Pope Benedict XVI exemplified why more Americans are turning their backs on organized religion with the announcement that he was appointing Bishop Salvatore Cordileone as the Archbishop of San Francisco. Benedict has been pursuing a personal Inquisition against LGBT Americans for some time now, and that includes elevating virulent anti-LGBT clergy to high offices and attacking the religion’s religious orders.

The Rainbow Sash Movement notes that “In the typical papal manner this was done without any input from the Roman Catholics of the Archdiocese of San Francisco. The paw prints of Cardinal Burke’s and Cardinal Law’s cronyism are evident. Both they and Cordileone share an unreasonable paranoia over gay and lesbian people. This unreasonable paranoia appears to have its roots in Benedict XVI’s homophobia.”

They went on to explain that:

Archbishop Elect Cordileone supported the passage of proposition 8 by saying in a radio interview on Catholic Radio that same-sex marriage a plot by “the evil one” to destroy morality in the modern world. He also chairs the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage. “Only one idea of marriage can stand,” he told the San Francisco Chronicle in 2009. “If that’s going to be considered bigoted, we’re going to see our rights being taken away as is already happening.”

Most recently the Catholic Association for Lesbian and Gay Ministry (CALGM) board members were asked to sign a loyalty oath. The Board refused to sign the oath igniting a storm of criticism from far right prolife elements. It is an association of diocesan, parish and campus-based ministries and those involved in these ministries.

As Archbishop of San Francisco Cordileone will oversee the Dioceses of Oakland, San Jose, Santa Rosa, Stockton, Sacramento, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Reno and Salt Lake City.

Joe Murray, Executive Director of the Rainbow Sash Movement said “the appointment by Pope Benedict XVI only further emphasizes the unreasonable homophobia that is very much alive and well in Magisterium of the Church. High on Cordileone anti gay agenda will be Most Holy Redeemer Parish in San Francisco a glbt friendly parish as will be any elements of CALGM in San Francisco and surrounding Dioceses. This will also give him a platform to call for loyalty oaths in other Arch/Dioceses around the nation.”