Posted on 11/26/2009 6:25:46 PM PST by HokieMom
RICHMOND | The governors of Virginia and Maryland, both Catholics, said Tuesday that it would be wrong for the church to suspend or reduce social services in the nation's capital if the District approves gay marriage.
Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine and Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley criticized the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington's response to the District's gay marriage proposal during a joint appearance on Washington radio station WTOP.
The D.C. Council is expected to approve gay marriage next month. 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.
"I'm Catholic and I think it's wrong," Mr. Kaine, who also is chairman of the Democratic National Committee, said of the church's position. "I don't think you take your ball and go home."
Said Mr. O'Malley: "It would be very, very sad for all concerned. I don't understand how they can possibly do this."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
” how can the Church can deny people their “rights”?”
The Church isn’t denying anyone their “rights”. It is bowing to the fact that the D.C. Council believes it can deliver the services better within its belief system than the Church can within its belief system.
All decisions have consequences; some unintended, some intended. The Church is merely following Thomas Jefferson’s aphorism; “Do you want to know who you are? Don’t ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you.”
We will have a chance to see if it’s still true today very soon. This may end up in the Supreme Court.
Jeff,
Please do some further research. It is not the Archdiocese of Washington that wishes to cut ties. It is the DC Council that wishes to erect PC barriers for Christian faith groups.
Sursum Corda
“I’m Catholic and I think it’s wrong,” Mr. Kaine, who also is chairman of the Democratic National Committee, said of the church’s position. “I don’t think you take your ball and go home.”
Typical liberal reasoning; Let’s compromise and do things my way.
If the Council wants to be punitive, and not allow for the Conscience rights of people of Faith, it have to accept the consequences of its decision.
I know the diocese isn’t doing anything different; they will just refuse to certify that they are compliant with the new requirements. It’s the city that is making the changes and will be dropping the contracts.
My point was that the Church leaders should be more circumspect before they declare as a “right” the service of others, before they declare health care a “human right” as some of them have done. They’ll get caught in their own trap.
I’d love to see a Bishop tell 0’Malley not to receive communion any longer for his positions on ABORTION and gays . Marylanders are not people or citizens to marty they are simply a revenue supply source .
I’m really beginning to hate these two...
Maryland “Freak State” PING!
Reading this only in a cursory manner, I can sort of see the point of the gov’s.
Maybe stopping various help because of gay approval is too much.
But then, if they do it, it’s not much skin off my nose. I really don’t care if gays get dissed.
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