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Missouri Catholic Bishop Criticizes Church-Affiliated Hospital for Extending Benefits to Married Gay Couples; Rejects 'Hateful Bigots' Label
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BY STOYAN ZAIMOV , CHRISTIAN POST REPORTER

January 20, 2015 | 10:04 am

TopStories

(PHOTO: REUTERS/WHITNEY CURTIS)

April Breeden (L) places a ring on the finger of her partner, Crystal Peairs, during their wedding ceremony at City
Hall in St. Louis, Missouri, November 5, 2014. Missouri's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, a St.

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Louis circuit judge ruled Wednesday, adding momentum to efforts in states across the country to legalize gay
nuptials.

The Roman Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape in Missouri has shared his "deep concern" over a churchaffiliated hospital's decision to extend benefits to married gay couples. Bishop James V. Johnston also says that those
who defend the traditional teaching of marriage are not "hateful bigots."

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"I was not consulted or informed by Mercy Hospital Springfield of its decision to provide same-sex couples marriage
benefits. I am deeply concerned. By this decision, Mercy Hospital Springfield calls into question its identity as a Catholic
Christian institution," Johnston wrote in a statement to News-Leader.
In the same statement, he says that pastors and leaders who defend

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marriage as an institution between one man and one woman are

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sometimes called "hateful bigots" for their position by people who claim to

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2/23/2015

Missouri Catholic Bishop Criticizes Church-Affiliated Hospital for Extending Benefits to Married Gay Couples; Rejects 'Hateful Bigots' Label

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support tolerance.
"Such hypocrisy would be comical if it were not increasingly accompanied
by legal and social efforts to coerce Christians to conform to new 'strange
teachings,'" he added.
Johnston's statement is in response to a previous article in the NewsLeader, where a spokesperson for Mercy Springfield said that the hospital

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has to extend benefits to all legally married employees due to "recent

changes in government regulation."
"Mercy offers a comprehensive benefits package consistent with the
markets we serve and the associated legal requirements," spokeswoman
Sonya Kullmann said.

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"As a Catholic health ministry, Mercy has followed the Church's position
on this issue in the past. However, in line with recent changes in
government regulations, we will extend benefits to all legally married
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Back in November, a Missouri state judge ruled againstthe state's ban on

gay couples from getting married, which effectively legalized same-sex
marriage in the city of St. Louis, St. Louis County and Jackson County.
"The court finds and declares that any same-sex couple that satisfies all
the requirements for marriage and under Missouri law, other than being of
different sexes, is legally entitled to a marriage license," Judge Rex
Burlison of the St. Louis Circuit Court wrote at the time.

Johnston argued, however, that Mercy Springfield has failed to clarify the specific government regulations that are forcing
it to change its policies.
"While the statement does not specify the 'government regulations' Mercy claims to require this change, no believing
Christian worthy of the name should violate God's law because of 'regulations,'" the bishop wrote.
"Our ancestors refused to abandon the faith even when subjected to the cruelty and torture of the Roman Empire, but in
our age unspecified 'regulations,' government funds, and fear of public ridicule is sufficient in order to secure the
compliance of some."
The hospital reportedly has over 40,000 employees nationwide, and close to 9,000 of them reside in the Springfield area.
Catholic Church leaders have spoken outagainst Catholic-linked institutions from offering benefits to same-sex spouses
before. In November 2014, the Archbishop of Omaha, George Lucas, spoke out against the Jesuit Creighton University
in Omaha for altering its policies to provide benefits to gay couples.
"Despite [Creighton president] Father [Timothy] Lannon's claim that this is not a statement of approval of same-sex
marriages, this is precisely the message that the university is giving," Lucas wrote at the time. "I am dismayed that the
recommendation of the University Benefits Committee is thought to supersede divine law regarding marriage."
Lannon had earlier said: "The extension of benefits is not a statement of approval of same-sex marriages but rather an
acknowledgement of our responsibility to serve the needs of faculty and staff who faithfully serve our students and
patients every day."

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Missouri Catholic Bishop Criticizes Church-Affiliated Hospital for Extending Benefits to Married Gay Couples; Rejects 'Hateful Bigots' Label
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