Archbishop apologizes for giving Communion to men in mock nuns' garb

Published: 2007-10-12

SAN FRANCISCO (CNS) -- When he gave Communion to "two strangely dressed persons" Oct. 7 at Most Holy Redeemer Parish in San Francisco, Archbishop George H. Niederauer said he did not realize they were members of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a group that has "long made a practice of mocking the Catholic Church." In a column for the Oct. 19 issue of Catholic San Francisco, the archdiocesan newspaper, that was made public the evening of Oct. 11, the San Francisco archbishop said he had never met members of the group that describes itself as "a leading-edge order of queer nuns" and "did not recognize who these people were when they approached me." He added, "I did not recognize either of them as wearing mock religious garb." "After the event, I realized that they were members of this particular organization and that giving them holy Communion had been a mistake," said Archbishop Niederauer, who has headed the archdiocese since February 2006. "I apologize to the Catholics of the Archdiocese of San Francisco and to Catholics at large for doing so." The archbishop said there had been "no protest, no demonstration, no disruption" during the Oct. 7 Mass at Most Holy Redeemer. "The congregation was devout and the liturgy was celebrated with reverence."

Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .