Catholic Charities faces David Catania, at DC gay marriage hearing

More about gay marriage in DC: http://www.metroweekly.com/

Catholic Charities, a service-providing arm of the Archdiocese of Washington, testifies before the DC Council on October 26, 2009. They state that same-sex marriage is incompatible with their religious beliefs. And that if gay men and lesbians are allowed to get married under a new law, they will no longer be able to provide services for health care, the homeless and child placement services.

Councilman David Catania points out that their operating funds come from public tax dollars (75%), and that President & CEO Edward Orzechowski takes home a substantial salary ($268,000 according to Washingtonian). Orzechowski says they will not provide health benefits to gay spouses, nor would they place children in the households of gay couples, even though they are currently required to do so for same-sex couples who are currently in domestic partnerships. In fact, they Archdiocese's representatives indicate that they would like to have that provision repealed as well. Also, Catania has it on record that Catholic Charities has only provided 5% of the adoptions in DC last year -- six of 102 wards of the city. He says he's offended by their "take my ball and go home'' attitude, that he alone fought for funding for the Council to fun Catholic Charities in the past, and that he'd like to work on a compromise but it would be difficult.

David Catania is one of two out gay Councilmembers, but 10 of the 13 have already stated that they strongly support the bill.

On November 11, the Council revised the bill in an effort to give religious organizations even more leeway than the bill already provided, but the Archdiocese and Catholic Charities stated the next day that they would still not be able to comply unless they were allowed complete ability to discriminate against same-sex couples who are married on the basis of religious belief. All of which leads some to conclude that Catholic Charities and the Archdiocese never had any intent to work with the Council on crafting an acceptable compromise; which is likely because their spiritual leader, Pope Benedict, has repeatedly declared gay marriages to be unacceptable.

Category:

News & Politics

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• gay marriage
• same-sex marriage
• washington
• DC
• catholic charities
• archdiocese
• david catania
• phil mendelson
• catholics
• metro weekly
• metroweekly
• lgbt
• glbt

[neenerpuss]

The more the government "partners" with religion...the more religion feels like they have the power to dictate CIVIL LAW and run the government. We need to cut off all government funding and tax exemption for religions. That is truly separation of church and state! The money they save and collect in taxes will cover the charities work that the government or private parties can do.

[MFDoyleIII]

Just stop giving our money to the church and give it to real organizations who will do good for everyone...

[xothegirlz]

This is absolutely disgusting. I'm sure the anti-gay activists will use this as a new example of gay marriage legislation impeding religious rights. This man collects a huge salary, and his organization relies on public funds. Separate church and state.

[spagandtuna]

Very good points here. And, in the long run, it's probably best that CC not be permitted involvement in this issue. Their cruelty on this issue is probably reflected elsewhere in their operations.

[Antichrist4Life]

That Catania is one hell of a speaker. He really drove the poing home and made it sharp, loud and clear. It doesn't make sense that they don't care what a couple's religious or non-religious stance is, but care so much about their sexual orientation. What's the meaning of that?

And why are they refusing to any longer provide services for health care, and the homeless?! What on earth does THAT have to do with homosexual marriage, for Pete sakes?! This is ridiculous!

[Worldofchange]

Yea great point!!

[Boudiga]

"we won't provide gay couples with medical benefits, but we'll protect pedophiles. " I'm not just talking about the priest, but about that poor little nine yr old girl in South America who was raped by her stepfather and the church made a big stink about her getting an abortion, even though her life was at risk. So they kicked her doctor and her mother out of the church, for allowing her to have an abortion that saved her life. But the child rapist is still a full member of the catholic church!

[xephyr1000]

Wuerl just demonstrates how PATHETIC religion is that he would use the withholding of charitable assistance to the disenfranchised and impoverished, and treat them as political pawns in his attempt to promote liturgical POWER and religious dogma! This is Dark Ages mentality!

[parbineagle1]

catholic charities bring my whole family from my country to America i been here for like 1 year and 6 months.

[StuartTV]

nice work, whoever posted this. i posted a video response that includes interviews with homeless folk who are pissed at catholic charities' threat to cut off services.

[allgoo19]

OSTARAEB4: " Remove their tax exempt.."

Absolutely!!

And no contract with them. It's like endorsing one particular religion over the other!!

Enforce a strict regulation so that they don't try to influence the government by lobbying.