SAN FRANCISCO (CA)
KTVU
POSTED: 1:03 am PDT August 14, 2005
SAN FRANCISCO -- Indicating a cable car bell he was offering as a gift, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom told outgoing Catholic Archbishop William Levada Saturday night to think of the City by the Bay whenever he hears the bells of St. Peter's in Rome.
The mayor was one of some 2300 admirers gathered for a final tribute dinner in a ballroom of the Marriott Hotel to wish Levada farewell before he leaves to become the highest-ranking American ever at the Vatican. Videotaped messages included tributes from President Bush and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Levada, 69, will leave this month for his new appointment as head of the Vatican's Congregation for the octrine of the Faith, the post held by former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger before he was elected Pope Benedict XVI. In his role, Levada will help shape Catholic doctrine and play a major part in determining the church's response to claims of sexual abuse by priests.
The sold-out fundraising dinner cost patrons $150 a plate. The proceeds will go to the Alliance of Mission District Catholic Schools.
Protesters held a brief press conference outside to demand Levada reveal the identities of clergy members accused of sexually abusing children.
Levada said before the dinner that most Catholics were pleased with the way the archdiocese has handled sex abuse allegations. "On the whole, I can leave San Francisco with a good conscience," he said.
Posted by kshaw at August 14, 2005 08:16 AM