Ralph Reed and the Faith and Freedom Foundation is circulating an on-line petition seeking to stop alleged federal funding to the National Cathedral if they marry same-sex couples. Of course, the Cathedral receives no federal funding…and what about freedom of religion Mr. Reed?
From the Friends of Jake:
Ralph Reed… has put up a petition saying that the National Cathedral should not be eligible for federal grants if they marry same sex couples. Let us note that same sex marriage is legal in Washington DC.
In recent years, the National Cathedral has received hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal grants. The Episcopal Church is one of the richest denominations in the United States and the oldest. According to Richard Ostling of the Associated Press, “the 7,364 congregations of the Episcopal Church receive $2.14 billion in offerings a year: Their buildings and liquid assets are worth untold billions.” Why is a church with untold billions in assets and asking American taxpayers to fund their church? With this policy change, taxpayers are being asked to subsidize gay marriage ceremonies for a church that can readily access millions of their own funds. Pro-family and Pro-freedom Americans cannot sit idly by. We believe the definition of “marriage” to be the union of one man to one woman. If the National Cathedral wants to continue to receive taxpayer funding from Congress, they should respect Congressional action like the Defense of Marriage Act.
This exposes the hypocrisy of the “religious freedom” meme used by conservatives. It’s not religious freedom, unless it applies to everyone, and that they will not agree with. No, this is religious imposition.
And, moreover, it’s a lie. The National Cathedral does not receive regular federal funds, as implied by this petition. It does not receive support from the National Church, either. It once received a grant , but Reed’s implications that it receives ongoing funds, and his demands this stops, are… nonsense.