Maine's RC Bishop Agrees with Glen Beck???

This mornings Portland Press Herald has a long article about the Maine Roman Catholic Diocese withdrawing funding from a social justice program for the poor and homeless.  The group supported No. on 1 last year, supporting same sex marriage. The Preble Street's Homeless Voices for Justice group has lost $17,400 this year and will lose $33,000 next year.  The money not only comes from Maine, but also from a Washington-based Catholic Campaign for Human Development.

The group Catholics for Marriage Equality is starting to replace the funds by raising $17,400 for Homeless Voices for Justice. One of the group's co-founders, Anne Underwood, said Bishop Richard Malone is punishing the homeless because of politics.

"This is petty vindictiveness," she said. "After the election is over, suddenly the money is revoked from poor people because of a political opinion held by the bishop."

Underwood said that many Catholics in Maine will now think twice before donating money to the church to help fight poverty. "People who are homeless should not be used in political games," she said.

..... Preble Street decided to join the coalition that opposed Question 1 because issues of sexual orientation are the single greatest cause of homelessness among youths. 

Comment:  I just shook my head.  I think perhaps the good bishop is listening to Glen Beck.  He seems to be agreeing that the church shouldn't preach social justice.

The Anglican Church in America—Not TEC

I got miffed enough at the Roman Catholic Bishop of Maine when he spent so much money to support Question 1, but this news item, which was on the morning news (see it on OCICBW), and is in the Bangor Daily News, really annoyed me. I feel as though it's a slap in the face to our wonderful Bishop Steve. The article is titled "Anglicans and Catholics Pray for Unity." Sounds good, right?  Well, the unity is not with Episcopalians but with the Anglican Church in America. The article goes on to say that there are about 300 members of the Anglican Church in America in Maine.

When I did my interim in Millinocket, I learned there was a group of about 10 people who left the Episcopal Church after +Gene was consecrated and formed a mission, but no one seemed to know whether they were still meeting.  One couple, who still did gardening at the Episcopal Church, but wouldn't come to services there, had rejoined the Roman Catholic Church.  I wonder if some of those who left to form the mission suffered from the terrible blow of the mill closing and left town for other places.  Anyway, when I went to the diocesan web site of the ACA I discovered that Millinocket isn't on the list of "find a parish."  My guess is that 300 members in Maine is an exaggeration.  In addition, I doubt the 7 pm service on a week night is a Eucharist.  I'm sure that would be going much too far for +Malone.  It may be a way that the "Anglicans" are thinking how they can grow however.  Sounds to me like two churches grasping at straws.

I know the Roman Catholic Church in Maine is loosing members and the our Episcopal church has been blessed with some new members, especially some of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters who have found a warm welcome in many of our churches.  I know that the Roman Church in Maine (and elsewhere) doesn't have enough priests.  I really wonder if just maybe +Malone is working out of Bennie's playbook: welcome in disaffected Anglicans and then make them toe the line.