Catholic Church May Fire Gay Workers Who Marry

BOSTON -- Catholic leaders in the only state that allows gay marriage are considering new employment policies that would call for the firing of workers who marry their same-sex partner,according to a published report.

The Boston Herald reported that the proposal has been circulated in memos to the state's four bishops and their staffs. No decision is imminent.

"It's obviously a very volatile issue," said the Rev.Christopher Coyne, spokesman for the Archdiocese of Boston. He would only say there have been "discussions about it."

The most annoying thing about policies and statements coming from different diocese is that the number one concern always seems to be political fallout. This is not a difficult decision when only weighing the teaching of the Church.

The church aggressively lobbied state lawmakers to vote for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, which became legal n Massachusetts last month. The amendment received initial approval from the Legislature and could go before voters in November 2006.

A second new employment policy proposed by the church is more lenient and would let workers follow their own consciences, the Herald reported.

Why do I have the feeling that this second proposal will probably win out?

The four dioceses in Massachusetts operate separately but are working together on a possible uniform employment policy. Catholic teaching prohibits homosexual relations.

Church-affiliated groups that operate in both the public and private realms are anxiously awaiting the final policy. Catholic Charities, an independent provider of social services, currently has no policy regarding same-sex marriage or whether to provide benefits or penalize those who marry.

"If the archdiocese adopts a formal policy, this will be a relevant consideration for us," said the Rev. J. Bryan Hehir, head of Catholic Charities.
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The statement "this will be a relevant consideration for us" is just about par for Catholic Charities which has reportedly had no problem with adopting children to active homosexuals.

If they do issue a strong statement I hope they also include those who are cohabitation or have divorced and remarried without being granted an annulment. The fact that they have to deliberate and discuss whether to fire employees who have become "married" is a sign in itself. These issues should be a slam dunk unless you care more about the political aspects and nothing about the scandal caused.

Domenico Bettinelli has also just weighed in on this.