D.C. Archdiocese Threatens to Axe Social Service Programs over Same-Sex 'Marriage' Law

By Peter J. Smith
11/13/2009
LifeSiteNews (www.lifesitenews.com)

Without an exemption the Church would be required to do such things as extend marriage benefits to same-sex couples, in violation of its core teachings.

Religious groups and churches, including the Catholic archdiocese and its affiliates, would also have to open up their services to homosexual couples, including: adoption and foster-care services, spousal benefits for 'married' same-sex couples, and church halls requested for non-marriage functions.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. has said it will be forced to end its government contracts for social services in the nation's capital, if the D.C. Council does not broaden a religious exemption in a bill to legalize same-sex "marriage."

Without the exemption, says the archdiocese, the Church would be required to do such things as extend marriage benefits to same-sex couples, in violation of its core teachings.

The bill under consideration by the district council would legalize same-sex "marriage," but it has a narrow provision that states religious groups would not have to perform same-sex "marriages" or provide their facilities as venues for the novel nuptials.

An earlier version of the bill exempted religious groups from "the promotion of marriage that is in violation of the entity's religious beliefs." However the current legislation whittles down that exemption to just the "promotion of marriage through religious programs, counseling, courses, or retreats," making religious groups and individuals far more subject to persecution via anti-discrimination lawsuits for holding fast to their consciences.

The archdiocese has strongly objected to the legislation, insisting that in all other cases the legislation would put "religious organizations and individuals at risk for adhering to the teachings of their faith."

In areas not exempted by law, individuals and religious organizations will have to obey D.C. laws that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, which will then include "married" same-sex couples. This could mean that individuals - from wedding photographers to caterers - will face charges of unlawful discrimination if they refuse their services to same-sex couples for reasons of conscience.

Religious groups and churches, including the Catholic archdiocese and its affiliates, would also have to open up their services to homosexual couples, including: adoption and foster-care services, spousal benefits for "married" same-sex couples, and church halls requested for non-marriage functions.

Despite the archdiocese's having asked for a broader exemption, the D.C. Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary rejected on Tuesday any amendment to that effect.

That provoked the archdiocese to warn that the D.C. government's relationship with the Catholic Church's social services arm, Catholic Charities, which serves 68,000 city residents every year through 93 social programs carried out by 40 parishes, would be dramatically altered by the legislation if changes were not made.

"It is our concern that the committee's narrowing of the religious exemption language will cause the government to discontinue our long partnership with them and open up the agency to litigation and the use of resources to defend our religious beliefs rather than serve the poor," said Edward Orzechowski, president and CEO of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington.

The Archdiocese told the Washington Post on Wednesday that failing to broaden conscience protections for religious groups and individuals would force them to cancel its social services contracts with the city. That in turn would affect the tens of thousands of people seeking help with adoption, homeless shelters, and health services.

The Catholic Church in D.C. nevertheless would continue its social ministries that are not contracted with the D.C. government, and therefore would not fall under the district's regulations.

The Washington Post reports that D.C. council members are thus far unmoved. Mary M. Cheh (D-Ward 3) derided the Archdiocese and its concerns as "somewhat childish." David A. Catania (I-At Large) also told the Post he would rather see the city's relationship with the Church ended before accommodating its demands on conscience protections.

A vote on the D.C. same-sex "marriage" bill is expected sometime in December.

An ecumenical pro-family coalition, Stand4Marriage Coalition D.C., led by Bishop Harry Jackson of Hope Christian Church and fellow black pastors is lobbying, along with the Catholic archdiocese, to put an initiative banning same-sex "marriage" on the ballot for 2010.

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1 - 10 of 12 Comments

Jennifer
3 years ago
I am Catholic and have been all my life. i believe that our church is wrong in doing this to the people of D.C. as a Christian, I believe that we shouldn't discriminate anyone and should help WHOEVER is seeking help; Gay or not. I go to church regularly and love my religion, but i do not agree with the Archdiocese. we should all be more kind-hearted and humble.. instead of discriminating other people whether we agree with the way they live their life or not.
Vance
3 years ago
I second Binoy and Lawrence's response. Catholic charties should have nothing to do with any group whose behavior or philosophy is opposed to the church.
BethesdaJA
3 years ago
@Christa: perhaps the headline is misleading, as was the Wash. Post's coverage. It's not the Archdiocese that's threatening to walk out on anyone. The Archdiocese-funded charities will continue. It's just that the archdiocese charities won't be able to contract with the District govt. for state-funded efforts (like adoptions) because doing so would require them to recognize so-called gay marriages in many of their activities (like adoptions, which is why the Church in MA can't facililtate adoptions).

@Laurence, the ACLU is actually ono the Archdiocese's side.

If the D.C. Council cared about the homeless, they'd try to meet the Church halfway on this one. But the Council actually withdrew the broader exemption it had previously extended to the Church.
Binoy
3 years ago
Dear Christa,

While I appreciate your concern for the poor, I totally cannot understand the logic behind it.

You would prefer the Catholic Church to keep supporting people who are in error (which is lethal, spiritually), without even trying to correct them?

I think that would be the worst thing that the Catholic Church could do to them. JESUS surely would've made them see the error they are in and not try to encourage them by not speaking out against their errors.

GOD Bless!
Laurence
3 years ago
Where is ACLU to defend the Catholic Church's rights?

How about the separation of Church and State so often invoked by secularists and the ACLU?

Separation of Church and State is a 2-way street. Just as the Church cannot dictate the laws of the State, the State also has no right to dictate the laws of the Church. It is double standard and hypocrisy on the part of the State to do so.
Christa
3 years ago
I do not think our Church is acting in the best interest of those who most need the Church's help: the poor, the homeless, the mentally ill. The very people Jesus would have helped.
Cyril
3 years ago
Good for the Catholic Church in DC. Carry through with your threat if the local government passes their legislation. Chuch doesn't not need the DC governments tainted $10.8 million dollars. God bless all involved.
Eddie Fong
3 years ago
This shows how selfish and heartless that movements are. Knowing who they will harm, don't make them think to stop. But at the same time, DC politicians are accommodating them on their wishes. The movement got the politicians in their pocket.
Bulbajer
3 years ago
I have to admit, I think this bill is wrong because it will force people to do something that is against their consciences. Should the Church extend services such as food shelters and other beneficial programs for the poor to homosexual couples who happen to be poor? Definitely.
ct
3 years ago
I wonder if many people do not realize that in Catholic marriage ceromonies the priest performs both the religious and the civil function. I am wondering if we will see the day when "government " will strip churches of the right to perform the civil service if they do not perform same sex attempts at marriage and we will be like in Europe where we will have to go to the J.P. for the civil service and then to the church for the religious service. This seems far fetched but why is it that way over there? We are indeed capable of losing many freedoms we take for granted if this trend continues.

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