Antigay Vatican
official to be elevated to cardinal

In recent days former San Francisco archbishop William Levada has come out publicly against allowing gays to adopt through Catholic Charities, the Catholic Church's social services arm. Now a current Vatican official widely known for his antigay views, Levada is being elevated to cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI, reports Agence France-Presse, and will thus become an even more influential voice in the church's opposition to gay people. Levada, 69, became an archbishop in 1986, when he was appointed to head the Portland, Ore., archdiocese. Later he headed the archdioceses of Santa Rosa, Calif., and San Francisco, where he led a march in 2005 protesting the same-sex marriages being administered by city officials at the time. He has said that marriage is for heterosexual couples only. Levada was also criticized by victims of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy, who alleged that instead of exposing the abuse, he covered it up. A strong advocate for church orthodoxy, he is also against abortion and euthanasia, among other hot-button issues. As cardinal, Levada will be better able to advise the pope on these matters, and he will also be involved in choosing the next pope when the time comes. He will be elevated to the position in a ceremony on Friday. (The Advocate)