DC archdiocese taking it on the chin
Friday, November 13, 2009
By Bryan Cones
Comments (20)
Oh man. Just do a Twitter, Google, or Facebook search of the DC gay marriage kerfuffle and it looks like a PR nightmare for the church. With story after story reporting that Catholic Charities is going to "stop feeding the homeless" if DC permits same-sex marriage, folks are reacting. Coming on the heels of news that Catholic dioceses funneled more than a half a million dollars into the Maine referendum on same-sex marriage, a lot of people are starting to say that Catholicism = bigotry.
Of course it's all a bit more nuanced: The archdiocese is saying that it will withdraw from publicly funded social service contracts; obviously that will mean cuts in its outreach. But it will continue as it can with private funds.
At the same time, I wish the dioceses could find some way to "modulate" their tone a little. Lately it's just been one threat after another. If the issue is coverage of the same-sex partners of Catholic Charities employees, then follow the San Fran archdiocese's model and offer benefits to any unrelated household member.
But escalating the drama with threats that make you look like you're holding the poor hostage are simply not the way to go.
Posted in: In preview mode
Homosexual marriage is
By Anonymous (not verified) on Sunday, December 6, 2009Homosexual marriage is oppressing everyone here in Massachusetts. Churches & Christians are being persecuted. Filth is entering the school systems. Never, never allow homosexual marriage in your state.
We were not allowed the vote. Always vote righteously or you will get politicians like the DC Council or like what we have here in Massachusetts. Massachusetts has godless politicians. The homosexual lobbyists own them.
Stop homosexual marriage from entering your state. It is evil. God calls it an abomination! God's own words - not mine!
Which of the 613 old covenant commandments
By Citizen of cana (not verified) on Friday, January 1, 2010specifically prohibit gay marriage?
Did Jesus call gay marriage an abomination?
do you have a scriptural source?
DC Gay Marriage and the Church
By Al (not verified) on Tuesday, November 17, 2009Unfortunately the Church got caught in the publicity game and the gays turned the tables on them. If the council wants to eliminate Catholic charity in the city, it is their loss. It may be one of those moments where the Lord takes advantage of evil to bring a greater good - Catholic charities/schools etc that are not burdened by Government funding and its' strings. They can teach authentic Church Teachings, provide medical care etc without the issue of abortion, gay marriage etc interfering with their work since the gov't's requirements won't apply. (at least in theory, as I haven't been following this closely) It is a shame that the Obama administration is hurting the people in dc with their secular progressive agenda.
DC Archdiocese - Charities - Gay Marriage Issue
By Steve (not verified) on Sunday, November 15, 2009The Washington Post published a surprising and balanced editorial on this issue today. Here is the link.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/14/AR200911...
DC archdiocese
By Steve (not verified) on Saturday, November 14, 2009Brian,
I read the article in your link to the Washington Post several time and either missed or could not find the phrase you put in quotes that Catholic Charities will "stop feeding the homeless."
That will not happen. Catholic Charities will continue their work under their own rules with their own money and DC can do the same. This story just illustrates that if you take government money the government can tell you what to do. What does gay marriage have to do with feeding the hungry homeless? Nothing. It is the governement forcing the issue, not the Church.
"Stop feeding the homeless"
By Bryan Cones on Monday, November 16, 2009That was a reference to how the issue is being "reduced" in social media, esp Twitter--and a sign of how the church needs to adapt its messaging to these short-form media, or at least be aware of how more complex issues will be handled in these environments.
You make a good point--the one who pays the piper calls the tune, and something like 35 to 40 percent of the DC Catholic Charities budget comes from the public coffers.
To be honest, though, I think the archdiocese is making a mountain out of a molehill. The archdiocese already provides benefits for the spouses of Catholics not married in the church, including those who are divorced and remarried. There are other ways around this issue than an all-chips-in showdown, the resolution in San Francisco being a case in point.
Bryan Cones
DC Arcdioces Charities - Gay Marriage
By Steve (not verified) on Monday, November 16, 2009Bryan,
As usual in "social media" a lot get lost - and added -in translation. Even The Washington Post agrees that this scuffle is more the doing of the DC government than the Church. Ally of the Church is an unusual position for The Post. I am a Washington native, my father worked for Catholic Charities at one of these facilities before he retired and passed away. To say this case is being spun in the media would be a gross understatement. Even The Post recognized it for what it really is.
Comments
By Heidi (not verified) on Friday, November 13, 2009Wow, those are some "interesting" comments.
So when did I say Gay
By Jesus (not verified) on Friday, November 13, 2009So when did I say Gay mariage was evil?
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