Catholic Church Ends Homeless Shelter Funding Because Director Supports Marriage Equalityand Planned Parenthood

Proving yet again that the Catholic Church hierarchy cares more about continuing its anti gay jihad than following the Gospel message of feeding the poor and caring for the homeless, the Catholic Diocese of Sacramento announced that it was ending its funding for Francis House, a nonprofit agency that serves homeless people, because the new director supports gay marriage. And the homeless people who will suffer from the funding cut? Apparently they aren't of any consequence to the modern day Pharisees who inhabit bishopric across the world and certainly the one in Sacramento inhabited by Bishop Soto (pictured at left - and looking very well fed, of course). Not that such an attitude should be surprising coming from a group of foul, hypocrites who have proven time and time again that other than keeping this hushed up, they cared nothing about the sexual abuse of children and youths. Cooks and Liars looks at this travesty. Here are some highlights:

What a crock. And what a cynical misuse of their church non-profit status, trying to push out this director on the basic of her religious and political beliefs -- all the while screaming about "religious freedom" for whatever universal restriction they want to push that week. When will American Catholics finally get fed up enough to break off with Rome?

The Catholic Diocese of Sacramento no longer will fund programs at Francis House, a nonprofit agency that serves homeless people, because of its new director's views supporting abortion rights and gay marriage.

In a letter last month, the diocese's director of social services said the Rev. Faith Whitmore's public statements on the issues clash with the teachings of the Catholic Church. Therefore, said the Rev. Michael Kiernan, the social services director, it is "impossible for the diocese to continue funding Francis House" as part of its annual Catholic Appeal.

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. Really? What part of that clashes with what Francis House does?

Each morning, dozens of poor people line up at Francis House, in Sacramento's homeless services epicenter on C and 14th streets, for help with basic services such as housing and transportation. Now in its 42nd year, the organization is one of the largest homeless services agencies in the Sacramento region, serving upward of 25,000 people. It has an annual budget of about $500,000.

For at least two decades, Francis House has received annual donations from the diocese ranging from $7,500 to $10,000, said Michael Miller, a member of the agency's corporate advisory board.

The good news is that, as the Sacramento Bee is reporting, donors have stepped up to replace the funds from the diocese which are likely going to fund anti-gay and anti-women activities of the Church. To make a donation, go here. Here are some details from the Sacramento Bee:

The first of hundreds of online donations to Francis House came in early Thursday, just after midnight, as news broke that the Catholic Church was cutting off funding to the homeless services agency because of its new director's support of Planned Parenthood and gay marriage.

By Friday morning, people from Sacramento and across the country had contributed roughly $8,000 to the nonprofit group, and the checks and telephone calls continued throughout the day.

In addition to donations from $20 to $1,500, the group has received offers of volunteer help and pledges of support from ordinary people and power brokers, including state Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and Sen. Roger Dickinson, both Democrats.

The cash and pledges will fill the gap created in January, when the Catholic Diocese of Sacramento decided to discontinue funding Francis House as part of its annual appeal, Miiller said.

As news spread about the diocese's decision to stop funding Francis House, its website lit up with donations. Supporters began arriving at the C Street agency when it opened a few hours later, and phoned and streamed in throughout the day.

Some expressed their unhappiness with the diocese's decision, Miiller said. Others "just wanted to make sure that we were able to backfill the lost donations" from the church.

"We really don't want to engage in politics," Miiller said. "We just say, 'Thank you so much for helping us help the poor.' Our hope is that the support continues. The need is great."

Candidly, I would feel literally dirty if I were still a Catholic. The institutional Church is rapidly turning into something horrible. OK - make that something even more horrible. The sex abuse cover ups have gone on for decades if not centuries.