Sacramento [California] Catholic Diocese drops funds over nonprofit director's views

[Dale_M]

The Catholic Diocese of Sacramento no longer will fund programs at Francis House, a nonprofit agency that serves homeless people, because of its new director’s views supporting abortion rights and gay marriage.

Whitmore, a United Methodist minister, took over leadership of Francis House in April after the sudden death of longtime executive director Gregory Bunker.

Within her own denomination, she has been a strong advocate of same-sex marriage. In 2008, during a short period in which gay marriage was legal in California, Whitmore openly defied church law by marrying same-sex couples. She has said publicly that she supports a woman’s right to obtain an abortion.

sacbee.com/2012/03/08/4320550/sacramento-catholic-diocese-drops.html

The diocese issued statement saying that they did not expect every charity to which it donates to actively promote Catholic teaching.

“We can expect, however, that they or their leaders not publicly oppose Catholic teaching and that, unfortunately, is the situation in which we find ourselves.”

Also at issue is the name of the service agency. Although the agency began at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, it is has been non-denominational for years. Yet many people assume the agency is a Catholic charity.

I guess the decision by the diocese was necessary. But I fear it will generate bad publicity.

 

[57Bill]

Was/is there a mission statement regarding this charity? What if any discussing was there with the Bishop and the charity leader? What % of total funding is from the Diocese?

Those are just a few things I would need to know before I could make a judgment.

My shoot from the hip response is I don’t like the decision if it will take food and shelter and other services provided to the homeless.

I disagree 100% with the beliefs of the Methodist’s as stated in the article.

 

[Brendan]

Was/is there a mission statement regarding this charity? What if any discussing was there with the Bishop and the charity leader? What % of total funding is from the Diocese?

Those are just a few things I would need to know before I could make a judgment.

**My shoot from the hip response is I don’t like the decision if it will take food and shelter and other services provided to the homeless. **

I disagree 100% with the beliefs of the Methodist’s as stated in the article.

The funding will almost certainly be given to other organizations with a similar ministry that do not promote teachings contrary to the Church.

 

[Dale_M]

Was/is there a mission statement regarding this charity? What if any discussing was there with the Bishop and the charity leader? What % of total funding is from the Diocese?

According to the news article the annual budget of Francis House is about $500,000. The Diocese of Sacramento has been donating a variable amount, but no more than $10,000. So (and this is a ballpark figure) it seems the diocese has been covering 2%, or less, of the Francis House budget.

I can’t find a formal mission statement, but here is their self-description on their “About Us” webpage:
francishousecenter.org/about/

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

I see no problem with this decision. One should be 100% free in deciding what charity to fund. Any reasons is “good enough” in my opinion to not fund a charity.

 

[Dale_M]

The funding will almost certainly be given to other organizations with a similar ministry that do not promote teachings contrary to the Church.

The money which had been donated to Francis House came from the diocese-wide annual Catholic Appeal. Of the money raised via that appeal, 50% is given to social service agencies in the Sacramento area. Recently, those agencies were:

    Anderson-Cottonwood Christian Assistance
    Bishop Gallegos Maternity Home
    Cathedral Neighborhood Senior Center
    Catholic Ladies Relief Society
    Catholic Charities Agencies:

       Northern Valley Catholic Social Service
       Catholic Social Service of Solano
       Catholic Social Service of Sacramento
    Centro Guadalupe
    Community Assistance Network
    Francis House
    Handicapables
    Loaves and Fishes
    Mercy Education Resource Center
    Mother Teresa Maternity Home
    Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services
    Sacramento Life Center
    Salvation Army Food Shelf
    Society of St. Vincent De Paul
    St. Patrick’s Children’s Home
    Stanford Settlement Neighborhood Center
    Wellspring Women’s Center
    Yuba-Sutter Right To Life

diocese-sacramento.org/giving/annual_catholic_appeal/programs.htm

Since 50% of the Appeal’s money will be still be donated to social service agencies, it makes sense that the money would be moved to one of those other organizations. And although I do not know the diocese’s plans, I think it would be very sensible to transfer the Francis House funds to an agency which is providing similar services (and there seem to be several to choose from.)

 

[57Bill]

Thanks for the responses and info…good decision by Sacramento Diocese!