Catholic Charities dumps the poor in Illinois.
When Illinois passed the law that allows same sex couples to form civil unions, it meant that no government funded social service agency could discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation when it came to adoptions or foster care.
Catholic Charities receives 60% of their funding from the government. Catholic Charities is a huge source of services to the poor and a major provider of adoption and foster care services.
In response to Illinois legalizing civil unions, Catholic Charities has pulled out of Illinois. They have shut down all their services.
While normally I would say, don’t let the door hit your butt on the way out. However, this leaves a huge hole in what is left of a safety next for those in need.
The state of Illinois already has sharply reduced social services. Mayor Emanuel has closed neighborhood mental health facilities. And now a religious institution is turning down state funding needed to provide services. All because of their bigotry towards gays and lesbians.
It’s a stick up. And it’s the reason why the government should directly provide these services. Should religious groups be the ones to decide who receives support? Should these decisions be based on whether their clients believe in magic underwear? Must clients support a concept of traditional marriage that includes one between a guy who leaves his cancer stricken wife on a hospital bed to wed his congressional aide?
Gene Svebakken, president and chief executive of the agency, Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois, visited all seven pastoral conferences in his state and explained that the best option was to compromise and continue caring for the children.
“We’ve been around 140 years, and if we didn’t follow the law we’d go out of business,” Mr. Svebakken said.
A telling comment.
Meanwhile the head of the Chicago Catholic Church, Francis Cardinal George, compared the Gay Pride Parade with marches of the KKK.
