Catholics: Marriage Law Threatens Social Services

The Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., says that a proposed marriage equality law would destroy its ability to provide social service programs for the city by forcing the church to comply with laws prohibiting discrimination against LGBT people.

While religious groups would not be required to perform or accommodate same-sex wedding ceremonies under the new law, they would be required to obey other antidiscrimination measures, and that poses a problem for the archdiocese, according to The Washington Post.

"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," TheWashington Post reported.

The church's social services arm, Catholic Charities, partners with Washington, D.C., to provide services for adoptions, homelessness, and health care for tens of thousands of residents.