SAN FRANCISCO (CA)
Newsday
By Donna Horowitz
Special to The Times
August 8, 2005
SAN FRANCISCO — Archbishop William Levada said goodbye Sunday to 3,500 enthusiastic supporters who filled St. Mary's Cathedral while more than 100 clergy sexual-abuse protesters stood vigil in front of the church.
Levada, 68, is heading off this month to become the chief guardian of Catholic doctrine for Pope Benedict XVI, the highest post to be held by an American at the Vatican.
Although this was supposed to be a day of celebration, a drama quietly played itself out behind the scenes before Levada celebrated his farewell Mass in the archdiocese.
Levada was served with a subpoena ordering him to be deposed on behalf of about 250 plaintiffs in sexual-abuse lawsuits against the Portland Archdiocese in Oregon.
When Levada balked at accepting the subpoena, Cookie Gambucci, who runs a court support services company in nearby Martinez, said she told him he could receive it then or that it would be served on him at the altar during the service.
She said Levada accepted the subpoena, but told her: "This is a disgrace to the church."