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When a Catholic organization names itself “The Door Is Open,” there is a clear, unmistakable promise being made to the community. It is a promise of sanctuary, of Christian charity, and of an open heart to the poor, the homeless, and the volunteers who serve them.
But what happens when that door is literally and figuratively slammed in your face?
For the past year, I have experienced a disturbing pattern of hostility, maliciousness, and deceit from the staff at The Door Is Open in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, an outreach operating under the Vancouver Diocese. It is a scandal of failed leadership, toxic ideology, and a complete betrayal of Catholic values.
The First Incident: Assaulted and Ignored To understand the depth of this corruption, we must go back to October 19, 2025. I was dedicating my Saturday to volunteering at The Door Is Open, standing on the front lines to help distribute donations. During my shift, a visitor demanded to skip the line. When I calmly asked her to wait her turn, she physically assaulted me, pushing me and hurling racist, defamatory insults.
I went to a staff member, Gwen Coleman, expecting the basic support and safety protocols any charitable organization should provide. Instead, Ms. Coleman was hostile and dismissive. Her response to my assault? She told me I needed to “be nice to her,” effectively excusing the violent behavior of my attacker. Following this, she disparaged my name to other volunteers. I filed a formal complaint with the Manager, Sr. Chita Torres, and the Archdiocese of Vancouver.
Their response? Absolute silence. They chose to protect the toxic behavior of their staff rather than protect a Catholic man volunteering his time.
The Second Incident: Caught on Camera Because of the Archdiocese’s refusal to act, the hostility has only escalated. Fast forward to today, July 11, 2026. I recorded the interaction. When I approached the door, Gwen Coleman was there in her blue apron. I explained that Alfred, a volunteer manager, requested that I volunteer today. Looking me dead in the eye, she claimed she “didn’t know an Alfred.”
When she realized she was caught in a lie, she panicked. She changed her story, claiming they “had enough volunteers.” Then, rather than assisting a hurting man outside or speaking with a fellow Catholic trying to do a good deed, she ran away and literally shut the door on me.
A Verified History of Service vs. Systemic Erasure The attempt to paint me as anything less than a dedicated servant of the community falls apart under the weight of undeniable proof. Photographic records document my lifetime of frontline charity: standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Catholic religious sisters, working on the pavement with the Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services truck, and volunteering for winter kettle campaigns to fund local shelters. My integrity and dedication to the poor across North America have been formally recognized for over a decade.
Yet, at The Door Is Open, this record of service was met with administrative gaslighting, verbal hostility, and a physical gatekeeper who literally locked out a proven volunteer. That kind of hate is psychotic. Imagine if a man treated a woman like that? And this is ostensibly a Catholic Organization?
I recorded the interaction. When I approached the door, Gwen Coleman was there in her blue apron. I explained that Alfred was hurting and volunteering today. Looking me dead in the eye, she claimed she “didn’t know an Alfred.”
When she realized she was caught in a lie, she panicked. She changed her story, claiming they “had enough volunteers.” Then, rather than assisting a hurting man or speaking with a fellow Catholic trying to do a good deed, she ran away and literally shut the door on me.
The Cover-Up: A Sudden Webpage Makeover Perhaps the most telling piece of evidence is how management responds when exposed. Originally, The Door Is Open’s “Volunteer Appreciation” webpage exclusively featured female volunteers—a glaring omission that signaled men were systematically erased from the narrative.
However, shortly after formal complaints were filed exposing this blatant gender bias, the administration quietly scrubbed and updated the webpage to show a more “equal” representation. There was no public apology, no acknowledgment of the past exclusion—just a silent digital cover-up. They didn’t change the website because their culture suddenly became inclusive; they changed it because they were caught red-handed. Altering digital optics while continuing to shield staff members who lie to the community proves that management is more interested in hiding their tracks than providing true justice.
We cannot let the smoke of Satan choke our charitable institutions. If “The Door Is Open” refuses to act like a Catholic charity, it is time for the faithful to hold them accountable.
Contact Sister Torres at: doorisopen.rcav@gmail.com :: (604) 669-0498
Regarding the Vancouver Catholic Diocese. Archbishop Smith began his tenure with a public promise to be a shepherd for “all.” As the pews continue to empty and the “Silent Exodus” grows, the community is left with one final, piercing question: Does that “all” include the men currently being pushed into the cold, or is his promise only for those who fit the new institutional mold?
The Archbishop of Vancouver Most Rev. Richard W. Smith
Email: rcavbishop@rcav.org
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver
4885 Saint John Paul II Way
Vancouver BC V5Z 0G3
Phone: (604) 683-0281
Fax: (604) 683-4288
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