After a report broke about discrimination against LGBTQ Foster Parents, the Department of Human Services in Philadelphia had to make a decision. Fortunately for at-risk families, they made the right one. On April 22, 2018, Julia Basnage at New Ways Ministry wrote Philadelphia Officially Severs Ties With Catholic Foster Care Agency Over LGBTQ Parents.

My comment on the popular blog follows:

The views expressed by Vaticanite Bishops of the USCCB are contrary to those held by Catholics of many different types, including Episcopalian, Utrechtian Old Catholics, and many Independent Catholics who have their own theologians and Bishops. They are also contrary to the views and beliefs of many Catholic members of the various Vaticanite denominations (Rites).

The opinions of the USCCB are not binding on Catholics even within the Vaticanite Family and are even less so to the millions of “Other Catholics” in the world, especially when those opinions are treasonous assertions of hate and disrespect for American laws.

Every Catholic, in or out of the Vatican has the right to Examination of Conscience and to act on Examination when any clergy proposes a sinful action. Within the Vaticanite fold, as Rev. Andrew Greeley stated, those Catholics also have the ballot of the checkbook to express to their bishops disagreement with what does or does not “compromise our faith”.

I am an Independent Old Catholic and an American taxpayer. I absolutely believe in the separation of Church and State as enshrined in our Constitution, and welcome the decision by Philidelphia and other cities and states.

It is high time that the foreign nation, Vatican City, learn that using its national church (little “c” intentional) to siphon millions of US taxpayers dollars while expecting to be exempt from taxes in the name of an “ability to make our contribution to the common good of all Americans” is as wrong as indoctrinating foster children against the beliefs of the birth families or discriminating against foster parents.

Making a “contribution to the common good of all Americans” is one of the civic requirements of ALL religious or other common bond groups in America to have the right to operate corporate entities, own property, employ non-members, and engage in any business aside from the religious or group services for the flock.

If Sunday Assembly can follow US laws while making a “contribution to the common good of all Americans”, so can Vatican City and its National Church.