Don't Worry, Catholic Officials Won't Forsake D.C.'s Poor

You may have heard about the controversy in Washing D.C. where the Catholic Archdiocese announced that they will have to stop accepting city government money for social work programs rather than accept the ongoing effort to legalize gay marriage. This wildly upside down look at it by Petula Dvorak of the Washington Post really illustrates how the secular just don't get it. Here is the title of the article:

Catholic officials shouldn’t forsake D.C.’s poor in gay marriage fight

What it should say is that Government officials shouldn't force Catholic Churches and charities to go against their values, doctrines, and beliefs.

Let's start with the fundamentals here. The Catholic Church is not obligated in any way to help the poor except by it's own traditions and teachings. The reason the government gives Catholic Charities money is because the Church has always run programs well to benefit the poor and underprivileged. The faithful that work at these charities don't do it for the paycheck, they do it for Christ. The government knows that they will and have run the programs much better than the government itself can do, and that they actually make a difference in the lives of the poor.

The D.C. Council is preparing to pass a same sex provisions bill next month that will force Catholic Charities to extend employee benefits to same-sex "married" couples and allow gay couples to adopt with their adoption services.

The Church believes that same sex couples is wrong. It's that simple. If you disagree, then more power to you. You don't have to go to the Catholic Church. But to be clear, the Church teaches us to love all people, gay or straight, because we are all sinners. But loving someone doesn't mean that the Church forgets or overlooks what Christ taught us about marriage.

Dvorak says there are at least nine homeless shelters in D.C. that are run by Catholic Charities that use "at least some" city money. She imagines they will go away without the city's money. Well, guess what? Catholic Charities will continue to run those nine homeless shelters without the city money. The Catholic Church takes care of the poor all over the world, and it sure as HECK dooesn't need government money to do it. Governments have and will come and go, but the Church will remain.

Has this co-operation between government and Church been a win/win for both? Yes. The government has a reliable, well run, and trustworthy organization to use taxpayer money for the poor in a proper way. It is run by people who really care about the people they serve. The Church in turn, has more money to spend on the needy.

But the Church will never turn against it's teaching in order to receive government funds, nor should it be asked to.

Believe what you wish about gay marriage or same sex couples. But don't try to force your belief on the Church. It has a 2000 year tradition and it isn't going to change for some liberal D.C. council. We are free in this country to believe as we wish. When we have to come to a point where the government tries to force a faith to turn it's back on it's teachings, then we have entered very scary territory. Your belief may be next.

Dvorak also says that refusing to give in to the city goes against the mission of the Church. No. Going against the teachings of the Church would go against the mission of the Church.

The Church has every right to refuse what they consider an immoral mandate, and the city has every right to rescind the monies. If that is what needs to be done, then do it. There are plenty of other churches that would accept the city's mandates. The Episcopal Church and Unitarians come to mind. Let them accept the money and run the city's programs.

The Catholic Church is not, as many Democrats council members in D.C haves stated, writing or determining legislation. It is simply saying it cannot abide by mandates that go against the faith and Christ's teachings. It is the council that is forcing this issue, not the Church.

The Church would fight against being forced to condone ANY sin whether it be abortion, adultery, or euthanasia.

In my view, I would welcome a split. I have never been comfortable with the Church accepting government money. Until now, the government has been pretty good at letting the Church run it's many charities in the manner of it's faith without interference. But this was bound to happen. For those who don't like the mix of church and state for secular reasons, this should be good news for you as well.

If the government cannot find a way to run their programs and shelters for the poor as well as Catholic Charities has run them, then maybe it will think twice before passing mandates that force the Church to make that break.



*note: I feel I have to warn my liberal commenter's who always seem to take such delight, whenever the Catholic Church is mentioned, in smearing some 50,000 good and holy priests in this country by bringing up the comparatively few sick pervert priests that have disgraced themselves in the Catholic Church. Don't even try.