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DC Catholic church to cut aid to homeless over gay marriage [message #59536]

Mon, 16 November 2009 02:47

E.J.

Really getting into it

Location: U.S.
Registered: August 2003
Messages: 565

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.

More here:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-gay-wed-dc12-2009nov12,0,3335491.story

The full Washington post article here:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/11/AR2009111116943.html

[Updated on: Mon, 16 November 2009 03:30]

(\\__/) And if you don't believe The sun will rise
(='.'=) Stand alone and greet The coming night
(")_(") In the last remaining light. (C. Cornell)

Re: DC Catholic church to cut aid to homeless over gay marriage [message #59537 is a reply to message #59536]

Mon, 16 November 2009 03:38

Brody Levesque

Really getting into it

Location: US/Canada
Registered: September 2009
Messages: 733

These are my rough notes from my reporter's notebook on the above issue:

Opposition to D.C.'s same-sex marriage bill now has some financial teeth in it. The Catholic Church, through the Archdiocese of Washington, is threatening to end a longstanding network of social services, [est @ $25 mil annually] if the city council passes the bill. The church says morally, it has no other choice.

"The city is telling us 'if you want to continue doing business with the city and partner with us, you're going to have to violate your faith. We're dedicated to help with social services but we can't stop being Catholic,'" said Archdiocese of Washington Spokesperson Susan Gibbs.

Primarily through Catholic charities, the church has $25 million worth of contracts with the city to help the homeless, provide foster care and adoption services and other programs. [DC Money plus Church programs]

An amendment to the bill "does" exempt churches from having to perform same-sex weddings or rent their halls out for receptions. but other uses by same-sex couples could 'not' be denied.
For example, a church run homeless shelter or adoption program would be forced to recognise a Gay marriage as equivalent to a heterosexual marriage. This effectively puts the Archdiocese of DC in the position of actively supporting gay relationships- in violation of its teachings- or completely abandoning the charitable work in the District.
The Archdiocese also argues there is no religious protection for individuals such as marriage counselors or caterers who could be sued if they decline to serve same sex couples.]

Moreover, religious organizations would have to provide employment benefits to same-sex partners.

"It is a civil rights issue. Leave the sacraments of the church to the church," said Bishop Rainey Cheeks with the D.C. Clergy United for Marriage Equality. "And we're keeping the city council in prayer that they will do what is right and is just. This is a social justice issue."

The Archdiocese also argues there is no religious protection for individuals such as marriage counselors or caterers who could be sued if they decline to serve same sex couples.

DC City Councilman Phil Mendelson called the Archdiocese's position rhetoric and stated that the measure is slated for a vote by the full council on December 1st.

DC Clergy that are in support of the measure called the Catholic Church's position a cynical political ploy.

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Re: DC Catholic church to cut aid to homeless over gay marriage [message #59538 is a reply to message #59537]

Mon, 16 November 2009 04:07

E.J.

Really getting into it

Location: U.S.
Registered: August 2003
Messages: 565

From what I understand, the restrictions on the church would only apply if they continue to receive city funding. I guess that means the can discriminate all they want if they use their own money.

One quote from the Washington Post story:
"Catholic Charities was involved in only six of the 102 city-sponsored adoptions last year."

If this is true, the church's threat about stopping adoptions is kind of an empty one.

(\\__/) And if you don't believe The sun will rise
(='.'=) Stand alone and greet The coming night
(")_(") In the last remaining light. (C. Cornell)

Re: DC Catholic church to cut aid to homeless over gay marriage [message #59539 is a reply to message #59538]

Mon, 16 November 2009 04:58

Brody Levesque

Really getting into it

Location: US/Canada
Registered: September 2009
Messages: 733

Pretty much E.J. The City's position is that the Church can withdraw the CC Admin over programs listed if it so desires as the next logical step will be to have a DC City Dept oversee them. Unfortunately, the District government has a very sad and quite corrupt track record.

The WP quote is accurate btw. What is happening here basically is that the Archdiocese is attempting to force the issue with the voters by rhetorical theatre.

Now, what I didn't describe was that the other part of this has been that the a majority of the City's Black Churches are up in arms and are in lockstep with the Archdiocese. That coalition is led by the Rev. Harry Jackson, a minister from Maryland. I attended both days of hearings E.J. and I gotta tell you, there was some pretty unbelievable stuff being said out in the hallway while testimony was going on. For a bunch of Christian minsters, that was a group of seriously hateful folk.

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