Bishop opposes arrest of homeless in New Orleans

An ordinance that would have required New Orleans police to arrest homeless persons if they refused to go into a shelter was sent back for study by the New Orleans city council last Monday.

The ordinance is favored by the city’s mayor, C. Ray Nagin. It was opposed by Episcopal Bishop Charles Jenkins who wrote in a letter, that was also signed by New Orleans priests and deacons,

said

The failure of our community to develop and implement a comprehensive affordable housing strategy in the wake of unprecedented disaster is a communal failing. Yet this ordinance penalizes only those individuals who have fallen through the cracks—and we expect that there will be many more yet to come.

The ordinance was sent back for study according to WWLTV.com and may be re-submitted to city council on May 8th.

Read Bishop Charles Jenkin’s letter on his blog here.

This is what Mayor Nagin said.

Here is the WWLTV.com report.

HT to Grandmere Mimi.

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