Archbishop of Chicago under fire for comparing Gay Pride parade to Ku Klux Klan

The Archbishop of Chicago is defending his comparison of the gay rights movement to the Klu Klux Klan as activists cry out for his resignation.

Cardinal Francis George last week addressed concerns participants in Chicago's 2012 Gay Pride parade would be 'demonstrating in the streets against Catholicism'.

The practice, he said, draws an 'obvious comparison' to the violent hate group.



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Courting controversy: U.S. Cardinal Francis George is standing by his comparison of the gay rights liberation movement to the Klu Klux Klan

Defending a local pastor's objection to a change in route for the event, scheduled to take place on June 24, 2012, the Archbishop echoed concerns it had potential to interrupt morning services at Our Lady of Mount Carmel church.



Speaking on Fox News Chicago, the religious leader said: 'Well, I go with the pastor. I mean, he's telling us that they won't be able to have Church services on Sunday, if that's the case. You know, you don't want the Gay Liberation Movement to morph into something like the Ku Klux Klan, demonstrating in the streets against Catholicism.'

An anchor on the programme pressed the Archbishop for clarification, recognising he had made a 'strong analogy'.

'It is, but you take a look at the rhetoric,' the Archbishop said, adding, 'The rhetoric of the Klu Klux Klan, the rhetoric of some of the gay liberation people. Who is the enemy? The Catholic Church.'

As the network reports, numerous gay rights organisations responded swiftly with calls for the cardinal to apologise and resign.

Religious leader: The Archbishop asked Fox News anchors to consider reviewing the rhetoric between the two groups as he defended his remarks on air last week

Parade route: A pastor at Chicago's Our Lady of Mount Carmel church objected to a change in schedule which he said would disrupt morning services

Anthony Martinez, executive director of The Civil Rights Agenda, an Illinois gay rights advocacy group, told Fox News: 'The Cardinal’s words are hurtful to (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) Catholics and the entire LGBT community.

'We renew our call for Cardinal George to issue an apology for his hurtful comments and respectfully ask him to resign.'

But the Archbishop, who has presided in his role over the city since 1997, has declined to do so, reiterating his stance in a statement to The Chicago Tribune.



A statement from the religious leader issued on Tuesday reads: 'Organizers [of the parade] invited an obvious comparison to other groups who have historically attempted to stifle the religious freedom of the Catholic Church.

Stride of pride: Gay rights paradegoers march down the streets of Chicago, home to one of the largest Gay Pride parades in the U.S.

Something to celebrate: Paradegoers dance on a float rolling down the street during the Chicago event

'One such organization is the Ku Klux Klan which, well into the 1940s, paraded through American cities not only to interfere with Catholic worship but also to demonstrate that Catholics stand outside of the American consensus. It is not a precedent anyone should want to emulate.'

Pride Parade coordinators Alderman Tom Tunney and Richard Pfeiffer say the group has met with church leaders to determine a compromise, and the time of the parade has since been moved back to noon to address concerns.

A statement posted on the parade's official website reads: 'We met with representatives from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church last week to hear the parish's concerns about the proposed changes to the 2012 Gay Pride Parade.



'We discussed moving the start time back to 12:00 Noon to help accommodate Sunday services along the parade route. After consulting with the various City departments, we believe this is an agreeable compromise to help keep the parade safe and manageable while respecting the diversity of our neighborhood.'

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Cardinal Francis George Warns That Chicago Gay Pride Parade Might 'Morph Into Ku Klux Klan': MyFoxCHICAGO.com