Out in Sacramento, California--where I grew up--the Catholic Diocese of Sacramento has announced that it will no longer fund programs at Francis House, a nonprofit agency that serves the homeless community, because the new director of Francis House supports abortion rights and marriage equality.
Yup, people will starve because of this.
The Reverend Michael Kiernan, the diocese's director of social services said that the views of new director, the Reverend Faith Whitmore, clash with the...antiquated...teachings of the Catholic Church, making it "impossible for the diocese to continue funding Francis House" as part of its annual Catholic Appeal.
Um, no, it's still possible. You announce that you disagree with Whitmore, but in the spirit of Faith, in the spirit of 'God,' in the spirit of 'Jesus,' you will continue helping the homeless anyway.
But that's not how the Catholic Chutrchworks. They punish the innocent.
The Francis House, one of the largest homeless services agencies in the Sacramento region, is in its 42nd year, serving upward of 25,000 people. It's annual budget of roughly $500,000 has been helped for the last twenty years with donations of up to $10,000 a year from the diocese. But because someone in the Francis House has a different stance on certain issues, the Catholic Church will stop helping the homeless in Sacramento.
Again, how effing-Christ-like.
The Reverend Faith Whitmore took over leadership of Francis House last year after the death of executive director Gregory Bunker. A member of the United Methodist church, Whitmore has been a strong advocate of same-sex marriage. In 2008, during that short period in which gay marriage was legal in California, Whitmore defied church law by marrying same-sex couples. She calls the diocese's decision to discontinue its support disappointing: "I have never represented any of those positions on behalf of Francis House. I was speaking as an individual. So for me, this came out of the blue."
But, Reverend, the Catholic Church doesn't do "individual". They do goosestepping. They do hypocrisy. They do aiding and abetting pedophiles.
Hopefully good guys will step up and close the budget gap.
ReplyDeleteAs always, you have said it all so well! Aren't these the same people who are always asking "What would Jesus do?" I had been under the impression that the Jesus who was supposed to have existed didn't judge and was simply kind and helped those less fortunate. But, no, let's let them starve to punish Faith Whitmore for her belief in personal freedom. That'll show 'em!
ReplyDeletebtw - there is an update on Ref 74 and it is not a pretty one. On my blog this morning.
ReplyDeletesad they will go this route instead of a faithful one
ReplyDeleteIt's horrible the Catholic Church would let all these people starve because of the beliefs of one person. No wonder I stopped going to church as a teenager.
ReplyDeleteMaybe "Queen Ratswinger" could sell a pair of her Prada's to make up for the funding pull...
ReplyDelete