Late cardinal foresaw persecution of US Catholics


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WASHINGTON (AP) — Cardinal Francis George has been eulogized at his funeral in Chicago — and in Washington, where a former spokeswoman for U.S. Catholic bishops recalled his forecast of persecution if the nation's growing secularization continues.

Cathy Ruse recalled that in 2010 George told priests, "I expect to die in bed, my successor will die in prison and his successor will die a martyr in the public square." George added that the martyred bishop's successor "will pick up the shards of a ruined society and slowly help rebuild civilization, as the church has done so often in human history."

Ruse, who is now a senior fellow at the Family Research Council, spoke at an FRC news conference on what is likely to follow the Supreme Court's upcoming ruling on gay marriage. The justices will hear arguments in the case next week.

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264-w-30-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Cathy Ruse, senior fellow, Family Research Council)--Cardinal Francis George has been eulogized at his funeral in Chicago, and in Washington, where a former spokeswoman for U.S. Catholic bishops recalled his forecast of persecution if the nation's growing secularization continues. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (23 Apr 2015)

<<CUT *264 (04/23/15)££ 00:30

265-a-14-(Cathy Ruse, senior fellow, Family Research Council, at FRC news conference)-"meaning of marriage"-Cathy Ruse, a former spokeswoman for U.S. Catholic bishops, the church has lost a champion for doctrinal orthodoxy. (23 Apr 2015)

<<CUT *265 (04/23/15)££ 00:14 "meaning of marriage"

266-a-17-(Cathy Ruse, senior fellow, Family Research Council, at FRC news conference)-"in human history"-Cathy Ruse, a former spokeswoman for U.S. Catholic bishops, recalls what Cardinal George told priests would happen if America's secularization continues. ((cut used in wrap)) ((note length of cut)) (23 Apr 2015)

<<CUT *266 (04/23/15)££ 00:17 "in human history"

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