HOW I SEE IT: Governors too quick to criticize church
Published: December 3, 2009
Updated: December 3, 2009
Please pardon us for being late in responding to the Nov. 25 Associated Press article entitled “Kaine, O’Malley: Church response wrong,” but we were out of town for Thanksgiving and have just now been catching up on past editions of the Culpeper Star-Exponent.
The article stated the governors of Virginia and Maryland said, “it would be wrong for the church to suspend or reduce social services in the nation’s capital if the District of Columbia approves gay marriage.”
It says that the governors criticized the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington’s response to the district’s gay marriage proposal. The article further states, “The archdiocese says that unless the proposal is amended to add a religious exemption, its Catholic Charities won’t be able to continue contracts with the city to run homeless shelters and provide other services to needy residents.”
This excerpt should have been explained in full context and with the true underlying dynamics.
The Arlington Catholic Herald (Nov. 26-Dec. 9) says the District of Columbia proposal, as written, would compel Catholic Charities, and other faith groups, to support functions against its conscience such as placing children with same-sex parents in foster care and adoption, and promoting and supporting same-sex marriage through payment of spousal benefits.
The church simply wanted a “religious freedom exemption” so that it could continue services and contracts with the city that include some 68,000 people. The emphasis should be on the reasonableness of the request and not on the so-called implicit threat to discontinue services, which is actually not true. We should rejoice in the charitable spirit rather than castigate faith groups for abiding by their consciences and beliefs.
Perhaps the two “Catholic” governors should get in touch with Bishop Barry Knestout of Washington and get the facts straight before offering criticism.
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Reader Reactions
My logic is very clear. Your facts are what is not. You have no problem with divorce so you give the Church a pass even though Jesus was explicit in his distaste for divorce. He never really said much about gays and what actually defines a marriage but since you don’t like gays what the Church wants to do is OK and even if it is the law they should be able to ignore it.
??????? Sorry, I am unable to follow your logic. Let’s just agree to disagree.
Carol, it is not apples and oranges, but if I understand you correctly the don’t ask don’t tell policy is applied to divorce?
The scripture is not clear AT ALL that marriage is between one man and one woman unless you accept that it can be the SAME man and multiple women. While we’re at it let’s recognize thatJesus brought change and the old testamwent ways are gone. Neither the Bible nor Jesus EXPLICITLY defined marriage as you are attempting to.
Our Constitution cannot allow anyone to “opt out” if they think it’s against God’s law. If that is the case maybe it’s time to remove the tax empt status enjoyed ny the Catholic Church since they seem to have no problem with that law.
Apples and oranges. Divorce is an individual decision and, while the Church doesn’t condone the action, it also doesn’t participate in it and forgives the person just as God forgives us our sins in His great mercy. But in DC, Catholic Charities could be required to formally acknowledge the same-sex relationship and participate in it by enabling the fostering or adoption of a child. But Scripture is very clear on the point that marriage is established by God between one man and one woman, not a human invention up for man’s redefinition (see Genesis for starters). A conscience clause would allow the agency to opt out in situations that it deems to be against God’s law.
Carol, I’m not a bit confused. You seem to be. What did Jesus say about gays? Not much. I do know he was pretty tough on divorce. Are the Catholics gonna discriminate against divorced people too? DC allows divorce. How dare the Catholic Church do any of their good deeds for those heathens! Since I know some divorced people working for Catholic organizations I already know the answer. I was just being rhetorical to point out that you may not understand the issue as well as you seem to think.
The Catholic Church is simply trying to muscle its way into getting what it wants.
Just the fact that brewer supports them should indicate to everyone else that the Church is wrong.
Very well said Carol, or quoted, whatever.
Now if we could just get the Catholics in Congress to agree with and live by the Church’s teaching, we would all be better off.
“Perhaps the Catholic Church is more interested in getting its way than actually helping poor people??“ I am sorry for your confusion. In fact,the Church’s “way” for 2000 years has been to live the teachings of Jesus Christ and serve Him through service to His people. As servants of the servant of God, the Church gets it right most of the time. Witness: Over 600 Catholic hospitals in the United States accommodate “over 15.5% of all U.S. hospital admissions. Catholic health care systems and hospitals are present in all 50 states. As a provider, employer, advocate, and citizen - bringing together people of diverse faiths and backgrounds - Catholic health care is rooted in the belief that every person is a treasure, every life a sacred gift, every human being a unity of body, mind and spirit.“ (USCCB website)
“On the last day, Jesus will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, enter the Kingdom. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was sick and you visited me.‘“
I am not Catholic, and could never be Catholic because of all the “Catholic” people in elected office that are publicly pro-abortion. I can’t associate socially with hypocrits when I know they are hypocrits. I do love the fact that the Catholic Church stands by its beliefs regardless of the popularity of those beliefs.
So much for separation of church and state.
The Catholic Church and its “prinicples” over the years has been a horror story. That I do understand.
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