Chicago, Ill., Aug 1, 2012 / 03:00 am
Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago says the city's mayor showed contempt for many residents' beliefs by stating that Chick-fil-A's stance on marriage was against "Chicago values."
"Recent comments by those who administer our city seem to assume that the city government can decide for everyone what are the 'values' that must be held by citizens of Chicago," the cardinal wrote in a July 29 online post, responding to Mayor Rahm Emanuel's assertion.
"I was born and raised here, and my understanding of being a Chicagoan never included submitting my value system to the government for approval," Cardinal George wrote.
He wondered: "Must those whose personal values do not conform to those of the government of the day move from the city? Is the City Council going to set up a 'Council Committee on Un-Chicagoan Activities' and call those of us who are suspect to appear before it?"