OPINION
We are charged to serve our fellow man and the church of all institutions should be all too aware of the fact.
Both sides of the argument have been heard. DC Council led by David A. Canty’s urging, has proposed a same sex marriage proposal that allows gay couples to be married within the District of Columbia but can’t and won’t force churches nor clergy to marry the couples if they prefer. The Catholic Charities which has provided supplemental human services to the District, has said that they will no longer service those that have relied upon their services if the District opts to embrace this new legislation.
The Washington Archdiocese wrote to the council stating that all of the services previously rendered would be adversely impacted if the exemption language in the current proposal remains as narrow as it is currently written. SERIOUSLY? As a strong proponent of human rights and GOD, where do we draw the line between playing GOD and serving God? When are politics extracted from the pulpit and the business of helping those in need becomes the only important factor. Yes the word speaks of homosexuality negatively, but in the same book there are even more references to the care of fellow human beings, especially those who are downtrodden. It just seems that alot of energy is wasted on fighting over one sentence rather than upholding the very principles in which the relationship between GOD and man is based.
This “dispute” sounds more like conditional giving than the unconditional promise that is required. How does a church hold the homeless as hostage for the state to do what THE CHURCH wants? What about what God requires and wants? For the sake of argument, we must fight those things that jeopardize our culture and way of being…it is imperative. However, to what degree do we put down the sword and rationalize the better SOLUTIONS to the problems that impact the people? As any of us are well aware, threatening produces little result. But finding viable solutions for both sides often yields much more and “costs” less.
Furthermore the fights on sexual issues primarily abstinence, abortion, and the use of condoms within the Catholic church continues to be a barrier to services and offers little product when a 9 year old victim of rape can be excumunicated for aborting the unwanted child. Where is the justice in the papal perspective of the bible?
No one is proposing that the Catholic church nor any other religious order secularize themselves, but it is strongly recommended that the church be willing and able to serve the people WHERE THEY are, just like the one for whom we all should emulate as the model of our spiritual selves.
FINAL THOUGHT: There is a dire contradiction occurring and unfortunately the people who need the church the most will invariably be the people most affected. It would be better to serve the people and perform their divine duties while they figure out their human barriers later. Put aside the ways of the world and allow what is just and right to prevail…PERIOD.
