Ald. calls cardinal's comments on gays 'regrettable'

January 4, 2012 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- Ald. Tom Tunney, alderman for Chicago's 44th Ward, which hosts the annual Gay Pride Parade, has released a statement concerning comments made by Chicago Archdiocese Francis Cardinal George likening the gay community to the Ku Klux Klan.

The cardinal's original comments involved next summer's gay pride parade and whether it would interfere with services at a Lakeview Catholic church. He compared the possible interference with Catholic worship to KKK parades last century.

"Cardinal Francis George's recent comments about the LGBT community are regrettable," a statement from Tunney's office said Tuesday. "It is clear that his comments are his own and are not shared by Our Lady of Mount Carmel parishioners and the majority of Chicago Catholics. It also is important to note that before his comments were made public, we came to a friendly compromise on a local issue involving the 2012 Pride Parade that will help protect public safety and allow parishioners to celebrate their morning services."

Cardinal George said it is absurd to compare gays and lesbians to the Klan and added he was only comparing parades to parades, not people to people.

An organization called Truth Wins Out placed a full-page ad in Sunday's Chicago Tribune calling on Cardinal George to resign.

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