VA and MD Govs Blast Catholic Church for Marriage Equality Threat

Virginia Governor Tim Kaine and Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley criticized the Catholic Church's threat to cut off social services in Washington D.C. if the District passes a marriage equality law.

Said Kaine: "I'm Catholic, and I think it's wrong. I don't think you take your ball and go home. I think the strategy of threatening to pull back, it doesn't seem like the church I've come up in."

Radio station WTOP, where the pair appeared, reports:

"Kaine, who praised the 'remarkable' work of the church, says if the Catholic Church opts to end its charitable work in the District, it would 'it would set a very bad example.' ... 'It's really not who the church has been. If you look at the church through history, the church will stand in tough situations and continue to do good,' said Kaine, who has worked as a missionary in Honduras. 'I would be very, very disappointed here or anywhere else if the Catholic Church decides 'Gosh, we don't like something that's happening in civil society, so we're going to retreat into our shell.'' Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, who also is Catholic, agreed. 'I don't understand how they can possibly do this,' O'Malley said. 'I have a hard time believing that the nuns and priests who taught me about the Corporal Works of Mercy would agree that this is an appropriate response for the church,' he said. 'I think it would be very, very sad for all concerned, especially for the people who are served by the good work of the Catholic Church acting out the Gospels.'"

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DC Agenda Born

Writes editor Kevin Naff:

"The former staff of the Washington Blade remains united and DC Agenda represents our effort at continuing the important mission and work of the Blade. It will grow and evolve to include a much larger and more diverse group of voices. But the core of the Washington Blade’s work remains unchanged. We will cover Congress, the White House, the LGBT rights movement, the D.C. marriage fight, local hate crimes and other political issues important to the LGBT residents of the city. It’s been a tough week for us, but we are buoyed by the outpouring of support from people all over the city and beyond. We welcome and need your help and will respond to each offer as soon as possible. Thank you to all who have pledged to stick with us, especially our advertisers. Please visit savetheblade.com for updated information on DC Agenda or to make a gift to support the new venture."

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As Catholics and Gays Battle Over Marriage Equality in DC, Elections Board Rejects Prop 8-Style Ballot Initative

HRC Backstory reports: "Today, the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics announced their ruling [pdf] that for a second time a proposed ballot measure that would undermine marriage equality in the District is not a proper subject for a referendum or initiative. The Board’s decision to prevent a measure like California’s Prop 8 or Maine’s Question 1 from possibly reaching the ballot is strongly supported by D.C. law, which wisely prohibits any initiative that authorizes discrimination or has the effect of authorizing discrimination under D.C.’s Human Rights Act."

Meanwhile I reported last Thursday that the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington D.C. has told the D.C. Council that if they are forced to recognize same-sex married couples (as D.C.'s proposed marriage equality law would impel them to do) they will have no other choice but to discontinue all social service programs in D.C. related to adoption, homelessness, health care and other areas.

CNN reports on that threat, AFTER THE JUMP...