Most Reverend Donald Wuerl
The Archdiocese of Washington issued their position on DC's upcoming gay marriage legislation and it has made headlines to say the least. If the DC Council approves legislation, as they are expected to, that allows gay marriage in the city without an inclusion for organizations whose faith does not align with the new law some protections, the Archdiocese says they will no longer be able to offer the social services to residents that they have in the past. This includes serves to more than 68,000 residents that unlike many other DC service providers, they pay for out of their own coffers.
"If the city requires this, we can't do it," Susan Gibbs, spokeswoman for the archdiocese, said Wednesday as reported by the Washington Post. "The city is saying in order to provide social services, you need to be secular. For us, that's really a problem."
On this issue I agree.
Proponents of gay marriage in the city are right that as American troops die overseas for freedom and equality in foreign nations, that same thing must be offered here in our own country. However what they miss is that this issue is not as simple as they would allow their minds to understand. Our constitution by the very definition says that Congress (and thereby the government) shall make no law interfering with the practice of a person's religious faith. This law does just that and in fact slaps in the face the argument that pro-gay marriage leaders have been pushing for years that no church or faith would be forced change their beliefs on this topic. That civil marriage has nothing to do with the very religious traditions of some institutions. That two men being able to get married would not impact the traditional marriage of others. So while much of political DC seems up in arms and worried about this decision by the church, it does not worry me that much at all because they are right on their position. A position that does not say hey city council do not pass this law at all, but instead says lets meet in the middle.
What does worry me and shows a lack of understanding in my mind are the comments of people like Councilwoman Cheh when she called their stance "childish." To use such simplifying language and insults dumps down the debate and is not worthy of how important this issue is to both sides. We are not hearing attacks from the church on the big merits of the bill that we all know will be passed, but what you are hearing is concern that passage of the new law, without these simple protections would force the church to abandon some of the pillars that are important to their moral view of the world. You are hearing that what gay rights leaders have been selling to America as we want our rights but don't want to infringe on your rights is not being done here. The church is not asking for something that has not been done in many of the other states that the council leaders are looking to as a reference. In fact in New Hampshire before Governor Lynch signed the gay rights bill into law he vowed to vetoe it on these very same grounds.
I believe and it is true that the freedom to marry and enter into a committed relationship with the person that you love, regardless of someone else's moral beliefs is a fundamental right. I also agree that the freedom to practice your faith absent of the secular view of man is a fundamental right. On this issue real leaders see these two ends and work to find the middle. It is a sad day in American politics when we allow the extremes to control and micromanage a debate we all need to have.
Comments
THough I'm not sure of the specifics of DC law, in other juridictions, the Catholic church has run afoul of non-discrimination statutes when they choose to take public money to help fund their charitable works. From the WaPo: "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. 'Contracts' would lead me to assume that it's not just church money they're using so your statement "they pay for out of their own coffers." is not true. When churches choose to operate in the public sector, whether administering relief programs or renting property, they are required to play by the same rules as any business. the
Completely agree with you, Nic. The DC Council is basically telling the Catholic Church, if it's your own money you're using, you can choose to refuse service to anyone as usual. But if there's taxpayer money involved, then you will not be able to discriminate against others, and play by the same rules as everyone else.
An amendment was already passed that allows churches to opt out of performing gay marriages. The amendment that was voted down that the Catholic Church is getting in a huff about was to give secular shops and businesses the right to refuse to do business with gay couples for things like bouquets, dresses, whatever.
For comparison, a church can refuse to marry an interracial couple, but a shop can't refuse to rent a limo to an interracial wedding.
One of the official complaints that the Church made was that if they have any gay employees who got married, they would be required to give them the same benefits that they give straight couples.
I can't help but wonder if they deny benefits to any employees they have who are remarried after a civil divorce (especially non-Catholic employees), or for that matter, any employees who aren't Christian.
People seem to get really confused about what "freedom to practice your own religion" actually means.
They want an exception that allows private individuals to be free to discriminate against anyone they want to as long as they can call it religion. This isn't about being forced to hire gay priests (*snort*), or being forced to conduct weddings or accept the sacramental validity of a civil marriage.
It also isn't about the state directing them where they can choose to direct their own charitable funds.
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