Health Alerts

September 29, 2020

Today, Mayor Breed announced that San Francisco will set the limit for religious worship up to the extent permitted by state health regulations.  Archbishop Cordileone responds:

“I want to thank Mayor London Breed for recognizing that faith is essential.  As well, I want to thank the thousands of San Francisco Catholics and others who joined the processions, the more than 35,000 who signed the petition at benedictinstitute.org/liftunfairrestrictions, came to St. Mary Cathedral’s outdoor plaza to witness to our faith, wrote letters to the editor or op-eds, and who generally spoke up with one united voice under the banner: We are essential! Free the Mass!

“Respect for each other’s rights and compassion for each other’s needs are core San Francisco values.  God bless Mayor Breed for responding to her constituents’ call.
“October 3, the Vigil Feast of San Francisco’s patron saint, St. Francis of Assisi, will now, instead of a public manifestation of faith to urge fair treatment, be a united prayer of thanksgiving from the heart of San Francisco’s Catholics.  Please join us (sfarch.org/events/rosaryrally).

“Our petition effort, though, is not ended.  The state of California’s limit of no more than 100 people inside of a house of worship regardless of the size of the building is still unjust.  We want and we intend to worship God safely: with masks, social distancing, sanitation, ventilation, and other such safety protocols.  But we will not accept believers being treated more severely than other, comparable secular activities.

“This movement is not over.  Our work and victories have just begun.  Thank you San Francisco people of faith and the thousands of others across the nation who are joining us at benedictinstitute.org/liftunfairrestrictions.” 

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Benedict XVI Institute Launches Petition to Mayor Breed

The Benedict XVI Institute has launched a public petition on which Bay Area Catholics can voice their support for the Archbishop and demand that the Mayor lift unfair restrictions. “Let us have the Mass,” said Maggie Gallagher, executive director. “We need the Body and Blood of Christ. We cannot worship via livestream. Our faith is incarnational all the way down. We have shown Catholics can celebrate the Mass safely.  Enough is enough. It’s time for Catholic San Francisco to speak up!”