Imagine this scenario: You are down on your luck, you've lost your job and you barely have money to eat. So you decide to go to your local food bank and ask for some help. They are more than happy to help you with some vegetables, meats, milk and cereals. Great right?! There's just one catch. You have to sign an affidavit stating that none of your family members are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.
What?!! I am sure you're asking yourself the same question I did when I heard this. Isn't that discrimination? The answer is, yes. However according to
Catholic Charities it isn't. This is exactly what they were doing in Springfield, Illinois. That is until the State of Illinois got wind of it. You see when you open a non-profit organization like a food bank you qualify to get government grants. Which are paid by you and I. The tax payer.Under state guidelines you CAN NOT discriminate based on gender,religion or anything else for that matter! The state of Illinois has now terminated its grant to Catholic Charities.
So you would think the church would act
Christ-Like, right?! Nope. They have the audacity to sue the State. Catholic Charities are seeking a declaratory judgement that "religious principles" supersedes state anti-discrimination laws. So now they think they're above the law. Catholic Charities, may I refer you to Mathew 22:21 which reads in full "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. " It is a statement made by Jesus when he was asked if it was lawful for Jews to pay taxes to Caesar. In other words follow the law of the land.
Now, whether you agree with certain people's lifestyle or not it is irrelevant. This is a matter of helping out a fellow human being that is down on their luck! It's ironic that an organization that claims to follow the teachings of Christ is judging and singling out a group of people based on their sexual orientation. From what I remember Jesus did not hang out with "perfect people" He hung out with tax collectors and prostitutes! He forgave a thief while hanging on the cross. Jesus himself said, "...For I did not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance" (Mathew 9: 10-13)
I can not for the life of me comprehend how an organization let alone a religion can go so wrong! If there is one thing I detest is people judging other people specially when it's a religious organization! I feel I have to continue quoting from the Bible because clearly they have forgotten some very important "Religious principles" . For example when Jesus said, "Judge not that ye be not judged. For what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged..." Did we forget that?!
Doesn't the Catholic church have bigger things to worry about like
sex scandals with their priests? Clearly this church is stuck a few centuries in the past. I seriously doubt that this
lawsuit will be won by Catholic Charities. I am glad the State of Illinois is not allowing this to continue. I commend them for that. Bottom line, I hope this stupid lawsuit is thrown out and this organization gets hit with severe penalties. This is the opposite of what a religious organization should be teaching they should be ashamed! That's my two cents tell me what you think.
