Archbishop-Elect Faces 2 Charges After DUI Arrest

The San Diego city attorney's office says the Roman Catholic archbishop-designate of San Francisco has been charged with two misdemeanors stemming from his arrest for allegedly driving under the influence.

The city attorney's office said Friday that the Rev. Salvatore Cordileone is accused of one count of driving under the influence and one count of driving with a blood-alcohol level greater than the legal limit of .08 percent.

The 56-year-old Cordileone is currently bishop of Oakland and is scheduled to be installed as archbishop of San Francisco on Oct. 4.

Cordileone was stopped at a DUI checkpoint last weekend while driving with his mother and a visiting priest after dinner with friends.

He issued a statement of apology and said he brought "shame" and "disgrace" upon himself.

He was driving his mother home when he hit the checkpoint and was found to have more than the legal amount of alcohol in his system, he said.

“I apologize for my error in judgment and feel shame for the disgrace I have brought upon the Church and myself," he said. "I will repay my debt to society and I ask forgiveness from my family and my friends and co-workers at the Diocese of Oakland and the Archdiocese of San Francisco. I pray that God, in His inscrutable wisdom, will bring some good out of this.”

Cordileone was born and raised in San Diego. He earned his bachelor's degree from San Diego State University and his masters from the University of San Diego and served on the university's Board of Trustees in the early 2000s, according to a university spokesperson.
 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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