Contact: Wendy Wright, Catholic Family & Human Rights Institute, 212-754-5948, wendy@c-fam.org

NEW YORK, June 19, 2014 /Christian Newswire/ -- San Francisco politicians got more than they bargained for when they tried to demonize pro-marriage supporters and pressure Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone to bow out of today's March for Marriage in Washington, DC.

Instead of cowering in fear, Cordileone -- who rallied voters to pass 2008 California's marriage amendment -- explained what marriage is, corrected their false accusations and held them up to their own standard: "Before you judge us, get to know us."

Rep. Nancy Pelosi led the lobbying to pressure San Francisco's top Catholic leader. The small group of local politicians and homosexual advocates sent a letter to Cordileone attempting to smear marriage supporters -- a tactic outlined in the homosexual strategy book "After the Ball."

Cordileone heads the U.S. Catholic Bishops' work to defend marriage -- and the accusers gave him a prime opportunity to model how to defend marriage from the vicious methods of pro-homosexual activists.

C-FAM is proud to stand with Archbishop Cordileone -- and sent a contingent of youth to listen and learn from his courageous speech at today's March for Marriage and carry the message to the next generation.