Monday, November 16, 2009

Catholic Church Gives D.C. Ultimatum

How very Christian of them:

The Catholic Archdiocese of Washington said Wednesday that it will be unable to continue the social service programs it runs for the District if the city doesn't change a proposed same-sex marriage law, a threat that could affect tens of thousands of people the church helps with adoption, homelessness and health care.

Under the bill, headed for a D.C. Council vote next month, religious organizations would not be required to perform or make space available for same-sex weddings. But they would have to obey city laws prohibiting discrimination against gay men 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.

In other words, the Archdiocese of Washington DC is saying that it is willing to abandon the hungry, the poor, and the homeless if that means it has to abide by non-discrimination laws. Apparently, it is much more important to the Archdiocese that gay people not marry. However, this is not the only recent example of church involvement in political issues. Catholic Bishops have urged Senators to oppose health care reform (which would extend life saving healthcare to millions of poor and not so poor people) because a few women just might be able to spend their own money to buy insurance that covers abortions.

Simply unbelievable. This is thinly veiled political extortion which should result in immediate loss of the church's tax-exempt status.