The Catholic Diocese of Green Bay has given St. John the Evangelist and the Rev. Guy Blair permission take in the homeless in defiance of city zoning requirements.Archbishop Timothy Dolan, the Milwaukee archbishop temporarily serving as administrative head of the Green Bay diocese, has given the church at 413 St. John St. permission to do what it needs in the upcoming cold months to help the city’s most vulnerable homeless, Green Bay diocese spokeswoman Renae Bauer said Friday.Mayor Jim Schmitt wasn’t available for comment but said previously that the city likely would try to enforce its ordinance should the church attempt to open a shelter.
There is more history to this story than the article I have linked. St. John the Evangelist under permit from the city of Green Bay had previously taken in the homeless. Neighbors – while St. John is downtown, houses are near it and nearly all houses to the South of it are single family – had complained about the actions of the homeless after their release. Responding to these complaints, the city decided against renewing St. John’s permit to operate a homeless shelter. Having provided that context, allow me to congratulate St. John the Evangelist and the Diocese of Green Bay for their radical witness of the gospel. Presently, the Green Bay’s mayor’s office is working with the Diocese to find a solution. Let’s pray that a solution is found that is amicable to all sides.
Copy of the letter sent by Archbishop Dolan of Milwaukee to the mayor of Green Bay. (PDF, 2 pages) – The letter includes quotes from Scripture and Deus Caritas Est.
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