The Hammond Report

I see many stories this time of year claiming Mary and Joseph (Jesus' parents) were a homeless couple when Jesus was born. Rob Chaney in the Missoulian even reported it yesterday in the article about the beating death of homeless veteran, Forrest Clayton Salcido. (emphasis mine)

Several speakers noted that Thursday's ceremony came between Hanukkah, with its celebration of light in the darkness, and the arrival of Christmas, with the Christian light of the world being born to homeless parents.

Mary and Joseph were not homeless. Look up Luke 2:1-7 where it clearly says Mary and Joseph had to leave their home to travel back to Joseph's home town, Bethlehem, to be counted in Caesar Augustus' census. When they arrived in Bethlehem all the Inns were full so they had to spend the night in a barn where Jesus was born.

1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register.

4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

So why do people claim that they were homeless? Is it simple ignorance of the stories in the Bible? Or is it purposeful misrepresentation in order to advance Liberalism and socialism?

Understand that I don't like homelessness. I contribute regularly to my church, the YWCA and the local food bank. I hate to see homeless families down on their luck and I try to do what I can to help them out of their situation by my contributions. It also breaks my heart to see abused women with kids who have no place to go which is why I contribute to the YWCA transitional housing program.

I understand that there are people who are homeless by choice. In fact, Mr. Salcido was homeless by choice.

Forrest Salcido lived outside and alone mainly by choice.

So I found it ironic that Lt. Gov. Bohlinger said this in the same article.

Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger also came to offer both moral and political support. He spoke in honor of Salcido at the bridge, and again of a pledge he and Gov. Brian Schweitzer have made to «end homelessness in Montana in 10 years.»

«In this prosperous country of the United States, there is no reason any person should lack shelter,» Bohlinger said. «Yet how many of us would be homeless if we did not receive a paycheck for three months? This is so wrong, and this must change.»

It's a nice thing to say and I'm sure played well at the vigil. But how do you end homelessness for people like Mr. Salcido who was homeless by choice? I think the politicians and certain people at the vigil are going to use Mr. Salcido's beating death for political reasons. To promote raising taxes for more programs to end homelessness despite the many programs that are already out there helping people and the fact that there are people who choose to be homeless. They will also use it to advance hate crime legislation which, simply said, makes crimes against homeless and gays, worse then crimes against those who aren't.

I think it's great that people gathered and held a vigil for him. His beating death was horrible and sad and I agree that we should do everything we can to stop attacks on the homeless and gays. The suspects should be tried and punished, if found guilty, to the fullest extent of our existing laws.