Washington D.C., Apr 17, 2013 (CNA) -
During his homily at a Mass with George Washington University students, Cardinal Wuerl expressed support for the campus' priest, who has faced hostility for upholding Church teaching on sexuality.

“I want to offer a word of support and encouragement to your chaplain, Father Greg Shaffer...and to stand in solidarity with a good priest,” the archbishop of Washington said April 14.

Asserting that this was anti-gay behavior, the two students have launched a campaign to force Fr. Shaffer off the campus of the private university.

Cardinal Wuerl reflected on the duty of bishops and priests to “feed Jesus' flock,” and considered to whom “Jesus' flock” refers.

Christ's flock are those who freely choose to follow Christ and be a part of his Church, the cardinal said, andon April 12 at St. Martin’s Home for the Aged in Catonsville, Md., his current place of residence. The cardinal is a former boy scout, the Baltimore archdiocese newspaper The Catholic Review reports.

Renée Fairrer, a public relations manager with the Boy Scouts of America, said Cardinal Keeler was chosen for the honor for numerous reasons.

He worked “diligently” to strengthen Baltimore’s parochial school system, and in 1996, he founded the “Partners in Excellence” program to help needy families and at-risk youth afford Catholic education. The program has raised $20 million to help award over 16,500 scholarships.

During his time as archbishop, his Lenten Appeal raised more than $70 million to help those in need. The cardinal also chaired the eighth World Youth Day, held in Denver in 1993.

Fairrer also noted