Washington, D.C. (04 March 2010) – American Life League president Judie Brown issued the following statement today regarding Archbishop Donald Wuerl’s decision to end Catholic foster care and employee spousal health benefits in the wake of a new same-sex ‘marriage’ law in Washington D.C. – in effect Wednesday – obligating outside contractors dealing with the city, including the Catholic Church, to recognize homosexual couples.
“We extend our deep gratitude and continued prayers for Archbishop Donald Wuerl as he stands against the encroaching attacks on religious liberty and the dignity of marriage and family in our nation’s capital.
“Bowing to the special interests of those who would thrust same-sex marriage on a nation that has rejected it, Washington, D.C.’s City Council has despicably attempted to use the city’s most needy children as a means of imposing an ideology contrary to the principles our nation was founded on.
“Tragically and predictably, the impoverished, orphaned and often abandoned children of Washington are the ones who will suffer most from the Council’s agenda. We are reminded of a pertinent quote from the Gospels. ‘It were better for him, that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should scandalize one of these little ones.’ – Luke 17:2
“Archbishop Wuerl has refused to allow the children in archdiocesan care to be exploited by a disordered sexual agenda. He refused to have any Catholic archdiocesan institutions acknowledge and fund what natural law has dictated is false – intrinsically disordered homosexual acts.
“Archbishop Wuerl has defended the faith and principles that form the bedrock of that which is strongest in our nation’s culture – religious liberty and the dignity and rights of the family.”
American Life League was cofounded in 1979 by Judie Brown. It is the largest grassroots Catholic pro-life organization in the United States and is committed to the protection of all innocent human beings from the moment of creation to death. For more information or press inquiries, please contact Katie Walker at 540.659.4942.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
- Washington Post: Citing same-sex marriage bill, Washington Archdiocese ends foster-care program (17 February 2010) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/16/AR2010021604899.html?hpid=newswell
- NC Register: Archdiocese of Washington Forced to End Spousal Benefits (04 March 2010) http://www.ncregister.com/register_exclusives/archdiocese_of_washington_forced_to_end_spousal_benefits/
- World Magazine: Same-sex marriage in Washington means groups like Catholic Charities have to change their work and policies (03 March 2010) http://www.worldmag.com/webextra/16492