W
Please, help me to understand this article from an archbishop
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tee_eff_em
Guest
It seems straightforward enough. Can you more explicitly enunciate your confusion?
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wisdomseeker
Guest
that didnt help me. please explain what is he really saying here. tks
20-November-2009 – Catholic World News Brief Share |
Archbishop Wuerl: Change Language of Same-sex Marriage Bill To Protect Religious Freedom
November 20, 2009
In an irenic Washington Post op-ed, Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington called upon city council members to change the language in impending same-sex marriage legislation so that Catholic Charities could continue to offer adoption and foster care services without compromising Catholic moral teaching.
“While we do not agree with the council on redefining marriage, we recognize that it is firmly committed to opening marriage to homosexual couples,” the archbishop writes. “We are asking that new language be developed that more fairly balances different interests-- those of the city to redefine marriage and those of faith groups so that they can continue to provide services without compromising their deeply held religious teachings and beliefs.”
He continues:
Under the bill, religious organizations would be exempt from participating in ceremonies or from teaching about same-sex marriage in religion classes and retreats in accord with their faith beliefs, but they would be required to recognize and promote same-sex marriage everywhere else, including in employment policies, and adoption and foster-care policies, against their beliefs.
So what does this mean?
The archdiocese and Catholic Charities are committed to continuing to provide services in the District. Despite the headlines, there has been no threat or ultimatum to end services, just a simple recognition that the new requirements by the city for religious organizations to recognize same-sex marriages in their policies could restrict our ability to provide the same level of services as we do now. This is so because the District requires Catholic Charities to certify its compliance with city laws when applying for contracts and grants. This includes contracts for homeless services, mental health services, foster care and more. Since Catholic Charities cannot comply with city mandates to recognize and promote same-sex marriages, the city would withhold contracts and licenses
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tee_eff_em
Guest
Repeating the text of the article here really didn’t help me understand your confusion.
His excellency’s words seem plain – What is it that is confusing you?
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His excellency’s words seem plain – What is it that is confusing you?
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jpjd
Guest
This article is saying is that Washington, DC is drafting legislation that has this effect:
“Under the bill, religious organizations would be exempt from participating in ceremonies or from teaching about same-sex marriage in religion classes and retreats in accord with their faith beliefs, but they would be required to recognize and promote same-sex marriage everywhere else, including in employment policies, and adoption and foster-care policies, against their beliefs.”
Bishop Wuerl, the Archbishop of Washington, DC, says that the Church will not abide by these requirements. So, here is the problem:
“Under the bill, religious organizations would be exempt from participating in ceremonies or from teaching about same-sex marriage in religion classes and retreats in accord with their faith beliefs, but they would be required to recognize and promote same-sex marriage everywhere else, including in employment policies, and adoption and foster-care policies, against their beliefs.”
Bishop Wuerl, the Archbishop of Washington, DC, says that the Church will not abide by these requirements. So, here is the problem:
- the Church offers social services to the people of Washington, DC in the areas of mental health, the homeless, foster care, etc.
- the city of Washington, DC requires agencies providing social services to sign a contract in which they must follow requirements; and these requirements are being changed to what is described above
- the Church will not follow these new requirements as it is currently drafted
- therefore the city will not contract with the Church to provide social services
- as a result the Church will not be able to provide social services at the level that it does now.
(To which I would add, these services will probably not be able to be provided at all.)
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wisdomseeker
Guest
thank you. what is the achbishop saying here?
“While we do not agree with the council on redefining marriage, we recognize that it is firmly committed to opening marriage to homosexual couples,” the archbishop writes. “We are asking that new language be developed that more fairly balances different interests-- those of the city to redefine marriage and those of faith groups so that they can continue to provide services without compromising their deeply held religious teachings and beliefs.” ****
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jpjd
Guest
The bishop is saying that he realizes the city is not going to abandon its quest to legalize homosexual marriage just to please the Church, but he wants the city to accomodate the Church’s beliefs as well. In other words, he is saying, word the new legislation to permit agencies who don’t believe in homosexual marriage and agencies who promote homosexual marriage to both provide social services.
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wisdomseeker
Guest
Thank you very much.
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