Cardinal Criticized for Comparing Gays to KKK

Gay rights groups said Francis George's comments were "crude"

Some think Chicago's Cardinal Francis George has gone too far with stating his opinion this time.

A local gay rights groups said George crossed the line when he compared the gay rights movement to the Ku Klux Klan, according to the Chicago Tribune.

In an interview Thursday morning with Fox Chicago, George was asked to comment on a pastor's complaints that the annual gay pride parade would cause the church to cancel its scheduled morning mass.

George said he supported the pastor.

"You don't want the gay liberation movement to morph into something like the Ku Klux Klan," said George.

Pressed, George acknowledged his language was strong, but continued:

"The rhetoric of the KKK and the rhetoric of some of the gay liberation people -- Who is the enemy? The Catholic Church."

Afterward, the group Equally Blessed called George's comments "crude."

"Cardinal George’s offensive comments are further evidence of just how insensitive and out of touch the hierarchy is, and why opposition to its views is necessary,” the group said in a statement posted to its website.

Organizers with Chicago's annual gay pride parade have agreed to re-schedule after Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church leaders objected to a proposal they claimed would block access to Sunday Masses.

The parade will now have a later start.

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