Out of the mouths of babes (Psalm 8: 1-2)

The Catholic Archdiocese of Washington said Wednesday that it will be unable to continue the social service programs it runs for the District if the city doesn't change a proposed same-sex marriage law, a threat that could affect tens of thousands of people the church helps with adoption, homelessness and health care.

Does this strike anyone else as a little tone deaf and not entirely in the spirit of goodness and angels and Christmas miracles and all of that?

The Church’s complaint centers on a new city ordinance that would require religious organizations to obey city laws prohibiting discrimination against homosexuals.

Basically, the Church is threatening to end their financial and managerial assistance to tens of thousands of impoverished DC citizens (many presumably its own congregants) because Church officials may no longer be permitted to discriminate with impunity against a specific segment of the city’s population.

Again, doesn’t this strike you as just a little bit mean, regardless of how yucky they find gay people to be? Doesn’t the collateral damage that would result from this decision (hungry children, closed homeless shelters, and a decrease in health services to the elderly) seem like less than a measured response?

A little harsh even?

The equivalent of fire-bombing an entire city in order to destroy one bullet factory?

And in the same week that the Church throws its hissy fit comes news of ten-year old William Phillips, who has defied school policy by refusing to pledge allegiance to the flag as a means of protesting the illegality of gay marriage, stating, “I really don't feel that there's currently liberty and justice for all.”

How does one kid get it while so many do not?