SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) — KCBS has learned that Saint Mary’s Cathedral, the principal church of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, has installed a watering system to keep the homeless from sleeping in the cathedral’s doorways. The cathedral, at Geary and Gough, is the home church of the Archbishop. There are four tall side doors, with sheltered alcoves, that attract homeless people at night…. “They actually have signs in there that say, ‘No Trespassing,’” said a homeless man named Robert. But there are no signs warning the homeless about what happens in these doorways, at various times, all through the night. Water pours from a hole in the ceiling, about 30 feet above, drenching the alcove and anyone in it.
My Sunday School days were a long, long time ago, but even I can remember being taught that Jesus preached about caring for those in need- feed the hungry, heal the sick, house the poor. Pretty basic stuff, really; but it’s Gospel 101. If you can’t see your way clear to following such a simple teaching, can you even credibly claim to be a Christian? And when a Catholic church, a place that considers itself to be the house of the Lord, treats the homeless so shabbily, how is anyone to believe that they carry any ecclesiastical credibility or authority? How is treating the homeless with such callous disregard evidence of living the Gospel you preach to Catholics?
If the duty of a church is to care for the spiritual needs (and other needs as necessary), how can the Archdiocese explain, much less justify this:
The shower ran for about 75 seconds, every 30 to 60 minutes while we were there, starting before sunset, simultaneously in all four doorways. KCBS witnessed it soak homeless people, and their belongings.
The sole purpose of the water seems to be to make it uncomfortable for those seeking shelter from the elements. Since there’s no drainage system, the water pools, presenting possible health risks to those who may not be in robust health to begin with. It’s clear that the purpose of the system is to keep undesirables from seeking shelter in the house of the Lord.
To call this shocking, inhumane, and not at all in line with Catholic teaching would seem something of an understatement. That the Archdiocese of San Francisco for any reason would think drenching the homeless to be the Christian thing to do defies rational understanding.
The Archdiocese issued a new statement Wednesday morning about the story, saying the church will address the situation at the Cathedral immediately and will have further comment later in the day.
The statement goes on to say, “Catholic organizations in San Francisco serve thousands of homeless people every year, providing shelter, food, and critical services. That is the true picture of compassionate Catholic care.”
As if things weren’t bad enough, the shower system appears to have been installed illegally and may violate water use regulations- no small thing in California.
It’s what Jesus would do, eh?
