Illinois Refuses To Fund Discriminatory Orgs, Catholics Clutch Pearls In Shock

50 years ago, Catholic Charities formed a relationship with the state of Illinois, garnering them millions over the years and placing thousands of the children in their adoption services with families in the Prairie State.  This week, that relationship has ended, with Illinois declining to renew contracts with the faith-based organization.  Why?  Because Catholic Charities is refusing to abide by Illinois state law and continues to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation.

The newly passed Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act, which was designed in order to provide more homes with loving parents, is the cited reason for the breach.  In essence, if Catholic Charities had provided adoption services to couples who have civil unions in Illinois, they could have avoided losing state money.  All they had to do was obey the law, put aside their discriminatory policies, and give children loving homes with gay couples seeking children.

Now, of course, they're quick to point fingers at the state and blame them for oncoming detriment to the children in their "care."

From the Chicago Tribune:

"Though four Catholic Charities agencies had already stopped licensing new foster parents, three of them will seek an injunction from a Sangamon County judge on Tuesday to continue serving families and abiding by Catholic principles that prohibit placing children with unmarried cohabiting couples.

"'We’re not sure what the state is intending to do or how it’s intending to do it,' said Peter Breen, an attorney with the Thomas More Society representing Catholic Charities. 'It’s a surprise. But it’s also very disturbing. The impact on the [nearly 2,000] children in Catholic Charities care will be catastrophic.'"

Right.  And that impact could have been avoided if Catholic Charities had simply stopped being assholes about gay folk.  Instead, they continue to flout common sense and scientific studies on the issue of gay parenthood, and now their government check won't come in.

I hope this is a lesson to faith-based organizations hoping to continue to deprive children of every loving home possible: you can't do your job if you flout law, conventional wisdom, and common decency.  If these people really cared about these children, they would set aside their idiocy and choose the no-brainer: Accept gay couples as valid parents.  

Sarah Palin Shocker: Former Guv Quits Bus Tour Halfway Thru

I can't stop laughing over this.

Sarah Palin once again has failed her fans by quitting her much-maligned and secretive bus tour by quitting midway.  However!  She is still releasing her book Undefeated.

Some speculate that she is merely shifting her strategy away from running for President and instead will endorse Rick Perry and sit back and let the book royalties roll in.

And earlier this week, some of her staunchest supporters grew concerned about gossip suggesting that she had reached out to Texas Gov. Rick Perry about lending her support to his potential presidential run. But two Perry aides told RCP that they were not aware of any recent contact between Palin and the Texas governor.

Either way, her book is clearly a big joke: OF COURSE you're undefeated, Sarah!  You don't stay in the game long enough for anyone to ever defeat you!

New Orleans Anti-Gay Pastor Is A Big 'Ol Perv

These punks just don't surprise me anymore.

Pastor Grant Storms has been an annual spectacle at the gay Southern Decadence celebration taking place in the Big Easy every year, picketing and shouting hellfire and brimstone at attendees.  Of course, like every vocal "family values" nutjob, he had a few skeletons in the closet.  Namely, he enjoys the outdoors, strolls in the park, and masturbating in front of children in said parks. 


"Storms, 53, of 2304 Green Acres Road in Metairie, was taken into custody at Lafreniere Park after two women reported seeing him masturbating in the driver's seat of his van, which was parked near the carousel and playground, a Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office report said.

"The first woman told deputies she was taking her children to the playground and parked next to the van at about noon. As she was walking around her own vehicle, she noticed the van windows were down and the occupant was 'looking at the playground area that contained children playing, with his zipper down...,' the report said. The woman noted that he was masturbating and quickly ushered her children out of her car."

While some of these "caught you!" scenarios are just plain silly-- think Larry "Wide Stance" Craig-- this is just chilling.  These figures are trusted around children.  Now, when someone proclaims "I believe in family values!" I automatically start wondering whether they are frequenting hookers, gay, frequenting gay hookers, meth users, or creepy window wankers. 

The funniest comment so far is from the article below:  "@ltdanchoi, I'd recommend picketing his anti-gay church, but he might masturbate on you and your children."

[NOLA.com]

BREAKING NEWS!!!1!!111!! Top Ten Richest Members Of Congress Favor The Rich! *facepalm*

Check this out:  Via JoeMyGod, these are the top ten richest members of Congress.  Half of them are Democrats, to include openly gay Jared Polis-- and ALL of them voted to extend the Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthy.  Gasp!

[JoeMyGod]