Same-sex marriage law in D.C. could ‘suppress’ Catholic institutions, archdiocese warns

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Comments: 28

The D.C. City Council

Washington D.C., Nov 1, 2009 / 03:10 am (CNA).- A Washington, D.C. City Council proposal to recognize same-sex “marriage” would redefine marriage and could force Catholic educational and charitable institutions to close or face lawsuits, burdensome regulation and the compromising of their faith, the Archdiocese of Washington has warned.

The proposed law, called the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009, redefines marriage as “the legally recognized union of two people.” It says a religious association or a non-profit associated with a religion shall not be required to provide services, accommodations, facilities or goods related to the solemnization, celebration or promotion of a marriage that is in violation of the entity’s religious beliefs unless the entity makes those services available to members of the general public.

Representatives of the archdiocese spoke at an Oct. 26 hearing before the D.C. City Council’s Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary. They argued that the law would endanger Catholic services to the general public.

In written testimony, the archdiocese opposed the legislation and “any effort to redefine marriage as any other than that between a man and a woman.” The archdiocese voiced “deep concerns” that the bill would restrict religious freedom if it is passed as drafted.

To continue the archdiocese’s service to the poor of the District of Columbia, the archdiocese testified, a “meaningful” religious exemption is needed to ensure that the government “will not suppress its religious exercise in such a way.”

In its support, the archdiocese cited a legal analysis of the bill by the Williams & Connolly law firm, which said the expected effect of the bill would put the archdiocese in an “untenable” position under the First Amendment unless religious conscience protections are expanded.

“The District will effectively force the Archdiocese either to violate the law or to abandon forms of religious practice – care for the poor, hungry and homeless – that are fundamental to the practice of Catholic social teaching,” the law firm commented.

In addition to overturning the definition of marriage, the legislation has no exemptions for churches, religious organizations such as the Knights of Columbus or religiously-owned nonprofits such as Catholic Charities if they provide services to the general public or rent space to individuals or groups outside of their faith.

According to the archdiocese, six prominent legal scholars including Prof. Robin Fretwell Wilson of Washington & Lee University have independently submitted a letter to City Council Chairman detailing serious religious freedom problems with the legislation.

“They note that religious organizations are at risk of lawsuits if, for example, they decline to offer their facilities to same sex couples or to limit married student housing to couples of the opposite sex,” the archdiocese said in a press release.

Other risks for religious organizations and individuals who cannot recognize same-sex “marriages” include the denial of access to government contracts and access to government facilities, such as leases. Licenses for objecting doctors and social workers could be revoked while child care licenses could be denied.

The proposed law could also allow lawsuits against those who do not provide same-sex benefits to employees and could result in the revocation of the accreditation of religious colleges.

“This would have serious implications in the District of Columbia, where Catholic Charities provides foster care and adoption services for nearly 100 children every year as well as shelter every night for nearly one in three of the city’s homeless men, women and children under contracts with the city, which cannot provide these services itself as efficiently and cost effectively,” the Archdiocese of Washington said.

“Every year, Catholic Charities provides shelter, food, counseling, medical and legal assistance, and more to 68,000 people in the District of Columbia regardless of their faith,” explained Ed Orzechowski, president and CEO of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington. “If the Council passes this bill as written, these programs are at risk along with nearly 100 different parish social ministry programs, all of the other ministries operated by the Catholic Church and even meeting space for groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Scouts and neighborhood organizations who partner with churches.”

The lack of an adequate exemption, the archdiocese said, would require religious organizations and individuals to choose “between exercising their faith and following the law.” This would cause “division and dissatisfaction” among the citizens of D.C., it warned.

Comments: 28

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Customartist
Myrtle Beach, SC 11/13/2009 12:45 PM EST

It had to happen some time, so let's get on with it. Get the RC Church outa government! Cut 'em off right now. Let's be clear here, they get MILLIONS in City Contracts. It's not all "Charitable" as they would have us to believe. Their(RCC) intent alone is enough for Fair Minded Councilmen to conclude that they will not act in the best interest of All Citizens law or no law. This is Religious Coersion, Plain and Simple.

Published by: Martin Pal
CA 11/11/2009 03:27 PM EST

Gay people, like me, come in all colors, races, religions, political persuasions and all walks of life. If you are discriminating against gay people you are discriminating against yourselves. Those against gay people see nothing but SEX. You do not allow us to be human, you choose to see us as demons or to demonize us. "When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." The FEAR in these posts is palpable. Stop fearing everything. If gay people are allowed to marry, like they are allowed in many other countries and a few states, nothing is going to change your petty little lives. Can't you see that you are hurting people? It's not you who are being persecuted, but you who are persecuting. Separate your spirituality from your religion. Religions aren't perfect. If religion was perfect there wouldn't be so many religious choices.

Published by: Mateo
Los Angeles, CA 11/10/2009 02:02 AM EST

Folks we should be ashamed of ourselves in 2009. First there were anti-miscegenation marriage laws and now anti same-sex marriage laws. If we really want to stop using religion as a disguise to deny civil rights to others, then lets make everyone a "civil union" and keep marriage with religious institutions.

Published by: Ted
Vancouver BC Canada 11/04/2009 05:30 PM EST

We always have Matrimony. They never will.

Published by: MaryO
Philadelphia/PA/USA 11/04/2009 02:10 PM EST

Hey Sensible Joe and everyone who thinks like him, the Church is not proposing to exclude services from gay couples. The Church has never done that and is, in fact, in the forefront of providing services to AIDS victims, many of whom are openly gay. The Church's charity scorns no one. The law, on the other hand, proposes, for example, to shut down Catholic services to ALL orphans if a Catholic adoption service does not place children with a gay couple. It is not the Church here which is restricting freedom - it is the government.

Published by: Sensible Joe
Gainesville FL 11/04/2009 10:35 AM EST

It sure sounds like a threat. The logic of the Roman Catholic establishment here escapes me. Every week, I buy groceries for a local food pantry and other necessities for a domestic violence shelter. I have no idea if they go to divorcees, cohabitating people, single parents, women pregnant out of wedlock, heterosexuals or homosexuals, and I don't need to know that. I do know that they get to other human beings, created in the image and likeness of God, who are burdened by hardship and need help badly. Jesus told me to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, house the homeless, care for the sick and visit the jailed -- nowhere in his gospels does he tell me to check their marital or moral status first, to determine whether or not they receive my charity. Once again, in a big way, Rome's missing the point. I'll take my chances with the Christ Jesus who openly dined with tax collectors, prostitutes and sinners, no matter how much the religious establishment, in its self-righteousness, spoke ill of him for that.

Published by: Sensible Joe
Gainesville FL 11/04/2009 10:33 AM EST

Published by: Agnus Dei
Kansas City MO 11/03/2009 04:50 PM EST

Most of the cogent, lucid arguments presented here are of course, the Truth, and are in keeping with the Holy Magisterium. However, we've known since 1917 that these days would come! No nation has heeded the plea of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who told us that "the errors of Russia would spread" if mankind did not stop offending God, AND make acts of reparation. Not only is the concept of sin lost on modern/secular man, but penance and mortification are completely alien. So, we know that we are indeed witnessing the end-times, because the fabric of society (just and rational laws based on Divine Law, and the people who follow them) is deteriorating and chaos/blasphemy/immorality is the consequence. Who here is afraid of dying? We need to pray for the grace to accept Holy Martyrdom, and consistently stand for the Truth, which is Christ Himself. We need to fight the Good Fight, and Paradise will be ours.

Published by: Barney
Hockessin, De 11/03/2009 02:39 PM EST

I am a devout catholic firmly against legalization of gay marriage. The "facts" presented in this article, however, are not logical. The words of the proposed law are being totally twisted around to provide an illogical and alarmist argument. The words state that a religious body will not be required to provide marriage services against its beliefs..." That is a protection to the religious body to not be coerced against its belief. The offending words raising all the alarm appear to be "unless the entity makes those services available to members of the general public." The arguments being made are as if these words were "any service to the general public." But the words are "those services" referring to "those" services related to marriage as previously defined. Churches only provide marriage services to the members of its church, not to the general public. This exception would prevent a justice of the peace - for example - from refusing marriage services to a gay couple based on his/her personal religious beliefs. It's okay to disagree with the proposed law, but to say that this law would prevent the church from supplying other charitable and social services unless it performed gay marriage is stretching beyond the logical and renders the whole discussion as not credible.

Published by: Jim Williams
Jessup, MD USA 11/03/2009 02:22 PM EST

The Church shouldn't be asking for an exemption, they should be condemning this law! Also, the Church needs to condemn the Democratic Party, the party of Death. Yet, when it comes down to it, it is all about the money. They need and want that Tax Exemption. This is why I've stopped going to Church. Abortion is the only thing conservative about the Church, yet they won't condemn Catholics lawmaker who support abortion.

Published by: Dan Guenzel
MIlwaukee, WI, USA 11/03/2009 01:06 PM EST

Letter-writer "Simon" is a good example of why we are in the mess we are in right now. His grasp of history, let alone the situation standing right before his own eyes, is so weak that it leads him and many others like him to make the foolish remarks he has made. I would only mention to Simon that I wish the Spanish Inquisition was as severe as the antiCatholics make it out to be: we might not be facing this mess if it were. But my advice to the Church is simple: just say "no" to the swine who come up with these unjust and totally null "laws". Ignore their sanctions, do not honor their judgments, do not ask for "exemptions' from an unjust law. Fight the law itself. Let them send their cops and their military to the very doors of the churches. Let the world see what these monsters intend to do to the one, true Church. That is probably what it is going to take to wake some people up. I'm sorry, dear fellow-Catholics, but the time to fight these new Nazi/Communists is now. Not tomorrow. Now.

Published by: simon
puerto rico 11/03/2009 10:36 AM EST

Rate: Bad

The church is NOT under attack, Catholics and other orthodox Christian groups need to understand that America cannot and should not be run like Iran. This is a country of many religions. If public policy were to be dictated by who is sinful and who is not wouldn't Jews be excluded for not believing in Jesus? Wouldn't women not be allowed to positions of leadership. Come on. How arrogant for Conservative Christians to impose their ways on other religions and non-believers. Spanish Inquisition anyone? How arrogant, arrogant attitudes like that just keep me away from your Churches.

Published by: TLZ
Durham, NC 11/03/2009 09:55 AM EST

While quarreling over restrictions on access to the site of Lourdes appratiion in the last century, the Emperor Louis Napoleon was accused by his wife of being an atheist, he replied, "My dear, that would be a very stupit thing for an emperor to be." The same adage applies here. Our government has turned stupid. Why would a country alienate it most loyal, core citizenry? Religious men and women, Christian, Jewish or Islamic, could not support or live under such laws. Why risk alienating their allegiance by imposing unacceptable views on their consciences? Is this country trying to self destruct? Pass laws like this and when a true crisis comes along the government and coutnry will get no support from religious citizens instead they will welcome anyone who will come as a liberator.

Published by: Canisius
Yonkers NY 11/03/2009 08:36 AM EST

Let this be warning, the liberals are passing laws like this to suppress, they do this because their ultimate goal is to wipe us out. The insult us through their media (movies TV) because they cannot legally have us put to death, so they attack what we hold sacred. Be prepared for Martyrdom at the hands of the State, but we will not go quietly.

Published by: Annie
usa 11/03/2009 06:53 AM EST

And when the government forces the Church to close it's schools, hospitals and charities, who will provide for the poor? Not the government, that's for sure. If the government could provide these things they wouldn't be contracting with the Church to do it for them. The Church provides for the poor of all faiths (and no faith), and is the biggest provider of care to those with HIV/AIDS and the homeless. All they are asking is to be able to continue this and not be forced to use their facilities for things that are against their beliefs. There must certainly be enough wedding halls in DC to provide for wedding ceremonies and receptons without forcing the Church to provide them.

Published by: mark shoffner
huntington, in, usa 11/03/2009 12:41 AM EST

It is not just bad for us Catholics. It would destroy any organization that preaches the moral laws of God. The Judeo-Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh. All would be in trouble.

Published by: ng
va beach va 11/02/2009 12:26 PM EST

Rate: Good

response to BA: This is a sign of the times? Have you done any historical studies or read scripture? The desire to "normalize" same-sex relationships is centuries old. Nothing new happens under the sun. You claim discrimination, but to suppose a union between two members of the same-sex is sinful behaviour in the eyes of those who follow our Creator. That is not discriminatory, it is merely a nod to the natural roles of man and woman to the command of "Be fruitful and multipy." The church does not suppose a union between an unmarried man and an unmarried woman nor a union between an individual married to one person and having an affair with another. As for the statement of refusal to cater to other groups, there is nothing sinful about a persons skin color or their country of origin. If someone has same-sex attractions, they should turn away from the unnatural, physical practice of that sin and channel that energy into another positive expression of love.

Published by: Pamela
Nashville, TN 11/02/2009 11:20 AM EST

BA, yes it is a sign of the times, but I don't think it is the sort of sign you are hoping it is. Good is being called evil and evil good...You yourself are doing so. This is not a good sign. Truth is eternal and doesn't change just because it is the 21st century. One of those truths is that two men or two women will never be 'married', even if our warped courts say they are. "Fallacies do not cease to be fallacies because they become fashion."~GK Chesterton For your sake, I pray you stop spreading heresy and ask forgiveness.

Published by: BA
Wash, DC 11/02/2009 07:21 AM EST

Rate: Regular

This is a sign of the times. These backward religious policies have got to go. Basically, these allegedly christian organizations are complaining because they are not going to be allowed to discriminate anymore. If those same churches refused to cater to blacks or asians and said they had a first amendment right to discriminate, the churches would be picketed and their arguments ridiculed. It is time to move into the 21st century and let people marry whomever they wish.

Published by: DLL
scituate mass 11/02/2009 01:00 AM EST

Same sex marriage? Yes! If the Church objects than no missions and no Church? Is that really what our government is trying to do to the Catholic Church? I hope that I am just severely confused!

Published by: KRISTY
GLENDALE,CA. USA 11/01/2009 11:36 PM EST

tHE CHURCH IS UNDER ATTACK. WE, AS CATHOLICS AND OTHER ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN FAITHS NEED TO BAND TOGETHER IN PRAYER TO STOP THIS ONSLAUGHT BY THE EVIL ONE. WE NEED TO REMIND OURSELVES OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS AND THE CORE TEACHINGS OF THE BIBLE."IF MY PEOPLE,WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME, WILL HUMBLE THEMSELVES AND PRAY AND SEEK MY FACE AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS, THEN WILL I HEAR FROM HEAVEN AND WILL FORGIVE THEIR SIN AND WILL HEAL THEIR LAND." 2 CHRONICLES 7:14

Published by: F P Ubertelli
Toronto 11/01/2009 09:39 PM EST

This is the beginning of the end. The devastation of total relativism, accompanied by the necrosis of reason, is astonishing.

Published by: Steve Schulte
Paso Robles, CA 11/01/2009 08:24 PM EST

Doesn't this new 'definition' just beg the question of what a marriage actually is? If marriage is “the legally recognized union of two people”, well, that doesn't actually tell us what the law will recognize! two minors? deceased people? hmmm... there's a problem with that definition. It makes no sense.

Published by: Dan
Santa Fe 11/01/2009 03:00 PM EST

Increased crime, poverty and even social breakdown and rioting will be blamed on The Catholic Church if they insist, as they must, to exercise their religion and serve God first. The Council and government generally today serves the banking class, and societal breakdown is the goal rather than the unintended effect for these multi-national banking family handlers. All faithful Catholic need to guard their soul as the lion is roaring.

Published by: Mary Myers
Mankato, MN 11/01/2009 02:28 PM EST

You get what you vote for. The USCCB put out a voter's guide called "Faithful Citizenship" that was ambiguous at best and allowed "Catholics" to vote for pro-gay, pro-abortion, left wing politicians. Now their programs are at risk if they don't comply with a tyrranical, Godless government. Well boo hoo! You bishops brought it on yourselves. Your programs are no longer needed anyway. We have cradle to grave government care for everyone. No need for Catholic Charities because the Catholics have voted to turn charity over to the government.

Published by: Manuel R.L.
Wauwatosa 11/01/2009 11:05 AM EST

This Administration is fully compromised in the process of "fundamentally changing America". Religion is the "opium" of the people. The Communist Party is very much alive today though disguised as "progressives". They used to call themselves "liberals" but not any more. Following Europe's model the Church needs to be suppressed. They are the real enemy; the ones that stand on their way to the "integral development of man" as conceived by their progressive philosophy of life. The burdensome chain or religion has to be cut off so as to liberate the otherwise enslaved human being and then everyone is equal and the same (except for those in charge) and "free" to follow their shims and desires. And that of course is the definition of "happiness".

Published by: Kevin
NY, NY 11/01/2009 10:47 AM EST

And catholic dogmas may surpress same sex marriage for non-catholics.....hmmmm

Published by: Francis
Wareham Ma 11/01/2009 07:09 AM EST

Rate: Excellent

If you had told someone 60 or 70 years ago that the USA, and most of the Western world would turn upside down, backwards, pagan, secular, humanist, relativist, and leftist they wouldn't have believed you. Who would have ever thought that sodomy would be declared "constitutional" by the U.S. Supreme Court, that sodomites would be given the "right" to get "married", that women would have the "right" to murder their unborn baby, that marxism, communism, and atheism would be promoted, legalized and glorified with all of the other abominations that I have listed above??!! That saying "Merry christmas" to someone at Christmas time would be considered "intolerant" and "insensitive"; that promoting basic natural laws and Christian values would make you a "racist", "anti women" and a "homophobe". That Congress would pass so called "hate crime laws" to silence anyone that doesn't confirm to their secular and leftist "new world order"! Wake up people, It won't be long until true Catholics will be forced into the catacombs or into private homes to worship and to uphold the Teaching of Our Lord and his Catholic Church!! Our Lady of Fatima pray for us!

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