Posted on 03/18/2015 6:26:18 PM PDT by DaveMSmith
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) — KCBS has learned that Saint Mary’s Cathedral, the principal church of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, has installed a watering system to keep the homeless from sleeping in the cathedral’s doorways.
The cathedral, at Geary and Gough, is the home church of the Archbishop. There are four tall side doors, with sheltered alcoves, that attract homeless people at night.
“They actually have signs in there that say, ‘No Trespassing,’” said a homeless man named Robert. But there are no signs warning the homeless about what happens in these doorways, at various times, all through the night. Water pours from a hole in the ceiling, about 30 feet above, drenching the alcove and anyone in it. The shower ran for about 75 seconds, every 30 to 60 minutes while we were there, starting before sunset, simultaneously in all four doorways. KCBS witnessed it soak homeless people, and their belongings.
(Excerpt) Read more at sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com ...
After inspecting the cathedral, the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection filed a notice of violation against the archdiocese and the cathedral, giving them 15 days to remove the system. In response, the archdiocese has taken out a plumbing permit to remove the entire watering system, which releases hundreds of gallons of water every night.
Holee Cow!!!
They have murder holes and can afford to waste water during this horrible drought?
Where do I send money to keep the water running?
What’s the problem? The sign says ‘No Trespassing’, the shelter is full, so GET OUT! It is not like California is especially cold in the winter. Those who don’t make it inside, can they not find another shelter?
Removing the smell of urine I would think.
You've never been to San Francisco.
I’m pretty sure that Jesus disapproves of this.
SF can be cold in the summer. Well, kinda cold.
I find this disturbing in a church.
If the best they can do is to harass people who will still nap there for a half hour at a time, I am not impressed with their efforts. Bus tickets to somewhere that they can find shelter or even a job? More creative efforts to help these people get off the streets? Better financial planning within the Church (less support for illegals?) so they have the money to help Americans who are in need? This watering is the wrong answer, as is allowing the homeless to urinate on the church entryways, and they should make an effort to do better.
If they had any PR savvy they’d tell the press that they’re providing free showers to the homeless.
NIMCA
(Not In My Church Alcove)
The Archdiocese of San Francisco supports overnight shelters, food pantries, soup kitchens, substance abuse programs; all they ask is that the homeless don't piss on the doors and leave human waste, trash and needles at the entrances.
So if they guy refuses to go to the shelter, then what does Jesus do? Pin his arms back and frog-march him to the van? Take him, to the shelter against his will? Do you think that would be humane, legal, or even Christlike?
What would you do if people were camping out in front of your door, using illegal drugs n front of your kids, and urinating and defecating on your front steps?
No, I have not been to California however, if you are referring to damp winter ‘coastal’ weather, try Hongcouver! Much nastier than San Fransicko, I presume! The ‘Lower Mainland, THAT is where most Canadians would prefer to winter, versus Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon, etc.
How long has the system been there? I guarantee the outrage is not about the system alone but is a way to claim the Archbishop is being a hypocrite by demanding teachers in the Catholic schools follow Catholic teaching on faith and morals.
Nonsense like this gives the left ammo for "Government is the solution"
(SAN FRANCISCO, March 18, 2015) The following statement was made today by Bishop William Justice, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, and Rector of The Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption:
The Archdiocese of San Francisco is, along with the Catholic St. Vincent de Paul Society, the largest supporter of services for the homeless in San Francisco. Every year, it helps many thousands of people through food, housing, shelter programs for people at risk including homeless mothers and families, and in countless other ways.
St. Mary's Cathedral is a huge part of that program, and does more than any other Catholic church. The Cathedral itself serves hundreds of homeless people giving them food and shelter, as an integral part of the San Francisco Interfaith Council's efforts in that regard, for example, opening its doors for shelter and food for five weeks over the holidays.
This sprinkler system in alcoves near our back doorways was installed approximately two years ago, after learning from city resources that this kind of system was being commonly used in the Financial District, as a safety, security and cleanliness measure to avoid the situation where needles, feces and other dangerous items were regularly being left in these hidden doorways. The problem was particularly dangerous because students and elderly people regularly pass these locations on their way to school and mass every day.
When the system was installed, after other ideas were tried and failed, the people who were regularly sleeping in those doorways were informed in advance that the sprinklers were being installed. The idea was not to remove those persons, but to encourage them to relocate to other areas of the Cathedral, which are protected and safer. The purpose was to make the Cathedral grounds as well as the homeless people who happen to be on those grounds safer.
We are sorry that our intentions have been misunderstood and recognize that the method used was ill-conceived. It actually has had the opposite effect from what it was intended to do, and for this we are very sorry.
We have also now learned that the system in the first place required a permit and may violate San Francisco water-use laws, and the work to remove this system has already started, and will be completed by the end of the day.
For more information, please call Larry Kamer at (415) 290-7240 or email: lkamer@kamergroup.com
Well they removed the illegal plumbing system so it is over.
And I seriously doubt that they didn’t know that they needed a permit, it was the same sort of church thinking that led them to deliberately avoid putting up a sign that the homeless would be surprised with a deluge.
Leave him alone, and certainly not dump cold water on him.
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