Most Holy Redeemer Parish Staff: Fr. Steve Meriwether, Pastor

The atmosphere at MHR can corrupt good priests and laypeople. We are all sinners. We have no desire to attack any person, clerical or lay, for the sake of attacking, but if we are to show the harm caused by the embracing of homosexuality at MHR, we must tell the truth.

 Fr. Steve Meriwether has been pastor of Most Holy Redeemer Church since 2004.

Depite the long list of events below, all of which occured during his pastorate, it is important to state that the situation at MHR did not begin with Fr. Meriwether. Remember our thesis:

"Most Holy Redeemer is not a Catholic church with gay members. It is a gay spiritual institution that is willing to use Catholicism, including the sacraments, just as far as they can be made "inclusive" of the formative experience of the parish, which is homosexuality, and no farther."

But under Fr. Meriwether the situation certainly did not improve. In his six years as pastor, Most Holy Redeemer has (partial list):

• Hosted the November 20, 2004 Golden Gate Guards 18th Anniversary Dinner, here first, then here, and here.

• Hosted the February 19, 2005 "Inter-Club Fund" Awards Dinner, here first, then here, and here.

• Published June 12, 2005 parish bulletin containing this page.

• Published June 19, 2005 parish bulletin containing this page.

At this point concerned Catholics met with Archbishop Levada and express their dismay that a Catholic Church would be marching in the "Gay Pride Parade", and their fear of the scandal that would follow.

• Participated in the June 26, 2005 "Gay Pride Parade." Video.

• Hosted the November 19, 2005 Golden Gate Guards 19th Anniversary Dinner, here first, then here, and here.

• Hosted the February 12, 2006 University of San Francisco's "Queer Perspectives: is it Ethical to be Catholic?" seminar. For audio & trascripts, go here.

• Hosted June 3, 2006 "Swich-Hitters Ball"

• Participated in the June 25, 2006 "Gay Pride Parade." Video.

At this point concerned Catholics met with Archbishop Niederauer and expressed their dismay that a Catholic Church had marched in the past two "Gay Pride Parades", and showed him video of the events. Most Holy Redeemer marched again in the 2007 parade.

• Hosted the October 5, 2006 Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Revival Bingo, here first, then here, and here, Video here.

• Hosted the November 18, 2006 Golden Gate Guards 20th Anniversary Dinner, here first, then here, and here.

• Allowed the Most Holy Redeemer Young Adult Group to attend the January 27, 2007 San Francisco Transgender Cotillion.

• Hosted the February 17, 2007 "Inter-Club Fund" Awards Dinner, here first, then here, and here.

• Hosted the "Gay Service" celebrated by Fr. Donal Godfery, SJ, and broadcast worldwide on BBC Radio. Audio on April 27, 2007.

At this point MHR's plan to participate in the 2007 "Gay Pride" parade recieves wide online publicity. Senior hierarchy and lay staff of the Archdiocese of San Francisco are informed. MHR participates as scheduled.

• Participated in the June 24, 2007 "Gay Pride Parade." Video.

• Hosted the September 29, 2007 "Desperate Divas Drag Calender Pageant" here and here.

• Allowed costumed members of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to embarass Archbishop George Niederaur during his October 7, 2007 Mass. Video here. The event generates international attention.

• Allowed MHR's October 17, 2007 Parish Bulletin to print a thank-you letter from one of the same Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, the week following the Archbishop's embarassment.

• Hosted guest speaker Dr. Ora Prochovnick, President of Sha'ar Zahav Congregation on December 4 Advent Vespers Service. From their web entry: "Established in 1977, Congregation Sha'ar Zahav is San Francisco's vibrant community of gay and lesbian Jews."

Before the next event, concerned Catholics sent a package of information to Archbishop Niederauer documenting the nature of the "Inter-Club Fund" and its member groups. The event went on as scheduled.

• Hosted the February 16, 2008 "Inter-Club Fund" Awards Dinner, here, and here.

On July 16, 2010, the Archdiocese of San Francisco appointed Fr. Meriwether to a second six-year term.

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