Anyway, is the Obama going to start making noises that god selected Him to be President like Bush did? Will the Obama be holding court with the pope, too?

These faith-based (read christian)charities have proven themselves to just be a way of funneling taxpayer monies into the already deep pockets of rich religious zealots. These zealots do not spend a dime on legitimate charitable endeavors. Just look at the castles they build (churches and cathedrals) and the thrones they sit on during their television shows begging for money from little old ladies who have to choose between starving to death on a pension check or getting the lifesaving medications they need to live another day. Instead, these zealots should be spending their own money on getting food and care to those people who actually need it – not want it, NEED IT. That is, if they really practiced what they preached.

Not only are these religious entities misdirecting funds but they are also given outrageous tax breaks. Is this done just so they can interfere with government in general and elections specifically? Let me say it another way, these rip-off programs do NOT alleviate suffering; they cause suffering. They do not think they have done a good job unless there is suffering.

Funding should be cut off immediately and they should be forced to pay up their back taxes with all the interest and penalties that anyone else would have to pay. If the Obama was as inclusive as he says he is then, on this day of Imbolc, he should have insisted on all today’s government invocations (why they still have them at all, I don’t know) be Pagan based. (By the way, I am tired of hearing about that mangy rodent.) This is a time for clearing out the old baggage and renewing what is best in us. What better place to start such housekeeping than with anything faith-based (read christian).

It is not so much that we live in a theocracy but rather we live in a hypocracy.

During The Campaign folks! I justt knew he’s a deeply religious man trying hard not to be labelled as one. His mannerism even resembles lots of enthusiastic pastors. sigh.

The question is one of balance. The first order of business is breaking the back of the KKK – Catholic Church – fundamentalist right wing of the republican party. So that there will never be another ‘Bush’ (pardon my use of that profanity that begins with B and ends with H).

And maybe this gives him more leverage to help gay people. The jury is still out on this one, but destruction of the republican – neofacist christian monstrosity is JOB 1.

And I am writing to you all as the head of a small non-sectarian, non-prophet charity.
I know first hand of so many of our GLBT family and of People Living with HIV/AIDS who have been shamefully treated by these so-called Christian groups.
Charity should be done in private.

Have these folks never read their own literature, er, bible?

Last time I checked, Jesus threw out the money-changers as those who defiled the church!

So much for consistency.

I agree with most commentaters: NO tax dollars for religious organisations. Period.

Note to all potential donors to charity: please, please do NOT give anyone your money unless you check them out first.

All charities MUST, not should, offer you the chance to read their annual financial documents; obtain a list of their Board Members; and furnish you proof of their tax-emept status.
I also offer, when asked, a copy of our annual budget.

It is also very appropriate for you to ask for some sort of effectiveness report, that is, what services do you provide and how many did you provide last year…

In this current political climate, referred to by some as a theocracy, it is incumbent upon US to donate wisely. It is incumbent upon US to take care of our OWN.

I am very sorry to have to write those lines; all persons are worthy of help. But if the Obama-theocrats are taking this country along the Iranian example, (as Bush was doing), then we must circle our own wagons…charity begins at home.

Peace.

Does anyone honestly think 100% of the money the charity recieves from the government goes to the intended recipients and none to the charity? Do you think that $1 of the $1 donation you make to the Salvation Army at Christmas goes to individuals in need? There aren’t armies of volunteers doing charity for nothing; they hire people to support the charity’s operation (Directors, IT, truck drivers, equipment like copy machines and offices, not to mention electricity or other utilities). How much of the money do you think the “charity” spends on “adminstration” costs? I researched online and found Charitywatch.org who says 40% of collected donations spent on administration costs is “reasonable”. That means 40% of your taxpayer dollars that went to that faith based charity goes to…. the faith, not the faithful. I would say that is a clear violation of the separation of church and state.

And who is going to monitor their compliance? Yet another government bureaucracy? Couldn’t that money be better spent on something more beneficial?

I’m getting a little tired of seeing taxpayer dollars -my dollars- being wasted on government funded special interest programs, pork, international support, and car companies that will use it to support their facilities in Mexico and Canada while they close US facilities and put the people who paid those taxes out of work.

The unconstitutional taxpayer support of religion is only the tip of the government budget iceberg… an iceberg shrinking ever smaller due to economic climate change. Obama shouldn’t carry on a special interest W program…. let’s see some change.

What is next: an “Office of Witchcraft Welfare” or “Juju Job training” or “Satanic Social Outreach“? The whole concept of a “Faith-based” system smacks of an unholy alliance between organized religion and the federal government. And that is never a good idea.

~ Bud Evans

http://rainfish2000.blogspot.com

What must happen is for the State to remove itself from these organizations and let them be privately run. It may seem sad that more money will not be available for them but this reciprocal relationship cannot be allowed to happen. Those organizations can procure money from their supporters and this is the only rational and reasonable way it should be.