Catholic Church Evicts Homeless

[lame54]

http://www.fogcityjournal.com/wordpress/3559/catholic-church-authorizes-police-eviction-of-occupysf/

With a protest sign that read "Forgive us our trespasses" draped from a vacant building owned by the Catholic Church at 888 Turk Street, police, acting on a legally required authorization to evict, arrested as many as 80 OccupySF demonstrators Monday afternoon. The demonstrators occupied the former mental health clinic Sunday afternoon in an attempt to setup a community center and homeless shelter.

[Lucy Goosey]

1. In fairness, I'm pretty sure that's what Jesus would have done.

[badtoworse]

7. Breaking and entering? When would he have done that?

[raouldukelives]

17. Beats me. The moneychangers were glad to see him. nt

[sudopod]

51. OH SNAP nt

*hug*

[Egalitarian Thug]

57. Beat me to it. Kudos. n/t

[badtoworse]

71. The money changers was about respect for a house of worship.

He threw them out of the temple; he did not take their property. The issue in San Francisco and at other OWS sites is respect for private property which OWS does not have. Those are two very different things.

[sudopod]

86. It was just terrible how they carried that building off. nt

[badtoworse]

100. If it doesn't fit, it doesn't fit.

I didn't cite the moneychangers.

[sudopod]

108. Ah, well, as long as God says so. nt

[Leopolds Ghost]

150. The Vision Of Christ That Thou Dost See -- William Blake

"Is my Vision's Greatest Enemy."

MFW people assume that religion implies respect for property above all else, when the New Testament contravenes that doctrine and Christ got executed this weekend for it.

[Zalatix]

147. And Jesus wouldn't have let the homeless into the property? Really?

The Catholic authorities who ordered this travesty would have been lucky to just get told to stand down.

[badtoworse]

148. Asking for shelter and being refused is not the same as breaking in and being thrown out.

Only a very disingenuous person would argue that they are the same and only a moron would accept it as true. Jesus would have given shelter if He was asked. I'm not sure how how He would have dealt with a break-in.

[Leopolds Ghost]

151. I'm sure Jesus would've been quite chuffed to learn that squatting is legal under ancient common-law

Of course He knows all about it and has little reason to care about the laws of men. Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's.

The laws of men are similar to the laws a group of talking ants might set up. What really matters is what is right and wrong.

[lame54]

31. Maybe not but...

he sure made a scene with the money lenders

an act that would surely land you in jail today

[got root]

140. ask the money changers

[demosincebirth]

2. How some can twist things around. The Diocese ordered the building cleared because they were

going to remodel it for a homeless shelter. According to what I saw the "Occupiers" trashed the building before they had to leave. Nice going.

[LaydeeBug]

3. Please provide a link for this. It is the first I am hearing about it. nt

[demosincebirth]

141. No link. If you were watching the local evening news KGOTV in the Bay area you would have heard

it too.
Here is new information about the property.



The Archdiocese of San Francisco said in a statement:

The Archdiocesan properties at 888 Turk St. and 930 Gough that have been occupied are properties for the use of Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory High School, which is an archdiocesan school.

SHCP is an urban high school with a campus that is compressed in an urban environment. SHCP and the Archdiocese bought these buildings five years ago to serve the students on campus in a variety of ways. Some of the buildings have been used for music and art classes until as recently as 18 months ago. These classes have been relocated to the newly built theatre arts center directly adjacent to the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption.

http://blogs.kqed.org/newsfix/2012/04/02/storified-occupy-sf-protesters-take-building-on-turk-street/

[lame54]

4. thanks for the proof...

nice going

[Luminous Animal]

20. Actually, they are trying to lease it for $11,000 a month...

http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/17540742/888-Turk-Street-San-Francisco-CA/

[lame54]

35. and there it is...

[Snake Alchemist]

37. What amount should they try to lease it for in San Francisco? nt

[lame54]

40. Sell a few of the Pope's hats and feed and shelter the homeless

[Snake Alchemist]

41. That does not answer the question. nt

[unapatriciated]

47. Here's your answer...

Donate it

[Snake Alchemist]

48. To who? nt

[unapatriciated]

78. Why not try something innovative...

Like working with OWS and utilizing those volunteers.


You know the unwashed masses they claim to care about.

[Snake Alchemist]

87. I imagine it is a matter of liability.

Also, would the OWS volunteers adhere to the rules set by the Catholic Church?

[Luminous Animal]

137. Catholic Charities in San Francisco are not allowed to have Catholic rules

if they want to continue to receive public funding from the city.

[unapatriciated]

142. Ahhh and there's the rub.

The Church always has strings attached when giving charity.

Something Christ did not and one of the reason I left the church in my late thirties.
Too bad they have strayed so far from his teachings.

[Snake Alchemist]

145. No drugs or alcohol is a string? nt

[unapatriciated]

149. That is not what I'm talking about and I suspect you know that.

I didn't care for faith based initiatives when bush pushed it through and don't care for it now.
Too many strings regarding how you should worship and less help for those in need. Accessing Social Programs that are run by religious organizations should not be based on their religious beliefs if they are partially funded by my tax dollars. If you believe that they do not do this you are mistaken.

[badtoworse]

5. Homeless? Try trespassers.

Breaking and entering? If I not mistaken, that is a felony. This is a good example of why I don't support OWS.

[EFerrari]

8. What do you call keeping a building vacant when the homeless are enduring sickness and cold

on the Tenderloin streets? I call it disgusting.

[badtoworse]

16. It doesn't matter what you call it. Breaking and entering is still illegal.

The disposition of the building is up to the owners, not OWS.

[sudopod]

52. Just like Jesus wanted.

All those homeless people will be warm when they get to heaven, right? The wealthy sorts should get to enjoy what they have on earth after all!

The story of Lazarus and all that.

[badtoworse]

84. We've been through this on another thread.

[sudopod]

85. Ok, I guess?

Who won?

[badtoworse]

106. It's not about winning. We just see it differently.

I believe if they were really interested in helping the homeless, they would have gone about it in another way. As a tactic to advance a political agenda, it stinks. Pushing people out of their comfort zones is one thing; antagonizing people who might actually help you is something else (and not smart).

[sudopod]

111. The trouble that some folks see anything outside of the status quo as antagonizing. nt

[Snake Alchemist]

88. Catholic homeless shelter in San Francisco.

http://sfhomeless.wikia.com/wiki/Catholic_Charities_-_Saint_Joseph's_Family_Center

[sudopod]

91. Good thing there's only 65 homeless families in SF.

lol

[Snake Alchemist]

94. And that's the only Catholic shelter? Where is the OWS equivalent? nt

[sudopod]

96. You are excellent at missing the point on purpose.

I'll repeat myself, since that seems to be the thing to do. The idea behind the occupation was:

1) The Church has enormous land holdings, much of which is sitting unused.
2) The Church has doctrines which say that they are commanded by God Himself to care for the poor.
3) Point out that this re purposing of a vacant building uses the Church's resources to do the Church's self-declared mission, making it difficult for the Church to call in the riot police without looking a bit hypocritical. There is a large banner on the front of the building with Bible quotes to this effect. I would have found something form JP2 to go along with it, myself.


The Church has made it clear that it will have nothing to do with "social justice" movements since it crushed the liberation theology people at the end of the 20th century. However, it was reasonable to try to shame them into doing the right thing--allowing use of derelict buildings as empty housing--since "helping the poor" is supposedly part of their mission statement. It's only considered crazy here in the US, whereas letting people sleep in the rain when there's a perfectly good building rotting away is considered crazy elsewhere, but perhaps that can be changed.

Once the Overton window has been moved, and people accept that this particular vacant building can serve this way, it becomes easier to maneuver local, city, and state governments into allowing this for wider swathes of vacant buildings and foreclosed housing.

I guess the Church really needed that 11K rent payment, though. Crystal Cathedrals don't pay for themselves, you know!

[Snake Alchemist]

99. Vacant or not, who does the liability fall to if someone's drunk dog bites someone in that building?

I would love to see a joint effort between the church and OWS. What would that look like to you?

[sudopod]

101. Don't worry, they have lawyers. Maybe not as expensive ones as the Church.

See, shit like this is why we can't have nice things. (by we, I mean humanity)

[Snake Alchemist]

102. Lawyers don't transfer liability. nt

[sudopod]

104. Clearly you have the wrong lawyers. nt

[Snake Alchemist]

105. There is a reason why even the big corps have to settle when there is an injury in their stores. nt

[sudopod]

110. I guess OWS will get sued into oblivion. lol nt

[Snake Alchemist]

112. Sue who? nt

[sudopod]

113. ?

I'm not sure what you're asking.

Try this one on for size: if a rabid fetus bites someone in the Catholic Family Shelter, who is liable?

[Snake Alchemist]

117. The parents and perhaps the hospital. My original question once again.

I would like to see a joint effort of the church and OWS. What would that look like to you?

[sudopod]

120. I have this crazy idea

where the Church can have a cheap-to-free lease program on their derelict property for organizations that want to use the otherwise unused buildings to house and feed SF's homeless.

It costs the Church nothing, uses free labor, and even gets those heathen activists within range of their Gospel field. It's a win-win on the face of it.

Crazy, huh?

[Snake Alchemist]

121. Derelict? Not sure it is that.

I imagine as long as they obeyed the churches rules like no drugs and no alcohol and maybe allowed the church to hold service once a week there that would probably be something they would be interested in. And of course kept the property in good shape.

[sudopod]

122. So why the mailed fist instead of the olive branch, eh?

The only difference between what was going on and what you said are a few gallons of a suitably bland color of Sherwin-Williams's finest, so as not to shock the terminally dull.

[Snake Alchemist]

125. I imagine the first fist thrown was the b and e.

I wonder if OWS tried to contact the church beforehand.

[sudopod]

127. Who knows?

Sneaking into an unused building to house homeless people really is just like punching Jesus, though. Paul would probably have had them flogged.

[Snake Alchemist]

131. If that was the intent and if they building was in fact derelict.

I do believe that church was housing OWS in NY.

[sudopod]

97. Not to mention several posters have told the story of what happened in Atlanta.

A story echoed all over the country, both before and after the scouring away of the encampments.

[EFerrari]

64. Yes, it is and now they will have that on their consciences

if indeed they have any.

[Snake Alchemist]

89. Catholic homeless shelter in San Francisco.

http://sfhomeless.wikia.com/wiki/Catholic_Charities_-_Saint_Joseph's_Family_Center

[Cleita]

15. You know it was illegal to be a Jew in Nazi Germany.

Squatting in an empty building shouldn't be a felony.

[Egalitarian Thug]

58. Where do these people come from?

And why are they here?

[mmonk]

143. Your corporate dictatorship appreciates your support

and broad brush of the rif raf who don't like the gloriousness of corporatism.

[badtoworse]

144. OWS shouldn't have to respect private property? Why not?

[Brickbat]

6. Well, that's a shitty headline.

[cbayer]

9. Agree. Not accurate and not the title of the linked article.

[unapatriciated]

70. It what way is it not accurate?

There were homeless staying in the building and the church had the police arrest and evict them.

I really do love the compassion I see on this thread for our fellow men. (do I really need the smilie tag).

[cbayer]

73. Where do you see in the article that there were homeless staying in the building?

My reading is that the only people evicted were the OWS occupants who had plans to set up a program for the homeless. This was also the intention of the owners of the building.

The title is misleading, imo, and I don't think my reaction to it shows a lack of compassion, just attention to the facts of the story.

[unapatriciated]

76. Some of OWS members are part of the homeless.

Anyone who has followed OWS knows this to be the case. I have been to Atlanta OWS headquarters/shelter and saw first hand how they were helping the homeless (many of them vets) before the city raided (without warning) and shut it down.

Knowing first hand that some of OWS are indeed homeless, I would rather believe this statement from the article to be true.

in an attempt to setup a community center and homeless shelter.

[cbayer]

77. While I don't dispute that some OWS members are homeless, there just isn't

any information that I can find that indicates that homeless people were evicted from this building.

The title is intentionally misleading, imo. That they were going to try and set up a shelter appears to be true. That homeless people were evicted is not backed by any evidence I have seen.

IMHO, it's important to get the facts straight before taking a position, otherwise you set yourself up as an easy target to knock down.

[unapatriciated]

79. Whatever...

Technically if just one of the OWS members in this story were homeless than his title was factual. Knowing what most of us here on du know about OWS, the odds are in his favor.

I again will repeat the title of the OP is Lame54's opinion (I know that to be factual since I live with the guy) of what the church did and I agree.

[cbayer]

81. Didn't know of your personal relationship with OP and completely understand your

coming to his defense. I would do the same.

My point (truly) is that we get ourselves in trouble when we frame a story to meet some kind of narrative that can be disputed. The story had legs of it's own.

No offense meant.

[unapatriciated]

83. his point and mine are that..

this story mirrors much of what happened here in Atlanta last winter and why he used the title he did. We saw the city of Atlanta shut down OWS headquarters/shelter, pushing the homeless back out on the street.

Not to worry no offense taken.

[EFerrari]

103. We also get into trouble when we jump to conclusions.

Some of the most active advocates for the homeless in San Francisco participated in this action, with an umbrella group that advocates for the homeless, as well as OWS from all over the Bay Area.

[cbayer]

115. Good to know. None of this is included in the articles that I could find.

The problem here is that this thread, which really was worth attention, got completely derailed by the headline. The information you provide now could have been provided as part of the OP, the headline kept the same as the linked article and this would have gone better.

Nothing more than that.

[EFerrari]

124. I put one in #72.

I'm really glad I read this thread because now I know where my friend Paul is working these days. He's a great organizer and a very sweet man. He got me the Great American Music Hall for a fundraiser once by smoozing the manager, lol.

That was in 2004:

Paying the rent The San Francisco Coalition on Homelessness, which has been a city institution for 17 years, has received what members call an "overwhelming" response from the public, following a Bay Guardian story in June revealing the organization was in a serious financial crisis (see "Homeless Coalition Facing Homelessness," 6/30/04).

Large and small donors have pitched in to support the group, which is often the lone advocacy voice speaking out publicly on behalf of the city's homeless population. While the group's financial troubles aren't over, the concern that the coalition would lose its offices has abated, according to executive director Paul Boden. The group has rehired some of its staff (although at very reduced salaries), and "there is no talk of closing," Boden told us. "There's too much incredible community support. [Mayor Gavin] Newsom, [Sen. Barbara] Boxer, [secretary of state Kevin] Shelley, [President George W.] Bush – all of them will be dealing with the coalition for a long time to come."

To further help the cause, comedian Doug Ferrari is scheduled to headline an Oct. 5 fundraiser at the Great American Music Hall. For more information, see next week's issue of the Bay Guardian. (Rachel Brahinsky)

http://www.sfbg.com/38/52/news_follow.html

[cbayer]

128. Sounds like a great group and a great guy.

Pretty cool that you found him here. I've got some friends in SF that have some involvement in the OWS movement as well, though on a much smaller scale.

Did not know that you were a comedian. Do you do stand up?

[EFerrari]

132. That's my ex. He fronted all our events

and I produced them, which worked out nicely.

[lame54]

11. A better headline: Catholic Church cares for homeless...

but, that's not what happened

[HappyMe]

10. Your thread headline is completely wrong.

Nice try with spinning, though.

[lame54]

12. I'm always up for a good correction...

but you didn't bother to offer one

[HappyMe]

18. Catholic Church Evicts Occupy.

Pretty obvious.

[lame54]

24. We went down to the...

Atlanta Occupy a while back and it was a OWS Headquarters/homeless facility

They set up and let the homeless stay there and share in the donated food

there were people cooking for anyone who wanted to eat

they eventually got shut down and the people sent back out into the street

OWS isn't just talking the talk - they are walking the walk

this is an issue the church should get behind instead of sicking the cops on them - especially seeing how violent the police have been towards OWS

[HappyMe]

27. The article wasn't about the homeless in Atlanta.

It was about Occupy squatting in a building, making a mess, and then getting evicted.

[lame54]

42. you've said one thing right today...

the article wasn't about OWS in Atlanta

but I'm sure the one in SF would have been very similar

I guess why this upsets me is it is the so-called Moral leaders who are doing this

[EFerrari]

109. Your post is completely wrong.

[Brickbat]

19. "Activists said they chose to take over the building because they believed it has been vacant...

Activists said they chose to take over the building because they believed it has been vacant for five years and should be used as a center for health services and education instead of standing empty.

George Wesolek, a spokesman for the archdiocese, said the activists were wrong about the building's vacant status. The building was used for regular music classes until as recently as 18 months ago, Wesolek said. The archdiocese was also considering leasing out the building and using the revenue to help with financial aid for low-income Sacred Heart students, he said.

"This is definitely not a vacant building," Wesolek said. "It's not forgotten. It has a purpose."

More:

The interior of the building on Monday afternoon, after the protesters had been removed, was covered in spray-painted graffiti and posters and photographs from previous Occupy events. There were signs on the walls to designate sleeping areas, "media free zones" and smoking rooms.

Protesters left behind sleeping bags and backpacks, guitars and a tambourine. A half-eaten sandwich sat on a crate in one room, and in the kitchen were boxes full of fresh fruits and vegetables. In one large room on the second floor, a bowl of dog food sat next to an empty bottle of tequila.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/04/02/BARI1NTM3V.DTL#ixzz1r0CYeX5s

[Luminous Animal]

21. The building has been vacant. It has been vacant for 18 months.

The diocese has already built a new music facility. That is why they no longer use it for classes.

And yes, they are advertising to lease the building for $11,000 a month and they can say that they are "considering" doing whatever they want with the money but that does not mean that they are GOING to do it.

[HappyMe]

23. So what if it is vacant?

That doesn't mean people can just move their asses in.

[Luminous Animal]

26. I was specifically addressing this point that was made in the post to which I replied...

"George Wesolek, a spokesman for the archdiocese, said the activists were wrong about the building's vacant status"

George Wesolek is a liar.

[HappyMe]

30. So what?

You still don't move your ass in to a building that you aren't paying any rent for.

Are they going back to clean their graffiti up, remove their garbage?

[LanternWaste]

49. Much as we may presume to know what their intentions are

"and they can say that they are... but that does not mean that they are GOING to do it"

Much as we may presume to know what their intentions are, but that doesn't mean that's really what their intentions are...

[lame54]

28. paint over it...

as the church would do if they were going to use it for something

I think I might leave my half-eaten sandwich and my back-pack if I was raided without warning

How dare they let a tequila drinking dog in there

[KamaAina]

33. "Alex, you'd better be drinking your water!"

In one large room on the second floor, a bowl of dog food sat next to an empty bottle of tequila.

[dionysus]

22. extra points for fabricated headline.

[lame54]

29. I could use extra points

[sudopod]

54. Do you guys have a listserv or something? nt

[MineralMan]

63. Nah. Just the GD thread list.

It's all right there for anyone to browse. Nothing else is needed.

[dionysus]

67. uh, it's quite obvious from readingthe thread that a headline was fabricated...

[unapatriciated]

69. It's his opinion of what happened.

We saw the city do the same here in Atlanta. Nowhere does he claim that his title to his op was the headline of the story.

Since there were homeless staying with OWS and the Church indeed had the police arrest and evict them, I see no fabrication.

[Snake Alchemist]

25. What dog doesn't love tequila?

"The interior of the building on Monday afternoon, after the protesters had been removed, was covered in spray-painted graffiti and posters and photographs from previous Occupy events. There were signs on the walls to designate sleeping areas, "media free zones" and smoking rooms.

Protesters left behind sleeping bags and backpacks, guitars and a tambourine. A half-eaten sandwich sat on a crate in one room, and in the kitchen were boxes full of fresh fruits and vegetables. In one large room on the second floor, a bowl of dog food sat next to an empty bottle of tequila."

[MineralMan]

32. Hmm...that title for your OP...could be better.

The church had the police evict OWS squatters. That's as predictable as can be. There was never any question that they'd be allowed to stay in that building. That simply wasn't going to happen. This strategy is not going to work, and doesn't generate a lot of support, either.

OWS has the right idea, but the wrong strategy for making it happen. Occupying vacant buildings is not going to happen in any city, and for many reasons.

[lame54]

34. the actions of the church could be better...

but whatcha gonna do

[Snake Alchemist]

36. What would you like to see them do? nt

[lame54]

38. Go away for good

[Snake Alchemist]

39. Not likely. nt

[lame54]

43. ...

[MineralMan]

44. Probably so.

It would have been interesting to see what a meeting between the OWS folks and that church in advance might have produced. Maybe there was one. I don't know. But, as the owner of the building, they really can't accept the liability of having it occupied in that way, for many reasons. I'm not a big fan of churches in general, but I know that occupying and squatting isn't going to lead to anything productive. Any building owner would pretty much have to respond by evicting the squatters. On an insurance basis, alone, it would be essential.

If the story is correct, and the interior was grafittied, or any other damage was done, that's not going to help with future ventures by OWS, either. I'm sorry, but intent is only half of the equation. There's no doubt that facilities for the homeless are needed in that area. This is not how that happens.

The goals of OWS are good. Their strategies, if they're like this, however, are bound to fail, again and again. Nothing productive will come from this kind of action.

[unapatriciated]

46. They certainly are making a lot of the graffiti...

I'm sure when the church rents it out it will be painted over - new tenants often re-paint

and the graffiti was in directional and had purpose - this hardly shows how destructive they were

[MineralMan]

53. Yes. Well...

You might, too, if it were your building. While graffiti can be painted over, it's not a way to win friends and influence people to support your goals.

It also demonstrates that the occupiers knew they were going to be evicted almost immediately, so they had no real stake in the building. They said they planned a facility for homeless people and other purposes. Painting the place with graffiti probably wouldn't help make that a success, I'd think. Now, if they had started painting walls and sprucing the place up for its new purpose, the reaction might be different.

For me, planned use dictates what you do. The graffiti indicates to me that they did not really plan to use the building, but just to occupy it briefly. What do you think?

[lame54]

55. I think you should donate the paint...

that shit ain't cheap

[MineralMan]

56. No, it's not cheap.

And, if approached, I would make a donation to be used for paint. I would also volunteer to contact paint suppliers for donations, and would succeed. You see, I have spent many, many hours working for free in homeless shelters, and have painted them and done repairs, as well, since I have skills in those areas. It's a very serious problem. Real homeless shelters do a great service, and there aren't enough of them. This was never going to be a homeless shelter, though. That wasn't the real plan here.

The plan was to occupy until evicted. Between those two events, the plan was to trash the place as a statement. That plan was carried out. I think it was a poor plan. You might think differently. But what was carried out was the plan. They knew for an absolute certainty that they'd be evicted, so that was as much of a plan as they could carry out. Now, any use that might have been made of that place will be delayed until the damage has been repaired.

How useful is that? How does that help anyone at all?

OWS has some very good points to make. They did not make any of them with this action.

[lame54]

59. I call bullshit - We went down to the...

Atlanta Occupy a while back and it was a OWS Headquarters/homeless facility

They set up and let the homeless stay there and share in the donated food

there were people cooking for anyone who wanted to eat

they eventually got shut down and the people sent back out into the street

OWS isn't just talking the talk - they are walking the walk

this is an issue the church should get behind instead of sicking the cops on them - especially seeing how violent the police have been towards OWS

and - oh yeah - the did negotiate their way in their - but were still kicked out

If the plan was to destroy the place they did a lousy job

[MineralMan]

60. You can call whatever you want.

[lame54]

61. that's good to know

[Snake Alchemist]

66. The restaurants in San Francisco are better than Stockton. nt

[EFerrari]

72. You coudn't be more wrong.

My friend and dedicated housing activist Paul Boden was there with W.R.A.P.

He wouldn't be part of any bullshit. At one point, Paul was the director of the Coalition on Homelessness in San Francisco, and at that time, iirc, their offices were just across the street. And of course, they had to consider eviction as well as success. But no, they weren't just using the homeless to ding the Catholic Church. That's the kind of thing someone who doesn't know anything about this would conclude.

"Protesters say that they were occupying the space to demand rights for the homeless and a community center in which to organize.

The occupation was part of a “National Day of Action for the Right to Exist,” organized by the Western Regional Advocacy Project (WRAP) and USA-Canada Alliance of Inhabitants. According to Paul Boden, an organizer with WRAP, demonstrations in conjunction with the day of action took place in 17 cities.

“The government serves the people. If the laws stops working, and there are people who are homeless on the street and they need a place to stay, they should be able to stay there,” said Shannon Mueller, a sophomore environmental studies major at the University of San Francisco. Mueller and others from Occupy USF joined about 50 others who protested outside police lines as the arrests took place."

http://www.sfbg.com/politics/2012/04/02/arrests-after-overnight-san-francisco-commune-occupation

[Snake Alchemist]

90. Catholic homeless shelter in San Francisco.

http://sfhomeless.wikia.com/wiki/Catholic_Charities_-_Saint_Joseph's_Family_Center

[sudopod]

92. CTRL-V

CTRL-V

[EFerrari]

95. What does that even mean to you?

There are thousands of homeless people in San Francisco and the waiting lists for existing shelter beds are up to 6 months long last time I checked.

[Snake Alchemist]

98. Sounds like a comprehensive facility. I would love to see a joint effort between the church and

OWS. What would that look like to you?

[Luminous Animal]

136. For which the city pays them. In fiscal year 2008-2009, St. Josephs received

$716,000 to run a single program at their shelter - for youth emergency shelter services.

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:YmHWZaBAxSQJ:www.sfhsa.org/1749.htm+%22saint+joseph%27s+family+center%22+san+francisco+contract&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESh7Cp5RYYXKu82a-F1O-QAwPlBpqLuDWnqO2YgH4fRE9xUlelOOo08gKo2OoTyJJkHrYOL6mfZ8bLPCpTB7Y5NoezV5CKZoivTvkWtaEqcrWWEYXW_YU8xUaIVOCtmc1fywSbFD&sig=AHIEtbS2fFqLq3Xg_2iY7YLeZWY8WiIsmw

[unapatriciated]

74. As Lame54 has stated in this thread before...

We went to Atlanta OWS last winter, donated and helped out until the city closed it down.

They also used spray paint on the walls to designate sleeping quarters, day use and so on. The walls (I'm sure SF building was much the same) were in need of painting when they moved in but paint is indeed expensive. They needed to use their funds for food, clothing etc. A can of spray paint is cheap and will do the job. So when many on this thread shout graffiti and trash, I look at it a bit differently. Many on this thread are also ranting about the personal items left behind, without acknowledging the fact that they were raided and arrested. They did not have a choice of taking their belongings with them. I do not understand why some on this thread are blaming those that have so little. They did not leave what few possession they had willingly, they were arrested.

[badtoworse]

75. This was about visibility for OWS, not helping the homeless.

IMO, they were using the homeless to further a political agenda.

[EFerrari]

126. No, that's wrong. See #72. nt

[LanternWaste]

50. I imagine that's we should be asking of ourselves

"but whatcha gonna do...?"

I imagine that's we should be asking of ourselves, rather than asking of others...

[unapatriciated]

68. The church ask of others all the time.

I should know I was born and raised Roman Catholic and so was lame54.

You don't know lame54 (my husband) or me. We DO give on a regular basis to a variety of local and national charities. We also volunteer our time.

Last winter we went to the local OWS in Atlanta saw what they were doing and decided to help. They had permission from the person that owned the building to be there. OWS had set up a day room, sleeping quarters, dinning area and kitchen on a second floor of the building. They allowed anyone who needed a place to sleep come in and shared the food donations with the homeless in the area. There was one man who volunteered his time collecting food donations and then cooking for those in need. We went out on two occasions and bought food, cleaning supplies etc at a cost of over a hundred dollars each time. We would have continued to support them but unfortunately the city decided to send the cops in and close it down. Sending the homeless back to the streets during winter. This is why he so disliked how the church reacted to what OWS was trying to accomplish in SF.

There are not enough shelters, donations or volunteers. When there is an honest effort to help, I would think the city (or church) would want to work with them instead of arresting them.

My husband is a fairly quiet man and does not boast about the things he does like some on this thread.
So I will do it for him and list a few charities we donate to each year...

Doctors Without Borders
Amnesty International
Any Soldier (we spent over a thousand dollars for christmas care packages last year)
Planned Parenthood
Those are just a few.

I wouldn't be so hasty to judge your fellow man, when you know nothing about him.
This seems to be what some on this thread want to do, instead of discussing and finding solutions.
There are so many on this thread that are fixated with a little spray paint and belongings that were left behind (due to arrests, not intentional). Instead of asking why the church would not take advantage of all those able bodied volunteers (OWS) if they indeed are considering opening a homeless shelter in that location. We are too quick to judge, when we should be working together.

[sarcasmo]

45. Republican jesus is a nasty fella.

[SomethingFishy]

62. Well, to give credit where it's due the Church

is struggling financially and can't afford to do anything for the "least among us". I mean look at the squalor the poor Catholic Church has to deal with:







It's amazing that they have enough money for bread and wine.

[bongbong]

65. Great pix

But they NEED that splendor to attract more money, in the form of collection plate moolah, etc. Money attracts money according to The Secret.

[Snake Alchemist]

93. They're leaving that vacant in San Francisco? nt

[sudopod]

123. Nah, but they are saving their pennies to buy this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_Cathedral

My favorite part is the Prayer Spire.

So you can see how they'd want that cash inflow.

[Snake Alchemist]

133. Doesn't sound like the Catholic church owns it just yet. Sounds like they got the property for a

steal too.

[sudopod]

135. :3 nt

[SomethingFishy]

138. Monstrosity...

That's the only word to describe that thing. It reminds me of something Bill Hicks once said:

"A lot of Christians wear crosses around their necks. Do you think when Jesus comes back he's gonna want to see a fucking cross?"

[sudopod]

139. lol, he's got a point there. nt

[Yo_Mama]

80. OWS was set up to protest churches?

This looks cheap and shabby:
http://sfappeal.com/news/2012/04/occupy-sf-remains-in-888-turk-press-conference-yoga-planned-for-today.php

George Wesolek, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of San Francisco, said the building belongs to Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory High School. He said the building has not been used for classes in about 18 months.

As to why the police acted like they did:
http://sfappeal.com/news/2012/04/occupy-sf-takes-to-streets-to-support-75-arrested-at-888-turk.php

Officers saw protesters on the roof with chairs, buckets of paint and piles of bricks and were concerned that these items would be used as weapons against police, spokesman Sgt. Michael Andraychak said.

One protester leaped from a second story window onto a Gough Street sidewalk where he was detained by officers, Andraychak said.

Andraychak said police discovered graffiti on the interior and exterior of the building that read "Burn It Down," "New Social Order" and "Kill Cops."

If OWS' new agenda is really to protest churches not giving OWS the use of their property, then OWS is not going to have broad public support. If OWS retains the agenda of protesting WS excesses, the shifting of the resultant losses to the taxpayers and ultimately to the more vulnerable of the public, a seemingly intractable Congressional habit of handing billions to corporations and squabbling over millions to those who are hungry, then OWS has broad public support.

This should be a simple question to decide.

Read the whole article. OWS spokesmen said the building was already damaged before they got there, the bricks were already there, etc, also that they didn't paint that graffiti. I no longer know who to trust.

[EFerrari]

114. The Catholic Church is a huge landholder in San Francisco

and are as much part of the 1% as Wall Street banksters. The pope lives in a palace, remember?

And I trust OWS on this one because I know advocates for the homeless that participated and there is no way they would have been part of a destructive action. The police can whine all they want but nobody threw anything at them and their smear job is a joke. And as far as making a mess, it was the police that were kicking in doors at the site, not WRAP or Occupy.

[and-justice-for-all]

82. How xtian of them...nt

[EFerrari]

107. Hve you seen this at TruthOut? "Empty Buildings Are the Crime":

By Susie Cagle, Truthout | Graphic Journalism



It lasted less than 24 hours, but the Occupy SF Commune at 888 Turk may have pushed the movement forward harder than many other of the movement's Bay Area actions of late. And despite Monday's raid, many occupiers saw the building operation as a success.

The 888 Turk building is not only the story of this brief building occupation, but also its place in the context of Bay Area activism, Occupy and beyond, on the eve of the planned May 1 General Strike. On January 28, many of these same people attempted a building occupation in Oakland, which turned into the tear gas, less-lethal melee that spawned another Occupy backlash there.

The 888 Turk occupation was, in Occupy terms, an escalation so profound and unexpected that many dismissed it as an April Fool's joke - even at the expense of Occupy Oakland and its brutal J28 crushing, which resulted in more than 400 arrests.

But the SF Commune was not a joke; the Spring Awakening took the city by storm, if only for a day. Within a half hour of the building's occupation, several large place-making banners were dropped from the roof, including many with Christian slogans and quotes, including, "Forgive us our trespasses" in white letters on black cloth.

http://truth-out.org/news/item/8294-occupy-sf-commune

More

[TriMera]

116. Wow. The "Get Off My Lawn" group

hit this thread pretty hard, didn't they? I had to check the URL to see if I was really on DU.

[sudopod]

118. ""Get Off My Lawn""

May I appropriate that?

[TriMera]

119. Be my guest.

[EFerrari]

129. You know what I wonder? West Side Crisis was the last hope

for a lot of people.

WTH are those people going now that it's defunct?

Things were already bad in the SF mental heath world in the 90s. This is now a disaster.

[sudopod]

130. ;_;

It's a crime how we treat people in this country.

At least you're doing something about it!

[EFerrari]

134. I'm not doing much these days.

Maybe that will change this Spring. Time to get off the couch and get out there again.

[Zorra]

146. Catholic Church Evicts Homeless...?

Captain Howdysays:

"Splendid! Kick them out! Arrest those shiftless homeless people and those worthless bleeding heart agitators. Crush their spirits! Exactly what I would have done! Hats off to the Church, and to the police for just doing their jobs, and for their service to our country and the 1%!!! We need to take a STAND against homeless people and those awful Occupy criminals everywhere. It's a mean, nasty, rotten world, and I'm a very happy guy!!!"

Is this the kind of world we really want?

We'd Love To Change The World...

...And We Know Just What To Do.

☮ccupy
Don't leave it up to us.
Make your stand.
Stand with us.

[Leopolds Ghost]

152. Since it's Easter Sunday, I figure a Gospel Verse might be appropriate. *aahahem*

[font face="times"]And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn. 24And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful? 25And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him? 26How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him? 27And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:[/font]

-- King James Bible



I also recall Jesus "appropriating" an ass to enter Jerusalem. Guess what?