A Horrible Court Decision in Mass.

A Horrible Court Decision in Mass. by MSW  My response:  The Church can certainly live out its Gospel message in the charitable realm acting as Church - but it must use its own money to do so.  Once it takes public money to do so, it must act as an agent of the state.  It can not impose its own conditions for doing the state's business on the state without being seen as becoming an established religion.  The statement of work is not negotiable.  The Church is certainly free to bring its sense of mission to the public work it does, but it cannot dictate what work is to be done, especially if it becomes the exclusive provider.  If all Churches were funded without competition, say with a tax credit, there could be a marketplace of solutions.  If there is only one, then it must toe the public line.  If the bishops wish to force the state to adhere to their demands, that is Christendom - and it violates the establishment clause.  Period.