I'm sometimes ashamed to be known as a Christian when there are ones like this

From Boulder Weekly

Tuesday, December 1,2009

D.C. Council votes to legalize same-sex marriage
By McClatchy-Tribune News Service

WASHINGTON — The District of Columbia Council took a major step toward joining New Hampshire, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont and Massachusetts in legalizing same-sex marriage Tuesday, approving the change by a vote of 11 to 2.

Although the outcome was expected from the heavily Democratic city, the move remains controversial because of opposition from socially conservative churches.

"Today's vote is an important victory not only for the gay and lesbian community but for everyone who supports equal rights," said openly gay Council member David Catania, in a statement. "Gays and lesbians bear every burden of citizenship and are entitled to every benefit and protection that the law allows."

The most vocal opposition came from the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington. Archbishop Donald Wuerl warned that legalizing same-sex marriage will force the church's social services arm to scale back its efforts in the city.

The law, as passed on Tuesday, would not make churches perform same-sex marriage ceremonies, but it would require employers doing business with the city, including churches, to provide health benefits for married same-sex couples.

Providing those benefits would violate their religious beliefs, say church officials. Refusing to provide them, however, would make them ineligible to have social-services contracts and partnerships with the city.

"We really don't want to be in a position where we're being asked to abandon one part of our faith to be able to live out the other part," said Susan Gibbs, an archdiocese spokeswoman. "Our goal is to be able to provide the same level of services, but we have to be true to our faith."

My comment: