Catholic Church gives D.C. ultimatum

.....but doodling the alterboy in the rectory is acceptable? Hypocrites.

how Christlike huh? "if you don't bow to our demands we will make you suffer!!!" sad.... this is why I am not religious anymore, most religious people and affiliations are evil and judgemental

stopping services like adoption, helping with the homeless and health care...right...if they stop then people will die... thou shall not kill...i see...i cant understand why people would be pissed

So if a government won't do what they say, they will take that out on sick, dying, impoverished, and/or disadvantaged children? That would be like me threatening to kill children because I disagreed with the Church's handling of its' pedophilia problems. How does depriving innocents of "Christian charity" even relate to what the legitimate authorities in D.C. do? This is yet another example of the abuses, intolerance, and sinful actions of many organized religions. So I guess Mother Theresa must have supported every action and policy of the Indian Government. I guess Christians are lucky that Jesus agreed with everything Pilate did, or he would have announced "No more leper-healing or other miracles until I get my way." I am being facetious, of course, Churches are not supposed to throw these tantrums anymore than Jesus did. He did not need to sulk and withhold good works because of spite, pridefulness, and vanity. Go ahead, Diocese, take your ball and go home.

As a Catholic I feel I'm entitled to say this: Fuck the Church. Fuck the Pope.

Any church that teaches us to hate rather than love, God does not live in that house.
Any heart that holds fear rather than love, God does not live in that house.
Any person who casts a look of contempt on his brothers and sisters whose only crime is love, God does not live in that house.

And what hypocrites are they!! Far too many priests are not only gay, but pedophiles as well! This isn't the pot calling the kettle black, this is a sin encrusted lump of coal tar lashing out at everyone and everything around it, saying that they are all blackened with sin. Look in the mirror, Chuch. Your pope is a fucking former Nazi for Christ's sake (literally, for Christ's sake.)

F*ck that. Our laws will not be influenced by the Catholic Church

That sounds illegal, but they'll skate on it for sure. how can you even claim to be Christian then threaten to remove programs that help people in order to get your way. Shame on you.

From the Washington Post
"...religious organizations would not be required to perform or make space available for same-sex weddings. But...they could be forced, among other things, to extend employee benefits to same-sex married couples, church officials said they would have no choice but to abandon their contracts with the city. "

So, they don't have to marry gays in there church, they don't have to sanctify such marriages. They just have to extend the same benefits to gays that straight people get. OH THE HORROR! (Isn't this the core of the gay rights movement?)

And for this they will cut off aid to God knows how many unfortunate people that have nothing to do with the conflict. I am shocked to say the least.

Please keep us updated on this story.

Awwww the nerve.............okay....so why doesn't someone give the Catholic church an ultimatum?

the caption to the picture should read, "which hat is the pope under".

I say all of you women out there about to have a abortion, don't. instead have your baby and then turn it into the state, orphanages, hospital, Catholic Charities, the Republican party, Christian groups etc, anyone who opposes abortion. They want to save the livies of these babies so much that they are willing to take them in and raise them on their own until they can find adoptive parents.

What you mean the Catholic Charities no longer takes in unwanted babies, the Republican Party said its not a charity, the hospitals closed their doors, orphanages no longer exist, right to lifers have their own kids to raise and don't have a spare room.

Guess then these women who are mostly teenagers going to have to have the baby, put off their education, live in poverty with a baby and add to the welfare roles.

The Vatican the place where angels roam for centuries unless you ignore the years the popes had their own personal prostitute, or those who put their sons on the throne, one at age 9, another putting a corpse of a pope on trial etc, etc. And lets us not forget the Crusades and the Inquisition. Go to the library and get out the Witches Hammer a great piece of literature put out by two Dominican priests for the Vatican. Want to read a good murder mystery? Check into the history of the popes.

I think the real reason the Vatican and others are so opposed to abortion, not because of any moral issue or for the child but because most will be born to poor women and the charities these people run would go bankrupt without the poor, and since we no longer have the Inquisition, the church can no longer steal your property.

What has the Vatican ever done to enhance your life?

I find most comments to be contradicting to some of the authors previous posts (on other threads). If you want to keep church and state separate, then you have to treat the two as separate entities. If one does not like what the other is doing then it should be able to dissolve the relationship. What freedom does the church poses if it can't choose where to put its resources? Is it the governments right to tell a religious organization where to put it's resources, even if it goes against the their doctrine? I look at it like forcing a mosque to donate some of its resources to the american agenda to defend israel. The government has no business in telling a religious organization how it should spend its funds towards altruistic goals.

Bill Maher is going to have a field day with this one :)

Does anyone read articles before commenting on them anymore? The Church has every right to disassociate with something it believes goes against its values and beliefs. To say they can't would be the greatest attack on Liberty you can have. They are merely stating they would drop contracts because their beliefs are contrary to what their actions would have to be, they're not putting a knife to anyone's throat. Yes, they're saying this to have some influence, but that's what interest groups do. They have a particular will, sometimes contrary to the general will, and they are going to try to get it accomplished.

Yea, it's unchristian to do so, definitely not showing any benevolent love by resisting help to people merely because they might have to involve GLBT people, but they aren't "issuing an ultimatum" they're clearly stating their stance.

Well that's...that's...well pretty much plain evil. I never did trust this knew pope, he's got them shifty eyes.

Doesn't this count as extortion?

My my. How quaint. The Catholic Church seems to be under the impression that it still has relevance and power. I mean, the country was founded by puritans. The government has never given a damn about what the pope thinks.

P.S. The Pope has a flat screen TV in his private room located in the Vatican...WHAT HAPPENED TO LIVING IN MODESTY AND HUMBLENESS?

So basically they are threatening to "[dis]continue the social service programs" used to help those is NEED because they believe same-sex marriage is wrong.
The only thing WRONG here is the church cutting off their seemingly endless supply of money that helps the needy and thinking it's for the better.
Pathetic.
Let two human beings live in love, not scrutiny (REGARDLESS of gender).

SHEESH!

The pope is a douche nozzle!

this is the epitome of ridiculous!!!
how the hell can this church justify this after all that that they advocate??
thousands of years old, continuing the same backward traditions in the name of some "god" that we don't know exists or not.
completely without reasoning or the prospect of healthy humanity.

they need to cut the ties with them all together. we'll see the weak submission of this city if they agree to their demands.
in the midst of our progress, this will not satisfy anybody but the pope and other hardcore Catholics with no intellectual logic capabilites.

now think, who needs more respect and equality these days???

12 year olds dude...

The church does not dictate Washington DC city policy. As far as I'm concerned this is blackmail and the worst part is that they're using the poor, the homeless and the sick as currency.

Before you close the doors on those who need help the most, ask yourself, "Who would Jesus refuse to help?"

Oh yeah that's a clear separation of church and state! Now we see the true face of that failed fear mongering elitist cult. "Do what we say or we'll let the people starve and die, and your little dog too!"

STFU you depraved old lecher!

I did read the article and with all the money that the Catholic church hoarded by artificially creating a rule of celibacy for the clergy so they did not have to support families, here comes the karma train. Now they should pay for the partners of the people that they used but forced to live in the closet for thousands of years.

WWJD? Well, he would not turn his back on *anyone* who needed help, regardless of their sins.

Way to care for the least, Catholics.

So I'm someone who actually read the article (unlike most others apparently) and here is the main issue with the Church...

"Fearful that they could be forced, among other things, to extend employee benefits to same-sex married couples, church officials said they would have no choice but to abandon their contracts with the city.

"If the city requires this, we can't do it," Susan Gibbs, spokeswoman for the archdiocese, said Wednesday. "The city is saying in order to provide social services, you need to be secular. For us, that's really a problem." "

Do I agree? Not at all. In fact, I despise the Church. But I can understand that from their point of view it is basically making them accept same sex marriage if they are forced to provide benefits to the couples.

Why does Washington DC let the Catholic Church handle services that should be government run anyway? It would be cheaper to have civil servant do these jobs than what we pay the Catholic Church (if you include yanking Tax Exempt status, much cheaper). I say call the bluff and send them packing.

Help continued, but only with a condition?

Nice way to shove an opinion down our throats...

hmm, that's not very Christian.

More Catholic bullying, sound historically familiar....

It would really be something if the gay community and those that support it stepped up and said that they would fill the void in public/community service the catholic church previously provided. That would really put the pope in his place and provide a tremendous PR frenzy around the gay community.

Would love to see this happen even though it's very unlikely.

Far be it for me to defend the Catholic Church, or any religion for that matter, but if you read the article, you'll find that the measure they want changed will force the church to actually preform these marraiges, or at leaast provide a place for them to take place. If gays want to get married, let them, but you cant force a church to go against thier basic beliefs. There is no law that says a wedding must take place in a church. I got married in a courthouse, no problem there. Please people, don't just jump to conclusions based on a headline. Do some investigation.

Doughnuts and free coffee is not food, and the crazy bible thumpers can't afford to lose anymore social capital. If they don't feed to homeless they don't have any use.

Rise up against disgusting religious fascists! Their food sucks too!

That's probably just an excuse, the real reason is... with a slowed economy, donations are down, and they are not raken in the big bucks like they are used too.

exactly what jesus would do

exactly what jesus would do

exactly what jesus would do

News Flash: The Pope set to cameo as "the historical image of what the devil would look like" in the blockbuster movie 2012. says director Roland Emmerich, "he just fit the bill, I mean, in terms of appearance, they're like dopelgangers or something."

not a stretch for "penafiles r us. thats the way they roll

When are we going to realize that petafile's are us or in other words the catholic church is an evil empire. I was an altar boy, and I'm saying this....get the picture

Ok, so oppressing the rights of a minority is more important that helping those that need help the most. Sounds very catholic to me.

...to which Washington replies: "You want to discuss politics? You have until the end of the day to give up your tax exempt status. Then move to this state, register to vote, stand under the rain/sun on election day and cast your vote. Until then SHUT THE F UP."

I remember how people used to say that "the services that the church provides for the poor" are one of the pro arguments for religion. LOL! This definitely throws that argument out the window...

The pope probably has a porn habit

It's time to give the church an ultimatum to start paying taxes if they opt to follow through with this. They may change their tune pretty quickly.

He's just messing around, guys. Soup kitchens will be open on Christmas.

seperation of church and state????????????????????

ouch...

The Catholic church like the Fundamentalists concentrate on issues with little relevence rather than doing the good that is possible. The Sermon on the Mount has been ignored by them.

What a great message the church is sending, care for those only who believe the same way we do. Unbelievable

utterly ridiculous... refusing to help unfortunate people because a city decides to honor commitment by any two people. new low for the Catholic church

I am sick of the Catholoics and the Fundamentalists doing their best to cram thier theocratic beliefs down Americas secular throat. Hey not all of us are Catholics or Fundamentalists! Some of us belong to liberal or mainstream and reform congregations.

Stop annoying th pope with those bells!

OMGosh!! No freakin way!! The Church is one to talk about how policy should be enforced!!

how do people follow this shit? what kind of religion based on love issues ultimatums?

I wish I were more surprised.

this is how the church maintained control and manipulated kings and governments all throughout europe back in the day. whats next? god wont accept any american prayers?

this is why the church is bullshit. big hypocrites. out to help everyone... unless they have any differing moral stances or beliefs.

fuck pope palpatine

Wow. Just wow.

This is just ridiculous, separation of church and state! The catholic church is like a bunch of children; the fact that aid would be denied to people in need because of a disagreement of doctrine is absurd. The church should understand that laws are not in their control and religious ideology has no barring on them. The church is in essence using the needy people of D.C as a means to an end--a sacrifice--that if they are not listened to then people will suffer their wrath...oh how godly they are.

worst nazi-pope ever.

snazzy dresser, though (cute shoes!).

this benedict guy is weird. i'm 28, so i grew up with john-paul, and i kinda think of him as THE pope.

benedict definitely hasn't been making a lot of friends.

this is strange also, considering their recent offer/desperate plea to disaffected anglicans to rejoin the fold, most of whom the left the catholic church for pretty much reasons such as this.

i'm guessing they haven't had much success with the anglican thing.

Bully tactics are the resort of people who want to control to others , but have no real justification . Good people exist without religious organizations . They will volunteer and donate to worthy causes without them . The catholic church will become an insignificant power structure that will collapse under its own weight .

I'm sure there are some nice non-Catholic churches that will take up the slack.

May GOD forgive us all and bless all of those who truely believe in him

Sounds like the baby's threw the rattle out of the pram, "if you don't stop same sex marriage then we'll stop looking after orphans and the homeless"
wow they really know how to pick a fight, maybe the government could retaliate with "if you stop abusing kids we'll stop same sex marriage" somehow i dont think the church would agree to that one.

I wonder why the Christian folks on this site are not defending this??? Don't they usually defend everything the church does? I don't hear the mooooooo....

As if I needed another reason to hate the church.

If the church is trying to muscle an administration to do it's political bidding, then the church is violating the separation of church and state. I say that if the Catholic Church starts doing that, then it's time to start taxing them, and taxing them hard.

I'm the first to talk crap about organized religions, but I wish they would make my side a bit harder to argue. It's like shooting fish in a barrell now.

Good riddance. Don't let the door hit you on the way out. I'm sure the people of DC will be just fine without you, without fewer molested kids to boot.

The definition of evil! "If you support equality, we are taking away social service programs that help the homeless and orphans!" I can't believe this. It's utterly mindblowing. I shouldn't put it passed them though, using the less fortunate as leverage hasn't always been a foreign notion to the Church.

I thought the Catholic church had learned its lesson when it came to political manipulation?

These guys are going to go down the toilet if they pick up the old order again. They should stick to their new agnostic and loose interpretation of Christianity, or face oblivion at the hands of a well-informed public who will see them as the parasitic tyrants that they really are.

The Catholic Church should get there own ducks in a row before giving Mr Obama any ultimatums.

Well, pretty much the same tactics the 0bama administration takes against U.S. citizens.
Hurts when the bat gets used on you doesn't it?