Saint Mary’s Cathedral, The Archdiocese of San Francisco installed a system that dumps water near its sheltered doorways, where people are likely to rest for the night. It is explained by the church that it was meant to be a deterrent from having individuals sleeping outside these dark doorways.
On Wednesday, after facing substantial backlash for their unconventional method, the Archdiocese announced that the system will be removed “by the end of the day.”
The memo from the Archdiocese of San Francisco, Office of Media Relations, stated that the system was installed as a last-ditch effort two years ago in order to avoid situations where “needles, feces and other dangerous items” might be left behind hidden doorways.
Other ideas were tried and failed, the people who were regularly sleeping in those doorways were informed in advance that the sprinklers were being installed. The idea was not to remove those persons, but to encourage them to relocate to other areas of the Cathedral, which are protected and safer. The purpose was to make the Cathedral grounds as well as the homeless people who happen to be on those grounds safer.
The statement also included an apology, stating that the Cathedral realizes that the method may have been “ill-conceived” and that it is clear now that the consequences of said methods are having the “opposite effect” of what was intended.
According to one report, homeless people who slept at the church were resorting to using umbrellas and other water-repelling gear to stay dry. One
homeless man told KCBS that he was worried “it could make people sick.”
The announcement concluded with what may reveal the true catalyst for their swift decision to remove water-dousing system.
“… the system in the first place required a permit and may violate San Francisco water-use laws, and the work to remove this system has already started…”
[VIDEO] h/t KCBS
