Of D.C., gay marriage and leadership (religious and civic)
As the city council of Washington, D.C., appears set to make same-gender marriage legally permissible on Tuesday (and while a veto by Congress seems but a distant possibility), the Archdiocese of Washington has noted that new policies "could restrict [its] ability to provide the same level of services as [it does] now."
Samuel Johnson writes in the Washington Post's forum for local opinion :
I was raised Roman Catholic, and as a youth I always dreamed of being married one day. But like so many closeted gay youths, that dream stayed silent within me because I truly wanted to be with a person of my sex. Meanwhile, at Catholic school, I was beaten, pushed, spat upon and harassed — not because I was gay but merely because I was perceived as being gay. And as a Catholic, I accepted this abuse because the church taught that homosexuality was an abominable sin. This self-hatred took years to undo as an adult. This is not a unique story among gays, believe me.....
When religious leaders and public personalities attempt to institutionalize discrimination against us, they are viewed as ambassadors of hatred. In the long run, the trends look good for those who are at long last standing up to such forces.
This is outrageous. The RCC should not be permitted to engage in this type and level of activity in a country that possesses religious freedom, nor should the Vatican allow it. DC has made the RCC a virtual government agency, at the cost of what amounts to a surtax on RC parishioners. And the RCC has naively walked into the trap. DC should get out of this dependency right away and take up its own responsibilities. And the RCC should only give as much charity as it can pay for out of its own pocket.
Posted by Anthony Willard![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 30, 2009 9:32 AM