No idle talk-Archbishop says he will close Catholic Charities rather than compromise Church teaching

[Cal_Catholic]

Like its sister organization in California did, Catholic Charities in Colorado is facing the prospect of a state law that would require it to violate Catholic teaching. But, unlike his brother bishops in California, Denver’s Archbishop Charles Chaput has said he will shut down his Church’s charitable organization rather than submit.

Full article…

 

[geezerbob]

It seems to me that since we have a Christ-mandated obligation to care for the poor, Catholic Charities should continue to operate, minus the government funding and smaller in scope if it comes to that. Just to close it is unthinkable.

 

[johnstown_johnn]

Just to close it is unthinkable.

**If it goes against Church teaching and morals the Charity CANNOT be compromised.

Jesus said, “…the poor you will ALWAYS have with you…”

It IS “thinkable” when you measure the State’s demands that run counter to the Church. This is a case where “Caesar” (the State) overpowers the Church. This is another sign of persecution of the Church.**

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

I think the archbishop is right that the state should not force the Church to act in a non-Catholic way. I think the answer is to skip state and/or federal funding. I think the same thing should apply to Catholic hospitals or schools. Work with what you have because when you accept public funding of your programs you must also accept the conditions that come with it.

 

[vern_humphrey]

Let’s remember when the state tried tof orce us to sacrifice to pagan gods, we went willingly to martyrdom. Can we do any less nowadays?

 

[geezerbob]

**If it goes against Church teaching and morals the Charity CANNOT be compromised.

Jesus said, “…the poor you will ALWAYS have with you…”

It IS “thinkable” when you measure the State’s demands that run counter to the Church. This is a case where “Caesar” (the State) overpowers the Church. This is another sign of persecution of the Church.**

I read it that the law would only apply to those entities which accepted state or federal funding, so yes, it is unthinkable that the bishop would consider closing the charity before asking the faithful to dig deeper and continuing the charitable operations with private donations.

 

[vern_humphrey]

I read it that the law would only apply to those entities which accepted state or federal funding, so yes, it is unthinkable that the bishop would consider closing the charity before asking the faithful to dig deeper and continuing the charitable operations with private donations.

And that’s the way it ought to be – we stop being Couch Potato Catholics, suit up and get in the game ourselves, instead of expecting someone else to move the ball while we sit on the sofa and watch.

 

[Lance]

I read it that the law would only apply to those entities which accepted state or federal funding, so yes, it is unthinkable that the bishop would consider closing the charity before asking the faithful to dig deeper and continuing the charitable operations with private donations.

Since my wife works for a hospital I know a little about how they operate and how the state operates, at least in Illinois. When you accept a person who is on Medicare or Medicade you are considered to be accepting government money. It would be almost impossible to run a hospital without accepting Medicare and Medicade. There have been some cases where it was believed that if you were tax exempt you were accepting government money. Here in Illinois Catholic Church employees’ insurance must, by stat law, provide for contraception. It is amazing what the state can force us to do.

 

[lizaanne]

**If it goes against Church teaching and morals the Charity CANNOT be compromised. **

**Jesus said, “…the poor you will ALWAYS have with you…” **

It IS “thinkable” when you measure the State’s demands that run counter to the Church. This is a case where “Caesar” (the State) overpowers the Church. This is another sign of persecution of the Church.

Very well said!

~Liza

 

[KathleenElsie]

Now if only ALL the other Bishops would be as true to the teaching of Holy Mother Church. We need to practice what we preach and preach it louder so the government hears us ALL loud and clear.

Praying for the Archbishop and this situation.

Let the government keep their money and we then get to keep our FAITH.

 

[NewUlm1976_2000]

From the article:

A bill currently before the Colorado legislature, HB 1080, seeks to add “sexual orientation” to the list of protected classes against which an organization receiving federal or state funding is forbidden to discriminate in employment. The bill provides no religious exemption and so would apply to groups like Catholic Charities, which receive government funding.

I guess it is about wanting to discriminate towards employment of those with same-gender sexual orientation. This is sad on so many levels. We had a CAF thread where most were against discrimination at the workplace due to sexual orientation. It will also hurt all those who Catholic Charity reaches out to.

 

[Lance]

From the article:

I guess it is about wanting to discriminate towards employment of those with same-gender sexual orientation. This is sad on so many levels. We had a CAF thread where most were against discrimination at the workplace due to sexual orientation. It will also hurt all those who Catholic Charity reaches out to.

As Catholics we believe those who are practicing homosexual relationships are sinning. Why should we be forced to hire someone who believes the exact opposite of what we believe? Should the CIA be forced to hire people who espouse the overthrough of our government?

Also from the article.

The bill, said the archbishop, “would greatly hinder any Catholic entity which receives state money from hiring or firing employees based on the religious beliefs of the Catholic Church.” Though non-Catholics work for Catholic Charities,” said Chaput, the organization’s “key leadership positions … obviously do require a practicing and faithful Catholic, and for very good reasons. Catholic Charities is exactly what the name implies: a service to the public offered by the Catholic community as part of the religious mission of the Catholic Church.”

Though Colorado Catholic Charities “does not proselytize,” said Chaput, it also “has no interest at all in generic do-goodism; on the contrary, it’s an arm of Catholic social ministry. When it can no longer have the freedom it needs to be ‘Catholic,’ it will end its services

 

[NewUlm1976_2000]

As Catholics we believe those who are practicing homosexual relationships are sinning. Why should we be forced to hire someone who believes the exact opposite of what we believe?

We are ALL sinners, no exceptions. Why is this one singled out? (though it is not a sin if they are in a monogamous long-term relationship)

It then is a sin of discrimination towards others based on a “hot-button issue” of the day. This is exclusion plain and simple. I thought we were beyond it as a society and Church until this popped up in Denver, Boston, and San Fran Catholic Charities incidents.

 

[buffalo]

People - we need to fight, now not later. We have to stop this stuff before it can go any further.

Elections are coming. - Make sure of your vote.

 

[vern_humphrey]

People - we need to fight, now not later. We have to stop this stuff before it can go any further.

Elections are coming. - Make sure of your vote.

Amen!

It is a true saying, “People, by and large, get the kind of government they deserve.”

We must work harder than the enemies of the Church. We must not only elect the best of the lot this time around, we must start working to recruit and support candidates for the next election, and the one after, and the one after that.

 

[NewUlm1976_2000]

We must work harder than the enemies of the Church.

I do not see the government as a “enemy” here. Discrimination is not a Catholic value. If there is a valid reason they cannot do the job, fine, but not on a personal matter such as sexual orientation. This is only hurting the Church on so many levels as heels are being dug in over this.

 

[vern_humphrey]

I do not see the government as a “enemy” here. Discrimination is not a Catholic value. If there is a valid reason they cannot do the job, fine, but not on a personal matter such as sexual orientation. This is only hurting the Church on so many levels as heels are being dug in over this.

Yeah, just like we “dig our heels in” over other things like abortion, euthanasia, and so on.

 

[buffalo]

I do not see the government as a “enemy” here. Discrimination is not a Catholic value. If there is a valid reason they cannot do the job, fine, but not on a personal matter such as sexual orientation. This is only hurting the Church on so many levels as heels are being dug in over this.

The government imposing itself on religion is a huge problem. In the past the government allowed conscience clauses for cases like this. That has been removed and replaced with a hammer.

In NY all Catholic hospitals and institutions are being forced to include contraceptives in their health care offerings. Private corporations have also been forced to provide contraceptives under the guise of woman’s health care and my company cannot opt out. The Catholic bishops sued and the case was not even heard.

 

[KathleenElsie]

I do not see the government as a “enemy” here. Discrimination is not a Catholic value. If there is a valid reason they cannot do the job, fine, but not on a personal matter such as sexual orientation. This is only hurting the Church on so many levels as heels are being dug in over this.

No but values and repentance are definitely Catholic. Publicly practicing homosexuals are sinners that refuse to change. Repentance and the good will effort to change are a large part of reconciliation. I’m sorry does not cut it with out the turning away from the confessed sin.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

We are ALL sinners, no exceptions. Why is this one singled out?

This one is being singled out by the Colorado legislature. They’re the ones passing laws relating to this area.

There have been other issues I’ve seen that relate to employment. I remember reading of a teacher in a Catholic school who was an escort for an abortion provider. She was terminated. I’ve also read of a Catholic school teacher who divorced and remarried; he was also terminated. There have been issues relating to insurance – in California any employer paying for prescription drugs also has to pay for contraceptives. While the bishops fought this in court, the court decided that Catholic Charities did not meet the requirements for a religious exemption to the law.

In my opinion, working for the Church is more than just a job. A church employee shouldn’t take public positions that are contrary to the Church’s teachings. And the Church shouldn’t be forced to submit to the state on religious issues.