Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on a candidate for public office in New York City:
Fernando Cabrera is not a household name, even in most parts of New York City. But he has a distinguished career, and word has it that he may land a job in the administration of New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Unfortunately, the fact that he is a practicing Christian is leading extremists in the gay community to oppose him.
The Catholic League is not endorsing or opposing Cabrera. Moreover, we do not know him. But from what we have learned, attempts to portray him a bigot are scurrilous. Indeed, it is his critics who are showing their bigoted stripes.
Cabrera is well known in the Bronx for his years of service. In the 1980s, after working in Richmond, Virginia as the Director of New Life for Youth, a faith-based rehabilitation center for young men beset with alcohol and drug problems, he left to found New Life Bronx in 1988. He was later elected to a seat on the New York City Council, representing the Bronx as a Democrat.
Cabrera, who holds a Ph.D. in Counseling, has spent his entire professional life in service to troubled youth. He also started the first Mental Health Counseling graduate program in New York State. More recently, he raised money to help the hurricane victims in Honduras.
Given his stellar credentials, it is shameful that Adams did not appoint him to head the Office of Community Mental Health. He was considered, but gay activists lobbied against him. News stories suggest that he may be appointed to some other position in the Adams administration.
Much of the opposition against Cabrera stems from a 2014 YouTube video wherein he criticized abortion and gay marriage. There is absolutely nothing in his remarks that was in any way derogatory or insulting. He simply made the case that in Uganda, Christians have made much progress combating HIV, noting their opposition to gay marriage.
For this, Cabrera has been unjustly tagged as an “anti-gay pastor.” Yet there is no evidence to support this invidious accusation. Millions of decent Christians believe that marriage should be limited to a union between one man and one woman. To claim that they are bigots because of their religious beliefs is the real bigotry.
Some gay activists have labeled Cabrera “a vile homophobic bigot.” Others have gone so far as to compare him to David Duke, the neo-Nazi. This is a vicious smear.
If Eric Adams allows these anti-Christian bigots to win, he will be sending a message to Catholics and Protestants throughout the nation, not just the city: “No Christians Need Apply.”
Contact Mayor Adams: pressoffice@cityhall.nyc.gov
