Yesterday it was reported that under the Bush administation's policy of bribing churches, discretionary, competitive grant funding to churches and other religious affiliated organizations was at its highest level ever (the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reported that 24% of its discretionary, competitive funds went to faith-based groups).
President Bush is on the record as saying its just about leveling a playing field for faith-based groups that had been unfairly treated in the funding process in the past. But today what do we see? More theocracy in action as the Catholic Church decides to stop supporting adoption because a handful of gay families might adopt.
More on the flip
From today's Boston Globe:
The Boston Archdiocese's Catholic Charities said Friday it would stop providing adoption services because state law requires them to consider gays and lesbians as parents.
The social services arm of the Roman Catholic archdiocese has provided adoption services for about two decades and said it would discontinue once it completes its contract with the state. But it says state law allowing gays to adopt runs counter to church teachers on homosexuality.
Yup you read that right - Catholic Charities will no longer help couples adopt orphans because its more important to bash gays than it is to see that orphans are raised in a loving home.
But the best part, the board of Catholic Charities thinks the Church is full of it:
Eight members of Catholic Charities board later stepped down in protest of the bishops' stance. The 42-member board had voted unanimously in December to continue considering gay households for adoptions.
Funny - lay Catholics (like the majority of lay Christians in general) think this sort of gay bashing is complete garbage. The problem isn't Catholics or Christians (or any other denomination) - it is, sadly, the priesthood - or rather, certain leaders of the priesthood bent on imposing their narrow, backwards minded vision of everyone else.
Once upon a time, it was the sale of indulgences and Popes waging wars. Today, its gay bashing and forced pregnancy. Same as it ever was.
I think we need a new 99 Theses nailed to the churchhouse door.