Catholic Charities halt benefits to employees’ spouses

WASHINGTON — The Archdiocese of Washington’s social service branch will stop offering benefits to spouses of new employees in a bid to balance the District of Columbia’s new same-sex “marriage” law with Catholic opposition to homosexuality.

Edward Orzechowski, president and CEO of Catholic Charities of Washington, informed the group’s 850 employees of the change in a letter March 1, two days before gay “marriage” was scheduled to become legal in the city.

The Washington City Council voted in December to legalize gay “marriage” over the strenuous objections of the archdiocese, which argued that the bill should have had stronger protections for religious groups that oppose homosexuality. In February, Catholic Charities transferred its foster care program, including 43 children, 35 families and seven employees, to another provider, rather than potentially be forced to place children with gay couples.

(TAB)