Cardinal Francis George Dies At Age 78

Longtime LGBT rights foe Cardinal Francis George has died of cancer at the age of 78. Via USA Today:

In recent years, his reputation was that of a conservative battling to stem the tide of secularism that witnessed millions of Catholics leaving the faith. One obituary even labeled him as "the American Ratzinger," referring to Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the reactionary doctrinal watchdog under Pope John Paul II who instituted numerous conservative reforms in his own brief pontificate as Benedict XVI. "Independence from foreign government does not necessarily mean that people will be free under their own government," he wrote last year in an Independence Day column about government pressure being put on religious institutions. "People can freely create a state that destroys a free society." Like many bishops, Cardinal George fought an uphill battle to defend the Catholic Church from legitimate charges that its leaders did not do enough to protect minors from sexual abuse by predatory priests. He used his influence to gain support for a zero-tolerance policy to defrock pedophiles but was dogged by evidence that he didn't move fast enough against criminal clerics in his own diocese.

(Tipped by JMG reader Andrew)

PREVIOUSLY ON JMG: In September 2014, Cardinal George declared that Catholics are "no longer welcome" in the pro-gay state religion. In July 2014, Cardinal George declared that America is being destroyed by the "tyranny of gay marriage." In January 2013, Cardinal George demanded that every Catholic in Illinois oppose same-sex marriage. In December 2012, Cardinal George declared that there is no such things as gay marriage because it cannot be consummated. In 2011, Cardinal George compared Chicago's gay pride parade to a parade of the Ku Klux Klan.

Cardinal Francis George: Catholics Are Not Welcome In The Pro-Gay State Religion

"In recent years, society has brought social and legislative approval to all types of sexual relationships that used to be considered “sinful.” Since the biblical vision of what it means to be human tells us that not every friendship or love can be expressed in sexual relations, the church’s teaching on these issues is now evidence of intolerance for what the civil law upholds and even imposes. What was once a request to live and let live has now become a demand for approval. The “ruling class,” those who shape public opinion in politics, in education, in communications, in entertainment, is using the civil law to impose its own form of morality on everyone. We are told that, even in marriage itself, there is no difference between men and women, although nature and our very bodies clearly evidence that men and women are not interchangeable at will in forming a family. Nevertheless, those who do not conform to the official religion, we are warned, place their citizenship in danger." - Cardinal Francis George, writing for the Archdiocese of Chicago.

PREVIOUSLY ON JMG: In July 2014, Cardinal George declared that America is being destroyed by the "tyranny of gay marriage." In January 2013, Cardinal George demanded that every Catholic in Illinois oppose same-sex marriage. In December 2012, Cardinal George declared that there is no such things as gay marriage because it cannot be consummated. In 2011, Cardinal George compared Chicago's gay pride parade to a parade of the Ku Klux Klan. 

Cardinal Francis George: America Is Being Destroyed By Tyranny Of Gay Marriage

"The imposition of a definition of marriage that destroys the natural meaning of marital union is becoming another test case for religious liberty. The law now holds that men and women are interchangeable in marriage, as if children did not need both a mother and a father to be born and raised with some security. These are laws that mark societies in decline, demographically as well as morally. What has happened to our vaunted American liberties? Except for property rights, they are all being traded off in favor of freedom of sexual expression.That 'freedom' has become the trump card in almost every social dispute. While the public conversation plays the game of liberal versus conservative, there is really only one issue: freedom versus tyranny, a tyranny masquerading as compassion and suppressing legally differences that seem to threaten abstract 'equality'. Americans are concerned about the economy, and rightly so. We are concerned with the loss of our place in the world, and rightly so. We should also be concerned that we are on the wrong side of what nature teaches us and therefore, at least over the long run, headed for historical failure as a society. - Cardinal Francis George, in a Catholic New World column republished by NOM.

PREVIOUSLY ON JMG: In January 2013, Cardinal George demanded that every Catholic in Illinois oppose same-sex marriage. In December 2012, Cardinal George declared that there is no such things as gay marriage because it cannot be consummated. In 2011, Cardinal George compared Chicago's gay pride parade to a parade of the Ku Klux Klan.

Quote Of The Day - Cardinal George

"There will be consequences for the Church and society that will become clearer as the law is used to sue for discrimination. The law has made some gays and lesbians happy, and that is not a bad thing in itself. The law, however, is bad law because it will contribute over the long run to the further dissolution of marriage and family life, which are the bedrock of any society. The Pope was not speaking about approving gay marriage. To use his words against his teaching, as they were used on the floor of the State House of Representatives on November 5, is less than intellectually honest." - Cardinal Francis George, in a letter than he has ordered to be read tomorrow to all congregations in the Archdiocese of Chicago.

PREVIOUSLY ON JMG: In January, Cardinal George demanded that every Catholic in Illinois oppose same-sex marriage. In December 2012, Cardinal George declared that there is no such things as gay marriage because it cannot be consummated. In 2011, Cardinal George compared Chicago's gay pride parade to a parade of the Ku Klux Klan.

ILLINOIS: Cardinal George Demands Catholics Oppose Gay Marriage

"Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: The Illinois General Assembly is being asked to consider a bill called 'The Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act.' This is a deceptive title that ignores basic truths. Marriage comes to us from nature. The human species comes in two complementary sexes, male and female. Their sexual union is called marital. It not only creates a place of love for two adults but also a home for loving and raising their children. It provides the biological basis for personal identity. It is physically impossible for two men or two women to consummate a marriage, even when they share a deep friendship or love. Does this mean nature is cruel or that God is unfair? No, but it does mean that marriage is what nature tells us it is and that the State cannot change natural marriage. Civil laws that establish 'same-sex marriage' create a legal fiction. The State has no power to create something that nature itself tells us is impossible." - Cardinal Francis George, in a pastoral letter issued yesterday in which he demands that Catholics oppose the Illinois gay marriage bill.

George goes on to plug the Catholic "ex-gay" group Courage and to call on gay people to live "chaste" lives utterly devoid of the loving touch of another human.  In so many words.

Read the full letter.

There's No Such Thing As A Gay Marriage Because It Cannot Be Consummated

"Marriage comes to us from nature. That's based on the complementarity of the two sexes in such a way that the love of a man and a woman joined in a marital union is open to life, and that's how families are created and society goes along. It's not in our doctrine. It's not a matter of faith. It's a matter of reason and understanding the way nature operates. You want to be sure that everybody has a chance at happiness. That's a very persuasive argument. But we all want that, and nobody should be disdained or persecuted because of their sexual orientation. But when we get behind the church and behind the state, you've got a natural reality that two men or two women cannot consummate a marriage. It's a physical impossibility." - Cardinal Francis George, speaking to the Chicago Tribune.

RELATED: One year ago George compared Chicago's gay pride organization to the KKK after the group announced a new parade route that would pass a local Catholic church.  George later apologized.