The Catholic Church has drawn a line in the sand over Gay Marriage in Washington DC.
From The Los Angeles Times
Washington – The Catholic Archdiocese of Washington said Wednesday that it would be unable to continue the social service programs it runs for the District of Columbia if the city refused to change a proposed same-sex marriage law.The threat could affect tens of thousands of people the church helps with adoption, homelessness and healthcare.
Under the legislation, which the City Council is expected to pass next month, religious organizations would not be required to perform or make space available for same-sex weddings. But they would have to obey laws prohibiting discrimination against gays and lesbians.
Fearful that they could be forced, among other things, to extend employee benefits to same-sex married couples, church officials said they would have no choice but to abandon their contracts with the city.
“If the city requires this, we can’t do it,” said Susan Gibbs, spokeswoman for the archdiocese. “The city is saying in order to provide social services, you need to be secular. For us, that’s really a problem.”
The clash escalates the dispute over the same-sex marriage proposal between the council and the archdiocese, which has generally stayed out of city politics.
Catholic Charities, the church’s social services arm, is one of dozens of nonprofit organizations that partner with Washington.
City leaders said the church, which serves 68,000 people here, is not the dominant provider of any particular social service. But the church pointed out that it supplemented funding for city programs with $10 million from its coffers.
“All of those services will be adversely impacted if the exemption language remains so narrow,” Jane G. Belford, chancellor of the archdiocese, wrote to the council.
I know all is fair in love and war but why should the needy have to suffer in this fight? This is dirty pool on the part of the Catholic Archdiocese.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
This is asinine. What if the church hired all hetero married couples? They would want full benefits, right? So what's the point here? They think they can save money by hiring single people or gays? I thought employers are supposed to hire the best candidate possible. How does this make it any different if a single person is employed and gets married and adds their spouse on to their benefits?
Lola, it's just another way for the Catholic Church to try to use their dwindling power. It's not only hypocritical but it's downright unchristian.
Yep…it's ridiculous. I've been commenting left and right about this stance the church has taken and I still come back to my first thought.
It's juvenile tactics…no different than if a child can't have their way, they pick up their toys and stomp on home. Of course it isn't that simple or harmless in this case.
I wonder how this will end. Will the church back-pedal when they realize millions of dollars won't be handed to them, because of their position? I guess that time will tell.
In the meantime I hope that the homeless & hungry in D.C. have a plan B.
Sad and very petty.I am appalled
Religions, that are supposed to be inclusive because that's what Jesus freakin' was, sometimes act like a bunch of control happy, narrow-minded men who are 'better than thou'…..hmmmmm….wonder why that is?!
I'm one who has great FAITH, just not in organized religion.
I'm appalled and shaking my head.
That is ridiculous.
Also, I just found your blog through someone else's Delurking Day post. Cool! Nice to "meet" you.
Also also, my word that I have to type for verification is "smiter." Fitting, somehow.
Craig and I have been trying to find a church that we both feel comfortable in for so long. We thought we had found it in our local Catholic church. We started all the classes last year and attended for almost 10 months. But when the Deacon teaching our class did a lecture on homosexuality, we were appalled. We left and never went back. I just don’t understand how a supposedly “Christian” religion can be so negative and unloving. We are all God’s children as far as I’m concerned!!! Anyway… since we just couldn’t be pick and choose Catholics… we are still church hopping. Hopefully we will eventually find a church that embraces all!
God Bless,
dawn hild