By David Lester
Yakima Herald-Republic
September 20, 2009
http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2009/09/19/cardinal-comes-home-to-hand-out-honors
 |
| Francis Eugene Cardinal George, the Archbishop of Chicago and former Bishop of Yakima greets Millie McDonnell of Ephrata before presenting her with Francis Eugene Cardinal George medallion for a Life-time of Service during a ceremony at Holy Family Church in Yakima, Wash., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009. Photo by Andy Sawyer/Yakima Herald-Republic |
YAKIMA, Wash. -- Cardinal Francis George, a former bishop of Yakima and now the top Roman Catholic bishop in the United States, returned to Yakima on Saturday, saying the nation's current immigration policies are unsustainable.
He also touched on the sexual abuse scandal facing the church and encouraged residents to be hopeful during the economic recession that has crippled the country.
George, now archbishop of Chicago and president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, said the church does not support breaking the law or illegal immigration.
"But we should also say you have to respect the people in front of you. If you have neighbors and family members who have been subjected to society financially, socially and religiously for decades, they should be able to live here with security," said George, who served as bishop of the Yakima Diocese for nearly six years in the 1990s.
George was in Yakima to participate in the lifetime award ceremony for Central Washington Catholics who received the award, a medallion, that is named for him.
The recipients included five Yakima Valley residents and one Ellensburg resident. The local recipients are Mary Garcia of White Swan, Serapio Herrera of Mabton, Mark Nedrow of Selah, Alan and Kathy Quantrille of Wapato, and Rosemary Rief of Yakima.
Diane Dier of Ellensburg also received a medallion. The awards are for service to the church.
George, visiting Yakima for the first time in a decade, also addressed a crowd of about 180 people during the ceremony at Holy Family Church.
The 72-year-old George left Yakima when he was appointed archbishop of Portland in 1996.
He became the eighth archbishop of Chicago in 1997 and was elevated less than a year later to the Sacred College of Cardinals.
George said the Catholic Church is being more responsible on the issue of sexual abuse by priests that has rocked the church for years.
But he quickly added the church has more work to do as long as living victims are still hurting.
"We have to keep pace on it," he said.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.