"It's a dangerous thing when the Catholic Church starts writing and determining the legislation and the laws of the District of Columbia,"

Yesterday, John and I both posted on the Catholic Church's threat to abandon the poor, sick and homeless because of it unrelenting hatred towards gay people. There's a lesson here for supposedly progressive politicians. Unlike Congress and the Obama administration, the D.C. City Council isn't letting the Catholic Church determine policy:

D.C. Council members are hardening their opposition to the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington's efforts to change a proposed same-sex marriage law, setting up a political showdown between the city and one of its largest social service providers.

Several council members said Thursday that Church officials miscalculated by saying this week that their Catholic Charities organization will have to end its contracts with the city if the proposal passes without changes.

"It's a dangerous thing when the Catholic Church starts writing and determining the legislation and the laws of the District of Columbia," said council member Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6), chairman of the Human Services Committee.

Exactly. It's a very, very dangerous thing when the Catholic Church starts writing and determining the legislation and laws of the United States. But, that's what's happening with health care via the Stupak amendment. Democrats abandoned women because of the Catholic Church.

And, you have to love this classy response from the Archbishop's flack:

Susan Gibbs, a spokeswoman for the archdiocese, countered that the city is "the one giving the ultimatum."

"We are not threatening to walk out of the city," Gibbs said. "The city is the one saying, 'If you want to continue partnering with the city, then you cannot follow your faith teachings.' "

The Catholics are threatening D.C.'s elected official because the Council won't let the Catholics ignore anti-discrimination laws. Hate isn't condoned in D.C. It's illegal. The Catholic Church is really trying to establish itself as the leading gay-bashing institution in the country. In D.C., our leaders aren't letting that happen. But, wait til Congress starts debating gay issues (assuming that ever happens.) Democrats threw women under the bus for the Bishops, what will they do to the gays?

When theocrats set policy, all of our rights are endangered.