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Fighting back. rather than agree to provide health care benefits to same-sex couples who work for the catholic charities, the non-profit says it will not provide health insurance to any spouses, straight or gay. cnn's kate bolduan has our report. >> reporter: same-sex couples in washington can legally marry in the district starting tuesday. >> we're very excited. >> reporter: but even before the first couple walks down the aisle, there's controversial fallout from the city's decision. catholic charities, the social services arm of the archdiocese of washington, just announced it will no longer...

Kate baldwin explains. >> reporter: same sex couples in washington can legally marry starting tuesday in the district. >> very excited. >> reporter: even before the first couple walks down the aisle there is controversial flout from the decision. the social services arm of the archdiocese of washington just announced it will no longer offer health benefits to members of new or current employees who aren't already covered under its plan. as a result the nonprofit is effectively avoiding having to give benefits to same sex partners. keeping with the church's opposition to same sex marriage. how ...

Spouses, straight or gay. cnn's koit boate bolduan has ou report. >> reporter: same-sex couples in washington can legally marry in the district starting tuesday. >> we're very excited. >> reporter: but even before the first couple walks down the aisle, there's controversial fallout from the city's decision. catholic charities, the social services arm of the archdiocese of washington, just announced it will no longer offer health benefits to spouses of any new employees or current employees who aren't already covered under its plan. as a result the non-profit is effectively avoiding having to g...

Partners, keeping with the church's opposition to same-sex marriage. how long have you and your partner been together? >> for ten years? chris hinkel is gay and a practicing catholic. he lives in virginia and worships in washington. hinkel views the developments in d.c. as two steps forward and quickly two steps back for the gay and lesbian community and its strained relationship with the catholic church. why is it disappointing to you? >> it's a slap in the face, yeah. it's -- it's prejudice. >> reporter: catholic charities declined to comment but the archdiocese of washington made a point to...

Become political at all. i know that the pope has played into this because he has brought up some of these issues but the president himself is playing politics with this by the nature of who he as invihas invited to there when the pope gets to the white house. >> i think what's important about this visit is neither side is going to be totally happy and both sides are going to have things that they see in the pope that they identify with. i think that's great for the clatic church. i have many catholics in my family, my wife was raised catholic, my mother was a practicing catholic. i think you'...