decent job.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Pray for US and His Grace.
I immediately thought along these same lines when I first read about this (a driver, etc.). I also find it interesting that in one of the articles, a police officer stated that Bp. Cordileone volunteered that he was a priest and the police officer then did an Internet search at the scene and “discovered” who he was!
I am attending a seminar on exorcism and the devil’s influence this weekend (including a presentation by the exorcist for Oakland among others) and I am looking forward to hearing how we can combat this increasing evil that is running rampant.
His Excellency visited my diocese recently and celebrated Mass on the Assumption at my parish. I was blown away by his orthodoxy, reverence, and respect for the rubrics.
Though this doesn’t excuse the seriousness of drinking and driving, His Excellency was attending a family dinner. I have some Italian cousins, and if I know anything about Italian family dinners, the wine is always flowing. I would venture to guess that His Excellency had a lot less wine than anyone else at the dinner.
I remember about 10 years ago or so, we had our retired Cardinal visit our parish. I saw, while walking towards the Church, that his Eminence had a driver–his priest-secretary, a guy in his late 30s. Looked like he could take care of himself in a bar fight. I remember also thinking–that’s right, that’s what an elderly prince of the Church deserves. More than ever, these days.
Fr. Z.,
Spot on post! I’m with you: Why don’t bishops have drivers? Poor people don’t have personal cooks, either, but it’s the rare parish priest who has to fend for himself in terms of cooking food. [You think so?] I think that any bishop (most priests, for that matter) would have ’em lining up to drive them around. [I don’t think that will work.] And what a good way to stay connected with the rank-and-file among the laymen. We are approaching a time (we may be there now) when bishops will need the extra muscle anyway.
Ever sine this story broke I have been saying special prayers for him. The wolves are circling around all of our bishops.
Yes, a driver seems sensible. Any Archbishop should certainly have one. I’m astonished he didn’t.
Also a sense of proportion would seem sensible. He was not pursued grimly along the freeway for some traffic violation, he was tested in a police checkpoint, while driving his mother home after a party. Nobody suggested he was driving erratically or dangerously. He was just technically over the limit. (To be honest, it could have been me on so many occasions, Deo Gratias.)
If all the saints of Christendom had been tested by the secular police on a Friday night, we’d have to have a special ‘Ego sum vitis vera’ set of Propers and antiphons for Bishops (Not Yet a Martyr) caught out by traffic cops.
I thought Archbishop Cordileone dealt with it very honestly and elegantly with his apology.
(‘Ad Caesarem’ etc.)
I also saw, while googling, the disgraceful San Francisco gay-propaganda websites that are trying to make something of this micro-event. His Grace has my prayers and hearty good wishes, and future support.
Just remember that like most (or is that all?) states the CA BAC limit is .08%
Actual accidents generally involve people who have about double that limit.
If he was just over the limit, the Bishop may not have considered himself drunk, and if you saw him at the time you might have agreed with him.
Just remember, the original prohibitionists were motivated at least in part by anti-foreigner (i.e. anti-catholic) sentiments.
Something to keep in mind.
I think that at this time in history that all the clergy should be careful what they eat, drink, who they associate with, and never, never go anywhere alone.I am sorry it has come to this. Many prayers from us for the good Bishop. May our Lady comfort him and our Lord console him,May the Holy Angels surround him and protect him.
@Traductora
This was indeed at a DUI checkpoint, and from what I read it was just outside of a university campus. As a college student, I can tell you exactly who that checkpoint was “meant for,” especially if, as I expect they started school this week, as many places did.
I can also tell you that the people driving home from the “back to school parties” were probably a lot worse for wear than His Excellency was.
My (slightly facetious) advice for him, avoid college areas on weekends and holidays, its basically a given that the cops will be there waiting for the slightest swerve. I can’t tell you how many times I have left campus late at night, and had a cop follow me for a couple blocks, presumably “just to see,” then make a u-turn and head back.
Didn’t the Church once have a religious order, of women I think, who were dedicated to doing housekeeping for priests? I think they had St. Zita as their patron saint, but I can’t find anything on Google.
Anyhow, this story dredged up an idea I’ve had for a while, that the Church should revive some of its old religious orders like the one dedicated to housekeeping. Having housekeepers and other servants such as drivers around would not only protect priests from false accusations, it would help to keep them from getting into genuine trouble. It would also provide employment for people who do not have college degrees or marketable skills – and possibly for some people who do have them.
I pray for all of our faithful priests and bishops, but I will be sure to make special mention of Archbishop Cordileone. If the devil wasn’t behind his arrest, he will certainly have a field day with it now.
surrounded as his Excellency is by rabid homosexuals who have nothing but the vilest hate for the Catholic Church, i have to say that a driver of the 270 lb 7 foot variety is most definitely in order. Archbp. Cordileone is most definitely in our prayers. The Lord bless him and keep him,…Our Lady Queen of Victory guard him and guide him.
If a full-time driver isn’t possible, there are always taxis.
When I was growing up in Los Angeles the Archbishop (back then) always had a driver. For the reasons many here have noted it seems a good time to reinstitute that practice. As for using a taxi cab—not a great idea in San Diego or anywhere else in SoCal for that matter.
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Prayers.
I’m praying for our soon to be Archbishop Cordileone.
I don’t watch/listen to the news (I live in the SF Bay Area and most of the local media makes my blood boil.)
What I’m wondering is, as humbly as he handled this–offering that he is a priest–will the wolves take that as trying to hide that he’s a bishop? I pray that has not/will not happen. I respect and admire Bishop Cordileone. I prayed a lot that he would come to San Francisco and I will continue to pray for him. He will need all the support he can get.
All, and I mean all, the hundreds of priests I know, in several countries, cook for themselves. Some have volunteers from the parishes to come in and clean, who are not paid.
Only two priests have drivers that I know of, as they are either too infirm to drive or have a disability of old age, but they still serve as priests. One priest I know in Canada, who has seven parishes, has a driver for the weekends to help him.
Why do people think priests have help? That way of life has been gone for a long time. The Church is poor in most places.
A few months ago, we entertained 3 priests and another couple from our parish. Although my alcohol larder was stocked, I was the only one to imbibe! I’m surprised that no one mentioned
that abstaining when out and about might be a good idea…and also good for some archbishop’s waistlines. (Not Archb. Cordileone – he’s trim)
In this case I understand why he didn’t have a driver, though I am a strong supporter of bishops having drivers. This was a personal drive so to speak rather than a “business” trip, so you can see the line of thought that even if he used one during the day, would it be a good use of funds for such a personal use as taking your mother home in the evening? Its a matter of practicality as well, it may have been more practical for him just to say “I cant drive anymore” and use a friend or the like rather than a hired driver that evening, while certainly he should be using a driver for any normal journey, even personal ones during the day. I do hate to see prelates driving themselves around though.
Yeah, it’s a micro-event. But orthodox Catholics are under the microscope of the Enemy, who are looking for any opportunity to pounce. It’s no good arguing that this is a mountain out of a mole-hill. Faithful Catholics have to be innocent as doves rather than content to be pretty good on the secular curve. So good bishops shouldn’t veer into paranoia, but they do need to sharpen their prudence like a laser.
Scott W. has a good point. I think, for the most part, the bishops in our country are good at not slipping up. It is paramount in this day and age, maybe even more so than previous times, that all of us Catholics, especially the clergy, live well. We can’t give the enemies of Holy Mother Church an inch. Then again, we all slip up sometimes.
P.S. Reading my comment again let me modify that I didn’t mean to imply that +Cordileone himself was “content to be pretty good on the secular curve”
“intimidate Bishop Cordileone.”
with a name like that?! Un-intimidatable!
It’s so easy to get a DUI nowadays. I recently spoke to a criminal lawyer about this subject and he told me when he goes out to dinner and he is driving, he has only one glass of wine with his meal, at the beginning of the evening and then drinks nonalcoholic beverages. In his profession, he can’t afford to be stopped and get a DUI ticket, and it doesn’t take much any more to be over the limit. Yes, it would have been prudent for the Archbishop to have had a driver, but he didnt. It seems somstimes the worst things happen from such innocent beginnings. We should be grateful that nobody was hurt and that he will probably get a lower fine and punishment because of his behavior and because I presume his number was relatively low.We all need forgiveness and make mistakes and reasonable people will recognize this. He will undoubtedly do his community work: nasty people, the media among them, will still gloat, and the jackals and hyenas will be out in full force. To me, it far more horrific that gay people are allowed to demonstrate such behavior in public- how did we get to such a place? Would these people act any diff erently had the Archbishop not gotten a DUI? Would they stop doing this if he had had a driver that night? There is an evil wave washing over that city, ( and in others) , almost as if we were getting a small glimpse into hell.
The Archbishop has surely reached out to God for strength and guidance. We All here are praying for him, and we are just a small sample of those who are doing the same thing. God will strengthen him and protect him as he walks through the mine field of his new city and deals with those who will use this to their advantage. The Lord watch over him and all our priests.
I remember, as a boy, my father, an army officer, telling me how lucky I was to live in country where you could travel the roads freely, and not be stopped by checkpoints and armed men asking for papers and inquiring into your business. Alas, that country is gone forever, just a fading memory.
No matter what the Archbishop does or says in the upcoming years this incident will be brought up but you know what? – that’s life. At this point the man has GOT to have an answer that will turn the tables on the reporters and that answer is – imho: “Yes, I was ticketed for DUI and it was the best thing that happened to me because now I don’t have any drinks if I’m driving. As your servant, I would ask your listeners to learn from my experience and to ask themselves if there’s any behavior in their own lives that’s unacceptable and needs to be changed. Is there anything they’re doing or omitting to do that could hurt them with others, with themselves, and with God?” Something like that, although I’m sure wiser heads could say it better. The idea, though, is not to allow the media to isolate the Archbishop with this incident as if his misjudgment disqualifies him from guiding others; in fact, it should strengthen his position because he’s also “been there and done that” and knows what needs to be done to turn things around.
This is sad because Abp Cordileone is by rep a very good man. In these times there are forces in and out of this world going around growling, seeking to devour any bishop, priest, or teacher wanting to propagate the faith.
Sobrii estote et vigilate.
I thought the Archbishop made a very good public apology as reported by EWTNews:
“I apologize for my error in judgment and feel shame for the disgrace I have brought upon the Church and myself. I will repay my debt to society and I ask forgiveness from my family and my friends and co-workers at the Diocese of Oakland and the Archdiocese of San Francisco, Archbishop Cordileone said in an Aug. 27 statement provided to EWTN News. “I pray that God, in His inscrutable wisdom, will bring some good out of this,” he added.
The entire story can be read here: http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=121057
Regarding DUI checkpoints, I have never understood how they can possibly be legal. Without reasonable cause, they are nothing but witch hunts IMO.
The first thing I did when I heard about the DUI arrest was to pray a rosary for Archbishop Cordileone. I had made a commitment to pray a rosary for him each week about a year ago but failed to keep that commitment. I am reaffirming my commitment now, and will not let it slide a second time.
Acardnal,
DUI checkpoint are unconstitutional in the sense that to conduct a search having no reasonable cause; they get around this fact by saying because a person is operating a vehicle on a public road that could possibly harm the public; one more layer of a “free” people is stripped away.
I have never had a DUI and now older and I hope somewhat wiser, I never drive if I have consumed any alcohol. One glass of wine puts me over the limit for someone my size. Considering I work as a bartender and one at nightclubs when I was younger, one glass of wine, in fact a few shots of tequila wouldn’t even faze me. A man having a couple of glasses of wine with dinner would hardly be considered drunk. His own mother allowed him to drive!
The cop in better days, would have made the good man park his car and called him a cab to drive he and his mother home.
These days, considering the insane spending and corruption that continues practically unchallenged in the state of CA, DUI checkpoints are meant to be conducted for the primary purpose of GENERATING REVENUE! There are no “lower fines” to be assessed, mandatory fine for first time offense whether you are at a .081% BAL or three sheets to the wind drunk and are not sure what planet you are on, are the same amounts which is somewhere between $12,500.00 – $13,000.00 and that is not including the hit the car insurance company will hit you with for the next 7-10 years.
I still can’t believe the officer would actually arrest a priest with a just over limit BAL knowing his elderly mother is with him; what a lousy cop! Yet such bad actions usually roll down from the top.
If I didn’t live so close to a Norbertine Abbey, I think I would be packing my bags and leaving this beautiful state and it’s perfect year-round climate. The inmates have been running the asylum for far too great a time here in CA.
All priests everywhere, but especially in this state have my prayers.
Though I’m late to this post (don’t know how I missed it!) I am really heartened to see such good will extended to Abp. Cordileone.
In this case, people willing to believe the best about a man with a good reputation are found to be wise. I can vouch for that because I was at the party with the bishop and his mother here in San Diego. It was a small dinner party. Wine and excellent food were served by friends. I left the same time as the bishop, and can confirm that in no way did he appear intoxicated. He was his normal self, in command of clear speech, standing and walking normally, etc. Also, the media is so nasty when it comes to speculation. He was in the college area of San Diego because he was driving his mother home, and she lives very near SDSU. He was stopped at a checkpoint, not tagged for suspicious driving.
As to why he was driving, I can confirm that his mother does not drive at night, and that his visiting foreign priest friend did not have a license. He was being a gracious host. A driver is still a good idea- I just wanted to give some context.
Please, do keep praying for Abp. Cordileone. Because he isn’t in the business of validating immoral personal choices, shall we say, he is a marked man. May God preserve him.