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Columnist: Church Threat "Uncharitable and Cruel"


Homelessx390 | Advocate.com

Washington Post columnist Petula Dvorak takes on the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington for its threat to cut vital social services like support to the homeless if a proposed marriage equality law passes the D.C. city council.

Although the proposed law would not require the church to perform same-sex weddings or provide space for the ceremonies, the archdiocese fears that it would be forced to extend employee benefits for same-sex married couples. This week, the church threatened to sever its social service contracts with the city, which help nearly 70,000 residents with adoption, health care, and homelessness.

“For folks on the street, those words are nothing more than the sound of a door slamming shut,” writes Dvorak.

"By trying to play political hardball with the District, no matter how carefully they word their objection to the bill, officials at the Archdiocese of Washington and Catholic Charities are telling our city's most vulnerable people -- homeless families, sick children, low-income mothers -- that they are willing to throw them on the table as a bargaining chip."

"What the Church is doing is an uncharitable and cruel maneuver,” Dvorak wrote.

Read the column here .

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Reader Comments
  • Name: Richard (AVI) Gilley (ben-Naarai)
    Date posted: 11/17/2009 10:47:19 AM
    Hometown: Columbus Ohio

    Comment:

    So SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSo SAD that an organization that espouses those virtues of a man they consider their God, does not follow their God and evediently does not listen. But what can one say---their leader was a Nazi---recanted---but their vile hatred of Gay men and women seems to echo a not so far distant past---that led to places of murder----------remmber---remmber--never forget---for silence is not an option---shout shout---place those persons and or institutions no high alert that we as gay men and women and transgendered will not allow you to destroy us with your platatudes rehortic and hyporcrital sermons.Go ahead and pull your services. I believe those gay men and women and transgendered along wwith those that hold a honest and true belief of what Jesus---Moses--Allah--Buddah says will fill the gap and you will no longer be relevant. A lone gay Jewish man who loves his partner of 17 years-----AVI

  • Name: Richard (AVI) Gilley (ben-Naarai)
    Date posted: 11/17/2009 10:46:38 AM
    Hometown: Columbus Ohio

    Comment:

    So SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSo SAD that an organization that espouses those virtues of a man they consider their God, does not follow their God and evediently does not listen. But what can one say---their leader was a Nazi---recanted---but their vile hatred of Gay men and women seems to echo a not so far distant past---that led to places of murder----------remmber---remmber--never forget---for silence is not an option---shout shout---place those persons and or institutions no high alert that we as gay men and women and transgendered will not allow you to destroy us with your platatudes rehortic and hyporcrital sermons.Go ahead and pull your services. I believe those gay men and women and transgendered along wwith those that hold a honest and true belief of what Jesus---Moses--Allah--Buddah says will fill the gap and you will no longer be relevant. A lone gay Jewish man who loves his partner of 17 years-----AVI

  • Name: Robert Edwards
    Date posted: 11/16/2009 9:11:29 AM
    Hometown: NYC

    Comment:

    At what point didn't any of you understand that the Roman Catholic Church is deeply and inherently evil? They have always been about controlling people's lives. Power in the "masses" indeed. Keeping people ignorant (enslave the minds), barefoot (demand a constant stream of money) and pregnant (future enslaved) has been a successful formula for centuries. Why change now?

  • Name: no one
    Date posted: 11/14/2009 10:13:08 AM
    Hometown: everywhere

    Comment:

    Did He not teach "let him who is without sin cast the first stone?" Do these so-called religious leaders imagine that they are not filled from head to toe with filth and sin? Do these pretenders not know that He sees the evil in their hearts? They do not first remove the beam from their own eye before pointing to the splinter in their neighbors' eyes. They do not honor Him by obeying His simple commandments. First to "love the Lord, thy God" and also to "love thy neighbor" but instead they defile His teaching by twisting the meaning of His words. Hypocrites and liars! As you judge, so shall ye be judged. Hear now from this imperfect servant of the Master whom you pretend to follow, for this is what He has said you shall hear from Him when your time comes. As you stand before the Father, the One gave you your life, and the One who shall judge it, from His mouth shall you hear these words "I never knew you"!

  • Name: Scott
    Date posted: 11/14/2009 12:08:53 AM
    Hometown: Portland

    Comment:

    I would say that the deceptive catholic church is showing it's true face right now. It's clear that for them, hate comes before helping the needy, and yes they should be very ashamed of themselves. The only way to stop them is for people to open their eyes and stop donating money to the wolf in sheeps clothing aka the catholic church. People should be smart enough to find a better church, one that loves all people and is not run like an elitist country club! Tell your catholic friends to open their eyes!!!!!

  • Name: retto
    Date posted: 11/13/2009 11:43:21 PM
    Hometown: NYS

    Comment:

    Here's my version of an old Christmas song.....this story proves it's right on target... Silent nIght, holy night, Hostage to the religious right, Hypocrites and homophobes, Camouflaged in choir robes, Treat gay people like dirt, Claim to be doing God's work. There's more if anyone wants the rest of it....

  • Name: Mike
    Date posted: 11/13/2009 7:53:53 PM
    Hometown: Portland, Oregon

    Comment:

    What would Jesus do? It's a safe bet that He certainly wouldn't do what the DC church is doing!

  • Name: Carlos
    Date posted: 11/13/2009 7:26:17 PM
    Hometown: Montreal/Montreal

    Comment:

    It is this wild, crazy and dirty hypocrasy that the Catholic Church tries to impose to the goverment. SHAME on the Catholic Church, and they wonder why few peole attend church nowadays. Church.

  • Name: Davya
    Date posted: 11/13/2009 6:42:46 PM
    Hometown: Wynnewood, PA

    Comment:

    The beginning of the overt degeneration of the fundamentalist antigay movement.

  • Name: Don
    Date posted: 11/13/2009 5:23:36 PM
    Hometown: Evansville

    Comment:

    Jesus must be appalled.



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