Churches sould not enter into the politics of national laws or they should lose their tax exempt status. JMO

Catholic bishops conflicted over gays, immigration


Posted: Saturday, February 9, 2013 12:15 am | Updated: 7:14 pm, Fri Feb 8, 2013.
Associated Press
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The nation’s Roman Catholic bishops are in a difficult position as the debate over immigration reform gets underway: The immigrant-built American church, known for advocating a broad welcome for migrants and refugees, could end up opposing reform because it would recognize same-sex partners.

Proposals by President Barack Obama and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus include the same-sex partners of Americans among those who would be eligible for visas. The Human Rights Campaign and other gay advocates welcomed the recognition, arguing current laws unfairly treat people in gay or lesbian relationships ‘‘as strangers.’’ The idea has the backing of the National Council de la Raza and other liberal Latino groups, including the Colorado Immigration Rights Coalition (CIRC), which has been outspoken about the rights of gays and lesbians.

Southern Colorado charities that work with immigrants have lost funding from national sources because of their affiliation with CIRC, which provides organizing and communications services to member agencies.

Catholic bishops, with the support of evangelicals and other theological conservatives, have sent a letter to Obama protesting his proposal. In a sign of the sensitivity of the issue, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops would not provide a copy of the statement, saying the signatories agreed not to make the letter public. Sister Mary Ann Walsh, a spokeswoman for the bishops, would say only that recognition of gay couples in the president’s reform proposals ‘‘jeopardizes passage of the bill.’’

It is far too early to know how much of a factor gay relationships will become in what is expected to be a complicated and emotional debate. The plan unveiled last week by eight leading Democratic and Republican senators did not mention same-gender partners.

Many other major religious groups lobbying for reform, such as The Episcopal Church, either support gay marriage or don’t make homosexuality a focus. In a conference call this week with reporters, White House Domestic Policy Council director Cecilia Munoz was asked whether Obama would support a bill that didn’t acknowledge same-sex partners. Her only response: ‘‘The president’s position on that is very clear.’’

Still, endorsements from traditional denominations may carry more significance in the current political climate, in which conservative-leaning lawmakers are worried about political damage from backing a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants.

— The Chieftain's Loretta Sword contributed to this story.
http://www.chieftain.com/religion/catholic-bishops-conflicted-over-gays-immigration/article_2091ef40-725e-11e2-88b4-0019bb2963f4.html